chronological or hybrid resume format

How to write a Hybrid Resume (with instructions, tips, and examples)

If you are looking for a great way to highlight your best skills on your resume while showcasing a clear timeline of your career, you may want to learn how to write a hybrid resume.

For some job-seekers, showing that you have the right skills for the job you are applying for can be difficult. If your most recent position isn’t directly related to the job posting, it’s important to list your transferable skills, but your most relevant accomplishments might not have been in your most recent job. This requires some creativity when structuring and formatting your resume.

Fortunately, there is a great way to show your best skills while retaining a clear career history: the hybrid resume format.

The hybrid resume format opens with a robust Skills section, ensuring your transferable skills are emphasized, then follows with a reverse-chronological Work Experience section, listing your past positions in a logical order.

This article will explore:

• Resume formats
• The hybrid resume format
• Reasons to write a hybrid resume
• How to write a hybrid resume
• Hybrid resume templates and examples
• What is a hybrid resume?

A Hybrid resume is a resume that emphasizes skills over work experience, but retains a clear timeline of past positions.

To truly understand a Hybrid resume format, it’s important to understand the two other most common resume formats: the reverse-chronological resume format and the functional resume format.

The Reverse-chronological resume

A reverse-chronological resume, often incorrectly called a chronological resume, is a resume that focuses primarily on past jobs.

In a reverse-chronological resume, the Work Experience section is the largest and most important part of the resume, and past positions are listed in reverse-chronological order, beginning with the most recent job and working backwards. The resume may open with a Summary section or a short Skills section, but the Work Experience section will receive the most focus, particularly the most recent positions.

This is the most common resume format, and the one most job-seekers will use. It is the ideal resume format for people who have had a typical career path, where each position is a logical next step from the previous one.

The Functional resume

A functional resume, sometimes called a skills-based resume, is a resume that highlights skills over work experience. In a functional resume, the Skills section is the largest and most important part of the resume, while the Work Experience section is shorter and less detailed. Further, in a functional resume, jobs listed in the Work Experience section are ordered by relevance rather than chronology.

In a functional resume, the Skills section will be more detailed than in a reverse-chronological resume. Instead of a simple list of relevant skills, each skill area will be its own heading, and examples of your accomplishments or abilities in that skill area will be listed below. This makes the Skills section much longer and more important.

The functional resume is sometimes used by people with less traditional career paths, who may want to focus on their abilities rather than their recent positions. However, most employers prefer to see the dates of employment for recent positions, so this format is not popular.

Instead, if you want to emphasize skills over past jobs, you may want to write a Hybrid resume.

The Hybrid resume

A hybrid resume, sometimes called a combination resume, is a resume that combines the best features of the functional resume format and the reverse-chronological resume format. It begins with a long, detailed Skills section (like a functional resume), but still retains a reverse-chronological Work Experience section (like a reverse-chronological resume).

In a hybrid resume, your Skills section will be positioned above your Work Experience section. It will also be longer and more detailed. Like a functional resume, it will have detailed examples in the Skills section rather than a simple bulleted list of skills, and like a functional resume, entries in the Work Experience section will be short and less detailed. Unlike the functional resume, however, past jobs will still be listed in order.

This allows you to showcase your skills without obscuring your dates of employment and career journey.

If you want to highlight skills rather than work experience, consider writing a hybrid resume.

• Why should you write a hybrid resume?

You should write a hybrid resume if your career path has been unconventional or unusual and you feel that your skills are more important than your career timeline.

A hybrid resume allows you to emphasize all your best and most relevant skills right at the top of your resume with lots of detail, with less of a focus on the timing of specific accomplishments. This can be helpful when your most recent position isn’t directly relevant to the job you are applying to.

If you are changing careers, for example, a hybrid resume can help you highlight your most transferable skills better than your current position. Similarly, if you are returning to work after an absence, a hybrid resume will emphasize your existing skills. If you have a history of job-hopping, have worked in many different industries, or your work history has some long gaps in it, a hybrid resume format might work for you.

Now that you know what a hybrid resume is for and when you should use one, you are ready to start writing. When it’s time to write a hybrid resume, follow these steps:

1. Write a brief summary

While not strictly mandatory, it is a good idea to start your resume with a Summary section whether you are using a hybrid resume format or not. This section should be short, no longer than a few sentences or bullet points, and punchy. This is where you introduce yourself to an employer, listing a few important qualities, skills, or highlights from your career. If done well, your Summary section can be what hooks an employer and convinces them to read the rest of your resume.

2. Focus on your skills

In a hybrid resume, your Skills section is the most important part of the resume. It should be the largest section of the resume, positioned high on the first page and written with lots of detail.

In your Skills section, identify your most relevant and most impressive skill areas . Make each skill area a heading, then list examples or explanations underneath. For example, if you are applying for a sales role, you may want to include a section such as:

Sales and Marketing

• Successfully conducted over 150 new and resale transactions, achieving sales volumes exceeding $25M and selling 48% of the project's condominiums within the first year at York Simpson.
• Overcame buyer challenges, such as high property taxes and HOA fees, to secure 5 offers within 24 hours at York Simpson.
• Generated awareness of new properties through targeted in-print and online marketing strategies, effectively reaching potential buyers and increasing property visibility.
• Utilized strong negotiation skills to secure favorable deals for clients, resulting in high customer satisfaction and repeat business.
• Consistently met or exceeded sales targets, demonstrating a strong ability to drive results and achieve business objectives.

When coming up with examples of your skills, focus on your achievements in past roles. Your past accomplishments should contain examples of the skills you want to highlight for the position you are applying for.

Try to use concrete examples of your successes. This should include quantifiable details, like sales, revenue, team size, project budgets, or customer success scores. Any measurable details from past jobs will look great on a resume. They show not only that you are successful, but that you measure your success and track your performance, all attractive qualities in an employee.

Further, when describing past accomplishments, use active language as much as possible. Action words like spearheaded , overcame , conducted , and negotiated all characterize you as an independent worker who can take initiative. The way you describe your accomplishments is almost as important as the accomplishments themselves.

Throughout your Skills section, make sure to include both soft skills , the transferable skills that make you a great employee, and hard skills , the technical abilities that make you competent in your vocation. This will allow you to demonstrate that you are a well-rounded worker who would be an asset both in terms of your abilities and your personal attributes.

The Skills section is the centrepiece of a hybrid resume, so it’s important to get this section right.

3. List your previous work experience

In a hybrid resume, your Work Experience section is secondary to your Skills section. That doesn’t mean, however, that it isn’t important.

