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Top Functional Resume Example for Students

functional resume example for students

If you are checking out our functional resume example for students, then you’re likely a student writing your first resume . I’m guessing that you have lots of experience with things like participation in extracurricular activities and sports, but not so much in the work experience department? Rather than using a more traditional chronological resume style, I would encourage you to consider using a functional (also referred to as a combination or hybrid resume style) student resume format.

To see why, take a close look at the best functional resume example for students (pictured below).

High School Student Resume Template

Functional resume example for students with no experience

functional student resume example with blue headers

Functional resume template word

Our functional resume example for students is formatted in Microsoft Word and is also compatible with Google Docs and Pages. When sending your resume to an employer, I suggest including a Word or Google Docs file, along with a PDF version (for a PDF version, click “save as” and then select “PDF”). A PDF file will preserve all of the formatting of your document.

functional resume template example for student with no color

Example of a functional resume

functional resume template example for student with blue headers

Whether you are currently a student, a new professional with limited work experience, or you are changing careers, you can see from the functional resume examples above that this style of resume is effective in terms of marketing transferable skills as well as tailoring a resume closely to a specific job posting .

Your Future Starts Here

Student resume templates

In conclusion

A functional resume example for students or hybrid resume is a great option for students, especially those who have little to no work experience to list on the resume. As you get more work experience that is related to your career goal, you can use a chronological resume style that focuses on your chronological work history.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should i format my functional resume for students with no work experience.

When formatting your functional resume for students with no work experience, follow these guidelines: – Start with your contact information at the top of the resume. – Include an objective statement that describes your career goals. – Highlight your education, relevant coursework, and any academic achievements. – List your skills with brief descriptions or examples of how you have demonstrated them. – Include a section for any volunteer experience, internships, or extracurricular activities, emphasizing transferable skills. – Use a clean and easy-to-read font, and keep the design simple and professional. – Proofread carefully for grammar and spelling errors before submitting.

How do I write a functional resume?

Writing a functional resume is not a difficult process if you follow these steps: In your career summary, make sure to explain which transferable skills and experience you have and how they can be of value in your targeted field.

Include a skills and qualifications section below your summary (above work history) that mirrors the job posting in terms of the skills and qualifications listed. Give specific examples of how you have acquired the skills from past work experience and/or education. For example: “Honed oral communication skills by participating in over 100 debates on mock trial team at Oakdale High School.”

List your work history below your skills and qualifications section.

List your education above the qualifications section if you are a current high school or college student. List it below if you are a recent college graduate.

Do employers like functional resumes?

Studies show that employers only spend about seven seconds scanning resumes. If you asked 100 employers what style of resume they prefer, you would likely get many different answers. Many employers like functional or hybrid resumes because they clearly articulate how a candidate’s skills and achievements align with the position.

The most important thing to remember, regardless of which resume style you choose, is to proofread your document and tailor your resume to each job you apply for!

Lee Cristina Beaser

Lee brings over two decades of expertise in guiding individuals towards career success. Having helped thousands of professionals in a wide variety of industries, she has a deep understanding of the intricacies of the job market. Lee founded The Career Counter, a platform dedicated to providing busy people, especially moms returning to the workforce, with tools and services tailored to their unique career goals.

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11+ Best Student Resume Templates (W/ Examples & Resources)

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Writing an impressive resume as a student with no work experience can be a challenging task, often resulting in a generic document that fails to capture your full potential. 

This challenge intensifies in the face of a sea of applicants vying for the same role as you, making it all the more critical to stand out. 

Fortunately, we’re here to solve this problem! 

This article presents a selection of impactful student resume templates and examples that will help transform your raw skills and academic accomplishments into an impressive, attention-grabbing resume. 

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

12 Student Resume Templates

3 student resume examples, 5 other professional resources for students.

Let’s dive in!

#1. Creative Resume Template

Creative Resume Template Student

The Creative resume template offers a visually appealing and unique design that can greatly benefit students. 

With a modern and innovative layout that leverages eye-catching colors, this template allows students to showcase their skills, experiences, and achievements all on one page. 

The template's artistic element can help you stand out from the crowd and make a memorable impression on potential employers by highlighting your creativity, attention to detail, and ability to think outside the box, all of which are valuable attributes in today's competitive job market.

#2. Basic Resume Template

Student Basic Resume Template

This resume template comes with a straightforward and clean design that offers numerous benefits to students. 

For starters, it provides a professional and well-organized structure that lets you present your skills, education, and experiences in a concise and effective manner. Not to mention, by positioning the skills section at the top of the resume, this template emphasizes your skills over your work experience (which is something you’re likely lacking).

This template can help any student, regardless of their standing, create a professional-looking resume that showcases their abilities and increases their chances of securing interviews and job opportunities.

#3. Combined Resume Template

Combined Student Resume Template

Just like the name implies, this template is a perfect blend of two resume formats , namely the functional and the reverse-chronological format . 

This Combined template can arm you with a versatile and effective way to present your skills and professional experiences, as well as any relevant optional sections like certifications and personal projects. 

In a nutshell, the Combined template gives you the flexibility to leverage both the popularity of the chronological format and the impact you can make by emphasizing your skills and abilities. 

So, if you’re not sure which resume format works best for you or if you’re on the fence about a particular template, this stylish and impactful design might just be the choice for you. 

#4. Minimalist Resume Template

Minimalist Student Resume Template

Novorésumé's Minimalist resume template offers a sleek and simple design that comes highly recommended for students. 

True to its name, this template aims to highlight only essential elements through clean aesthetics. Specifically, it lets students present their strong points and most noteworthy achievements concisely, eliminating unnecessary clutter. 

With a stylish color palette of pink and gray and a design that puts skills and work experience side by side, there’s no way you can go wrong picking this student resume template. 

#5. Traditional Resume Template

Traditional Student Resume Template

This template’s classic and time-tested design is guaranteed to work wonders for students looking to work in all fields, but especially those aiming for more traditional industries like banking or finance. 

Following a structured design that highlights all key resume sections, such as the resume objective , education, work experience, and skills sections, this template lets you include all your relevant information without your resume spilling over to page two . 

#6. General Resume Template

General Student Resume Template

The General resume template is meant to offer you a versatile and adaptable format to showcase your qualifications, including your awards, your foreign language skills , your education, and much more. 

The header’s blue color is meant to grab recruiters’ attention to two of the most important resume sections–the contact information and the resume summary sections. 

Once you have their attention, you can wow them with other relevant sections such as your skills, work experience, and anything else you deem important. 

Easily customizable and practical to skim through, this resume template can make your application look good even if you don’t put too much effort into it. 

#7. Modern Resume Template

Modern Student Resume Template

The Modern resume template is a great choice for students who want their resume to look sleek and stylish, and yet professional. 

By incorporating modern elements like horizontal lines and bold blue color, this template is a great choice for practically every field you apply to. 

By using the Modern template, students can present themselves as forward-thinking and professional candidates, increasing their chances of standing out from the competition.

#8. IT Resume Template

IT Student Resume Template

If getting into IT is your dream, then this resume template is for you! 

The team at Novorésumé specifically designed the IT resume template to cater to the needs of students in the field. Using a clean and modern layout , this template offers a comprehensive structure that highlights your relevant technical skills, certifications, and education history. 

And, if you have any professional experience in IT, even if it’s through freelance work, internships , or personal projects, this template can surely help you highlight it through the reverse-chronological format - a favorite among recruiters.

