How To Select the Best Resume Format
Every job seeker has a varied job history and background. Hiring managers for different industries or roles may have unique ways of evaluating candidates. No one-size-fits-all resume formatting works for every person or type of job. For example, someone looking for their first job in accounting might have a different resume template than a freelance writer or a human resources (HR) professional making a career change into health care.
There are generally three types of resume formats:
- Reverse chronological
- Functional
- Combination
The most common resume template is reverse chronological, which puts your most recent job history front and center in the document. In functional resume formats, your skills are the main focus. Finally, the combination resume formatting has elements of the other two.
Resume Format | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Reverse Chronological | Easy for recruiters to scan; shows job growth clearly | Gaps in employment or frequent job changes may stand out |
Functional | Highlights skills over gaps in employment | Often viewed with skepticism; lacks clarity in career progression |
Combination | Flexible, allows both skills and job history to be emphasized | May be difficult to organize cleanly, especially for candidates with extensive experience |
Avoid reverse chronological if: You’ve had long gaps in employment or frequent job changes.
Avoid functional if: You’re applying for jobs that require a clear career trajectory (e.g., managerial roles).
Avoid combination if: Your job history is long and linear, as it may create unnecessary complexity.
Learn more about these suitable resume formats and how to decide which is best for you based on your experience level, career goals, and industry.
1. Reverse chronological resume format
These formats are the top choice for most job seekers.
- It focuses on the most recent experience and illustrates how the person has progressed throughout their career.
- This resume format emphasizes work history and career accomplishments.
- It’s also the resume format that recruiters and hiring managers see most often.
Someone with limited hands-on experience or younger employees may be better suited to another format. However, it’s acceptable to include nontraditional work experiences such as side hustles, volunteer work, or internships in the professional experience section.
Sometimes, people may use something other than the reverse chronological resume format.
These include:
- Those making a drastic career change
- A person going from the military to the civilian workforce
- Independent contractors who service various clients
- Someone who was out of the workforce for several years
Here’s an example of a reverse chronological resume format:
Jessica Lang
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
New York, NY 12345
Skilled nursing professional with advanced knowledge of acute care, clinical workflows, pediatric care, and team collaboration. Developed a strong understanding of infection prevention protocols, electronic health records (EHR), and HIPAA.
Key Skills- Patient-centered care
- Communication
- Clinical operations
- Medication administration
- Wound care
Licensed Vocational Nurse, St. Joseph’s Assisted Living, New York, NY
November 2018 – Present
- Developed knowledge of acute care, patient education, and clinical operations while working in a fast-paced health care environment
- Acquired strong team collaboration and communication skills by working with patients and teams
- Advanced understanding of EHR, HIPAA, and patient intake protocols
Licensed Vocational Nurse, Fair Acres Retirement Community, New York, NY
June 2016 – November 2018
- Obtained a strong knowledge of cardiac care and orthopedic care while working in a senior living facility
- Cultivated advanced understanding of patient-centered care standards
- Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), State of New York, License #123456
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Nursing
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2012 – June 2016
2. Functional resume format
Rather than a chronological job history, the functional resume format highlights the job seeker’s skill sets. It usually lists a skill (for example, technical support, patient relations, or a foreign language) and then shares some bullet points from their past work that demonstrate that skill.
Then, below all the skills, a quick, reverse chronological list of jobs (with just the employer name and dates) appears without further context.
Functional resume formats are not commonly used and can even be off-putting to recruiters because they are so unconventional. This format makes it challenging to understand one’s career progression clearly. Ultimately, the functional resume format can raise more questions than answers, and busy hiring managers may move on to other candidates who present a clearer picture of their accomplishments.
Here’s a functional resume format example:
Selena Ramirez
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
San Francisco, CA 12345
A digital marketing manager with eight years of experience specializing in marketing strategy, email campaigns, search engine optimization (SEO) marketing, and A/B testing. A proven track record of building and leading dynamic marketing teams to execute digital campaigns for multi-million-dollar businesses.
