Best Resume Format to Find a Job (Templates + Tips)

The chronological resume is always a popular choice.

Also known as the reverse-chronological format, you start with your most recent job and work backward. The layout is a hit with recruiters because it clearly lays out the steps in your career journey.

Here’s how to structure a chronological resume:

1. Contact information.
2. Professional summary.
3. Work history.
4. Skills.
5. Education.
6. Additional sections, like projects, certifications and so on.

After the header, the chronological resume format kicks off with a professional summary — a one-paragraph overview of your career high points. Then, you have a substantial work history section, beginning with your most recent job and working backward.

Skills and education are also included, although less prominently than work history.

Writing tips for a reverse-chronological resume

1. Emphasize career progression when you put work experience on your resume. Start with your current or most recent role, then list your previous roles. Put each job title in bold so the reader’s eyes are drawn to them.
2. Quantify your achievements throughout your work history. It’s one thing to describe your job duties — it’s even better to show exactly how you made an impact.
3. Use bullet points to make your achievements easier to spot at a glance. Each bullet should start off with an action word like “managed,” “developed” and “led” to make your achievements feel even more dynamic.

Finally, let’s consider the good and bad of choosing this format.

With this format, your skills take center stage.

Also known as the skills-based resume, the functional format turns the focus on your abilities and achievements, not your job history.

Ideal for those starting out, like new graduates or first-time job seekers. It puts your skills and education in the spotlight — perfect if your work experience is limited.

Here’s how to structure a skills-based resume

1. Contact information.
2. Resume objective.
3. Summary of qualifications.
4. Skills.
5. Education.
6. Work experience (if any).
7. Additional sections, like languages, hobbies and so on.

In a functional resume format, a resume objective usually follows the contact info. Objectives are more goal-oriented than a professional summary. The centerpiece is your skill set, which you can further highlight in a summary of qualifications or multiple skills sections. Work history is included but takes a back seat.

Finally, you might want to build out your education section with relevant coursework and even your GPA if it’s impressive.

Writing tips for a skills-based resume

1. Provide examples of how you used each skill in your skills section. On a functional format, skills are everything, so it’s important to show how you applied the skill in or outside the workplace.
2. Add a brief work history if you’ve held a job or two. Just because the resume is skills-focused doesn’t mean you should leave out your time in the workplace. Whether you’ve held a job or simply a short-term volunteering gig, add it to your resume.
3. Customize your resume for every role. This goes for all three formats, but it’s even more important for a skills-based resume. Read the job description closely for important skills and abilities. Add those skills to your resume. They’ll be different in each application.

Next, we’ll consider the pros and cons of a skills-based format.

Ever heard of the hybrid resume? That’s this one.

Also known as the hybrid resume, this format merges the best of chronological and functional resumes. It balances your work history with your skills, showing how they complement each other.

Perfect for those with a mix of experience or at a midcareer level, it allows you to present a complete, well-rounded professional story.

Here’s how to structure a combination resume:

1. Contact information.
2. Professional summary or resume objective.
3. Work history and skills (given equal weight).
4. Education.
5. Additional sections, like awards, volunteer experience and more.

In a combination resume format, a resume objective or a professional summary usually follows the contact info, depending on whether you have relevant experience yet. The centerpiece of this format is both your skill set and work experience.

You can highlight your skills in their own section, in a summary of qualifications and in your work achievements. List your work experience in reverse-chronological order and display your responsibilities, impact and achievements in bullet points under each role.

Finally, if you’ve recently graduated, you might want to build out your education section with relevant coursework and your GPA if it’s 3.5 or higher.

Writing tips for a hybrid resume

1. Emphasize transferable skills. Link your previous experiences to your target role by citing skills you found in the job listing.
2. Give equal weight to skills and experience. The combination format brings the best of both worlds, which means your work history and skills section should get a similar amount of space.
3. Show off your adaptability in different roles and environments. You can do this by placing your skills section and summary of qualifications near the top of the page.

To wrap up, we’ll look at the positive and negative aspects of using a combination format.