What are the most popular resume formats?
The three most popular resume formats are functional, chronological, and combination. Think about your professional background and the position you’re applying for when selecting a resume format. For instance, if you have little work experience, a functional resume, which places less emphasis on job history, might instead highlight your academic accomplishments, volunteer work, or apprenticeships.
Resume format 1: Chronological resume
A chronological resume shows your professional history in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent job you held. This is the most traditional resume format and for many years remained the most common.
A chronological resume format usually includes the following information in this order:
- Contact information
- Objective or summary statement
- Relevant skills
- Professional experience
- Education
- Additional information such as volunteer work and special interests
Related link: Creating Video Resume: A Beginner’s Guide
Resume format 2: Functional resume
Functional resumes place more emphasis on applicable abilities than work experience. The functional structure concentrates on the applicant’s skill set pertinent to the role you are seeking for, while the chronological approach promotes work experience with thorough summaries of the achievements within each position.
A functional resume format usually includes the following information in this order:
- Contact information
- Objective or summary statement
- Summary of relevant skills
- Work experience
- Education
- Additional information such as volunteer work and special interests
Resume format 3: Combination resume
A combination resume is a blend of the chronological and functional resume types. You can highlight your relevant talents and professional experience with this resume format. It may be necessary to omit optional parts like a summary statement, volunteer experience, or special interests because your abilities and career history will take up the majority of the available space on your resume.
A combination resume format usually includes the following information in this order:
- Contact information
- Objective or summary statement
- Summary of most relevant skills
- Work experience
- Education