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

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In This Guide:

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.

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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.

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

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

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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:

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

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:

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

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!)

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

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:

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

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.

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

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!

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

The Substitute Teacher Resume

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

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

Enhancv How to Create a Combination Resume (+6 Unique Hybrid Resume Examples) Hybrid 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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How to write a Hybrid Resume (with instructions, tips, and examples)

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

Ben Temple

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.

Hybrid Resume Example: Summary Section

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.

Hybrid Resume Example: Skills

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.

Hybrid Resume Example: Work Experience

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 1: Monte

Hybrid resume template example 2

Hybrid Resume Template Example: Air

Hybrid resume template example 3

Hybrid Resume Template Example: Brooklyn

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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Combination Resume Guide [w/ Templates & Examples]

Background Image

Are you in the middle of a career change?

Or maybe you’re a senior professional with a diverse set of skills?

Whichever the case may be, the combination resume might be the right one for you!

This hybrid resume allows you to highlight both your work experience AND skills in a single resume, making your professional background shine!

So, want to learn more?

  • What a combination resume is & when to use it
  • How to create a hybrid resume that really stands out
  • How to write must-have sections for any combination resume

Let’s get started!

What’s a Combination Resume

So, what is a combination resume exactly and what does it combine?

Essentially, a combination resume , aka a hybrid resume , combines 2 traditional resume formats .

It’s a mix of the reverse-chronological resume and the functional resume format.

As in, it places equal emphasis both on your skills and work experience.

combination resume sample

The format offers 2 main advantages:

  • It allows you to present a quick overview of your actual employment history and the areas that are transferable.
  • While at the same time, showing the HR manager your top skills and qualifications.

Keep in mind, though, unless you’re in a very specific situation, the combination resume might not be the right resume format for you. What do we mean? 

Read on to find out.

When to Use a Combination Resume

The combination resume is pretty rare.

Most job-seekers worldwide tend to use a reverse-chronological format (and for a good reason). It’s pretty much the standard: HR managers are used to it, it’s straightforward and easy to make.

The combination resume format is very situational. You shouldn’t use it unless you:

  • Are going through a career change.
  • Have some employment gaps in your work history.
  • Are a senior-level candidate, with a diverse range of skills and experiences.

In case you fit the bill for one of these 3 cases, though, here’s how to create a combination resume.

What to Put on a Combination Resume

When creating a combination resume, a proper layout is your best friend.

Typically, you’ll want to cover the following resume sections :

  • Contact Information
  • Resume Summary
  • Work Experience or Areas of Strengths
  • Skills Summary
  • Additional Skills

Now, we’ll walk you through each of these sections, and teach you how to write them.

Starting with -

Add Contact Information the Right Way

Let’s start with the basics.

If the HR manager is interested in interviewing you, they’ll want to know how to reach you.

In the contact information section you include:

  • First name, last name.
  • Phone number - Make sure you include your country code if you’re applying outside your country.
  • Email address - Your email should be professional. Ideally, something like [FirstName][LastName]@gmail.com
  • Location - Are you located in the area? Open to relocation? Or maybe you’re looking for a relocation sponsor? Make sure it’s clear.
  • Title - Your professional title goes here. Either your current job or the one you’re applying for word-for-word. If you’re switching careers, you could also do something like “Aspiring [Desired Job Title]”

Once done, make sure you double-check everything, slowly and carefully, for any typos. 

We’d recommend reading everything out loud just in case. You’re not going to go far if the recruiter can’t get in touch with you because of a typo in your email.

Got the basics down? Good!

Now, let’s move onto the resume summary .

Grab the Recruiter’s Attention With a Resume Summary

resume summary combination resume

A resume summary is a 2 - 5 sentence summary of your professional background.

You should look at the resume summary as an introduction to your resume.

It’s the first thing the recruiter sees on your resume, and if you fail to catch their attention, they’re not going to read the rest of it.

So, how do you write a good resume summary?

You mention things like:

  • Career highlights
  • Qualifications
  • Top achievements
  • Relevant skills

Here’s an example to better understand what that might look like.

  • “IT project manager with a proven track record of working with agile and waterfall methodologies. Managed teams of 5+ people on software development projects over the last 4 years. Decent understanding of JavaScript, React, and Python.”

PS - Need more inspiration for writing a strong resume summary? Check out our how-to guide with 40+ resume summary examples .

