Which Resume Format Is Right for You?

There are three types of resume formats: chronological, functional and hybrid. Chronological resumes focus on work history, functional resumes highlight achievements and skills, and the hybrid is a combination of the two.

Which resume format is right for you? It depends. There are different ways to represent your work history, skills and achievements in each format—and each one is appropriate in different scenarios.

Take, for instance, Ashley Watkins' client Deborah. Watkins, a career coach and certified resume writer, says that Deborah wanted to make a transition from teaching into psychiatric nursing. 

The problem was the classes that she taught were in math and science, nothing that spoke directly to her career aspirations. She was heading in the right direction, already studying to become a registered nurse—she just wasn't sure how that connected with her teaching.

Watkins learned that two of Deborah's students had autism. Deborah would regularly confer with their caseworkers to create special education plans that served the kids' needs. On Deborah's resume, the student became equal to patients, and her skill in classroom management became equal to a treatment plan. 

This emboldened Deborah as she began the next chapter of her career. Five years after landing her first nursing job, she fills a leadership role as a nursing director.

Which resume format do you think best represents Deborah's experience? Here are the three types of resume formats and who is best served by each one.

Chronological Resume

This type of resume format is good for:

• Showcasing your work history, in reverse chronological order.
• Those who have no (or very short) gaps between jobs.
• Making it past the ATS (applicant tracking system), as they are set up to read this format.

The chronological resume remains the most popular format for the majority of jobseekers. This format lists current and past jobs in chronological order, starting with the most recent (which is why it's sometimes referred to as the reverse chronological resume). 

The chronological format is beloved for good reason: It's simple and easy to scan. Even applicant tracking systems (ATS)—software many employers use to filter out unfit candidates—have an easier time scanning it than other formats.

On the downside, chronological resumes may call attention to career gaps you don't want to highlight. If you're in that camp, keep reading.

Functional Resume

This type of resume format is good for:

• Downplaying a career gap or lack of work experience.
• Reentering the workforce after a long time away.
• Showcasing skills instead of work experience.
• Successfully transitioning between industries or leaving the military.

A functional resume emphasizes your top skills. Toward the top, you will have one (or several) bullet-point lists highlighting your most salient skills. You may also want a section listing your qualifications or achievements. 

Meanwhile, your work history is relegated to the sidelines. Dates of employment are optional, and you don't need to include any explanatory info under each position, as your key strengths are included in the skills and achievements sections.  

Hybrid Resume

This type of resume format is good for:

• Highlighting specific experience from a lengthy work history. 
• Changing careers or industries.
• Combining the best elements of the other two formats.

The hybrid resume is the best of both worlds. It combines the prominently featured work history section of the chronological resume and the skills section of the functional resume. Normally, the skills are listed in a bullet-point list above the work history section.

Deborah, the teacher-turned-nurse mentioned at the beginning of the story, would benefit from a hybrid resume. She doesn't want the job title "teacher" to be the first thing a hiring manager sees. Instead, by placing skills above work history, she can lead with the most relevant points. 

If you're getting ready to start your own job search, consider using our resume builder. It's fast, simple and uses templates that can accommodate all the formats discussed here.