#9. Simple Resume Template

Simple Student Resume Template

Sometimes, a simple resume template can be just the way to let your personality and achievements shine through. 

This is exactly what the Simple resume template does for students. 

With a straightforward and reader-friendly structure that strays away from extravagant design elements and flashy colors, this template aims to let your achievements do the talking. 

So, if your professional journey is already rich in accomplishments or if you’re one of those people who think simplicity is always the right choice, then you just found your match. 

#10. Functional Resume Template

Functional Student Resume Template

Just like the format it’s named after, the Functional resume template lets you highlight your skills and qualifications upfront, which is perfect if you don’t have enough work experience to list.

What makes this template even more impactful is the minty color that grabs recruiters’ attention, the perfectly aligned sections, and the way it leverages symbols to show your proficiency in say, foreign languages or technical skills . 

#11. Skill-Based Resume Template

Skill-Based Student Resume Template

The Skill-Based resume template does just what the name implies - it provides students with a valuable format that emphasizes their key skills and competencies. 

This template allows students to highlight their relevant abilities and qualifications, regardless of their work experience . By organizing their resume based on skills rather than professional achievements, students can effectively showcase their strengths and demonstrate their suitability for a particular role. 

This resume template lets you focus on your most marketable skills, making it easier for potential employers to quickly identify your strengths and match them with job requirements.

#12. College Resume Template

College Student Resume Template

Are you a college student looking to land your first gig? Then the College resume template is just what you need. 

Specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of college students, this template offers a comprehensive structure that lets you highlight your academic achievements, extracurricular activities , internships, and relevant coursework.

The College resume template lets you effectively showcase your education, skills, and experiences in a concise manner and contemporary style. The resume’s design is tailored to the specific needs of college students, increasing your chances of impressing potential employers and securing your next entry-level position!

#1. High-School Student Resume

High-School Student Resume

#2. College Freshman Resume

College Freshman Resume

#3. Internship Resume 

Internship Resume

Picking the right template for your resume is just a small first step toward landing your first gig. 

There are several other things you’ll need to do during your job hunt , such as networking with the right people, applying for the right positions for you, and continuously honing your skills. 

Here are some resources that are guaranteed to come in handy: 

  • Professional Networking | What Is It & Why It Matters . Networking is an excellent way to lay solid career foundations and make professional connections you can even use down the line. This article outlines all the benefits of professional networking and gives you 9 essential tips to get it right.
  • 30+ Jobs for Teenagers (Where & How to Look) . These jobs are perfect for students of all ages, from high school freshmen to college seniors, so start digging.
  • 101 Essential Skills to Put on a Resume . Without a solid work experience section, your skills section is the most important part of your resume. Do it justice by going through the most essential skills every resume should have in 2024.
  • How to List Computer Skills on a Resume . Nowadays, 92% of jobs require digital skills , according to the National Skills Coalition. Since students and younger professionals are more likely to be well-versed in digital skills, it’s good to know how to list such skills in your resume. Learn how with our article!
  • How to Write a Cover Letter in 2024 . Cover letters are still an essential part of job applications, so you shouldn’t submit one without attaching a cover letter. If you think writing a cover letter is even harder than creating a resume, though, head over to our dedicated article to become a cover letter pro.

Conclusion 

By now, you should have realized how important it is to find the right student resume template if you want to land your dream job. 

We hope our list meets your preferences and can help you on your career path as effectively as possible! 

For more resources and career advice, make sure to visit our blog ! 

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Functional Resume: Formatting, Examples, and Templates

A functional resume is an efficient way to balance your work history with your skills on your resume - find out how to create yours!

An example of a functional resume

If your career journey has taken some unusual turns, a traditional chronological resume may not be right for you. It might expose some career gaps that may jeopardize your resume’s chances of success, or it might not leave you with enough room to cover the wide range of skills you’ve acquired across multiple roles. If any of this applies to you, you may be wondering how best to present yourself as a candidate.

That’s where the functional resume comes in! It’s an efficient way to balance your work history with your skills on your resume, without relying on a chronological list of what you’ve done in the past. If you’re making a career change, or if you’re looking for a way to obscure a career break, this format could be perfect for you.

To help you out, we’ve written this guide to the functional resume format. On this page, we’ll cover the following points:

  • What a functional resume actually is
  • Why you might opt for a functional resume
  • How to write a functional resume
  • Which templates work best for a functional resume
  • An example of a great functional resume

What is a Functional Resume?

A functional resume is a resume format that prioritizes your skills over a chronological outline of your work experience. It’s designed to call attention to your transferable skills, instead of focusing on a laundry list of roles that may not be relevant to the job you want. You might also have heard it described as a skills-based resume.

A good functional resume will tie your relevant skills to a non-chronological list of the roles where you’ve used them. This ensures that both your skills and your work history remain visible—just in a slightly unusual format. It shouldn’t hide any relevant information! Instead, it should arrange the information in a way that shows you at your best.

This resume format can be contentious among hiring managers, because it can be harder to skim-read than other formats. As such, it’s a good idea to opt for a standard reverse-chronological resume format if you can. But if you have a strong, compelling reason to choose a functional resume, it might just be worth the risk for you.

Why Might You Choose to Create a Functional Resume?

There are two main reasons why you might choose to create a functional resume. The first is that you have one or more career gaps that might ring alarm bells for a hiring manager on a reverse-chronological resume. The second is that you’re making a career move—or have made one in the past—which has left you with a lot of work experience that may not be relevant to the jobs you’re applying for now.

You could also consider a functional resume if you have a history of freelance work, which has allowed you to build up a lot of skills without also building up a coherent or consistent work history. These conditions often apply to creative workers, whose portfolio of past work is usually more important than their actual work experience.

Candidates who are overqualified for the job they want may also benefit from a functional resume, which focuses more on skills than educational background or comprehensive work history. This can help these candidates to brush over highly-specialized positions that may raise red flags for hiring managers, focusing instead on the skills relevant to the position they want.

It’s worth keeping in mind that a functional resume is a highly specialized resume format, and it will only work for a very limited number of job searchers. Most people will get more out of a reverse-chronological resume format than a functional resume format. In particular, you should avoid the functional resume format if you have no work experience at all!

But if you have an unusual work history or a compelling reason to focus on your skills over the specifics of your experience, a functional resume will give you the tools you need to make a successful application. As long as you approach it carefully, it’s a great resource for job searchers with a less conventional background.

How to Write a Functional Resume

If you’re going to write a functional resume, you need to know how to do it right! A standard functional resume will contain all of the following sections, usually in this order:

  • Your name, job title and contact information
  • Your resume summary, focusing on your skills and achievements
  • A skills section, which will be the longest and most substantial section of your resume
  • A work experience section, which can be omitted
  • An education section, featuring your highest academic qualification and your most recent certifications or licenses

As a matter of course, your name, job title and contact information can form a header for your resume as a whole. It’s important to note, though, that you should omit a job title if you’re making a career change! Otherwise, it may confuse the hiring manager who reads your resume.

Your resume summary should focus on your biggest professional achievements and how they have required you to use your skills. Remember, this type of resume should be all about your skills, so make sure you refer to them here! If you’re making a career change, you can also incorporate an objective statement into your resume summary—this can help hiring managers to get a sense of where you hope your career will take you in the future.

The skills section is the centerpiece of a functional resume, so you need to make sure it shines! To start, look through the job description and identify the skills needed for the position—these will usually appear in a list. Then compare them to your own strongest skills. Wherever these lists of skills overlap, you have a skill that can be included in your skills section.