Use Your Work Experience to Show Off Relevant Skills

The next section in your combination resume is the work experience.

The work experience section is where you get to really sell yourself and brag about your past achievements.

List out your work history in a reverse-chronological order (starting from the most recent and ending with the oldest), and mention the standard things like:

  • Job title and position
  • Company name, location - If the company isn’t famous, you can describe what they do in 1-2 sentences. And you should always mention the location too.
  • Period of employment - The standard format is mm/yyyy - mm/yyyy.
  • Achievements or responsibilities - With achievements, you should list any specific changes you made happen (think in terms of numbers and data). Though, if that’s not possible because of the nature of the job (e.g. cashier), you can just stick to responsibilities.

Sounds simple enough, right?

A couple of other things you should keep in mind when writing a work experience entry:

  • When possible, focus on achievements instead of responsibilities. 
  • Back up your experiences with numbers and data.
  • Tailor your experience to the job you’re applying for.

Now, here’s what a work experience entry looks like in practice:

Web Developer

Company X, Denmark, Copenhagen, 05/2018 - Present

  • Full-stack developer, responsible for web applications and creative cloud engineering. Led a team of 5+ junior developers, using different methodologies.
  • Optimized old check-out page, based on core UX principles, which increased customer purchases by 20%.
  • On average, prototyped up to 20+ different product features per year.

Here’s what’s done right:

  • Information is relevant, and straight to the point.
  • It’s backed up by data and numbers.
  • It lists achievements over daily responsibilities.

Now, compare that to -

Company X, Denmark, Copenhagen, 05/2016 - 07/2019

  • Collaborated with project managers and provided updates.
  • Designed website and mobile apps, while providing exceptional user experience.
  • Worked with other developers in a team.

That’s extremely vague, right?

It doesn’t really say anything, or HOW the person actually did their job.

Now, imagine you’re the HR manager and you get to pick between these 2 candidates.

Which one would you pick?

  • Going through a career change? You might want to use your work experience section to highlight your transferable skills.
  • This way, you’re showing how your seemingly irrelevant work experience gave you the skills you need to do the new job right.

Show You’re the Right Person With the Skills Summary Section

The skills summary section is what differentiates the combination resume from the reverse-chronological one.

This is where you show your know-how for the job and that you have the right skills for it.

This section is especially useful for career changers, as it allows you to focus more on your skills (as opposed to work experience).

So, how do you write a skills summary section?

You start by listing all the required skills for the job you’re applying for.

For example:

  • SEO, Content Writing, Growth Hacking
  • Graphic Design

Then, underneath each skill listing, you describe how you’ve used this skill in the past.

Combination Resume Skills Summary Example

  • Started personal blog for reviewing electronics and latest tech gadgets. Grew email list from 0 to 500+. Ranked in top 5 Google searches for “best dash cameras for Uber”, and “best front and rear dash cams”.
  • Gained over 1,500+ visits from Quora from answering questions daily.
  • Reached out to fellow bloggers in the field and got 30+ backlinks to my blog for answering frequently asked questions.
  • Used WordPress theme to design website, know basic HTML/CSS.
  • Designed infographic using Adobe Illustrator which gained over 500+ tweets / retweets.
  • Used Ahrefs to perform site audit, and fix underperforming blog posts by doing a better keyword search.
  • Familiar with the basics of Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

Not bad, right?

But what if you’re not switching careers, do you still include the skills summary section?

In that case, you’re using a skills summary section to show your vast range of skills and know-how (that your experience section can’t cover).

If you’re an experienced candidate, your main skills probably don’t stop there.

And that brings us to the next section of your combination resume.

Additional Skills for a Combination Resume

additional skills combination resume

Remember how in the previous section (skills summary), we mentioned the must-have skills?

Well, this is where you list everything you left out.

Now, all you have to do is scan a job ad you want to apply for, look for all the essential skills that you didn’t mention in the skills summary section, and mention them in this section.

Let’s take a look at an example...

Combination Resume Skills Example

Let’s assume that the job is looking for a designer who has:

  • Proficiency in UX software (Sketch, InVision, Photoshop XD, etc.).
  • Basic understanding of HTML, CSS.
  • Strong problem-solving, project management and organizational skills.
  • Good communication skills and is a team player.

