functional resume free template

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

Struggling with your resume because you just graduated from university and don’t have much work experience?

Or maybe you’re switching careers, and aren’t sure how to make your past position relevant for the new field?

Whichever the case, the solution is pretty simple:

Use a functional resume format!

• What’s a Functional Resume?

When to Use a Functional Resume?

How to write a functional resume.

• What Are Some Other Resume Formats (and When To Use Them)

What is a Functional Resume?

A functional resume, also known as the skill-based resume, is a resume format that focuses on your professional skill test as opposed to work experience.

If you were to create a traditional resume, you’d list out your work experience in reverse chronological order as follows:

Whereas, in the case of a functional resume , you list out each of your skills, and then back them up by highlighting how you’ve practically applied them in the past:

It’s better to use a functional resume in the following situations:

• You’re a recent graduate with no work experience. As the functional resume focuses on skills rather than experience, it can be very helpful to students.
• You’re switching careers . If you have some work experience, but the said experience isn’t relevant for the position you’re applying for, you can use a functional resume to highlight how your skills make you the right candidate.
• You have a long history of unemployment (or gaps between jobs). Since the functional resume format focuses on skills, you can use it to downplay your work experience gaps.

That being said, in around 90% of cases, we don’t recommend using a functional resume .

While it does have its perks (e.g. standing out as a recent graduate), it also comes with significant downsides.

First off, it’s nowhere near as popular as the traditional resume format, and in certain parts of the world, recruiters might not even know that the functional format is a thing.

In addition, some recruiters might find the lack of work experience in a resume suspicious because it can hint the candidate isn’t being truthful (e.g. red flags, being fired from previous employment, etc.).

These 2 disadvantages combined make a compelling case against the functional resume format.

So, if you do decide to create a functional resume, weigh the pros and cons and proceed at your own risk!

Want to also learn how to create a traditional resume ? Check out our guide!

First things first - pick a compelling resume template to get started. We recommend using our Functional Resume template:

Then, create the following sections on your resume:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary
• Skill Summary

If you have additional space once you’re finished with these sections, you can fill it up with some optional sections (which we’ll explain a bit down the line).

Now, let’s walk you through each of these sections and explain how to do them right:

#1. Contact Information

While it might sound elementary, there’s a ton of tid-bits you need to know about getting the contact information section right.

Here’s what you need to include in the contact information section:

• First and last name
• Current job title
• Email address
• Phone number
• City and country you’re based in

Optionally, you can also include links to relevant social media profiles. For example:

• If you’re a writer, you can link your portfolio page or website.
• If you’re a developer, you can link your GitHub profile.
• If you’re a marketer, you can link your Instagram or Twitter page.
• Your LinkedIn profile link (if it’s up-to-date).

#2. Resume Summary

The next section on your functional resume is the “resume summary.”

This section goes right under your contact information, and looks something like this:

In a nutshell, a resume summary is a 2-4 sentence recap of your biggest professional achievements and career highlights.

The goal of this section is to show the recruiter (in one glance) that you’re qualified for the position you’re applying for.

Here’s what a well-written resume summary would look like:

• Professional executive assistant with experience in supporting high-level CEOs and other executives for over 5 years. Experienced in customer support, data entry, and scheduling meetings. Skilled in time management, MS Office, and Adobe Photoshop.

#3. Skill Summary

This one’s going to be the bulk of your functional resume.

In a skill summary section, you mention the top 3 skills required for the position you’re applying for and then provide information on how you’ve gained the said skills right under them.

Let’s say, for example, you’re a recent graduate applying for a role in marketing. Here’s what your skill summary could look like:

Copywriting

• Wrote over 20+ well-researched papers for my university.
• Worked at the university news media as a journalist, interviewing interesting university alumni and publishing their stories on the website.
• Created and published high-quality tech articles on my personal blog (www.exampleblog.com).
• Participated in a university project for a real-life company (Company X), where we had to come up with ideas for expanding to a new market.
• With the help of my team, came up with 5 ideas, out of which 3 were actually implemented by the company.
• Came up with 100+ topic ideas for content on my personal blog, some of which got over 50 shares when published.

Project Management

• Acted as a team leader for most of my university projects, ensuring that they were completed on time, and that every group member contributed.
• Was part of the Startup Weekend organizational committee. Helped source speakers, organize the event, find sponsors, and overall ensured that the event went smoothly.