For each skill you list—and you should aim to list between 3 and 4 skills—include 3 or 4 bullet points. Each bullet point should contain evidence that you have used these skills in the past. We’ll give an example of this section later in the article, so you can see exactly what this looks like in practice!

If you decide to include a work history section, it doesn’t have to be long, and it doesn’t have to include bullet points as it would on a reverse-chronological resume. Select two to three items from your recent work history and list them from the most recent to the oldest—including your job title, your dates of employment, the company where you worked, and the location of the company. If your recent work experience involves a career break of over a year, you can list that as well, along with an indication of the reason for your time away from work.

Lastly, your education section shouldn’t differ much from the education section on a reverse-chronological resume. If you’re a recent graduate or a current student, you can list achievements like academic prizes and honors that you’ve earned while studying. Otherwise, list your highest qualification and any recent certificates you’ve earned—you don’t need to do more than that.

Functional Resume Template

At VisualCV, we pride ourselves on our versatile resume templates. Any of our templates will work with a functional resume format! But it’s worth keeping in mind that hiring managers may struggle to skim-read a functional resume—so ideally, you should choose a template that will make it as easy as possible for them to read.

That means choosing a template that’s fairly stripped-back, without too many distracting design flourishes. Here are some of our favorite templates that work well with a functional resume format.

This ATS-optimized template is one of the most simple, clean templates we offer—which makes it ideal for a functional resume. All you’ll need to do is switch the Work Experience section out for the Skills section, and the rest will be taken care of for you. And when you submit your application, this template will be readable enough to limit the risks of using a functional resume format at all.

ATS simple resume template

This is another streamlined, uncomplicated template that makes a point of being easy to read. From the fonts to the color choices, it’s geared toward presenting you in the most elegant and professional way possible. And you can arrange the sections of this template in whatever order you need, so you can choose what to focus on and what to minimize on your resume.

Simple Resume Format

If you’re looking for a template that makes subtle but stylish design choices, without being impossible to read, Monte is a great choice. The key is that its eye-catching fonts are still very readable, and the pops of understated color don’t distract from what you’re saying in the body of your resume. That makes it an ideal option for you to present your functional resume in an aesthetically satisfying way.

Simple Resume Format: Monte

Functional Resume Example

Want a head start on your functional resume? Here’s a great example of a functional resume, to show you how it all comes together:

Functional Resume Example

Gail Edwards Freelance Writer [email protected] | New York, NY

Summary Dedicated and self-motivated copywriter with a BA in Marketing from New York University. Experienced in writing, editing and researching for both print and digital media, with a strong track record of increasing clients’ visibility. Strong time management skills, with a history in project management. Enthusiastic about leveraging my skills and experience in a full-time career in advertising.

Skills Copywriting

  • Produced groundbreaking and innovative digital copy for a range of major brands and clients, working to specific briefs
  • Developed and enacted a framework for the successful production of print copy, in collaboration with graphic designers and artists and in close communication with clients
  • Met and exceeded company KPIs every quarter while employed at Content Solutions Ltd

Copy Editing

  • Edited all drafts of written copy before submitting work to clients, ensuring a high standard of quality across all work produced
  • Supported junior colleagues by offering editorial assistance on an ad-hoc basis, helping Content Solutions Ltd to maintain its high standards of client satisfaction
  • Performed meticulous and in-depth market research for each new client, ensuring that all new copy responded directly to the needs of each campaign
  • Sought out relevant statistics to support all print and digital copy, positioning clients as trustworthy thought leaders in their fields

Work Experience Freelance Writer | Content Solutions Ltd, New York 2021-present

Career Break | Parental Leave 2019-2021

Administrative Assistant | New York University, New York 2015-2019

Education Bachelor of Arts in Marketing | New York University, New York 2012-2015

Copyright © 2024 Workstory Inc.

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The Functional Resume: What It Is & When To Use It (Spoiler: Never)

Kayte Grady

3 key takeaways

  • What a functional resume is
  • How using this resume format might put you at a disadvantage
  • How to use Teal's resume templates (+ functional resume examples)

Considering a functional resume format because your skills outweigh your work experience?

A functional resume focuses on specific skills rather than roles and companies—moving away from a traditional or chronological resume layout. And while it sounds like a good strategy if you're looking to highlight certain abilities, using a functional resume still requires some consideration. 

What is a functional resume?

A functional resume (sometimes called a skills-based resume format) focuses on the skills that qualify you for a role. This resume format prioritizes the tools and aptitudes you've used to do the job over where and when you've done it. 

A functional resume example

Teal Note: We can provide guidance for building a functional resume, but this resume template doesn't exist in the Teal platform.

As the workforce evolves, functional resumes have become increasingly popular—but not universally accepted; the trend toward functional resumes is more prevalent among job seekers than hiring professionals. Here's why:

By emphasizing transferable skills and abilities, a functional resume allows anyone with a non-linear career path or limited work experience to present areas of strengths and potential rather than a job history.

But while the core of a functional resume emphasizes skills and competencies, it doesn't focus on:

  • Comprehensive work history 

Recruiting expert and Teal Social Media Manager Leah Dillon says:

"Anyone can list a skill, but just listing it doesn’t add value. It’s about showcasing that skill through experience, whether at a company or independently: How do you know it? How did you use it to have an impact alongside other skills?"

The elements above are critical for hiring professionals to assess your qualifications, especially during the initial screening. Direct, relevant experience, reflected through a clear timeline and job titles, is crucial to many job requirements.

Dillon echos this sentiment:

"Companies are looking for people to help drive the business forward, and those who showcase they’ve helped drive initiatives along tend to have higher interview rates."

Disadvantages of a functional resume

  • Lack of familiarity:  Recruiters may find a functional resume less intuitive, making it harder to extract critical information quickly.
  • Potential for skepticism:  The absence of a chronological work history can look like an attempt to hide gaps in employment or a lack of specific experience.
  • Difficulty establishing career progression:  Demonstrating professional growth over time is often key to emphasizing the evolution of roles and responsibilities.
  • Limited skills showcase: Functional resumes miss the opportunity to show the breadth of your abilities. A range of skills throughout your resume will help align your experience with a job's requirements. Merely listing skills without showing how they've been applied collectively to have an impact undermines the effectiveness of your entire resume.

Functional resumes vs. other resume formats

Chronological resume.

A chronological resume (or reverse-chronological resume ) is the most widely accepted resume format—presenting your work history in reverse chronological order.

It offers a straightforward view of your career progression, highlighting your work experience and making it easy for hiring managers and recruiters to see your background, achievements, and how you've used your skills to have an impact over time.

Use a chronological resume to show a clear view of your career, impact, and skills.

View our full selection of free reverse-chronological resume templates to find a style and presentation that suits your career.

Combination resume

The combination resume , or hybrid, blends elements of both functional and chronological resumes while still offering a clear and easy-to-read layout. It typically starts with a professional summary, followed by a section for hard or technical skills, and then a reverse chronological listing of your work history. 

functional resume for students examples

When to use a functional resume

If you've made it this far and still feel the best resume format is a skills-based resume, here are the best use cases.

Career pivoters

Suppose you're transitioning to a new industry or career path. In that case, a functional resume can help highlight transferable skills relevant to your new field—regardless of where you've acquired them.

Those with employment gaps

If you have a gap in your employment, you can use a functional resume to emphasize your skills, highlighting what you bring to the table rather than focusing on your employment history.

