Best Resume Formats for 2025 (Examples + Templates)
The right resume format can help you highlight skills, experience or both! This article covers the three best resume formats — chronological, functional and combination — and how to choose the format that will work best for your needs.
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There are three primary resume formats: chronological, functional and combination. The main difference between them is how the resume sections are organized. Here’s our general recommendation for the best resume format based on your experience level:
- The Best Resume Format Templates
- The Three Main Resume Formats
- Chronological Resumes
- Functional Resumes
- Combination Resumes
- How to Format a Resume
- How to Pass ATS
- Key Takeaways
Best Resume Templates to Format Your Resume
If you’re worried about missing resume sections or crucial information, use a preformatted resume template.
See how we customized these templates into the three main resume formats to demonstrate how you can apply these resume layouts to your job search.
Customer service representative resume template – chronological format
This experienced customer service representative uses the chronological resume format to highlight their 10+ years of experience, followed by a short skills section with strong customer service skills.
Cashier resume template — functional format
An inexperienced job seeker uses a functional resume to highlight relevant technical skills for an entry-level cashier position.
Assistant manager resume template – combination format
This job seeker uses the combination resume format to apply for an assistant manager promotion. The resume highlights their leadership and communication skills development and increased responsibilities in their current position.
Teacher resume example – chronological format
This resume shows this experienced teacher’s long career and interpersonal skills in education in a chronological format. See how they add additional sections to boost their application.
Sales associate resume example – functional format
This functional resume sample shows how a current high school student or college graduate looking for part-time work as a sales associate should build their resume. Despite having little formal experience in retail, the candidate showcases relevant transferable skills from other experiences.
Project manager resume example – combination format
This combination resume shows this IT specialist’s career progression into project management, which is the role this applicant is seeking. Notice how the summary of skills demonstrates the candidate’s most relevant analytical and technical skills for this position.
The Three Main Resume Formats
The best resume format highlights your strengths and aligns with your industry’s expectations. Writing your resume to fit the specific job you are applying for dramatically increases your chances of securing an interview. Let’s dive into the details:
Functional resume format
Sometimes called a skills-based format.
Combination resume format
A middle ground format, also known as a hybrid.
Chronological resume format
Also known as reverse-chronological format.
Best for experienced professionals
The Chronological Resume Format
A chronological resume highlights work experience in reverse order, focusing on career progression and achievements, ideal for consistent job histories. Most hiring managers prefer this resume format because it’s easy to find and track your previous work history and employers.
How to organize your chronological resume sections
The chronological resume format always follows this order:
- Contact information
- Professional summary
- Work history
- Skills
- Education
Chronological resume format pros & cons
Pros
- Clear timeline: Easy to track work history, promotions and skill development.
- Favored by recruiters: Easy to scan and find relevant experience.
- ATS-friendly: This conventional resume format is easily scanned by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Cons
- Highlights gaps: The focus on career timelines highlights any employment gaps or frequent job changes.
- Less flexible: Harder to emphasize specific skills unless shared in your job descriptions.
Tips to improve your chronological resume
Add your current job title to your resume headline , such as “Seasoned Digital Marketer with Expertise in Content Strategy” or “Dedicated IT Specialist with Advanced Networking Skills.”
Use action verbs such as “managed,” “developed,” “achieved” or “led” to convey your contributions effectively and assertively.
Tailor your resume to the job description by adding organic resume keywords. Not only does this reassure hiring managers that you carefully read and understood the job requirements, but these keywords help you pass ATS.
Quantify achievements by adding numbers to your accomplishments. For example, “increased sales by 20%” or “managed a team of 10” provides concrete evidence of your capabilities.
Include relevant training or certifications to the job you’re applying for and list them prominently.
Best for entry-level applicants
The Functional Resume Format
A functional resume focuses on skills and abilities instead of your work history. It’s the best resume format for new job seekers, career changers, job hoppers or freelancers because it highlights transferable skills related to the job.