#4. Education

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)

Optionally, you can also include the following as part of your education section :

• GPA. If you had an impressive GPA in your university (3.5 - 4.0), you can list it in your resume. Most companies, however, don’t really care about your grades all that much .
• Honors. E.g. Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, etc.
• Academic Achievements. Your thesis, interesting or noteworthy research papers you’ve written, etc.
• Courses Attended. If you’ve taken some very impressive classes (and they’re related to the role you’re applying for), you can mention them in your education section.

#5. Optional Sections

Still have some space left on your resume? Here are some other sections you can include:

• Projects - In our opinion, this one’s the most underrated resume section. Here, you can include any kind of personal or university project you’ve worked on. E.g. blog you’ve started, a piece of software you coded, etc.
• Extracurricular Activities - If you’re a recent graduate, you can include a section about the extracurricular activities you’ve participated in during university.
• Languages - Knowing an extra language or two can always come in handy. When filling these out, though, make sure to include your level of understanding (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Fluent, or Native).
• Work History - Yep, you CAN include work history on your functional resume. If you decide to do this, though, your resume will be a combination resume and NOT the functional one.

Other Resume Formats

There are 2 other resume formats in addition to the Functional one:

• Reverse-Chronological Resume Format
• Combination Resume Format

Here’s what they’re about:

#1. Reverse-Chronological Resume Format

This one’s the most common resume format out there and it’s what most people have in mind when they refer to a “resume.”

This resume format simply lists out work experiences in reverse-chronological order and backs them up with other essential resume sections (skills, education, etc.).

Unless you have specific reasons to use either of the other resume formats (combination or functional), we recommend you stick with this one.

#2. Combination Resume Format

The combination resume is almost the same thing as a functional resume, with a small twist.

In addition to the skill summary section on the resume, you also add a work history section (which helps even out the downsides that come with a functional resume).

Usually, the combination resume is used by senior professionals with a decade’s worth of work experience.

4 Free Functional Resume Templates & Examples

Want to get started with your functional resume?

All you have to do is pick one of our free templates and you’re good to go!

#1. Functional Resume Template

Our functional resume template adds a dash of style to the traditional black-and-white resume.

Use this template to present your skills and talents in the best way possible!

#2. Combination Resume Template

This combination template allows you to showcase your skills without having to cut down on work experience.

#3. College Resume Template

Our College resume template is perfect for recent university graduates, allowing you to emphasize your skill-set over your work experiences.

#4. Professional Resume Template

Looking for something a bit more professional? This resume template is a prime favorite for job-seekers who are serious about their careers.

Key Takeaways

And that just about sums up everything you need to know about functional resumes!

Now, let’s do a small recap of everything we’ve learned so far:

• A functional resume format is a type of resume that focuses more on skills rather than work experiences.
• You can use a functional resume if you’re a recent graduate with little work experience or if you’re switching careers.
• To create a compelling functional resume, you want to get your skill summary section just right.
• Functional resumes, however, are not that common in most parts of the world, so we recommend sticking to a conventional resume format to most job-seekers, instead.

Discover More Resume Templates

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

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Functional Resume Templates Free To Download

A functional resume can breathe new life into your professional profile by letting you talk about your skills and accomplishments in a new way.

This page provides functional resume templates and instructions on how to fill out your own resume.

Functional Resume Templates Menu

What is a functional resume, who should use a functional resume, functional format vs. other resume formats, how to make a functional resume, functional resume templates for download, video tutorial: how to make a functional resume, functional resume faq.

A functional resume is a type of resume format that allows you to emphasize your specific job skills by categorizing your work history by the abilities you are best at.

To think of it another way, a functional resume is a different way to organize the content of your resume.

The purpose of the functional resume is to overwhelm the recruiter with positive information in the top half of the resume. That way, by the time they get to any weaker spots, they may have already convinced themselves how great of a fit you are.

It is often said that functional resumes are good for people with large gaps in employment.

The truth is that you will have to disclose your work history at some point and not disclosing that information on your resume makes you look bad. Regardless of the type of resume you use, you should always be listing your employment history with the corresponding dates. Never omit your employment history dates .

What can be helpful regarding a functional resume is leaving your actual dates of employment at the bottom instead of completely omitting them. This provides the employer with the correct information while hopefully enticing them to overcome any objections based on the earlier sections of your resume.

With a functional resume, you’ve turned this potential downside into an upside by showing the number of different skills you have learned and how you’ve used them to show that you are a good fit for the job. Be up-front, but explain the benefits to any potential downsides they bring up.