Reentering the workforce

If you're returning to work after a significant break, a functional resume can help you highlight your relevant, valuable skills.

First-time job seekers

If you're a job seeker creating a resume with no work experience , a functional resume format focuses on skills rather than a non-existent or thin work history.

For applications that request this format

Some job postings might request a functional resume. In these cases, sticking to this format shows you can follow directions and understand the specific preferences of your prospective employer.

How to write a functional resume

Before you choose a resume format, you need the  right  tool to store your skills, achievements, and more. 

The Teal  AI Resume Builder  is a free platform to house all these details in one central location. 

A screenshot showing what professional details are stored in the Teal AI Resume Builder

Now, it's time to write your functional resume.

1. Start with your contact information

You want prospective employers to contact you, so you're going to need to give them those details as clearly as possible.

Your resume contact information should include:

  • Phone Number
  • Professional email address
  • LinkedIn profile URL 
  • Portfolio or personal website URL (if applicable)
  • Your target title

2. Add a professional summary

Below your contact information, write a 3-5 sentence professional summary. Consider this your highlight reel—zeroing in on top achievements, skills, and qualifications while generating enough interest to keep the hiring manager or recruiter reading the rest of your resume.

Pro Tip: If you want to save time writing your professional summary, try Teal’s AI Resume Summary Generator to write tailored, position-specific summaries in seconds.

3. List relevant skills

Next up, list your skills. Because you're using a functional resume format, this section will change each time you apply for a specific role.

The skills in your resume (regardless of format) should  always  align with the job description of the role you're applying to.

Resume skills example: 

If a job description says,

"3 years of experience in an SEO, Growth Ops, or Marketing Ops role, ideally in a startup environment for a B2C audience with strong knowledge building and owning workflows as it relates to SEO, content production, and publishing."

Then, your resume's "Skill" section should focus on at least three skills listed. 

  • Content Production

Not sure which skills matter most? Teal's got you covered. The Teal AI Resume Builder pulls the top skills as keywords from any job description, so you know which ones matter most.

A graphic showing how the Teal Resume Builder highlights skills in job descriptions

Once you've identified the top three skills in the job description, add three to five bullet points beneath each to showcase  how  you used that skill to have impact.

Using the job description above, here's a functional resume example of how this might look.

  • Orchestrated a growth ops strategy, successfully improving SEO workflow efficiency by 25%
  • Led a team in implementing growth op practices, increasing web traffic by 35%
  • Redesigned growth op workflows, improving content production and publishing by 20% 

4. Add optional sections

Once you have your primary skills and the impact of those skills, add job history, an "Education" section, and certifications to support them.

4 tips for writing a functional resume

Now that you understand how to write a functional resume let's go over some best practices that'll help guide you.

  • Only emphasize relevant skills : Identify the skills most relevant to the job you’re applying for and provide specific examples of how you used those skills.
  • Quantify your achievements : Wherever possible, use numbers, metrics, and data to show the impact of your work. Think efficiency improvements, revenue growth, etc.
  • Use a clear, organized layout : Ensure your resume is easy to read. Use headings, bullet points, and consistent formatting to make your skills and achievements stand out.
  • Tailor your resume : Customize your target title, resume summary, skills, and bullet points—ensuring your content aligns with what an employer is looking for.

Functional resume format

The functional resume layout differs significantly from other traditional formats. Here's how to do it:

  • Contact details
  • Your resume summary
  • A clear "Skills" section with achievements relevant to the role

If you include an employment history, place it after the skills section. Education and any other relevant details (certifications or volunteer experience) should come last.

3 tips for formatting a functional resume

  • Provide clarity: Use a clean, easy-to-read layout. Opt for bullet points to describe your skills and achievements, making the resume scannable.
  • Use consistent formatting : Your resume content should stick to one font style and size, with clear and slightly larger or bolded headings to distinguish each section.
  • Balance white space and text: A well-balanced layout avoids clutter, making your resume clear and easy to read.

Functional resume examples

A functional resume example can help guide your process—giving you a clear idea of how to create a compelling functional resume.

Data analyst functional resume example

A functional resume example for a data analyst

Software engineer skills-based resume sample

A skills-based resume example for a software engineer

Project manager functional resume example

A functional resume example for a project manager

Functional resume templates

A free functional resume template can be a valuable tool in writing your resume.

Functional resume templates provide a structured layout so you can effectively showcase your skills and their impact.

Websites like Teal, Canva, Google, and Microsoft offer a variety of resume templates . These platforms are user-friendly, and their simple resume templates cater to different career needs and styles.

How to use skills-based resume templates

1. Copy the template into your editing software : Copy and paste (or download the template) in your preferred editing software.

functional resume for students examples

2. Customize each section : Replace any placeholder text with your own details. Focus heavily on the skills section, making sure to highlight only skills that are 100% relevant to the job you're applying for.

A screenshot of how to edit resume details in Teal

3. Adjust the design : While the template provides a basic structure, feel free to make minor adjustments to the design. (This could include changing font sizes or styles, adjusting the layout of sections, or adding a small pop of color. Just be mindful to keep it easy to read.)

A screenshot of Teal's design mode

4. Proofread and edit : Make sure your resume is free of errors like placeholder text and the information is current and accurate.

A screnshot of Teal's spelling and grammar tool.

Skills-based resume templates

Below are some free skills-based resume templates that provide a solid foundation for you to start from. Use them as a guide for showcasing your unique skills and experiences effectively.

Student skills-based resume template

[Full Name]

[Contact Information]

[Target Title]

Professional Summary

[Highly motivated and detail-oriented student] pursuing a [Bachelor's/Master's] degree in [Field of Study] with a strong foundation in [Key Skills]. Experienced in [mention any relevant internships, part-time jobs, or projects with impact] and passionate about [specific interest within the field].

[Relevant Skill]

  • Achievement with impact

[Bachelor's/Master's] in [Field of Study]

[University Name], [Expected Year of Graduation]

Coursework (Optional)

[Course] - [Brief description]

Recent graduate functional resume template

[Energetic and motivated recent graduate] with a [Bachelor's/Master's] degree in [Field of Study] from [University Name]. I have excellent [Key Skills] and am eager to apply academic knowledge and [internship/academic project with results] experience to contribute effectively to [industry/role]. Strong [relevant soft skills] and a quick learner, ready to excel in a [specific field/role].

[University Name], [Year of Graduation]

Projects (Optional)

  • [Project Title] - [Brief description and outcome]

Career pivot skills-based resume template

[Experienced professional in [previous career] with a strong foundation in [relevant skills] and a passion for [new career/industry]. Seeking to leverage [transferable skills] to transition into a [target role/industry]. Accomplished in [mention at least one relevant achievement with impact] and committed to achieving success in [new career/industry].

Certifications

[Certification] - [Organization]

Professional Experience

[Previous Job Title] | [Previous Company], [Years of Experience]

  • [Any relevant achievements]

Create and manage your resume with Teal

While functional resumes showcase specific skills, they also have limitations.

Their format, which deviates from the traditional chronological layout, is less familiar and more challenging for hiring professionals to navigate. This unfamiliarity may lead to difficulty in quickly assessing what you bring to the table—leaving you at a disadvantage compared to other candidates.

A chronological or hybrid resume might be a better option if you're looking for a more easily recognized approach. These formats are more familiar and provide a clear, linear view of your skills and how you used them over time to have an impact.