Now, all you’d have to do is mention those requirements in your skills section, like so:

  • HTML and CSS.
  • UX / UI software (Sketch, InVision, Photoshop XD, Figma).
  • Verbal and written communication.
  • Teamwork and time management.

Wondering what other skills are essential for your job? Check out our full guide of 150+ must-have skills for any resume .

Now that you know how to get the skill section right, let’s move on to the next section - education .

Write an Education Section That Stands Out

Your education section comes last on a combination resume, but luckily, it’s fairly straightforward.

The section is pretty much a requirement for any resume.

Here’s what you include in your education section:

  • Type of degree - e.g. MSc in Economics and Business Administration
  • Educational institution name - The University of Chicago
  • Years attended - 09/2017 - 06/2019 
  • Program location (optional) - Chicago, Illinois
  • GPA (optional, only if noteworthy) - 3.87
  • Relevant courses (optional) - Project Management Principles and Practices
  • Exchange program (or any other noteworthy achievements) - Exchange program in Washington, D.C.

Here’s what the full listing might look like for a combination resume :

education section on combination resume

Now, what if your degree isn’t relevant to the job you’re applying for, as it might be if you’re switching careers?

Do you still list it?

As long as you have an actual degree, it still says a lot about your passion and commitment to education.

In some cases, you can even show off some transferable skills with your degree.

Let’s take a look at another example and say you’re applying for a graphic design job , with a B.A. in Communication :

B.A. in Communications

University X, 10/2013 - 06/2017

  • Excelled in visual communication and digital media classes.
  • Designed posters for university events and social media content.

Key Takeaways

To recap, a combination resume is a type of resume format that places equal emphasis on your skills and work experience.

To make sure your hybrid resume is exceptional, here’s what you should keep in mind:

  • Make sure you cover all the necessary sections for a combo resume: contact information , resume summary , skills summary , additional skills , and education .
  • When listing your qualifications, focus on only what’s relevant .
  • Finally, end with your education . Even if your degree isn't relevant to the job, you should still include it to show your passion for learning.

Done with your resume and looking for extra career advice? Be sure to check out our career blog for more actionable advice and insights.

Discover More Resume Templates

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  • One Page Resume Templates
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  • Word Resume Templates
  • Google Docs Resume Templates
  • High School Resume Templates

Recommended reading:

  • 43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job in 2024
  • 35+ Common Interview Questions and Answers [Complete List]
  • What Are The Most Common Mistakes In A Resume In 2024? [Examples]

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  • Resume and Cover Letter
  • Here's the Right Way to...

Here's the Right Way to Format Your Resume

4 min read · Updated on December 16, 2021

Amanda Augustine

When you have six seconds to make the right impression, the layout of your resume is just as important as its content.

According to an eye-tracking study , recruiters spend less than 10 seconds reviewing a resume before deciding if a candidate is a fit for the job. When you have so little time to make the right impression, how you format the contents of your resume is just as important as what information you choose to include.

While there are a number of resume formats available, here at TopResume we've found one to be the most effective for the majority of our clients. This is known as the hybrid or resume.

What is a hybrid resume format?

The hybrid resume, also known as a combination resume, combines both functional and chronological information into one format. It includes a professional summary and “areas of expertise” or “core competencies” section at the top of the resume that outline your key qualifications, skill sets, and achievements and a chronological section that puts these selling points into perspective by describing how you leveraged these skills with each role you've held and what you were able to accomplish as a result.

As a resume writer, I prefer the combination resume format for a number of reasons. First, we know that recruiters prefer to see all of your experience lumped together in reverse chronological order. Second, most applicant tracking systems (ATS) do a better job at reading and interpreting a hybrid format because they rely on chronological data to parse much of your application. And third, this format gives you an opportunity to clearly support your skill sets by tying each qualification back to a specific position within your professional history.

When should you use a functional resume format?

In rare cases, you may choose to use a functional resume instead. In this resume format, the focus is placed on your abilities, rather than a chronological work history. You'll still include a chronological summary of your work history, but this information takes a back seat so the focus stays on your skills that are directly related to your target job.  

This format is typically used when your recent work experience doesn't support your job goals or you're dealing with a serious gap in employment. In those instances, you're more likely to land your next job by leveraging your network. In other words, don't expect the functional resume to work well with standard online applications. However, when a hybrid resume isn't going to present you in the best light, this functional version is the next option to consider.