How to organize your functional resume sections
These are the sections and their order in a functional resume:
- Contact information
- Objective statement
- Core competencies/Summary of qualifications
- Skills (can include multiple technical skills sections)
- Work history
- Education
Functional resume format pros & cons
Pros
- Emphasizes skills: Focuses on abilities over job history, great for career changers.
- Hides gaps: Useful for disguising career gaps or frequent job changes.
- Customizable: Easily tailored to highlight relevant skills for specific jobs.
Cons
- Raises red flags: The lack of employment dates could raise some red flags. Reassure hiring managers with your objective or cover letter.
- Less detail: Lacks clear context about when and where skills were developed.
- Not ATS-friendly: The customizable features and skills-focused headings make it hard to pass through ATS. Use this resume if you’re a direct referral or applying in person.
Tips to improve your functional resume
Address career gaps by sharing your freelance projects, volunteer work or dedication to skill development during employment gaps under your resume objective or core competency sections.
Add a hobbies and interests section to personalize your resume and add relevant resume skills. Choose hobbies related to the job or demonstrating leadership, creativity or teamwork.
Include four to five hard and soft skills related to the responsibilities of the open job.
Best for mid-career professionals
The Combination Resume Format
Combination resumes, AKA the hybrid resume, combine the best of the chronological and functional formats. This resume format dedicates equal space to your skills and work history. It features the same sections as a chronological resume but swaps the skills section to sit above your work history.
How to organize your combination resume sections
These are the sections and their order in a combination resume:
- Contact information
- Professional summary
- Skills
- Work history
- Education
Combination resume format pros & cons
Pros
- Blends formats: Lends equal page space to your skills and work history.
- Shows growth: Hiring managers can track your skill development and career growth.
Cons
- Lengthy: Often more extensive due to dual focus on skills and experience.
- Excessive detail: Sometimes too detailed for more straightforward job applications.
Tips to improve your combination resume
Tailor content for the job by identifying the top qualifications listed in the job posting. Ensure these are prominently featured in your skills section and employment history.
Use a professional summary at the top of your resume after the headline. This should be a brief paragraph that provides a snapshot of your career achievements and core competencies.
Highlight transferable skills if changing industries or job functions. This might include skills like project management, communication or problem-solving, which are valuable in many different roles and industries.
Resume Formatting Tips
Formatting a resume means organizing its content in a clear, professional and visually appealing way to make it easy for employers to find key information quickly. This includes choosing consistent fonts, proper spacing, clear headings, and a logical structure that effectively highlights your skills, experience and accomplishments.
Here are eight tips you should follow when formatting so that relevant information is clear and easy to find:
1 Make a one-page resume.
Keep your resume to a single page unless you have 10+ years of experience.
2 Keep one-inch margins.
Ensure your margins are at least one inch on all sides of your resume.
3 Use the appropriate font size.
Use a resume font size of 10 to 12 points.
4 Choose an easy-to-read font.
Select a clean and professional-looking resume font. Sans serif fonts like Arial, Verdana or Georgia work well.
5 Pick standard resume sections.
For your resume sections, use standard titles: “Professional Summary,” “Work History,” “Skills,” and “Education.”
6 Use proper line spacing.
Keep your line spacing at 1.5 points for easy readability.
7 Use bullets.
Bullet points are great for condensing information when describing your work experience or resume skills.
8 Save your resume as a PDF.
PDF is the best resume file format for saving and sending your document, as your resume’s formatting will remain the same. Only save your resume in MS Word if specifically requested by the employer.
What Is the Best Resume Format for You?
While we recommend the chronological resume format because it clearly displays your career progression and is familiar to recruiters, making it easy to review, it may only work for some job seekers. This simple resume format is for those with a consistent work history and highlights professional growth. Its standard layout is ATS-friendly, enhancing your resume’s visibility to hiring managers.