If you're ready to grab (and hold!) the attention of hiring managers and recruiters with a holistic view of your skills and experience—one they can easily follow and appreciate—it's time to get started:

Frequently Asked Questions

Do employers like functional resumes.

Employers typically don't prefer functional resumes because they can obscure chronological work history and specific job titles. Unless a functional resume format is specifically requested, try to use a chronological or combination resume format instead.

What is a functional skills resume?

A functional skills resume focuses on skills and experiences rather than chronological work history, highlighting your top competencies.

When should you not use a functional resume?

You should not use a functional resume when applying to roles that require a clear understanding of your work history and progression.

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Click here to directly go to the complete Functional resume sample.

What is a functional resume?

It is a resume format used by professionals who want to highlight their skills over experience.

Before we dive-deeper into the use and meaning of a functional resume, we need to understand the types of resume formats available to us.

There are 3 standard resume formats used by professionals from different industries. This blog will help you understand how and when to choose a functional resume for your job application.

The following questions will be answered in the article:

  • What is a Functional Resume Template?
  • Difference between Chronological vs Functional Resume
  • Why do we use a Functional Resume Template?
  • Pros & cons of functional and chronological resume formats
  • Who should use a Functional Resume Template?
  • How to make a Functional Resume?
  • How to structure a Functional Resume Template?
  • Tips to write a Functional Resume

Types of Resume Format

There are three different types of resumes that are accepted within the industry. These resume templates are:

Reverse Chronological Resume Layout

In which your information starts from your current/last-held profile and dates back to the beginning of your education. It includes all your major achievements and information listed along with important dates.

The resume template examples follow the below-mentioned structure:

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

Combination Resume Layout

It is a combination of the reverse chronological resume format and the functional resume format. It allows a candidate to showcase their skills and achievements with evidence from their professional experience.

The points on this format of the resume are grouped based on the skills highlighted.

The resume template examples follow:

  • Skills Summary
  • Additional Skills
  • Work Experience

What Is a Functional Resume Template?

Functional resumes are essentially skill based resumes, wherein professionals expand and highlight their relevant skills rather than their work experience.

This format is recommended by resume experts for people with gaps in their employment history or for ones who have changed their jobs a lot.

To help you understand better, here are a few pointer about functional resume:

  • It focuses on your skill set rather than your work experience
  • It works best for when your work history is not related to your targeted job
  • It works in favor for professionals with gaps in their employment history or those who have frequently changed jobs

The ideal structure of the resume template is:

  • Resume objective
Also Read: What is the best type of resume format?

Functional Resume vs Chronological Resume

Functional resume template: why do we use it.

People who benefit from a functional resume are:

  • Professionals joining creative industries - because your portfolio matters more than your resume.
  • Professionals transitioning Industry - as a detailed job descriptions could be too difficult for unfamiliar recruiters to comprehend.
  • Overqualified or Under-qualified Candidates - who are joining mid-level jobs.

A few key points about the functional resume format:

  • The functional resume can be used by candidates to focus on skills and avoid the work history.
  • Since the focus is on the skills, it helps mask the job shifting trait of the candidate.
  • The functional resume format is not parsed by most ATS since the ATS only looks for points under the relevant work experience.
  • The functional format is not a well accepted resume format as it raises suspicions in the minds of the recruiters that the candidate is trying to hide something.

Functional Resume Template: Who Should Use It and When?

A functional resume template is particularly useful for job-seekers who:

  • Have frequently changed jobs
  • Have gaps in their work history
  • Are reentering the workforce
  • Are transitioning into new careers
  • Under-qualified or Overqualified for particular job posts

The reason functional resumes work well for these people is that most of our acquired skills are transferable despite our careers not standing well.

For example , if you have been a sales manager, you were possibly responsible for training, coaching, and customer relations. These skills could even be used in your functional resume for a Public Relations Manager.

In a chronological resume , this information might not appeal to a recruiter. Essentially you did not hold the title of Public Relations Manager. However, the functional resume format showcases that despite your job profile you have dealt with PR-related issues.

Eventually it comes to how you illustrate yourself. If you give the employers the same information in an improved package you are bound to increase your chances for an interviews. Functional resumes describes more than just background and experience.

How to Make a Functional Resume?

Before we move on to making a functional resume, first we need to understand the format of a functional resume.

How to Format a Functional Resume?

  • Strategically group your key skills into different categories
  • Keep the employment section brief
  • List your previous designations along with the company in your employment section
  • You can omit selective information due to non-compliance with the target profile

Structure of a Functional Resume Format

Follow the order given below to make your resume using the Functional Format:

Contact Information

  • Qualifications Summary
  • Relevant Skills
  • Professional Experience (dates optional)
  • The Additional Section

Key Sections In a Functional Resume

Functional resume summary.

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind while drafting a functional format summary:

  • Spend maximum time on crafting your functional resume summary
  • It should be the last section that you write in your resume
  • Highlight your key skills and achievements that align with your target profile
  • Limit your summary to 3-4 lines
  • Avoid writing boring and elaborate summary, keep it concise and relevant
Also Read : How to write a resume summary

In functional resumes, the candidate’s skills are more important than their work history.

The skills section in a functional resume template should include at least three skills that are significant to the target job. For each skill, group 3 or 4 points which can provide evidence for the same.

Quantifying your skills in your functional resume instills confidence in the employer. It showcases that you are able to fulfill the requirements of the position.

In a functional resume template, skills come after your personal details and before your professional or academic experience. To best highlight your functional resume skills list ensure a combination of

  • Skills listed in the job description
  • Skills you possess

Although adding your contact information looks like the easiest part of the resume writing process yet many functional resumes manage to miss relevant contact details. Include your:

  • Phone number
  • E-mail address
  • Home address (city and state)

You may even include your LinkedIn URL but do not redirect the recruiter to an empty profile.

Your name should ideally be the largest text on the page between 20-24 pt. font size. The rest of your font may correspond to the font style and size of the rest of the page.

Professional Experience

In functional resumes, the professional experience section showcases your experience without prominent display. This shifts the focus on the skills and other qualifications you have for the position.

To conceal your missing work experiences:

Label your period of unemployment

You may have been unemployed for legitimate reasons like being a parent or doing an independent study or being a full-time student. You may describe yourself in the following ways to label your period of unemployment:

  • Full-Time Student
  • Independent Study
  • Full-Time Parent
  • Family Management
  • Adventure Travel
  • Personal Travel

You must always demonstrate on your functional resume that you were doing something during your gaps in employment. Refrain from explaining them as a result of:

  • Rehabilitation, or

Refrain from specific dates

In the functional resume examples you might notice minimal mention of the periods of employment. This creates the impression that even if you were unemployed during the middle of the year 2010, it appears as though you have been consistently working.

This is an acceptable way of “fudging” in functional resumes.

Drafting the education section of functional resume is similar to reverse chronological format resume.

  • Include the name of the university along with the location
  • Name of the course along with the GPA
  • Date of enrollment and graduation

However, if your educational experience corresponds to the job you are applying for then you must mention the skills you have acquired in due process.

In case your degree is not relevant to your field, keep this section short. You may also consider changing the headline to "Training and Education" to incorporate more volume of relevant skills.