The best way to format your resume

Regardless of the format you choose for your resume, keep the following things in mind:

Work with what you've got

Go back and think about your job goals . If you've recently graduated from college, your new degree is likely to be one of your best selling points and should be placed towards the top of your resume. However, if you've been in the workforce for a while, your years of relevant work experience take precedent and your education and professional development activities will likely be placed at the bottom of your resume.

Create white space

More often than not, your resume is being quickly scanned for important pieces of information. An organized layout with a clear, visual hierarchy is key. Avoid including dense blocks of text that the reader's eyes are sure to glaze over. Also, center your contact information and subheadings such as "Work Experience," "Education," "Technical Skills," and so forth, as the eye-tracking study found that most recruiters focus on the center of the resume when scanning for information. If your resume exceeds one page, include a header on the second page that includes your name and contact information.

Avoid endless bullets

Bullets points are a great technique for drawing the reader's eye towards important pieces of information. When everything is bulleted, you lose that ability.

Instead, when documenting your work experience, dedicate a few lines to describe your role and responsibilities and then use bullet points to call attention to your noteworthy accomplishments and contributions. This will allow you to more easily highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications.

Click on the following link for more resume advice . 

Are you using the best resume format? Find out with with a free resume critique !

Recommended Reading:

  • Career Quiz: Is Your Resume Ready to Beat the Bots?
  • Ask Amanda: How Can I Tell If My Resume Is ATS-Friendly?
  • The Top 10 Resume Mistakes That Could Cost You the Job

Related Articles:

7 Signs Your Resume is Making You Look Old

Why a Simple Resume Layout is a Successful Resume

8 Tips to Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market

See how your resume stacks up.

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How To Write a Functional Hybrid Resume (With Example)

How to Write a Functional Hybrid Resume (with Example)

Life often gets in the way of the best-laid plans, so if you’ve had multiple jobs, you need the functional hybrid resume. If you have a history of several short-term jobs, you need to format your resume differently than the traditional set-up.

Need a different kind of resume? Check out Types of Resumes and When to Use Them (With Examples)

First Define Yourself With a Summary

If you’re staying in the same field, then emphasize your time in the industry. This will minimize the fact that you haven’t stayed in one place. This is also a good time to include resume keywords that will get you past the applicant tracking system and in front of a person.

How To Get Your Resume Past The ATS

List Your Skills and Qualifications Related to the Job You’re Interested In

This functional hybrid resume format is best for both job seekers and hiring managers since it will show why you think you’d be the best candidate for the position. List 4-6 core competencies that you possess that are important to your success in the jobs outlined above. They should be skills you currently possess and appropriate for the level you’re applying for. Ideally, you should not only have the skills but be able to include some specific examples or specific numbers showing that you possess those skills.

Still Include a Brief Summary of Previous Employment

Keep this list at the bottom, and smaller than your section of skills and qualifications. This will keep the focus on what you can do, instead of what you’ve done. Unlike a traditional resume, the functional hybrid resume doesn’t use the emphasis on your past jobs. Instead, flesh out the most recent three or four and create a small summary of previous employment section for prior jobs. Make sure to indicate any involuntary hops, such as the company closing or if you were part of a layoff. Don’t include everything – if you only worked somewhere for a few months or less, discussing that in an interview will be awkward. Consider removing positions that were held years ago.

Combine Jobs

If you were a contractor for a period of time, employed by one company for several different positions then you can group those together. This strategy is helpful for freelancers or people working in fields that ebb and flow, such as creative fields. This puts the “function” in a functional hybrid resume.

Keep the Length Short

Having multiple jobs can create very long resumes, so make sure to keep an eye on the length. Your resume needs to be 2 pages in total. If you have less than 10 years of experience, then keep it to 1 page only.