Professional ExperienceDigital Marketing Manager, Radiant Software Corp., San Francisco, CA
October 2016 – Present
- Lead digital marketing campaigns across paid search, display, and programmatic marketing channels for a software company, resulting in a 20% increase in lead conversions and $2 million in pipeline revenue
- Coordinate with the director of marketing to define digital advertising strategy for new products and services and enhance market penetration
- Improve web traffic by 400% over a two-year span and achieve open rates of 13% and click rates of 3.1% for email blasts
Digital Marketing Manager, Bay Area Marketing Inc., San Francisco, CA
May 2011 – October 2016
- Partnered with product marketing teams and the marketing director to establish a brand identity centered on integrity and transparency
- Collaborated with the data analytics team to build dashboards incorporating data from the customer relationship management (CRM), Google, and social media accounts to enhance reporting
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Digital Marketing
University of San Francisco, CA May 2011
- Brand marketing
- SEO
- Lead generation
- Digital marketing campaigns
- Social media marketing
3. Combination resume format
Reverse chronological resume formats may be challenging for someone without a linear job history. Perhaps you’ve had a couple of stops and starts, or you changed to a new industry. It could also be that you need jobs to add. In those situations, a combination resume format could be effective.
As the name implies, the combination resume format combines elements of reverse chronological and functional resume templates. It allows for more flexibility to move resume sections around rather than diving right into a list of professional experiences.
For someone just starting, you could provide details about an academic project closely aligned with the role you’re seeking rather than beginning with the random part-time jobs you worked during college. Career changers entering a new industry should mention the new skills that have prepared them for their transition rather than making the reader skim past a long list of their jobs in the former sector.
Here’s a combination resume example:
Amar Singh
San Francisco, CA 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
Strategic diversity manager with over seven years of advancement and experience at large corporations. Equally effective in a leadership or hands-on role. Adapt readily to new work challenges and industry conditions.
Key Skills- Business change leadership
- Cultural awareness campaigns
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
- Employee engagement
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
- Executive consulting
- HR administration
- Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS)
- Policy development and interpretation
- Project and program management
- Regulatory compliance
- Staff recruiting
- Stakeholder relations management
- Talent retention
- Targeted resource allocation
- Team leadership and motivation
- Work culture improvement
- Workforce planning and scheduling
NKN Corporation, San Francisco, CA | September 2015 to Present
Diversity Manager (November 2017 to Present)
- Coordinate diversity and inclusion initiatives for a large, complex organization with presence in seven countries
- Drive cultural awareness campaigns to promote understanding and cooperation among a geographically dispersed workforce
- Introduced a more flexible enterprise-wide policy governing staff holidays and work from home (WFH) preferences. Measure boosted staff morale, enhanced manager-employee relations, and helped the company place in the city’s “Best 50 Places to Work” in 2019
- Grew department by recruiting and onboarding five new team members
- Member of leadership team that repositioned HR as a strategic partner to the wider enterprise
Human Resources Associate (September 2015 to November 2017)
- Gained strong foundation in recruiting and employee relations principles
Bachelor’s Degree – Business Administration, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Professional in Human Resources (PHR), HRCI
AffiliationMember, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
4. Best resume format for entry-level job seekers
Entry-level job seekers can use a reverse chronological format for resumes since that’s the most well-known option. You can include both jobs you’ve held and industry-related internships on an entry-level resume.
If you have limited hands-on experience, you can also focus on volunteer positions you held in college or academic projects you’ve done. In those cases, a suitable resume format might be a combination resume.