Functional Resume Format Template Sample

An example of a free functional resume sample template is attached for a better understanding of how you can proceed with writing your resume.

functional_resume_format-1

Tips for Crafting a Functional Resume

  • Employ professional or sans-serif fonts such as, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS, Century Gothic, Calibri, Lucida Sans, Tahoma, etc. over serif fonts
  • Maintain the font size larger than 10 pts. but smaller than 12 pts. for the section points
  • Maintain the font size larger than 12 pts. but smaller than 14 pts. for the section headings
  • Stick to the same date format. The standard date format in functional resumes is (mm/yy)
  • Follow the current trends. Resume examples 2019 may differ from resume examples 2022
  • Refrain from cramming your resume with gimmicky graphics
  • Leave more white space for your recruiters to have a comfortable read
  • Do not include pictures in your functional resumes
  • Do not try to fit every important information on a one-page resume. Do not, however, exclude key details about your career

Functional Resume or Chronological Resume: Which Should You Use?

Pros & cons of using a reverse chronological resumes.

Pros of using a reverse chronological resume

  • It provides a clear view of your career trajectory
  • This format is widely accepted by recruiters
  • It works in your favor if you have an extensive work history related to your targeted job

Cons of using a reverse chronological format

  • It highlights your career gaps in your resume
  • Showcases unrelated work to your targeted job

Pros & Cons of Using Functional Resumes

Pros of using a functional resume format

  • It helps in hiding career gaps in employment history
  • It is advantageous for fresher who have no work experience
  • It is the best choice for professionals changing their career trajectory

Cons of using a functional resume format

  • It send a message to the recruiters that you are hiding something
  • It is not ATS compliant
  • It doesn't cover your entire work history

Why do Recruiters Dislike this Format?

Recruiters usually skip to the work history to figure out what you might be hiding. In the process, if you manage to impress with your skills, you are good to go.

  • Within the context of skills and accomplishments, it gives you a better opportunity to make yourself stand out despite having significant experiences.
  • Recruiters are familiar with that fact that the functional resume format covers gaps in the applicant’s experience.

Use with Caution

Although a functional resume might sound like it could suit your situation yet you must be conscious of the few drawbacks to this approach.

Excluding the dates or titles can raise the recruiter's suspicions that you might be trying to hide something.

It can be frustrating for recruiters to figure out where you performed a particular accomplishment.

So carefully evaluate your situation, weigh the pros and cons and if you consider the functional resume template an the advantage which outweighs the drawbacks you may go ahead with it. The skills-based resume could present you in the best light.

Key Takeaways

  • It is critical to choose the best resume format for the job application. The best best format should ideally employ all the necessary keywords .
  • Picking a proper format ensures focusing on either of the two - your skills or your career progression
  • Make sure that your resume format do not make your recruiters suspicious of your achievements.
  • Your resume format should address two points - how well you can you do the job and If you the company can work with you?
  • Opt for a functional resume template if you have frequently changed jobs or have gaps in their work history
  • Quantify your work experiences with your achievements using the Cause Effect formula
  • Write a strong skills section and boast any certifications or awards you have received

Hiration does not recommend the use of functional resumes.

Go to Hiration's career platform which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

You can also write to us at [email protected] .

functional resume for students examples

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Functional Resume Example and Writing Tips

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Other Types of Resumes

When to use a functional resume, what to include in a functional resume.

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Review More Resume Examples

Depending on your work history, you may want to consider using a functional resume. A  functional resume  focuses on the skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate for a position.  

Unlike a traditional resume, the functional resume does not highlight your chronological work history. Instead, it focuses on the skills you have developed that fit the requirements of the job for which you are applying. 

Functional resumes are ideal for people who have gaps in their employment histories or are new to a particular industry.

Functional Resume vs. Traditional Resume

A traditional resume, also known as a  chronological resume , emphasizes your work history. It includes a list of your work experiences. For each job you have held, you include the dates you worked, the job title, and the company. Most traditional resumes list work experience in reverse chronological order (with your current experience first).  

You should use a chronological resume when you have an extensive work history that is related to the job you are applying for. It is a good way to quickly show that you have related experience.

Functional and traditional resumes are not the only  resume types  to choose from. For example, if you want to both highlight your skills and include your chronological work history, consider a  combination resume .  

If you are in a creative field (such as graphic design), consider using a nontraditional resume. This kind of resume allows you to include visuals, such as graphs and infographics. This way, you can show off your design skills within the resume.

Functional resumes are ideal for people who do not have lots of work experience related to the job they are applying for. If you are switching careers, are new to the field, or have gaps in your employment, consider using a functional resume.

If you frequently change jobs, you might also consider a functional resume. This will help you avoid highlighting the fact that you have not stayed at one job for very long.

A functional resume isn't organized by position, so you'll need another organizational structure. Typically, functional resumes are organized by categories based on your skills or qualifications. Look at the job description for cues about what to emphasize here. 

A  functional resume  does not emphasize your chronological work history. Instead, it highlights your skills and abilities:

  • Typically, your skills are organized by theme (for example, “Customer Service” and “Verbal Communication”).
  • Under each theme, you provide specific examples of projects, tasks, and assignments you have completed that show you have those skills.

That being said, it is still a good idea to include a brief work history section in a functional resume.

Consider including a short, chronological work history section at the end of your resume.

If you have gaps in your employment or have frequently changed jobs, you can leave out your employment dates.

Functional Resume Example & Template

Read below for an example of a functional resume. This example includes a resume summary statement , which is a great way to quickly demonstrate your skills and abilities. It also includes a concise list of experience and a detailed list of skills.

While this resume includes a work history section (labeled “Employment History”), it provides only brief details about the jobs held. It also includes this information near the bottom of the resume, to avoid highlighting it.

Download the functional resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Functional Resume (Text Version)

John A. Doe 999 Main Street Ann Arbor, MI 99999 (123) 555-1234 johndoe@email.com

CAREER OBJECTIVE

Experienced and versatile professional with strong urban planning as well as people, management, and research skills seeks a position in urban planning and environmental impact analysis with a major city or Fortune 500 company.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

  • Background managing direct transportation planning and programs
  •  Adept at managing urban planning programs and people
  • Able to anticipate and project organizational change
  • Background as administrator of office operations

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

  • Skilled in Government Guidelines
  • Quality Control
  • Urban Planning
  • Environmental Impact Mitigation and Research
  • Geology/Hydrology
  • Site Evaluations
  • Computer Software Tools
  • Scientific and Business Grant Writing 

Administrative : Lead coordinator for the daily processing of thousands of checks for payment and the mailing of confidential reports, meeting strict deadlines, and avoiding late fees.

Problem Solving : Designed a waste-management program involving Recycle Ann Arbor and a major book company, intended for the efficient handling of tons of paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass, achieving net savings of $20,000 per building annually and reducing company disposal obligations.

Management:  Oversaw operations of an expanding research lab, providing expertise, commitment, and quality control during a time of significant transition.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Senior Process Engineer, September 2018-Present Zezee Corp., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Process Engineer: Technical Support, September 2014-September 2018 Zezee Corp., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Technical Professional , September 2012-September 2014 City of the Stars, Mich.

Master of Business Administration (2017); GPA 3.9 Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, Okla. (Online Program)

Bachelor of Science (Emphasis: Ecosystem/Environmental Business) May 2014 Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Mich.

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Media File: Functional Résumé Sample

This style is one of the most commonly used résumé styles, and it works well for people who have had internships or cooperative experiences. This type of résumé highlights previous work experience that has given you background experience for the job you are seeking.

If you chose this résumé style, you might want to try listing the company name first if you have worked for a particularly prestigious company. Otherwise, listing the title first gives the employer a good sense of your work progress and duties. However, you should be consistent in using either title first or company first. You can also skip any jobs that do not apply, and you do not have to put the jobs in chronological order. It usually looks best to list the most important or impressive job first and work downward in importance regardless of the dates of employment.