Intimidated? Don’t be! Plenty of people have changed careers! Consider the experience of Julia Child, arguably the most famous cook who would bring French cuisine to the American public. Julia’s resume before her first book came out would have looked something like this, when she was over fifty years old and newly moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Notice that we’ve combined where she had two jobs under one company and had a gap in employment):

JULIA CHILD

Cambridge, MA

Email: [email protected]  Phone number: 1-234-567-8910

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Determined chef who recently moves back to the United States who enjoys both teaching, cooking, and writing.

cooking, teaching cooking, typing, copywriting

RELEVANT WORK HISTORY

L’école des trois gourmandes (The School of the Three Food Lovers),1951-1963

Teacher and founder

LE CORDON BLEU COOKING SCHOOL, Graduated 1951

Studied with master gourmet chefs, including Max Bugnard

*1946 married and moved to Paris in 1948

OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES (Sri Lanka), 1941 – 1945

Top Secret Researcher

Worked directly for the Head of OSS, General William J. Donovan

  • Posted to  Kunming, China, where I received the Emblem of Meritorious Civilian Service as head of the Registry of the OSS Secretariat for experimental shark repellent
  • Assistant to developers of a shark repellent needed to ensure that sharks would not explode ordinance targeting German U-boats

Typist, promoted in 1942

Took dictation

W & J SLOANE                      New York City, NY                                                                   1934- 1941

Copywriter in Advertising

Left after war broke out and discovering too tall for the Women’s Army Corps  (WAC)

Bachelor’s degree from Smith College Major: History, graduated 1934

(Feel free to lookup more of Julia Child’s life here .)

Do you read that and picture an author of seven best-selling cookbooks, regular columnist, and TV star that changed the way people cooked during the 1960s? Or do you see someone with a string of different careers who tried a few things? Your own version of success may be your very next application! Good luck!

Want to make sure you’re ready to change careers?

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  • Chronological, Functional or Combination Resume Format: Pick the Best One (with examples)

 Probably writing a resume is not the best thing you used to do. It takes a lot of forces and strengths to make a really good one that catches the recruiter’s attention and emphasizes all your skills. However, the mission is possible if you’re familiar with the different types of resumes. Resume format may differ due to your working background, proficiency, type of work and skills. Make resume formatting isn’t that hard and we prepared a list of 3 types of resumes, so you may take the one that would present your strongest sides to the hiring manager.

choosing_resume_formats

1. Chronological resume

What is a chronological resume.

This is the most common and standard resume format and telling the truth, many employers typically prefer this type to others as it's easy to see what jobs you have held and when you have worked at them. A chronological resume focuses on your work history first as the most relevant point for hiring managers. Obviously, your jobs are listed in reverse chronological order with your current or most recent job with brief explanations of each job. 

When should you use a chronological resume?

A chronological resume format is the most common resume type, which suits those people who have an extensive work history that is in the same line of work as the job for which they are applying. It’s a safe choice for virtually all job seekers. 

When should you avoid using a chronological resume?

The chronological resume does not work well for career changers. You might have a lot of work experience in different industries but a chronological format demands related and smooth working history. As well as career changes, chronological resume doesn’t like gaps in employment and will only emphasize these issues.

Chronological resume structure

A chronological resume often includes an eye-catching career summary at the top. Then you should define chronology of your previous work experience and make it as clear as possible - it’s the main part of such resumes. Education, certifications, and special skills are also included in this type of resume but are listed after your work experience section.

Have a look at a chronological resume example to get a clearer visual understanding. 

chronological_resume_example

A proper reverse chronological resume order should be as follows:

  • Contact information
  • Resume summary or resume objective
  • Work experience
  • Additional Sections

2. Functional resume

What is a functional resume.

The functional resume format allows you to take the pressure off your work history and focus more on your skills and abilities. That’s why it’s also called the skills-based resume format. The focus is shifted from job titles and dates to your actual relevant skill set.

When should you use a functional resume?

It is typically used by job seekers who are changing careers, who have gaps in their employment history , students with less working experience or people, whose work history is not directly related to the job. If you are looking for a job in creative industries, where your portfolio matters more than your resume, go ahead and use creative functional resumes. 

When should you avoid using a functional resume?

Through, it’s a great one for teens, students, and graduates, who lack work experience, but have their education, internships, projects, volunteering or campus work on their back, it’s still the most tricky resume type. The functional format might not work as it just throws your job history out. If you’re a fresher looking for a summer or entry-level job – it’s your choice to show up. But if you already have some achievements under your belt, your experience section would be presented only by a tiny list of your past employers at the bottom of the resume, and that’s not what you need.

Functional resume structure

No worry, if you don’t have a perfect work experience with a treasure trove of relevant skills and competencies. You’re not the only one and there are numbers of strategies you can employ to cover up gaps on your resume. To get an idea of how a functional resume can conceal your work gaps, you must understand the structure of current resume format.