In your Work Experience section, list your previous positions in reverse-chronological order. For each item, include the

• Company name
• Dates of employment

Because your key accomplishments are all listed in your Skills section, it isn’t necessary to add more detail to your Work Experience entries. However, if you feel some explanation is needed, you can add a bullet point or two with some details about the specific roles.

4. Show your education

It’s important to list your education in your resume, even if it isn’t directly relevant to the job at hand. Academic credentials can still impress employers. In your Education section, list your degrees in reverse-chronological order. For each item, include the:

• Institution name

Dates are optional in your education section.

• Hybrid resume example

Jordan Armstrong is a Marketing Specialist with a strong background in marketing and management. With experience as a Marketing Manager and Assistant Manager at ACME, Jordan has demonstrated expertise in developing and implementing successful marketing strategies. They hold a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from State University. Their experience in marketing management, combined with their strong communication and problem-solving skills, make them a valuable asset to any organization.

• Developed and implemented strategic marketing campaigns, resulting in a 20% increase in brand awareness and customer engagement.
• Implemented a successful direct-mail follow-up program for new customers, resulting in a significant 55% increase in repeat business.
• Led and coordinated marketing operations, ensuring alignment with the company's brand, product, and service standards.
• Ensured consistency and professionalism in all marketing communications, avoiding industry-specific jargon for better comprehension.

Business development

• Maintained clear and open communication with stakeholders, ensuring a shared understanding of goals and objectives.
• Significantly improved customer satisfaction ranking from #10 to #3 among twelve branches, demonstrating exceptional customer service skills and dedication to enhancing the customer experience.
• Proactively sought customer recommendations, resulting in a 20% increase in referral business.
• Effectively communicated with customers through multi-lingual telephone and written correspondence, promptly addressing queries and resolving claims.
• Successfully managed high-performing teams, consistently delivering excellent results and maintaining the highest operational standards across all areas of business.
• Conducted regular performance evaluations and provided constructive feedback to team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and development.
• Utilized data-driven insights to identify areas for improvement and implemented targeted strategies to enhance overall store performance.
• Successfully improved staff retention rates at a high turnover store by effectively managing expectations, proactively addressing issues, and implementing a tracking and reward system to recognize employee progress.
• Implemented customer retention initiatives, resulting in a significant increase in customer retention figures from 70% to 94%, directly contributing to increased profits.
• Conducted comprehensive evaluations of employee productivity, identifying untapped potential and implementing strategies to maximize performance, resulting in a 33% increase in sales compared to the previous year.
• Consistently met or exceeded performance targets, including customer satisfaction ratings and sales quotas.
• Maintained clear and concise documentation of customer interactions and issue resolutions, facilitating efficient communication and knowledge sharing within the team.

Work Experience

Marketing Manager ACME May 2019 - Oct 2021

• Promoted to the role of Marketing Manager at ACME, contributing to the smooth operation of the organization.
• Led all marketing initiatives and strategies.

Assistant Manager ACME Nov 2016 - Apr 2019

• Supported the Manager in daily operations, ensuring efficient workflow and adherence to company policies.
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills by effectively managing a team of employees.

Customer Service Advisor PowerTrain Industries Jan 2007 - Jan 2010

Customer Service Advisor InfoCorp Jan 2004 - Dec 2006

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration State University

• Hybrid resume templates

If you are still looking for inspiration, here are some hybrid resume template examples to help you get started.

Hybrid resume template example 1

Hybrid resume template example 2

Hybrid resume template example 3

Community Success Manager & CV Writing Expert

Ben is a writer, customer success manager and CV writing expert with over 5 years of experience helping job-seekers create their best careers. He believes in the importance of a great resume summary and the power of coffee.

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Chronological Resume - Writing Guide With 5 Free Templates

The chronological resume - also known as the “reverse chronological resume” - is the most popular resume format out there.

Particularly advisable for those with rich work history, the chronological resume prioritizes and lists your work experience and achievements from most to least recent.

This article is here to teach you all there is to know about creating a chronological resume.

• What is a Chronological Resume? 

Chronological Resume Structure 

• When to Use a Chronological Resume Format? 
• 4 Free Chronological Resume Templates
• How to Create a Chronological Resume - Step by Step
• 9+ Chronological Resume Examples for All Industries

What is a Chronological Resume?

A chronological resume lists your work experiences and achievements starting from the current or most recent one, and following up with previous jobs below.

For this exact reason, the chronological resume is the perfect choice for job-seekers who have plenty of experience and achievements to list on their resume .  

What’s most important, studies point to the chronological resume being a favorite among recruiters, too.

Why? Well, because you are applying for a job, so work experience in your resume will be the first thing a recruiter looks out for.

But worry not, you can structure your resume in a chronological format even as a recent graduate too. Or, you can opt for other popular formats fitter to your profile.

But first, let’s go through the basics. 

The chronological resume follows a straightforward structure. The only thing to keep in mind is that your current or most recent experience - be it professional or educational - comes first.

The second most recent will follow, and so on.

Here are the main and most popular sections for the chronological resume structure:

• Contact information
• Professional title and resume summary/objective
• Work experience and achievements
• Education section
• Your top soft/hard skills
• Include optional sections (languages, certificates, volunteer experience, etc)

If you’re a recent college graduate and want to build your resume in the chronological structure format, you still can.

All you have to do is rearrange the order of your resume sections so that the education resume section comes first.

Here, too, make sure that your education entries are listed from the most to least recent, and you’re good to go!

If reading this is already looking too complicated and time-consuming, try out the Novorésumé online resume builder . Novorésumé provides 8+ free resume templates that follow the chronological resume structure. 

When to Use a Chronological Resume Format

The three main types of resume formats are the chronological, functional/skills-based one, and a combination resume format of the two. What you choose to use will depend on the type of job you are applying for and your experience level.

In the majority of cases, the obvious choice is the chronological resume. It is common, it highlights just the right sections, and job recruiters prefer it over the other formats.

Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean you should just cross the other options off your list, especially if your work experience doesn’t amount to much.

Consider these other two formats, taking into account their advantages and disadvantages as well: 

Functional Resume

• Perfect for students or recent graduates, as it highlights your skills. 
• Offers creative space for a varied portfolio 
• Difficult to pass through the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) that most companies use to scan through countless resumes they receive daily. 
• It conceals your experiences, however minor they might be. 