Click on the "Media File" link above to see the functional résumé sample.

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Functional Resume Template

Enhance your career prospects and find ideas for your resume with this expertly drafted Functional resume template. Use this resume sample for free or rewrite it using our sleek resume maker.

Milan Šaržík — Certified Professional Résumé Writer

Functional Resume Template (Full Text Version)

Barbara wever.

Dynamic and driven third-year Business Administration student at Santa Barbara City College, known for my exceptional teamwork, communication, and time management abilities. Proven track record of taking initiative and thriving in high-pressure environments.

  • Engaged in various clubs and societies including FinTech Society, Marketing Society, and Tennis Club.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills and active participation in club activities.
  • Collaborated with team members to organize events and contribute to the overall success of the organizations.
  • Achieved the prestigious 2011 Principal's Award for representing the school at various international fitness and tennis competitions.
  • Participated in Extracurricular Activities including Basketball Team, Fitness Club, and Tennis Club.

Volunteering

Certificates.

Milan Šaržík — Certified Professional Résumé Writer

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

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Functional Resume Format

A functional resume illustrates work experiences and abilities by skills areas in order to highlight strengths rather than specific positions or dates of employment.

Sample Resumes/Letters (PDF)

  Use a functional resume when:

  • Your work record does not justify a chronological resume
  • Much of your work has been volunteer, free-lance, consulting, or temporary
  • You have a variety of different, relatively disconnected work experiences
  • Your career growth has been stagnant or you've had an extended absence from the workplace
  • You are in the process of a career change
  • You need to emphasize skills not used in recent work experience

Do not use a functional resume when:

  • You can demonstrate career growth
  • Listing specific employers is important, as in highly traditional fields
  • Recent employers are highly prestigious

Content in a functional resume:

  • Contact Information: Name, address, phone, email
  • Career Objective: Must be clear and concise, or use a Functional Summary to summarize experience and skills in a few sentences
  • Four or five separate paragraphs
  • List in order of importance relative to objective
  • Stress your most significant abilities, skills, and accomplishments 
  • Use past-tense, action-oriented verbs
  • Brief synopsis of actual work experiences including employers, titles, and dates
  • If no or spotty work experience, leave this section out, but be ready to discuss it in the interview
  • If date of last attendance is three years or less, move this section to after the Contact Information
  • If more than three years, or unrelated field, include education after work experience
  • Indicate degree received, date, institution
  • Grade point average can be included if it is above a 3.0
  • References: Use Chronological Resume format guidelines

functional resume for students examples

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  • Explore Careers & Industries
  • Make Connections & Network
  • Search for a Job or Internship
  • Write a Resume/CV
  • Write a Cover Letter
  • Engage with Employers
  • Research Salaries & Negotiate Offers
  • Find Funding
  • Develop Professional and Leadership Skills
  • Apply to Graduate School
  • Apply to Health Professions School
  • Apply to Law School
  • Self-Assessment
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  • Post-Graduate
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  • Peer Career Advisors
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  • Walk-Ins & Pop-Ins
  • Strategic Plan 2022-2025

Master’s Student Resume Samples

Your resume is individual to you, your experiences, skills, and education. These sample resumes are not intended to be used as a template. The job/internship description defines the content of the resume; therefore, you will have more than one resume as you apply for various opportunities. Using action verbs , providing context/details, describing transferable skills, and including results/impacts in the bullet points of the experience section are key elements to an effective resume. In addition, it is important to think strategically about who will be reviewing your resume.  

The sample resumes below show both strengths and areas for improvement, which are listed to the right of the document. For more information and assistance with writing an effective resume, we recommend that you view the formatting checklist and resume resources below. We also have online resume books connected with career fairs , so be sure to upload yours in advance of the relevant fair. Finally, we encourage you to schedule an advising appointment on our Handshake platform to have your resume reviewed by Career Services.

Here are some general formatting guidelines to get you started with the formatting. Remember to always be consistent throughout the document:

  • Your margins are at least 0.65” on all sides and your font size is at least 10pt.
  • Your section headers are all spelled correctly (spellcheck does not automatically check words in ALL CAPS).
  • You have provided your official degree (e.g. “Candidate for Master of _____”).
  • You have included cities and states for each experience and formatted them consistently. (Make sure locations are listed in the same place for each experience and use two-letter state abbreviations).
  • All your experiences have dates, including months or seasons, and are formatted consistently. (Be especially mindful of alignment, spacing, how you abbreviate months, and dashes: – versus – ).
  • How to Write a Resume (Beyond Graduate School platform)
  • How to Modify Your Resume for Each Job (Beyond Graduate School platform)
  • 5 Resume Tips to Get You Started
  • 10 Ways to Improve Your Resume Today
  • How to Write Effective Resume Bullet Points
  • Making the Most of Targeted Resume to Robot-Proof Your Resume
  • Resume Tool Lesson on Big Interview

Also be sure to check out our Career Services YouTube Channel for more videos on resumes!

Resume Sample Type

Master of environmental studies (mes).

functional resume for students examples

Key Features:

  • One page with good, consistent formatting
  • Clear descriptions within the bullets and uses good action verbs to describe the skill/responsibility/project
  • Includes result/impact/outcome when possible
  • Dates placed on the right-hand side to keep the reader’s focus on the position title and experience – not when it was done

Advice we might give for this resume:

  • Include quantifiable elements that help to make the experiences more tangible and specific for the reader to understand
  • Include relevant coursework under the master’s program if the courses are related to the job position/field
  • Add a “graduate student” entry to the professional experience section to highlight key coursework or student projects, and the specific skills used to do them

Master of Public Health (MPH)

functional resume for students examples

Key Features for MPH resume:

  • 2 pages due to extensive experience and background
  • Clear descriptions within the bullets and uses good action verbs to describe the skill/responsibility/project.
  • Includes Presentations section given the nature of the field and if applicable for a research based role

Advice we might give for this MPH resume:

  • Move the dates from the degrees in the Education section to the right side (so that it is consistent alignment with the dates in the other sections)
  • Include relevant coursework under the Master’s Program in the Education section
  • Include a Summary Profile at top of resume to help give overview and highlights of experience

Master of Behavioral & Decision Sciences (MBDS)

functional resume for students examples

  • Put the Education section above the experience section since student is still enrolled in the master’s program
  • Add volunteer, leadership, or extracurricular experience if relevant to the position

School of Engineering & Applied Science

Sample SEAS resume 1

Master of Architecture

Click here for the design resume guide.

functional resume for students examples

  • One page in length
  • Clear descriptions within the bullets and uses action verbs to describe the skill/responsibility/project
  • Organizes the skills section by category
  • Includes Activities (Extracurriculars) section
  • Highlights honors/awards
  • Include result/impact/outcome when possible
  • Use different action verbs in the experience section (the same verbs were used a few times)

Master of Landscape Architecture

functional resume for students examples

Key Features

  • Includes Leadership Experience section
  • Highlights competitions/awards
  • Make sure font style is consistent throughout the resume (there are currently two different font styles being used)

Master of City Planning

functional resume for students examples

Advice we might give for this resume

  • Add volunteer, leadership, or extracurricular experience as a separate section if relevant to the position 

Master in Law

functional resume for students examples

  • Include quantifiable elements that help to make the experiences more tangible and specific for the reader
  • Includes Leadership Section
  • Dates placed on the right-hand side to keep the reader’s focus on the position title and experience– not when it was done
  • Include relevant coursework under the master’s program if the courses are related to the job
  • position/field
  • Include result/impact/outcome for each position (when possible)
  • Instead of just having descriptions of what was done under the experience section bullet points, describe the transferable skills in action

For more info on how to write a resume, click her e

COMMENTS

  1. 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.