Take a look at the functional resume example and let it become clear to you. 

functional_resume_example

Keep in mind the correct functional resume order:

  • Resume objective
  • Skills Summary
  • Additional Skills
  • Work Experience

Remember, even if you don’t have much work experience, you should still link your skills with either your academic achievements or part-time jobs and volunteer experience. The functional resume can be an ideal resume format for freshers as its ultimate goal is to make the hiring manager see your potential and desire to work.

3. Combination resume

What is a combination resume.

The combination resume format (or hybrid resume) is a middle ground between the reverse chronological resume and functional one. As the name suggests, it combines the aspects of the other two resume types. The combination style focuses more on skills but leaves plenty of room to provide details on your past work. Shortly, it focuses on skills without throwing off the work experience section. The more transferable skills you include, the easier it will be to make a successful resume. 

When should you use a combination resume?

Combination resumes were designed for job seekers who already have a relevant work experience or even looking to jump into a new industry. Moreover, if you’re applying for a position that requires a lot of technical skills and expertise, using a combination format is the best way to showcase these abilities to the hiring manager. If you had an impressive set of accomplishments and job duties in previous positions and want to highlight the skills you’ve developed over the years this style is perfect to help you succeed in a career path.

When should you avoid using combination resume?

Combination resumes don’t work well when you don’t have much work experience or your duties weren’t specified. Also, if you didn’t get any promotions, awards or achievements over the course of your career don’t go for the hybrid resume. You should better use a chronological resume structure. However, if you eventually got one, do not forget explain and emphasize each of them.  

Combination resume structure

Formatting a resume demands your skills and qualifications first. Those skills that are most relevant to a particular job opening must be on the top. Underneath each skill, you make a bulleted list of professional achievements that highlight the skill. Your employment history is listed next, in reverse chronological order. It would be perfect to divide the descriptions of your work experience into “Related Work Experience” and “Additional Professional Experience” sections. This allows you to focus recruiter’s attention on your most relevant experience while at the same time providing a complete work history.

Let’s have a look at combination resume sample.

combination_resume_example

A proper combination resume order should be as follows:

If you are still unsure of your ability to create a good resume format on your own, don’t hesitate to use our professional resume writing help and get your documents done on a higher level! ---

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functional hybrid resume

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  1. The Best Hybrid Resume Template Word For 2023

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  2. Hybrid Resume Format: Examples & Template

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  3. How to Write a Functional Resume [4 Free Templates Included]

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  4. Hybrid Resume Format Complete Ultimate Guide

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  5. Hybrid Resume Format Complete Ultimate Guide

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  6. Hybrid Resume: Template and Examples for Any Job in 2023

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COMMENTS

  1. How To Write a Hybrid Resume (With Template and Example)

    What is a hybrid resume? A hybrid resume, or a combination resume, is a document that combines the chronological and functional resume formats. It begins by highlighting the candidate's skills and usually excludes the introduction section. The next sections discuss the candidate's work experience and education.

  2. Hybrid Resume Format: Examples & Template

    What is a hybrid resume? A hybrid resume (also called a combination resume) is a resume format that combines the best parts of the functional resume and the chronological resume formats.. Similar to a functional resume, a hybrid resume leads with a detailed skills section. However, a hybrid resume also features a lengthy work experience section like you'd find on a chronological resume ...

  3. Hybrid Resume: Template and Examples for Any Job in 2024

    1. What is a Hybrid Resume. A hybrid resume is a resume that focuses equally on both important job skills and professional experience. Also known as a combination resume or chrono-functional resume, they are best suited for people changing careers, seasoned professionals with extensive experience, and those with gaps in employment.

  4. How to Write a Combination Resume (With Example!)

    A combination resume, also referred to as a hybrid resume, does exactly what its name suggests, finding a middle ground by combining aspects of both the chronological and functional resumes. It includes a section focused on your relevant skills near the top of the page followed by a section that runs through your relevant work history in some ...

  5. Why the Hybrid Resume is the Best Resume Format

    The functional resume template focuses on skills as well but it is not preferred by hiring managers because it tends to leave out employment history and gaps in employment, which makes the applicant seem unforthcoming. Employment gaps happen, and most hiring managers will understand. The hybrid format helps diminish those gaps without totally hiding them.