Here’s an entry-level resume example:
Jane Smith
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Athens, OH 12345
- Recent internship experience supporting editorial operations of a popular magazine
- Completing Bachelor’s Degree in English and Creative Writing from Ohio University
- Co-curricular activities include helping write and publish the university’s main campus newspaper
- Committed to continually gaining and applying new skills
- Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish
- Efficiency improvement
- Fact-checking and proofreading
- Independent research
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
- Office administration
- Process streamlining
- Team collaboration
- Writing and editing
Editorial Intern, Regional Floral Magazine, Lancaster, OH
May 2022 to August 2022
- Helped manage the magazine’s main email account, responding to feedback and providing subscription information as needed
- Answered and forwarded calls to the appropriate department
- Maintained and updated subscription rolls
- Organized meetings and verified sources for reporters
Candidate: Bachelor of Arts (BA) – English, Creative Writing, Ohio University, Athens, OH | expected May 2023
Winner, Campus Award for Long-Form Fiction (2022)
Runner-up, Campus Award for Excellence in Poetry (2021)
Select coursework:
- Children’s fiction
- Fiction workshopping
- Poetry and drama
- Prose and nonfiction
- Short story writing
Co-Curricular Activity
Staff Writer, OU News | 2021 to present [Biweekly college newspaper]
- Provide copy for various sections, including arts, athletics, and editorial
- Work with photo editors to determine placement with accompanying text
Fluency in Spanish
5. Best resume format for senior-level professionals
With several years of job history — especially if it demonstrates career growth over time — a reverse chronological format is ideal for senior-level professionals. Resume template readers can see what you did in your most recent role and the path you took to get there. “Corporate climber” types can benefit from their work history being the focal point of the document.
If you’ve made a career change or had a significant gap in your working years due to a layoff, consider using a combination resume format. The key is to find the right balance of illustrating your qualifications for the role you seek while showcasing your prior achievements. Even if you have done varied work, your past accomplishments are worth sharing as long as you can illustrate your value to previous organizations.
Here’s a senior-level resume example:
John Bergsen
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Philadelphia, PA 12345
A vice president with over 10 years of experience within the banking industry, specializing in financial analysis, investment strategy, marketing, and regulatory compliance. A proven track record of building relationships with enterprise customers and identifying opportunities to enhance the growth of client portfolios.
Professional ExperienceVice President, Trust Bank, Philadelphia, PA
October 2016 – Present
- Oversee all aspects of client relationships for over 15 accounts valued at $20 million, expand revenue opportunities, conduct due diligence, and led client implementations to generate an additional $1.2 million in annual revenue
- Lead projects for client initiatives, serve as a liaison between client and business units to ensure successful implementation, and manage stakeholder expectations
- Coordinate cross-functionally with legal, enterprise risk, and compliance teams to mitigate financial risks and ensure regulatory compliance.
Senior Director, Corbin Financial, Philadelphia, PA
June 2013 – October 2016
- Managed and developed client relationships generating over $24 million in annual revenue for a leading investment firm, educated clients on new product capabilities and risk analytic tools, and successfully grew portfolio by $5 million
- Collaborated with product development, sales, and technology teams to expand product offerings, enhance the RFP process, and develop new value-added services
- Certified International Investment Analyst (CIIA), ACIIA, 2016
- Certified Fund Specialist (CFS), IBF, 2013
- Investment banking
- Regulatory compliance
- Stakeholder management
- Client relations
- Profit and loss (P&L) management
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA June 2013
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Finance
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA June 2011
6. Should I use a one-page or two-page resume?
Contrary to some popular views, there is no perfect resume length — a suitable resume format means that it should be as long as it needs to be. Someone with several years of experience will likely have a resume that runs two pages, while those seeking work at the entry level should fit everything onto one page.
If you barely run over one page, you can edit or play around with spacing to get everything to fit neatly on one page. First, there may be repetitive details or some you need to include.
Likewise, if you’re going between halfway to three-quarters of the way onto page two, see if you can space out the information so that it fits nicely. Only pad an otherwise suitable resume format with personal details like hobbies or interests if they relate to the job. Instead, brainstorm any additional items that can help promote your skills.
Here’s a one-page resume example:
Mark Johnson
(123) 555-7890 | [email protected] | San Francisco, CA 94105 | LinkedIn
Seasoned executive with an MBA from Harvard Business School and extensive experience at leading consulting firms such as Deloitte and Bain & Company. Expert in financial management, business development, and stakeholder relations, focusing on increasing operational efficiency and client satisfaction.