Combination Resume

• A great choice for job-seekers with a diverse skill-set, because it highlights both skills and experiences. 
• It can mask gaps in your employment history since you can also list your skills, so it’s the second-best option for those who lack work experience. 
• It is a really good fit only for highly specialized professionals who have a very diverse skill-set. Say, for example, that you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in 3-4 different fields, and you want to show all that in your resume - then, the combination resume really is the one for you.
• It is hard to organize. As a professional with a diverse skill-set, it might be a challenge to decide which part of your expertise to prioritize in the combination resume format.

4 Chronological Resume Templates 

Below, you will find 5 chronological resume templates out of many free resume templates. Dig right in to find the best match for you. 

#1. Creative Chronological Resume Template 

#2: Modern Chronological Resume Template 

#3: Professional Chronological Resume Template

#4: Functional Chronological Resume Template

How to Create a Chronological Resume

Now that we mentioned the traditional structure, let’s go through each section one by one to create the perfect chronological resume. 

#1: Start With a Contact Information Section 

Depending on the template you have chosen for your chronological resume, there is a possibility that your name will be directly followed by your professional title right at the top.

How do you fill up your professional title in chronological resume format? Easy. If you’re not looking to change career paths your professional title should be your current title. However, if you’re changing career paths, then choosing the combination resume mentioned above might be a better option for you.

Regarding the rest of the contact information section on your chronological resume, it should be current and lacking any typos. The mandatory elements of the information section include: 

• First and last name
• Phone number
• Email address
• LinkedIn URL (optional)

#2: Add a Resume Summary or Resume Objective

  Second in the chronological resume comes your ‘profile’ as a candidate, which is expressed through a resume summary or a resume objective .

Wondering what the difference is?

Well, the summary is a short (2-3 sentences) overview of your career so far and it is used in 90% of resumes - especially by those with two or more years of work experience. A summary is a perfect fit for the chronological resume.

On the contrary, a resume objective represents your aspirational career goal and highlights your skills, making it perfect for entry-level professionals with little work experience, or job-seekers looking to completely switch career paths. 

#3: Fill in Your Work Experience 

This is, without a doubt, the section that weighs the most when it comes to the chronological resume, so it’s vital that you get it right.

Your work experience section is there to show the recruiter what you can bring to the table through your past accomplishments and responsibilities and what the company would be gaining were they to hire you.   

Feeling pressured? Don’t. There are many practices to help your work experience section stand out in the eyes of the recruiter.

If you are looking for more tips and tricks to help you take your resume to the next level, head over to our beginner’s guide on how to write a resume . 

Here are the key points you should keep in mind when it comes to the work section:

• This is the most important so we’ll be repeating it as many times as it takes: your current or latest job position should be placed on top. Then come the previous ones, all the way to your earliest job position. 
• For each entry, list your job title and position, the company and its location, as well as the dates when you were employed. 
• List your achievements and responsibilities, with a higher focus on quantifiable achievements, whenever you can. 
• Use bullet points instead of just text to express what you have achieved and what you were responsible for in every job entry. 
• Tailor the resume to the position you are applying for. For example, if you’ve had too many jobs in the past and some of them don’t relate to the field you are now applying for, then they are just taking space. Feel free to omit them.

Here’s a close-up of a work experience section in the chronological resume:   

#4: Add an Education Section

Generally, the education section comes right after work experience. 

If, however, you have just graduated college and want to create a chronological resume to start applying for jobs, the education section can replace the experience section that you’d be lacking. 

Either way, the education section should be brief but jam-packed with information that can communicate your values and skills to the recruiter.

Here’s what the education section consists of: 

• Program Name: E.g. “MA in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies” 
• University Name: E.g. “University of Greenwich”
• Period Attended: E.g. “08/1214 - 05/2018”
• (Optional) GPA: E.g. “3.9 GPA”
• (Optional) Honors: E.g. “ Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude”
• (Optional) Academic Achievements: E.g. Papers you might have published, or awards received.  
• (Optional) Minor: E.g. “Minor in Political Science”  

#5: Spice Up Your Chronological Resume With Your Skills

Needless to say, the reverse-chronological order doesn’t really apply in the skills section. 

What you can do, however, is begin by listing your hard skills and then your soft skills. 

Unsure of what this means? 

• Hard skills are measurable abilities. These can range from programming in Python language to knowing how to use Photoshop and InDesign.
• Soft skills are personal skills. They vary from attitude to flexibility, motivation and teamwork. 

Listing your skills has its own peculiarities, so don’t pay this section less attention than the ones above it, especially if you’re a recent college student. Pay attention to skills specifically required at the job ad and if you have them, make sure to include them. 

Here’s an example of how your skills section can look like:  

#6: Include Any of These Optional Sections

Last but not least, come these optional sections.  

Having them in your resume can earn you extra points and even separate you from the competitors, but only if they don’t make your resume longer than it should be (1-2 pages maximum) and if they are relevant to the job position.

Some of those sections include (but are not limited to):

• Languages : If you speak two or more languages, don’t fail to put that in your resume. To list them, simply categorize your proficiency level into native, fluent, proficient, intermediate, or basic . 
• Hobbies & Interests : They can help humanize you and show a part of your personality that work and education can’t. If
• Volunteering Experience : Studies show that volunteering experience actually raises your chances of getting hired . 
• Certification & Awards : If you have awards that make you stand out in your field or certifications from experts that are relevant to the position you are applying for, don’t hesitate to show them off!

Not sure how adding volunteering experience works? Check our article on how to list volunteer experience on your resume .  

10 Chronological Resume Examples for All Industries

Now let us walk you through a few practical examples of what the chronological resume looks like depending on the industry. 

#1. Business Chronological Resume

In the world of business, accomplishments matter. This is why in this business chronological resume , the work experience section is jam-packed with measurable information on what the employee achieved in his previous professional experiences. 

#2. Computer Science Chronological Resume

Computer science jobs are heavily based on hard skills - in addition to your previous work experiences, that is. So, make sure to include your hard skills on your computer science resume to impress recruiters. 

#3. Architect Chronological Resume 

As you can see from the example above, the sections that follow your work experience and education can be placed according to your profile. If, for example, you’ve worked on some side projects that you feel do your resume more justice than your skills, feel free to prioritize those projects.

In this article, you can find what’s expected from an architect’s resume in more detail.

#4. Nurse Chronological Resume  

Action verbs can really make an active professional like that of a nurse shine. So when you list your achievements under your experience, use strong verbs that can paint a picture of who you are and what you can do.

#5. Pharmacist Chronological Resume 

With plenty of attributes up their sleeve, the chronological format is the perfect choice for a pharmacist’s resume . 