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

    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

  7. Combination and Hybrid Resume Guide (Example)

    Why Use a Hybrid Resume. While the combination resume is not as common as a chronological resume, it is gaining in popularity. In fact, as the team of FlexJobs' Career Experts point out, "Hybrid resumes have really become the standard resume in a lot of ways. They combine the best elements of chronological and functional resumes .".

  8. How to write a Hybrid Resume (with instructions, tips, and ...

    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

  9. Combination Resume Format

    What is a hybrid/combination resume format? Most resumes consist of the same essential sections; the term resume format refers to how those sections are organized!. A hybrid resume, also called a combination resume, combines the best parts of the chronological and functional resume formats.. This type of resume leads hiring managers directly to your abilities and achievements by putting the ...

  10. Guide to Hybrid Resumes: How to Write a Combination Resume

    1. If you have employment gaps. If you have any work gaps in your employment history, a hybrid resume may be the best resume format to help you explain them. This can improve an employer's first impression of your work history. 2. If a functional or chronological resume isn't sufficient. Functional resumes may leave out details of your work ...

  11. Combination Resume Guide [w/ Templates & Examples]

    So, what is a combination resume exactly and what does it combine? Essentially, a combination resume, aka a hybrid resume, combines 2 traditional resume formats. It's a mix of the reverse-chronological resume and the functional resume format. As in, it places equal emphasis both on your skills and work experience.

  12. How to Select the Right Resume Format for Your Job Search

    The hybrid resume, also known as a combination resume, combines both functional and chronological information into one format. It includes a professional summary and "areas of expertise" or "core competencies" section at the top of the resume that outline your key qualifications, skill sets, and achievements and a chronological section ...

  13. How To Write a Functional Hybrid Resume (With Example)

    This strategy is helpful for freelancers or people working in fields that ebb and flow, such as creative fields. This puts the "function" in a functional hybrid resume. Keep the Length Short. Having multiple jobs can create very long resumes, so make sure to keep an eye on the length. Your resume needs to be 2 pages in total.

  14. Tips for Writing a Hybrid Resume in 2024

    What is a hybrid resume? The combination, or hybrid resume format, is one that blends the features of a traditional chronological resume with the more modern functional resume. While chronological resumes focus on professional experience and functional resumes prioritize the skills section, a combination resume balances these sections.

  15. How to Create a Hybrid Resume Format

    Choose a layout. Be the first to add your personal experience. 3. Write a summary. 4. List your skills. 5. Highlight your work experience. Be the first to add your personal experience.

  16. Functional vs Hybrid Resume: Pros and Cons

    A hybrid resume is a type of resume that combines elements of a chronological and a functional resume. It showcases both your skills and your work history in a balanced way.

  17. Functional Resume: Template, Examples, and Writing Guide

    Now that you have an idea of what a functional resume looks like, it's time to learn how to write a resume like this. Here's a helpful section-by-section guide: 1. List your contact information. Include the following contact information on your resume: Your first and last names. Current job title.

  18. Hybrid Resume Format: Combining Timelines and Skills

    The hybrid resume is a combination of the reverse chronological resume and functional resume formats. The hybrid satisfies demands for timelines and showcases your marketable skills and impressive accomplishments. Many people find the hybrid resume to be the most attractive of all formats. Essentially, in a hybrid format, a functional summary ...

  19. Functional Resume Template and Why Recruiters Hate This

    Use the hybrid resume format instead. The hybrid resume blends the best elements of the functional and reverse-chronological resumes. That's why it's also called the combination resume. Here's how you format a hybrid resume: First, you show your key skills and achievements at the top of your resume, like a functional resume.

  20. How to Minimize a Resume Gap with Functional or Hybrid Formats

    Writing a hybrid resume requires following a few steps. Start with a summary statement that summarizes your main skills, qualifications, and career goals. Identify the skills relevant to the job ...

  21. Chronological, Functional or Combination Resume Format: Pick the Best

    The functional resume can be an ideal resume format for freshers as its ultimate goal is to make the hiring manager see your potential and desire to work. 3. Combination resume What is a combination resume? The combination resume format (or hybrid resume) is a middle ground between the reverse chronological resume and functional one. As the ...

  22. Best Resume Formats for 2024 [8+ Professional Examples]

    Functional resume format (skills-based resume) ... Combination resumes, also known as hybrid resumes, are best if you've developed many skills over your career, and have plenty of experience using those skills. If you need to use a combination resume, consider using a two-page resume because you'll likely have many years of experience, ...