The most common resume format is the reverse chronological resume. This resume format is great for people who have had a steady career path without many work experience interruptions. A functional resume is great for people who have started and stopped their careers and are facing gaps in their work history or are making a significant career. Need help writing a resume? Looking for resume examples for specific industries? You’ll find a variety of free resume samples and examples right here. Use our resume guide and template, and access professional resumes and CV samples designed for a variety of jobs and careers. These resume examples make it easy to create a resume that’s customized to your skills and experience. CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME FORMAT. This format is the most common and simple one.In this resume format, one can get a quick overview of everything they want to know. This format gives the most weightage to work experience section which is mentioned before skills and education.
In a nutshell, the purpose of your resume is to tell a (short) story about who you are, what you’ve done and what you can do.
And your personal story better impress recruiters, otherwise, no job for you.
Part of developing an effective resume is choosing the right format to tell your personal story. But very few people consider how to format a resume in a way that showcases their specific skills and experiences.
Don’t assume that one resume format fits all.
In this guide, we’ll give you some simple resume format tips that you can use to update and improve your resume. Here’s what we’ll cover:
Three main resume formats
How to choose the best resume format
Pros and cons of each format for resumes
Best resume format for students
The Best Resume Formats:
Chronological Resume Format
Functional Resume Format
Combined Resume Format
No, a resume is not a CV. And that means that there is greater flexibility in choosing a format that best highlights your qualifications. Here are the three most common resume formats that recruiters expect to see.
1. Reverse chronological resume format
This is the bread and butter choice for most job seekers. It’s also the most simple resume format and the one recruiters see the most, which can make a reverse chronological resume seem ‘ordinary’.
With this resume format the work experience section receives the most emphasis, with items listed in order of most recent to oldest. The resume layout places the work experience section before skills and education.
What to include in the chronological resume format:
Contact Information
Resume Summary
Professional Title
Work Experience (bulk of content)
Education
Additional sections
2. Functional Resume Format
This resume format has also been called a skills-based resume format. It is the least popular format for a resume being used today. And a lot of recruiters aren’t familiar with this format because the emphasis does not fall on work experience. Instead, the layout devotes more space to skills that are relevant to the role being pursued.
What to include in the functional resume format:
Contact Information
Resume Summary
Professional Title
Additional Skills
Work Experience
Education
3. Combination Resume Format
You guessed it, this resume format combines the reverse chronological and functional resume formats. Call it the best of both worlds, or a happy medium, this format places equal emphasis on skills and work experience.
Because you want to give plenty of attention to both, you may not have much room left for other sections, such as a resume summary, volunteer work, interests, etc.
Resume Best-Practice Reminder
Most recruiters want your entire resume to fit on one page, but a maximum of two pages is acceptable for those with an extensive work history
What to include in the combination resume format:
Contact Information
Skills Summary*
Additional Skills*
Work Experience*
Education
*The layout for this type of resume is flexible, so you can choose the order of the skills and work experience section. But “Additional Skills” should always follow “Skills Summary.”
How to Choose the Best Resume Format
Now that we’ve covered the different types of resume formats, it’s time to help you pick the right one for your circumstances.
As already mentioned, you want to choose a resume format that is suited to your personal profile. Here’s a small matrix for choosing a resume format based on your level of work experience:
Keep in mind that work experience isn’t the only factor to consider when selecting a format. You should also consider the position, company and industry that you are pursuing.
Formatting is just one way that you tailor your resume to a specific job or company, and an eye-catching resume layout can your job application to stand out amidst hundreds of others. So, if you are applying for a job in a more creative industry, like marketing or design, then you probably don’t want to use a traditional resume format.
A reverse chronological resume format is good for:
People with all levels of work experience
People looking for a job in a field similar to their work experience
People without large gaps in their work history
People applying for a job in a more traditional industry (accounting, finance, engineering, etc.)