  2. What Is a Functional Resume? Template, Examples, & Tips

    The purpose of a functional resume is to present a candidate's experience in a skills summary section instead of the work experience section. Because of its properties, it's sometimes called a skills-based resume. This resume format works for people targeting a job whose work history doesn't relate directly.

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

    The next section on your functional resume is Education, and this one's actually pretty straightforward. Here, list out the following information: Name of the degree (e.g. B.A. in Computer Science) Name of the university and dates attended (e.g. Boston State University, 2012 - 2016)

  4. Functional Resume Format: Examples, Tips, & Free Templates

    Functional resume summary sample. (Adjective 1) and (adjective 2) (job title) who is passionate about (job duty) and offering (service provided by company) with efficiency and attention to detail. Excited to learn more about (field) from (company name) and be a part of achieving (goal.)

  5. Top Functional Resume Example For Students

    Functional resume template word. Our functional resume example for students is formatted in Microsoft Word and is also compatible with Google Docs and Pages. When sending your resume to an employer, I suggest including a Word or Google Docs file, along with a PDF version (for a PDF version, click "save as" and then select "PDF").

  6. What is a Functional Resume [Templates & Examples]

    2. Arrange your skills by themes or topics. The functional resume format allows you to group your skills under subcategories and organize them into different sections. This is where the employer will see your professional accomplishments. Add three to five skills per topic.

  7. 11+ Best Student Resume Templates (W/ Examples & Resources)

    This article presents a selection of impactful student resume templates and examples that will help transform your raw skills and academic accomplishments into an impressive, attention-grabbing resume. Here's what we'll cover: 12 Student Resume Templates; 3 Student Resume Examples; 5 Other Professional Resources for Students; Let's dive in!

  8. Functional Resume Format: Example + How to Write Yours

    Step 3: Group your skills and achievements. The skills section is the most important section of a functional resume. Its goal is to help recruiters quickly understand how your skills match the job requirements. Instead of presenting a gigantic list of skills, it's a good idea to group them and use bullet points for each category.

  9. Functional Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

    In the two reverse chronological examples, the job seeker is able to paint a clear and compelling picture of your strongest career achievements. Functional Resume Example #1. Functional Resume Example #2. Functional Resume Example #3. Jessica Lang.

  10. Functional Resume Format: Examples + How To

    1. Prepare. Before you start your resume, make a list of your skills organized by category or job title. Be ready to provide examples of how you used each skill to achieve your career goals. 2. Reflect the job posting's exact phrasing. Read the job description to identify key skills that the employer is seeking.

  11. Functional Resume: Definition, Tips and Examples

    A functional resume is a resume format that primarily showcases a candidate's skills. As opposed to a reverse-chronological resume that organizes a candidate's experience under their previously or currently-held professional jobs held in order of recency, the functional resume groups a candidate's experience under skills or categories of ...

  12. Functional Resume: Formatting, Examples, and Templates

    A standard functional resume will contain all of the following sections, usually in this order: Your name, job title and contact information. Your resume summary, focusing on your skills and achievements. A skills section, which will be the longest and most substantial section of your resume. A work experience section, which can be omitted.

  13. How to Write a Functional Resume with Examples

    A functional resume is a resume style that showcases an individual's experience and skills rather than specific previous work history. This type of resume may begin with a summarization of their qualifications and then go into a list of the person's top skills and examples of how they've used those skills successfully in the past.

  14. The Functional Resume: What It Is & When To Use It (+Examples)

    Functional resume examples. A functional resume example can help guide your process—giving you a clear idea of how to create a compelling functional resume. ... [Highly motivated and detail-oriented student] pursuing a [Bachelor's/Master's] degree in [Field of Study] with a strong foundation in [Key Skills]. Experienced in [mention any ...

  15. College Student Resume: Examples, Template, & Tips

    College Student Resume: Examples of Summaries. right. Personable and dependable finance sophomore at SUNY with 1 year part-time experience in an accountancy internship. Top customer satisfaction score (98%) and instrumental in bringing in over 500 new clients because of campus outreach efforts.

  16. Functional Resume

    Spend maximum time on crafting your functional resume summary. It should be the last section that you write in your resume. Highlight your key skills and achievements that align with your target profile. Limit your summary to 3-4 lines. Avoid writing boring and elaborate summary, keep it concise and relevant.

  17. The Ultimate Guide To Functional Resumes

    Video: How To Create A Functional Resume & Showcase Your Skills. In this video, Sinéad explains what a functional resume is, when to use one and six steps to crafting a functional resume. If you lack relevant work experience or have nontraditional work experience, a functional resume could be a good way for you to appeal to employers.

  18. Functional Resume Example and Writing Tips

    Functional Resume Example and Writing Tips. By. Alison Doyle. Updated on June 17, 2020. In This Article. View All. Photo: alexskopje /iStock. Example of a functional resume, which emphasizes skills and experience, when to use a functional resume, what to include, a template, and tips for writing.

  19. Functional Resume Template and Guide

    The functional resume, or skills-based resume, focuses on your relevant skills instead of your work experience. It acts as a way to show you are capable of performing essential responsibilities, even if you haven't worked similar jobs in the past. Unlike a Chronological resume, a functional resume will devote more space to the skills section ...

  20. Functional Résumé Sample

    Functional Résumé Sample. Media File: Functional Résumé Sample. This style is one of the most commonly used résumé styles, and it works well for people who have had internships or cooperative experiences. This type of résumé highlights previous work experience that has given you background experience for the job you are seeking.

  21. Functional Resume Template

    Enhance your career prospects and find ideas for your resume with this expertly drafted Functional resume template. Use this resume sample for free or rewrite it using our sleek resume maker. This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession. Create your resume now or edit this resume example.

  22. Functional Resume Templates & Formats for 2022

    Functional resume templates and CVs are the right choices for highlighting your soft and hard technical skills over your work experience. ... Start from over 100+ resume examples — skip the blank page! Over thousands of resume work experience bullets. ... Nursing Student. Warehouse Worker. Maintenance Worker. Investment Banker. Real Estate ...

  23. How to Write a Resume for a Job in 2024 (With Examples)

    3. List your name and contact information. To start writing your resume, create an eye-catching resume header that quickly highlights your contact information and job title. Your name should always be the largest element on your resume to make it stand out, so use a font size larger than 20 points.

  24. Functional Resume Format

    Career Objective: Must be clear and concise, or use a Functional Summary to summarize experience and skills in a few sentences. Functional Headings: Four or five separate paragraphs. List in order of importance relative to objective. Stress your most significant abilities, skills, and accomplishments. Use past-tense, action-oriented verbs.

  25. Resume Formats That Help Get You Job Interviews

    The 3 basic resume formats. There are three basic resume formats to choose from. They are: Chronological - Lists your work history in order, starting with your most recent job first. Functional - Focuses on your skills and accomplishments instead of your work history.

  26. Master's Student Resume Samples

    Add a "graduate student" entry to the professional experience section to highlight key coursework or student projects, and the specific skills used to do them. Add volunteer, leadership, or extracurricular experience if relevant to the position. Click here to download the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences resume sample Download.