#6. Project Manager Chronological Resume 

Project manager resumes have good chances to show industry expertise - given they hold the manager title - and highlight successful projects. Feel free to do both in your chronological resume, as shown above. 

#7. Web Developer Chronological Resume

As you can see in the example, the candidate has chosen to place his courses and training above his education. When you have followed courses or have been trained in the exact field of work where you’re applying, it makes sense to rank the field-specific courses and training higher than your university education. 

This article has more information on how to perfect your Web Developer Resume .

#8. Teacher Chronological Resume 

This is another “special” example of a chronological resume. Right after the experience section, the candidate has listed their volunteering experience. Not normally the case, it makes sense here because the volunteering experience has been as a tutor - which is pretty much the same thing as a teacher in the teacher resume . 

In cases when your volunteering experience is directly connected to the job you are applying for, feel free to list it under professional experience as well. 

#9. Bar Manager Chronological Resume 

For more info on how to update your own bar manager chronological resume for 2024, this is the article for you. 

#10. Human Resources Chronological Resume

The example says it all: the chronological resume does wonders showing the peak of your work experience first, and then going back to your professional history and skills. This article on the HR chronological resume has more tips on how to perfect it.

Discover More Resume Templates

• Combination Resume Templates
• Creative Resume Templates
• Functional Resume Templates
• Minimalistic Resume Templates
• High School Resume Templates
• One Page Resume Templates
• 2 Page Resume Templates
• Google Docs Resume Templates
• Word Resume Templates

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! 

Let’s do a quick recap of the main points covered in this article: 

• The chronological resume - or reverse chronological - is a top choice among candidates with years of professional experience and a favorite among recruiters.
• The chronological resume focuses on your work experience, starting your current or most recent one, and following up with the rest - from most to least recent.
• Recent college graduates that want to use this format can - simply replace the work section with the education section, following the same reverse-chronological order.
• Save time and energy building the reverse chronological resume from scratch by using online resume builders , such as the one Novorésumé offers.   

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How to Create a Combination Resume (+6 Unique Hybrid Resume Examples)

What is a Combination Resume?

Why should you use the combination resume format, the key factors of a combination resume, is a combination resume right for you, advantages of a combination resume, disadvantages of a combination resume, how to create a combination resume step-by-step, 6 hybrid example case studies from enhancv, additional tips to perfect your hybrid resume.

Thinking about creating a combination resume that works?

Before you go in guns-blazing, you should understand this:

The combination resume format won’t work well if you have very little work experience to show for.

Seeing what resume formats are available, you’ll either be working with a chronological resume or a functional skills-based resume .

Or, there’s the combination resume – this is also known as the hybrid resume.

These resumes aren’t easy to make, but at the same time, it’s not as hard as you would think.

In this ultimate guide we’ll cover:

• What is a combination resume?
• Why should you use the combination resume format?
• The key factors of a combination resume
• Is a combination resume right for you?
• Advantages of a combination resume
• Disadvantages of a combination resume
• How to create a combination resume step-by-step
• 6 Hybrid Resume Case Studies From Enhancv
• Additional tips to perfect your hybrid resume

Wait, are you feeling a bit overwhelmed?

No worries! You can skip ahead and start by finding a proven resume for your profession in our megalist of 530+ examples here.

“I love it and would recommend it for anyone, it’s so much better than a droll traditional resume.” – Mark Cuban

BUILD MY RESUME NOW

Are you ready to start? Let’s dive straight into it!

As mentioned, combination resumes are also known and referred to as hybrid resumes.

This type of resume combines the key elements from a traditional functional resume and the chronological resume format to highlight both your skills and employment history.

Here’s a quick recap:

The functional skills-based resume focuses on highlighting the candidate’s strongest skills and recent experiences for the new career they’re seeking. Whereas, the chronological resume format focuses on the chronological order of the applicant’s most relevant work history in their career timeline. Employers mainly want to see the roles you take on develop as you handle more responsibilities over time.

When you put both of those core components together from both types of resumes, you get the combination resume. This means it merges the emphasis from both your resume skills and employment history that are most suited for your next job position.

The combination resume is the perfect in-between for hiring managers who are strict on the resume format rules. It also works well for those who need more flexibility on their resumes.

One easy way to think about it is Goldilocks testing the resumes between three bears. And out of all of them, the combination resume would be “just about right”.

Every resume format comes with its own benefits and setbacks. They can either take you one step closer to landing your job or one step further if you do it wrong.

With the hybrid resume, one clear advantage is that you have a well-balanced, all-rounded resume to catch the job recruiter’s eye. Unlike the applicants who use the functional resume, any small gaps you have in employment won’t be as noticeable.

And, it indicates to recruiters that you have a steady, consistent work history – alongside a positive track record.

With this in mind, you can showcase both your employment experiences confidently while emphasizing your strengths. This way, employers can see the amount of value you’ll bring over to their organization. Not just in one particular aspect, but through multiple features throughout your resume sections that are as good as one another.

You may have already noticed, but the combination resume is composed from 2 particular formats merged. These are:

• The functional resume format
• The reverse-chronological resume format

In comparison, the combination resume maintains a balance between both of these resume format objectives and aspects. Therefore, it’s not one-siding or overshadowing one factor over the other.

Check out the grid below to see a comparison of how each of these resume formats differentiates from each other with their criteria:

Although the combination resume creates a solid overall impression, it’s not for everyone. Ideally, it should be used for those who want to prioritize highlighting their skills, qualities and the level of value behind their capabilities they have to offer.

If you want the recruiters to have more recognition in your work experiences, it makes more sense to stick to a chronological resume format.

However, the reason why a combination resume works so effectively is that it gives employers valuable insights. By this, I’m referring to the fact that you have relevant work experience and skills they can quickly identify.

I’ve listed out the 3 reasons for when the hybrid resume is most ideal for you to use. If you don’t fit into any of the categories, it’s worth reconsidering.

You're considering switching careers significantly or applying to head into a different industry

In this situation, you could test between the skills-based resume and combination resume. Try to see which one has a higher response rate and if one performs better than the other.

If you’re someone who has significant gaps in your career, go for the functional resume. It helps with showing you’re more than capable for the job even if you don’t meet all the desired requirements.

On the other hand, if you’re the opposite then the functional skills-based resume isn’t your only option. If you’re confident that your record is positive and there aren’t major openings within your professional background, a combination resume is more recommended.

Using the combination resume is generally better for getting the recruiters attention because they can see you have an impressive employment timeline overall. You’re also able to present the information at hand, so that puts you one step closer for an interview.