A functional resume format is good for:
People with high levels of work experience
People making a career change to a field unrelated to their work experience
People with unusually large gaps in their work history
People applying to more creative or skills-based roles (design, computer programming, etc.)
A combination resume format is good for:
People making a career change with skills or work experience that apply across industries
People with some employment gaps
People with a diverse range of skills and experiences
People applying to either creative or traditional roles
You’ll notice some overlap in the above descriptions for choosing a resume. The fact is that it’s hard to place an individual into one definitive category. To help you choose what’s right for you, let’s look at the pros and cons of each resume format.
Pros and Cons of Different Resume Formats
1) Reverse Chronological Resume Format
Pros
Shows a clear career progression and highlights relevant experiences
Familiar format to recruiters, making it easy for them to read
Suited to applicant tracking software (ATS) that automatically extracts employment history
Cons
Accentuates any employment gaps you might have
Less creative
Requires a sufficient level of relevant work experience
Conclusion:The reverse chronological resume format is a classic. It is the ‘vanilla’ of resumes, so people choosing this format should think hard about how to make their resume stand out using different layout elements. Still, this format is great if you’ve got plenty of work experience that you want to showcase.
2) Functional Resume Format
Pros
Hides gaps in employment history
Hides a lack of relevant work experience for career changers
Highlights a diverse range of technical and soft skills
Cons
Can make you look ‘inexperienced’ in terms of formal work experience
Not a familiar style for more traditional recruiters
Automated systems (E.g. ATS) have hard time extracting key resume sections
Conclusion: A functional or skills-based resume format is not advised. Even for people in very creative industries, companies want to know who’ve you worked for in the past and what your contributions were. Furthermore, these creative jobs often require a portfolio, which is how you will provide tangible proof of your skills. For those who lack work experience or want to make a career change, the combination format is a better choice.
3) Combination Resume Format
Pros
A more exciting format compared to reverse chronological
Flexible to differing levels of experience and skills
Helps hide employment gaps
Cons
Leaves little room for educational experience
Requires a sufficient level of skills and experience in order to look complete
Demands careful planning to avoid overlap or repeating information across the work experience and skills sections
Conclusion: The combination resume format is great if you have plenty of skills and experience you can draw from when creating your resume. It will allow you to highlight a mix of both, but you will need to be strategic about where and how to list information. Also, if you are switching careers, this format will let you play up skills you have that are relevant in the industry where you wish to work.
Sample Resume Format for Students
As you’ve probably guessed from the above descriptions, the reverse chronological resume is the best choice for students. Don’t worry about a lack of work experience. Recruiters expect this.
The reverse chronological format provides sufficient space for students to list educational experiences and extracurricular activities, such as involvement in student clubs or community organizations.
For students or new graduates who have managed to work while studying, and have gained relevant skills through these experiences, the combination format can be a good choice. Exhibeo 2 2 0 3.
Students should resist the urge to develop a skills-based, functional resume since this format is not only less recognized by recruiters, it also requires an advanced skill set, which can only be gained over time.
You can get inspiration from the following sample resume example for a student:
Other Resume Sample Format Considerations
Regardless of the resume format you choose, keep in mind that the layout of your resume should be such that it makes it easy for recruiters to extract key information about you.
A proper layout with well-defined sections will make your resume more readable and help you get your message across.
Using a resume builder gives you the advantage of customizing your resume to your own profile and the position you are hoping to get.
It will give you a free resume templates to work with, while guiding you through the process of creating, altering or moving resume sections. So, whether your resume follows a reverse chronological, functional or combination format, it is bound to look great.
Suggested Reading:
Pick from 8+ [Free] Resume Templates
Pick one of our free resume templates, fill it out, and land that dream job! Create and download your professional resume in less than 5 minutes.
Basic
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Easily personalize this basic resume layout that can be completed in under ten minutes through our intuitive process.
Executive
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Executive resume sample with a contemporary approach and eye-catching design that makes sure your application will be spotted first.