Key Skills- Business development
- Financial management
- Project management
- Stakeholder relations
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
Senior Manager, Deloitte, San Francisco, CA | June 2015 to present
- Led a team of 15 professionals, developing and implementing strategic plans that increased department efficiency by 20%
- Managed communication between upper management and team members, ensuring alignment with strategic goals
- Made process improvements that resulted in a 15% increase in client satisfaction
Associate Consultant, Bain & Company, Boston, MA | June 2012 to May 2015
- Helped develop strategic plans, leading to a 25% increase in operational efficiency for clients
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to solve complex business problems, increasing client retention by 30%
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Harvard Business School, Boston, MA | 2015
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley, CA | 2012
7. How to select the best resume formatting for your industry
While reverse chronological and combination are suitable resume formats that can work in any industry, there may be situations where one is more advantageous. First, research resume templates for your position and skill level to see other people’s approaches.
If you’ve amassed different skills within your industry, using a combination resume that emphasizes different aptitudes, such as cybersecurity and customer service, could make sense. The same goes for a construction project manager who prefers to feature your projects and outcomes at the top of the document instead of going straight into your employee history.
Otherwise, you can go right with the tried-and-true reverse chronological format when in doubt. Industries and roles often dictate the best resume formatting practices:
Tech industry
- Recommended format: Combination (skills and projects first, followed by job history).
- Focus areas: Technical skills (e.g., Python, Amazon Web Services) and project accomplishments.
- Why it works: Emphasizes key proficiencies and practical contributions, crucial in tech.
Creative fields (such as marketing and design)
- Recommended format: Reverse chronological or combination with design elements.
- Focus areas: Skills (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, branding) and a portfolio link.
- Why it works: Balances creativity and professionalism; visual appeal shows design skills.
Finance or law
- Recommended format: Reverse chronological.
- Focus areas: Career progression, quantifiable results (e.g., revenue growth, case outcomes), certifications.
- Why it works: Highlights job stability and achievements valued in traditional industries.
Education and nonprofits
- Recommended format: Combination (skills and work history).
- Focus areas: Key skills (e.g., curriculum development, grant writing) and measurable impact.
- Why it works: Emphasizes community contributions and diverse skill sets.
Trades and skilled labor
- Recommended format: Reverse chronological.
- Focus areas: Certifications (e.g., OSHA), specific job-site skills, safety records.
- Why it works: Shows hands-on experience and reliability, essential in skilled labor roles.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Resume Format
How far back should a resume go?-
The number of years back resume templates should go depend on the role's required experience and your employment background. Always tailor your resume formatting to at least the years the role requires. If the role asks for over 10 years of experience in project management, for example, go back at least 10 years and up to 15 on your document.
Unless the role explicitly requires more than 15 years of experience, it's generally best to consider this a hard cap on how far back your resume templates should go to avoid potential age discrimination. If you have relevant work experience to put on a resume that is farther back than this, consider adding that experience and accomplishments to a career achievements section that doesn't include dates.
What font and design elements are appropriate for a resume?-
In addition to choosing a resume format, you'll need to consider the overall design of your document. Visual appeal is essential, and your resume formatting should naturally lead the hiring manager through the document without being too cramped or forcing them to hunt for information. Clear headers help separate the different sections, and using bold, italics, all caps, and underlining can break up the text.
Unless you're applying for a visual creative position, such as a graphic designer, it's best to keep your resume template simple and professional. Some additional tips:
- For some positions, it's OK to have one muted color on resume templates, but senior- and executive-level applicants should stick to black and white.
- Use a traditional font that's simple and easy to read. Calibri, Arial, and Times New Roman are always solid choices.
- To avoid formatting issues on the hiring manager's end, either provide a direct Google Docs link to your resume templates or download and send them as PDF attachments.
It can also help to get a second opinion on your overall resume format and design from a manager or executive in your field. They can ensure that your resume template meets the professional standards for the industry and give you feedback on any changes that could make it even better.
Should you include references on your resume?-
While it used to be common practice to list references on your resume preemptively, this has fallen by the wayside in modern hiring practices. Instead, create a separate document that lists your references and their contact information. Provide this document to the hiring manager if and when you’re asked for resumes. After the interview, you may also attach the references list to the thank-you email.
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