You're a new college or university graduate or someone with some relevant work experience.

Have you just graduated from university or college? Or are you someone who has work experience, but still feel that it’s not enough?

Well, I’ve got some news for you…

The combination resume would work for you in any of these scenarios. It just depends on one condition:

Do you have any professional corporate experiences in the workforce for at least one year? And are any of them relevant to the job title you desire?

This also includes internships and volunteering experiences …

And, if the answer is yes to any of the above, the combination resume would be applicable for you!

Ultimately, you’ve done work that’s aligned with the responsibilities you’re soon going to take anyway. Employers will see that as invaluable – it’s not something easily replaced through something like a hobby or skills section.

Compared to the other applicants who may have no relevant experiences at all, you can provide those details that others can’t. It sets you one step ahead of the competition so you can land that new job and get hired!

Job recruiters will know that you have the skills to take on the expected tasks, responsibilities and duties.

Because you’re using a combination resume that implicates both your skills and experiences you have to support those statements.

No matter how minimal it may be, that information is enough to enable employers to conclude that you have a good understanding of what needs to be done. You’re not a complete amateur, but you’re someone who knows what to do.

My recommendation is that, if you have between 1-3 years of work experience, the combination resume should work for you. Anything less than that, you’re probably better off using the functional resume. And in opposition, if you have tons of work experience, you may want to consider sticking to the chronological resume format.

I’ve mentioned it earlier but I’ll say it again: one thing you can do is have more than one resume. See which resume performs better for the industry you’re targeting, and stick to the results or trends you’re seeing.

You have a positive employment record

Combination resumes are most ideal for job seekers who have a positive employment record. If you use a functional resume format when you have a solid career history, you’re technically reducing the value behind those experiences because it’s not built for you to emphasize those details.

By using a hybrid resume, it allows you to highlight the information behind your professional background and skills simultaneously.

There are several benefits gained from using a combination resume. We’ll take a look at what each of these main benefits is so you can maximize and make the most out of this resume format when creating your own.

Some hiring managers don’t accept the functional skills-based resume format, but it’s a different story when it comes to the combination resume.

These templates are sometimes preferred because they don’t try to shift the recruiter’s focus or conceal things the applicant is intentionally concealing.

With the hybrid resume, there’s nothing for the reader to suspect or doubt. All the information to reinforce your statements that they’re looking for will be shown through your experiences.

Changing careers or heading to a new industry

With an equal focus on your career history and skills, the hybrid resume is the perfect choice when changing careers. Using this format, you can showcase the transferable skills you’ve built-up that will be relevant for your new position.

This becomes particularly beneficial if your experience doesn’t appear immediately relevant. For example, discussing all of your sales experience when applying for an operations role. In these circumstances, discussing your skills at the beginning of your resume will be most impactful.

Take a look at the tech resume template Sam used which enabled him to switch from investment banking to working for Spotify:

With the Enhancv resume builder , you can adjust the format to put specific sections in the spotlight. The minimal and clean design also makes it highly readable, and it’s how it even caught the attention of a billionaire.

Since it’s easy to rearrange, Mark used his most recent job titles and experiences and integrated his skills into the description. This puts emphasis on both his career history and corporate skills, which gives a lot of value for the recruiter who’s making the decision of accepting him on board or not.

Conveying a consistent job history

Nothing can leave a worse impression than having three jobs in one or two years…

You don’t want the recruiter to begin questioning all the smallest, and slightest of things.

“What happened in those years? Were you fired? If so, why?”

We only have a limited amount of time that’s given to each individual resume. During this decisive moment, it determines if your resume will be sent to the “yes” or “no” pile.

You can give greater weight to your skills section in a combination resume.

Let the company know how you can apply yourself to the new role and later reinforce this by describing your previous positions. Doing this makes the recruiter less likely to care about the inconsistency in your history as you’ve shown how well you can perform.

versatile and works for multiple roles within one company

Let’s face it, we all perform tasks that don’t fall within our job description. Sometimes you work on long-term projects that may seem out-of-place to even talk about…

However, one advantage of the hybrid resumes is that they’re not fixed and limited to only one specific role. But rather, multiple roles in that same company.

For example, you can discuss all of the skills you’ve managed to develop (IT and software proficiency, data analysis, etc) and discuss how it’ll be useful in other areas for the tech company you’ve applied for.

No matter what your official role was in your previous company, you can describe all those skills. As long as they’re transferable and relevant for the new company, there won’t be a problem.

Re-entering the workforce

Re-entering the workforce can be challenging. It’s more difficult when there’s a considerable gap between your most recent position and now.

Taking the combination resume approach, you can change the recruiter’s perception. Instead of being someone rusty who’s been out of work, you’re going to be seen as a worker with respectable skills.

Despite being out of the working culture, you can show employers you’ve got the ideal expertise that they’re determined to see.

Ahead of the competition by playing a different game

The hybrid resume lets you play by a different set of rules a small percentage of candidates are following.

With resumes that focus on your previous work experience as your selling point, the people who have worked with big names are those that truly make the biggest impact…

When comparing someone that has worked in a major company to someone that has worked in a smaller company – no matter if the skills are the same – you’re going to lose the bargaining power.

But, if you change the focus of your resume, you can avoid this issue. In fact, you don’t have to worry about it at all.

Not many job seekers are capable of using this format because they have important parts of their careers that are missing. While their resumes have a lesser focus on the influence of their experiences, you’ll stand out in that aspect significantly.

One way to think about the combination resume is as a jack of all trades – all aspects of the resume are balanced. Yet, each resume section is compelling enough for employers to realize your potential.

Unlike chronological and functional resumes, the hybrid format tends to be longer in length

When you compare conventional combination resumes to the other resume formats, the readability isn’t quite as good. And, it’s mainly because they tend to have longer length in terms of details.

Employment gaps are still noticeable

As a whole, when we’re not using the chronological resume format, it’s implicitly indicating that we have gaps in our career.

Although we can minimize the noticeability behind it, it’s still something job recruiters can see.

The information could be too similar and may get repetitive

Since the level of description tends to be more lengthy, if we’re not careful our use of words or phrases could be too identical. It’s avoidable, but making this mistake limits your personality because there’s no variation – it’s dull and boring.

Yes, they care about the value you’re bringing over. But, it’s also important to recognize the candidate’s working culture. The workforce is becoming more interpersonal, so it’s important to add flavors of creativity and be different!