College
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An updated and contemporary version of the 21st-century college resume template, being an alternative to the old styles.
Creative
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Land your dream job in the creative industries by using this creative resume template, which will make your application stand out.
Functional
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A functional resume template that works for all industries and will emphasize your strengths & work experience.
Modern
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It can be hard to stand out from the crowd, but this modern resume sample will take care of this.
Professional
7/8
A professional resume sample that has been approved by various recruiters and helped numerous people get their dream job.
Simple
8/8
Simple resume layout for conservative industries, which is a minimalistic upgrade from the traditional resumes.
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ATS Friendly
All Novorésumé resume templates are built with the most popular Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in mind. What this means for YOU is that whichever job you apply for, the CV filtering software they use will be able to read your resume (and NOT automatically discard it).
Expert Reviews
Oana Vintila
Career Counselor
“”
For over 10 years now, I've been on both sides of the fence, career counseling, and recruitment, and let me tell you, the writer's block hits hard when it comes to drafting your resume.
Novorésumé not only offers you a smart and modern template for you to fill in, but their team has also crafted a winning combo of aesthetics and functionality that will inspire you to apply for the job you thought was out of your league. Give it a try!
Biron Clark
Former Executive Recruiter
“”
Novorésumé is one of the few resume builders that I recommend online. Their resume templates are modern and eye-catching, and will grab an employer's attention. As a former Recruiter, if a candidate sent me a resume built with one of these templates, I would take notice and be impressed.
The software also makes it easy to enter your info and handles all of the formatting for you, so you can get your resume ready to send out as quickly as possible. I recommend these templates whether you're a recent graduate or experienced candidate.
Gabriela Tardea
Career Strategist, Coach & Trainer
“”
When I consult people on resume writing, the most common question that I am asked it is about the content and what components to add or avoid, when they have less than 5 years of work experience.
On this platform, you not only have access to many options, but you get guidance on what to choose and why. When the work experience is less than 5 years, the other components such as languages, projects, volunteering experiences, hobbies etc, make a huge difference.
Resume Resources
What is a Resume?
A resume is a brief summary of personal and professional experiences, skills, and education history. Its main purpose is to show off your best self to potential employers.
When applying for a job, you’re (in most cases) going to be asked for a resume accompanied by a cover letter.
If you manage to create a “good” resume, you’re going to 2x your chances of getting hired. Want to learn how? Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume.
How to Write a Resume for Your First Job?
The process of writing a resume might seem super scary to you. After all, most resume examples you see on the web are 80% about work experience. So, what the heck can you include in your resume if you have none?
Well, here’s some good news. If you’re applying for an entry-level job or an internship, no one expects you to have ANY work experience.
Instead, you should focus on what you DO have: education, projects, volunteering experience, hobbies & interests.
For a complete guide on how to make a resume with no work experience stand out, check out our article.
What to Put on a Resume?
The most common sections on a resume are:
Contact information
Resume summary or objective
Work experience
Education
If you want to personalize your resume a bit more, you can also include the following sections:
Projects
Volunteering experience
Hobbies & interests
Portfolio
For more information on how to place these sections on your resume, check out our article on what to put on a resume.
Resume Format Word
How to Format a Resume?
There are 3 typical resume formats:
Reverse-Chronological Resume
Functional Resume
In 99% of the cases, you’ll want to go with the Reverse Chronological resume format. That’s the format most resumes you’ve seen follow - its main focus is your work experience, written down in reverse-chronological order.
Unless you’re looking to create a career change resume, we’d recommend sticking with this format.
If you want to learn more about resume formats, check out our comparison guide.
How Long Should a Resume Be?
Ah, the most popular resume question in the world: “how long should your resume be?”
Short answer: one page. If you have a lot of work experience (10 years +), sometimes it makes sense to make it 2 pages MAX if everything you mention is super relevant for the position you’re applying for.
Long answer: check out our guide on how long should a resume be.