Ultimately, the best resume format is the one that best presents your strengths and aligns with the expectations in your industry. Tailoring your resume to fit the specific job you are applying for dramatically increases your chances of securing an interview.
New graduates: Often benefit from a functional or combination resume, as these can highlight educational achievements and part-time or volunteer work instead of professional experience.
Mid-career professionals: Typically find the chronological or combination resume most effective, as they likely have a solid work history and relevant job skills to feature.
Career changers: May prefer a functional resume to emphasize transferable skills over previous job titles or unrelated employment history.
Make a Cover Letter to Complement Your Resume
Now that you’ve determined the best resume format consider including a cover letter with your application. Check out our cover letter writing guide to craft a letter from scratch, or access our Cover Letter Builder to write a professional document for you in just minutes.
Our builder comes pre-loaded with customizable content and professionally designed cover letter templates. Enter your job title, answer a few prompts, and our builder does the rest!
How to Make Your Resume
Pass ATS Software
Employers rely on ATS to narrow the list of applicants. Use tools like our reverse-engineered ATS Resume Checker to ensure your resume layout, headings, margins and job descriptions use our best writing practices. You’ll get real-time feedback based on these standards:
- 1
Stick to simple formatting and a one-column layout. Avoid photos, graphics, text boxes, tables and multiple columns of text.
- 2
Use an ATS-friendly font such as Arial, Calibri, Georgia or Times New Roman. Stay away from fonts with too much flourish.
- 3
Use traditional section headings like “Summary,” “Work history,” “Skills” and “Education.”
- 4
Include keywords from the job description. The job ad will have resume keywords that hint at the essential qualifications the employer wants.
- 5
Don’t include acronyms by themselves. When writing concepts like “CPR,” always include the full version: “cardiopulmonary resuscitation.”
- 6
Use a widely-accepted file format like PDF or DOC. However, always follow the indications on the job application.
- 7
Proofread your resume to make sure it’s free of errors Use our Resume Checker to catch 30+ resume mistakes, including grammar, typos, word choice and formatting.
Key Takeaways
Before you begin crafting your standout resume with the ideal format, here are a few key points to consider:
- There are three primary resume formats: reverse-chronological, functional and combination. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, catering to different types of job seekers.
- Choose the resume format that best suits your individual needs.
- Adhere to standard resume formatting guidelines: use one-inch margins, a professional font, font size between 11-12 pt, single line spacing and add extra space around headings.
- Organize your resume into distinct sections, including a resume header, summary, work experience, education, skills and other categories.
- Utilize bullet points in the work experience and education sections to conserve space. Always ensure your resume is compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) to increase the likelihood of reaching your recruiter.
- Selecting a suitable resume template from a professional resume builder can aid this process.
FAQ
Which format do most employers prefer for resumes?
While the chronological resume format is the most commonly used, choosing the best format for your career history and experience level is essential.
The chronological is perfect if you have a strong employment history and career progression. However, a functional or combination resume would be a better fit if you are:
- An entry-level candidate.
- Making a significant career change.
- Covering up severe gaps in your employment history.
Can I use more than one resume format?
You can use more than one resume format based on your job search. For example, you can use a chronological or combination resume for a traditional job and a functional resume for a freelance or part-time job.
You should choose a resume format tailored to your experience level based on your work history in the various roles you’re applying to.
You could be applying for positions outside of your previous industry or returning to the workforce after a break, so you should change your resume format accordingly. For more help, feel free to look at our resume examples.
How do I change my resume format in LiveCareer’s Resume Builder?
In our builder, you can change your resume format in one click simply by choosing a different resume template for your document. There are 30+ templates to choose from in our Resume Builder. You’ll find templates in all three formats!
You can also customize your document by adding sections in relevant resume format.
On the left-hand side of the editing dashboard, click the plus sign that says “Add a Section.” That will direct you to the menu with add-ons such as Accomplishments, Certifications, and Websites. You can also select “Add Your Own” to create sections like “Summary of Qualifications” or “Professional Skills.”
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