(We’ve made an everything you need to know guide for what resume sections . If you haven’t yet, I highly suggest you give it a read!)

Use an appropriate format and design

The combination resume is slightly different than the conventional formats you’re used to. While this is true, it doesn’t mean there are drastic changes when it comes to the layout.

For instance, resume font principles still apply. And, your contact details should be at the top of your resume within your resume header.

Start off by using an optimal resume builder that gives you flexibility with constructing your resume and rearranging its design to tailor for your new job.

If you’re unsure, you can easily put together a resume using Enhancv resume templates. Our builder makes your resume sections drag-and-drop puzzle pieces that can be moved with ease without compromising on the format.

You can also take advantage of our unique resume sections including our exclusive My Time section which allows you to describe your typical work-day. All of our components are customizable too which helps with adding a unique flavor to your resume so that you stand out.

(Side note: luckily, you don’t have to worry too much about the minor technical details because we’ll take care of most of it for you!)

Start off with your resume header

Once you’ve got your resume format ready, it’s time to start off by including your resume header.

For any resume you have, this is always the first thing the recruiters should see. It includes your contact information along with any important pieces of detail you want recruiters to see at the beginning of your resume.

Another optional factor to take into consideration is including useful links. These links could take the recruiters to places such as your LinkedIn profile, portfolio site, or freelance website.

Writing the summary section

The summary should be kept very brief. Here, you want to summarize your entire professional career, or you can make a summary of your skills. In some cases, you can incorporate both together.

More importantly, it needs to give employers insight that you’re a qualified candidate capable of getting the job done.

If you’re fairly new to the workforce and don’t have years of experience, use this section to talk about your long term career goals and objectives.

Just ensure you keep to the fundamental principles. Keep it to no more than 5 sentences long, but preferably 3 sentences max unless you have more details you want to fit in.

Employment history

At this point, you want to start listing out the job titles you’ve held in the past. This should be accompanied by a description that describes your duties, role, responsibilities and the company success you contributed towards.

Don’t start talking about your daily routine at your old job, but rather describe the value you provided. The key thing to remember is that the order of your job listings should start from the most recent experience, then work backward from there.

Top skills and relevant strengths

What skills do you have that directly correlate with what the job recruiters need? How capable are you, and do you understand in full transparency what you’re getting yourself into?

(Side note: we have a full guide to create your resume skills section – you can read it by clicking here )

The answers are all found from doing the background research. But, one hack is to use Enhancv’s resume scanner to see if your resume matches the job description, or if it’s missing something.

In the skills section, pick out one of the skills that are in high demand. Whatever skill you pick, be honest and confident that it’s something you’re exceptional at. If necessary, you can add extra subsections to include more skills or depth of detail within this section.

Don’t just blatantly stuff in as many skills as possible. Otherwise, recruiters can detect those intentions which can lead to getting your resume application rejected.

Additional sections

If there are other useful sections you feel that are worthy enough, and useful to talk about, don’t be afraid to bring them up!

One section I suggest you don’t disregard is your education section. It lets employers know you’ve got the academic knowledge that’s required. But the additional sections you could include are:

• Volunteering experiences
• Awards and certifications
• Hobbies and interests
• Publications

Making a significant career change and getting hired at Spotify

Sam had been working in investment banking for several years. Eventually, she decided it was time to make a significant career change and to steer towards a new path.

When designing her resume, she knew she’d have to show something impactful that would influence recruiters. So, bringing her personality into her resume (such as including her Life Philosophy and Favorite Books) was one of her ideas.

And, it led to real conversations with recruiters.

They related to her more easily and were able to determine her culture fit. Take a look for yourself here:

Soon after, the hiring managers made their decision, and she found herself hired to work for Spotify.

Using a volunteer resume to work on a project with AIESEC

Avery was looking to volunteer with AIESEC in Indonesia for two months. Despite Avery having little work experience, the company knew that it was a perfect fit.

In a volunteering resume, it’s important for organizations to see who you are, and to understand your motivations for free work. To do this, Avery spoke on the achievement of being one of the eight students chosen to study Global Business in Ireland from France (props for being a chosen candidate!).

Then, on her resume, you can see the description of Avery’s strength of adaptability and even included a personal photo. This made it easier for AIESEC to see Avery take on the role as well as building rapport.

Remote working in customer support at Intercom

In this case study, Daniel had been involved in remote work for his entire career. He found an organization that would facilitate his preferred working style, so this opportunity was very important.

Recruiters at Intercom are interested in seeing how well a person is equipped to work together with a team despite the distance. Keeping this in mind, Daniel made it a priority mission to give insight to his personality to show how he would work well with everyone at Intercom.

In order to do this, he included “useful links” that gave more information about his background and who he was. After, he decided to start his resume with a summary section.

With the unique approach that gave recruiters what they wanted, he now works remotely the way he wants to. He does this at one of the biggest customer support organizations in the world!

The Substitute Teacher Resume

In the example above, Mitchel created his resume with Enhancv to highlight both his work experience and skills. We can see this almost immediately on his resume template.

What’s also effective is the “My Time” section at the very beginning. Not only is it a different approach, but it tells recruiters a lot about how he uses his time. It’s another way of combining his career history and skills to show how it’s consistently being developed.

The Entry Level Sales Resume

This time, Sherry emphasizes her work experiences first and included a section dedicated to her strengths at the bottom. From this, we can tell she’s a hard-worker just by seeing all the results she’s contributed to when describing her experiences.

On her resume, she knows how to sell herself. And this means for recruiters that she’ll be skilled working in the sales profession. Sherry reinforces her expertise by listing her strongest skills at the bottom and giving us a brief description to follow up.

The Classic Double Column Resume

In our last handpicked example, we can see she’s using elements from the combination resume by the way she’s highlighting her skills and experiences.

The first thing we see on Isabelle’s resume is a one-line quick and short summary of her skills. She then dives straight into her employment history and gives us a brief, listed description that’s showing she’s a capable candidate. This is clear because we can see the company’s success that she’s contributed towards.

Still with me? Hang in there, we’ve nearly got everything covered!

Now that you’ve created your combination resume from following the steps above, it’s time to perfect it. Use the extra tips below to polish and add the final touches!