P.S. all of our templates are one-page resume templates, so you shouldn’t have a lot of trouble sticking to the one-page limit!
Resume Format Pdf
How to Write a Resume Summary?
Your resume summary is a “hook” that goes on top of your resume. Think of it as an introduction to the rest of your resume. It should, in 2-4 sentences, explain what your background is, and why it’s relevant for the position you’re applying for.
Want your resume summary to stand out? Use this proven formula:
“Professional [job title] with X+ years of work experience in [job responsibility]. In the past Y years, I have [your top 1-2 achivements]. Seeking a position of [job title] at [company name]”
To learn more about how to create a resume summary that excels, check out our guide.
On the other hand, if you’re a student or just don’t have a lot of work experience, read our article on how to create a resume objective instead.
How to List Work Experience on a Resume
Work experience on a resume is one of those things that’s easy to learn, hard to master.
Each work experience entry should contain the following:
Position title
Company name/description/location
Achievements or responsibilities
Dates employed
Now, if you want to create a work experience section that stands out, you want to focus on quantifiable achievements. What this means is, instead of creating an entry like:
“Carried out sales operations”
You list an achievement:
“Hit and exceeded monthly sales KPIs for 5 months in a row.”
This shows the employer that you’re not just a random candidate, you’re an A-player! To learn more about how to list achievements in your work experience (and land the job), check out our article.
Resume Format Template
How to List Skills on a Resume?
Simply create a ”skills” section on your Novorésumé resume template, and list your top skills. We usually recommend going for a mix of hard and soft skills.
Not sure what skills to include in your resume? Check out these 101 essential skills for any resume.
How to Make a Cover Letter For a Resume?
Every job application asks for a cover letter (in addition to your resume). Here are some of our tips on how to do this right:
Customize your cover letter to the employer. The more personalized it is, the more likely it is for the recruiter to like you
Outline your general background (work experience, profession, etc.) and mention your top 2-3 achievements to show off your skills
If you really want to stand out, create a cover letter that matches your resume template. To do this, you can use one of our cover letter templates here.
If you want to learn more about how to write a convincing cover letter, check out our comprehensive guide.
What is the Best Resume Template?
There’s no such thing as “the best resume template” - every recruiter/employer has their own personal preference. Our general recommendation is to do your research on the company and what their values are.
For example, if you’re applying for a position at a bank, you’d want a more professional resume template. On the other hand, if you want a job in a startup where they value innovation more, you should stick to a creative resume template.
Finally, if you’re still not sure which type of template is right for the job you’re applying for, you can just use a simple resume template just to be safe.
Get Inspired with Our Resume Examples
Resume Templates FAQ?
How to Make a Resume with Novorésumé?
Follow these simple steps:
Choose one of our top resume templates above
Follow the tips & tricks built-in our resume builder
Fill in your work history and other experiences
Hit download and start applying to jobs!
What If I Am a Student?
All of our resume samples are student-friendly! If you’re looking for something a bit more tailored, we’d recommend picking the “college resume template”
Or, if you want to learn how to create a convincing student resume, check out our guide.
Are These Resume Templates Free?
Yep, all of the templates listed above are free resume templates.
At Novorésumé, we put extensive care in creating each resume template.
We interviewed recruiters and analyzed applicant tracking systems to create resume samples that will maximize your chances of getting hired.
Then, our professional graphic designer worked his magic to make the resume samples compelling, well-designed, and easy to read!
Are These Resume Templates ATS-Friendly?
Yes! All Novorésumé resume templates are created with applicant tracking systems in mind.
Keep in mind, though, that using the right template is step #1. You should also optimize your resume content for applicant tracking systems. For more on that, check out our guide to creating an ATS-friendly resume.
Do You Offer One-Page Resume Templates?
Yep. All the templates you see above are one-page resume templates. They are, however, pretty flexible, so if you decide to go for 2 pages, our templates will get the job done!