• Combine different elements from different sections subtly with each other. There’s no problem with integrating your skills into other sections to further illustrate how you’re going to be a beneficial asset to have in their team and organization. Just don’t be too repetitive!
• Ensure you’re implementing not just keywords, but buzzwords too. Your use of language plays a big part in getting hired. Optimize your resume using the right trigger words – avoid common, generic, and obvious words anyone can use.
• Don’t forget to include soft skills and any useful transferable skills . If you’re making a drastic change in a job vacancy or industry, then you want to show employers what you can do that’s going to help you do your job better.
• Prioritize the main content that’s needed. The conversation on hybrid resumes is focused on what sections you should make as your biggest priority. This concept just limits the idea of the main content required since it’s strictly concentrating on your resume format. With hybrid resumes, their true future is centered around the content you include more than how that content is presented itself.

Want more expert insights, tips, and proven advice when it comes to creating your resume? Have a read on our guide: Top 21 Resume Tips And Advice for 2021 [With Expert Insights]

Work experience is a key section to include on your resume since it’s section recruiters want to track. If you’re a professional who has a good career timeline, using the combination resume makes it easy for job recruiters to recognize you’re a skilled individual.

Fortunately, Enhancv makes the entire resume building process simple and straightforward.

Is there anything else we’ve missed on our combination resume guide? Do you have any questions you want to ask? Comment below and let us know!

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Resume Format Guide: Reverse Chronological vs Functional vs Hybrid Resumes

• Post author: Rahul Banerjee
• Post published: June 27, 2020
• Post category: Resume and CV Writing

The format that you use for your resume is just as important as what you include in it. Candidates have a hard time picking between 3 common resume formats: reverse chronological vs. functional vs. hybrid resumes. Each of them has its pros and cons, but is there one that is the best overall? Which resume format should you choose?

Not to worry, as this resume format guide will help resolve your dilemma. By talking in-depth about the different styles of resumes, their advantages and disadvantages, and the various details to include in each type of resume, we will help you answer the question of which resume format to choose. Usually, reverse chronological CVs are preferred by employers but the proper resume format varies based on the employment history of the applicant. Keep reading to find out which style you should use!

• Reverse Cronological Resumes

Functional Resumes

Combinational / hybrid resumes, reverse chronological resumes.

This is the most common resume format. To create a reverse chronological resume, you must list your employment history in the reverse chronological order- starting with your most recent job, then listing all the ones before that.

To create your reverse chronological resume, you can either create one from scratch or you can get it done by resume experts . If you’re creating one from scratch, make sure to follow this outline:

• Contact information
• Resume summary
• Work experience
• Additional sections (such as licenses and certifications)

For each job that you list, provide the following details:

• Name of the company you worked for
• The period you worked there
• Location of the company
• Responsibilities that you had
• Achievements

The main advantage of using this template is that it clearly shows your career trajectory and emphasizes the growth in your career.

• Candidates seeking for a job similar to the last job role.
• Candidates seeking for a job in academic fields.

This resume format is even preferred by recruiters. This is because a majority of employers (up to 92% of them) said that experience is the main factor they consider when deciding whether or not to hire someone.

Some of them even use software that only looks at job titles, known as  Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) . This is why highlighting your work experience is of the utmost importance when you’re applying for a job: you must get past the software to an actual person who will evaluate your application. By using the chronological format, you increase your chances of getting past this stage as it is easier to scan by the software.

Despite all these advantages, this format is not suitable for everyone. It doesn’t work very well if you have little to no job experience, which is the case for recent graduates. If you just graduated from college, you likely don’t have any work experience related to the post you are applying for, so there’s no point in using the reverse-chronological format.

This format also emphasizes the dates of your employment, making any gaps in your work history very clear to the person reading your application. This is not necessarily a bad thing but it would put you at a disadvantage compared to someone who has a consistent and steady job experience.

If you’re a fresher or someone who is re-entering the job market, the next type of resume format might appeal to you.

The next type of resume format we’ll be talking about is the functional resume. This is a relatively modern format, different from the more traditional reverse-chronological resume. This style highlights your hard and soft skills, projects completed, and general work experience rather than the job history related to the field you want a job in.

You can use the following format for creating a functional resume:

• Summary/resume objective
• Breakdown of skills and experience under each skill you can either list the names of specific companies that you’ve worked for or projects or assignments you’ve completed; this is especially useful if your experience has mainly consisted of freelancing
• Educational experience
• Additional information (such as other credentials)

The functional format is especially useful if you have significant gaps in your employment. If you’ve been out of work for a long period, highlighting your chronological work history would make employees wonder if you still have what it takes to succeed in the job. But by using a functional resume, you can show them that you’ve acquired some important skills during this period, even if you’ve been out of employment.

• Candidates who are trying for creative jobs.
• Candidates who constantly change jobs.

It’s also useful if you’re changing careers. Usually, those who are only entering a field are at a disadvantage compared to those who have more experience in it, but you can compensate for this disadvantage by showing that you also have skills that would allow you to excel in the position you’re applying for even if you’ve never been in it before.

It’s also useful if you’re constantly changing jobs. If that’s the case and you’re using a chronological resume, the fact that you haven’t worked at a company for very long may put your potential employer off. However, by using a functional resume, you can divert the attention of the person reading your application from the dates and periods of employment to your skills and abilities.

On a similar note, if your job experience isn’t directly related to the position you’re applying for, but you have relevant skills, the functional format is the way to go.

This is also known as a combination resume. As the name suggests, it is a combination of a chronological and functional resume. So, how does it work?

This is a sample format that you can follow to create a hybrid-style resume:

• Candidates who have employment gaps.
• Candidates who are trying to change their career.

This is the proper resume format for many kinds of applicants. For example, if you never had any gaps in your employment and have consistently been at work, but your experience isn’t directly related to the post you’re applying for, you can use the hybrid format. It emphasizes the skills you’ve gained and the projects you’ve completed to impress employers, and at the same time allows you to show that you’ve always been employed, which is another plus point.

Usually, it’s a good idea to use the hybrid resume rather than the functional resume. But if you are a candidate who has a lot of experience in the field, it’s best to stick to the reverse-chronological format.

However, this resume format usually carries the same risks as the functional resume format. Employers may get the impression that you are using the hybrid format to hide gaps in your work history or a lack of experience in the field. You must be aware of these risks and conduct some company-specific research before you choose this format. Know how to manage career gaps in resumes effectively.

We hope you’ve found an answer to the question of which resume format to use by reading this resume format guide. Considering the work experience in the position you’re applying for, will help you decide what details about yourself you want to emphasize: the upward trend in your career, or the skills that you’ve gained in various jobs or both.

As we’ve mentioned, it’s best to stick to the reverse-chronological format when applying for a job in most companies as it is the most popular one and the one that recruiters trust the most. Much of the screening software that employers use is designed to scan and evaluate the job titles that candidates have held and the companies they’ve worked for. The reverse-chronological format readily gives this information to the software, increasing your chances of getting past the screening stage.

But if you’ve had an unconventional career experience, the functional or hybrid styles may be the proper resume formats for you. Check the difference between text resume, visual resume and infographic resume to know which one you should use.

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Best Resume Format for any Job | Chronological, Functional & Hybrid

Sashika Dilshan

Best resume formats always help you attract recruiters. However, when you begin writing a resume, you need to keep in mind that depending on your experience, skills, and background, which resume format type to use on your resume varies. Therefore, it is always advisable to have a look at the different resume types available and which one goes with the job you are going to apply for

Read and learn about the best resume formats in 2023 which to choose for your job, industry and the country you are migrating for a job.

Three Best Resume Formats [Main Types of Resumes]

Below are the main resume formats used for resumes/CVs

Reverse Chronological Resume Format

• Functional Resume Format
• Hybrid Resume Format

Let's have a quck view ar the below video and understand the core concepts of these resume formats and the usages

This one of the best three resume formats that highlights your work experience. This format requires you to showcase your experience in the reverse chronological order (latest experience at first, then next and so on) so that the recruiters or the hiring managers could clearly identify your work progress in different companies and experience.

Here is a sample of a Chronological Resume Format

Contact Information

Chris Davis

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 161 355 654 | Address: 1651 Toronto ON, Canada | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chrisdavis

Accomplished marketing professional with over 5 years of distinguished performance in the FMCG industry. Key achievements include increasing revenue, brand awareness and improving profits. (sample)

Work or Relevant Experience

Marketing Manager

ABC Company / Toronto 06 January 2020 – Current [This should be your latest work experience]

• Experience No. 1 (use bullet points, quantify, use keywords and use action verbs)
• Experience No 2 (2nd bullet point, make sure you quantify and use keywords and action verbs)

Marketing Executive [the job before ABC Company, as per example]

DEF Company / Calgary / 02 December 2018 – 02 January 2020

• Experience No 2 (2nd bullet point, make sure you quantify and use keywords and action verbs) Make sure you use past tense verbs as well

MSC in Marketing

University of London, UK | 03 March 2016 – 10 March 2019

Skills and Certifications

• List down both hard skills and soft skills
• Try to match your skills with the job advertisement (but do not pretend. Be genuine)

Additional Resume Section

• You may add any further sections here such as volunteer work, publications, languages, licenses and certificates etc.

We recommend this Resume / CV Format for following professionals with the experience level listed below.

Who May use Chronological Resume Format?

Virtually any job type can utilize the reverse chronological resume format, including but not limited to,

• Office Jobs: Administrative assistants, project managers, and office managers
• Professional Services: Lawyers, doctors, consultants
• Creative Jobs: Writers, designers, artists
• Technical Jobs: Engineers, IT professionals, data analysts
• Healthcare: Nurses, technicians, pharmacists
• Sales and Marketing: Sales associates, marketing coordinators, account managers
• Education: Teachers, academic administrators, counselors
• Manual Labor and Trades: Electricians, carpenters, plumbers
• Service Industry: Waitstaff, bartenders, customer service representatives
• Public Sector: Police officers, firefighters, public administrators

Who Might Not Use It

• Freelancers and Gig Workers: Those with a lot of short-term jobs might prefer a functional or hybrid format that focuses more on skills than a list of jobs.
• People with Gaps in Employment: This format will make employment gaps more visible, so a functional or hybrid format might be preferable in these cases.
• New Graduates: While they can use this format, they might also opt for a format that highlights education, skills, and internships over sparse work experience.

2. Functional Resume Format

This resume format places more emphasis on your skills rather than experience. This is commonly used when you have some gaps in your experience or no experience or changing your career.

Below is an example of of Functional Resume Format

David Packer

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 161 355 654 | Address: 16 Harvey’s Lane, Melbourne VIC, Australia | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidpacker

Relevant Skills

Innovative Thinking:

Introduced the NPD of video streaming app and increased overall sales by 15%

Collaborative:

Worked closely with the IT department to ensure the quality of the new products’ services

Leadership:

Led ten people in the Department of Marketing to achieve monthly and quarterly sales targets

Results Oriented:

Increased the sales of PDF tools by 20% within six months and maintained the growth of sales since.

Increased the customer base by 15% and contributed to maintaining a high positive customer feedback

Work History

Marketing Executive

ABC Company / Toronto 06 January 2020

Master of Business Administration / Major: Marketing

University of London, UK 2016 - 2019

Chartered Institute of Marketing

UK / 02 December 2014 – 02 January 2016

Who May use Functional Resume Format?

• Freelancers and Consultants : Those with a variety of short-term projects or gigs might find it beneficial to group these experiences by skill set rather than listing each job individually.
• Creative Jobs : Artists, writers, designers, and other creative professionals who want to highlight a diverse skill set rather than a list of jobs.
• Technical Jobs : IT professionals or engineers who have specialized skills may use this format to focus on technical proficiencies rather than job history.
• Healthcare Professionals : Individuals in roles like therapists, counsellors, or even certain types of nurses might use this format to focus on specific clinical skills.
• Service Industry : Customer service representatives, retail employees, or others who have customer-facing roles but have switched employers frequently.
• Mid-Career Professionals : Those who have been in a specific industry for a long time and have a clear career progression may find the reverse chronological format more advantageous.
• Public Sector Employees : Government jobs often require detailed work histories, for which the reverse chronological format is usually better suited.
• Academic Positions : Academic roles usually require a CV, which is more detailed and typically organized in reverse chronological order.

While the functional resume can be effective for highlighting specific skills and qualifications, it's worth noting that some hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) prefer the more standard reverse chronological format. Always read job postings carefully to determine if a specific resume format is required.

3. Hybrid Resume Format

This emphasizes both your experience and skills. That’s why this is called hybrid resume format. This is also known as a combination resume due to this combined nature. Since this resume format focuses on both experience and skills with an extension of gained experience, this is often considered to be beneficial for people who have some experience gaps, are changing careers or are new to the workforce.

Below is an example of a hybrid resume format

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 161 355 654 | Address: 1651 Win Road, Melbourne VIC, Australia | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shaunalex

These are the best resume formats in 2023. However, although these could be applied to any job you are going to apply for, there are some country specific requirements in which case that you would need to think about changing content in the same format. For example Canadian Resume Format requires no personal details such as religion, gender and marital status as well as photos, references etc. while European CV format requires you to include some other content.

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