This is also a good resume for people with stable work history who have worked for the same company for many years but have worked across different departments and responsibility levels. The categorized job duties sections let you go into lots of details about the different roles you’ve held.

A functional resume can also make it easy to group your past experience into skill or ability categories, making it a great fit for people who may be seen as a jack of all trades and have trouble truly describing all that they can do.

As you go through the tutorial below on how to make your own resume understand that the underlying point of a functional resume is to show your strongest skills and abilities first while displaying any shortcomings or less relevant information at the bottom of the resume. For that reason alone, it’s a resume that can be used by just about anyone.

Let’s quickly go over some of the other types of resume formats so that we can make some fair comparisons.

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume is a way of listing your employment information wherein you put your most recent work experience first and your least recent experience last.

A “chronological resume” can also be the general term used for a type of resume that emphasizes your work experience over everything else on the resume. In this way, it could also be called a “standard” or “traditional” resume.

It’s main difference from a functional resume is that it gives more attention to employment history rather than skills and technical areas of expertise. Even so, a functional resume should still be listing work experience in a chronological or reverse-chronological order.

To view resumes that focus on the chronological format, click here .

Combination Resume

A combination resume is a combination of a chronological and functional resume.

All of the “functional” resumes on our site are actually a type of combination or “hybrid” resume that layout skills in a functional style while providing the chronological work history an employer expects to see.

How you combine the two different styles will be up to you, but it will be heavily dependent on your own experience & skills, as well as the job you’re applying for.

The way you combine the two types will largely be a function of what order you put things in on your resume. Though it may be a different order from job to job, your resume should always have the most relevant and important information at the top.

Targeted Resume

A targeted resume is a resume designed for a specific job listing or application.

But here’s the thing: all of your resumes should be targeted!

While it may be helpful to have a general resume that stands as a profile or summary of your work, when you actually go to apply you should be curating your resume based on the requirements of each different job.

Even if you are not changing your resume more than one or two words for each application, customizing your career profile to the employers’ needs is a crucial and often overlooked step in getting hired.

Take an extra few minutes on each application and make every one of your resumes a targeted resume!

Resume Formats

Here’s the bottom line: the only thing that matters when it comes to how you format a resume is how great you can come off to an employer.

The best resume format is the one that will help you to put your best foot forward and describe in detail your top accomplishments as quickly as possible.

Organizing your career information into a different type of resume format can be a great way to shake things up if you’ve been having bad luck with your job search.

As we go through the parts of a functional resume, think about how you are organizing your career information on the page.

Also think about how a hiring manager’s eyes would wander through your resume.

Functional Format

So with that in mind, let’s take a look at a sample functional resume format to see what it looks like:

This particular functional resume has 5 sections: heading, professional summary, skills, job descriptions, work history details, and education.

Your resume may have a different number of sections than this resume because this resume happens to separate the job descriptions from the work details themselves.

What matters more than section numbers is how you organize the information and what you put into each section.

Resume Heading

Nothing changes with the heading on a functional resume. It will still go at the top and include at least four pieces of information: your name, phone number, location, and e-mail address.

Professional Summary

Next on your resume will be a professional summary.

The professional summary is a summation of your career profile, while also detailing why you are the best fit for the job.

This summary can be anywhere from one to four sentences. You can decide best how to use the space on your resume, but I find that it’s best to be brief in your opening.

If you’d like more information on professional summaries and templates with a professional summary, click here .

Work History & Job Descriptions For a Functional Resume

With a functional resume, your previous employment will be described under headings of skills and/or job titles.

The key to a great functional resume is coming up with great headings for your past experience. What makes a heading “great” will differ from job to job, but your headings should be customized for each job you are applying to.

This is important because even with jobs that share a job title, like “customer service representative”, their duties and responsibilities could be vastly different.

So take the time to review each and every job listing to gain an understanding of not only the individual skills a company is looking for, but the general ideas and concepts they expect you to understand or quickly learn.

You will also need to go back and review at least the last 7 years of your work history (or however many you have, if you have less) and start to think of the jobs you’ve had and the skills you’ve acquired in terms of their “job titles” or “general skill groupings”.

Even if you can’t quite think of the exact title just yet, start to group your different abilities and skills so that you can begin to describe and write them with a larger purpose in mind. In fact, sometimes you may keep what you’ve written and just change the titles to make a resume more appealing for certain companies.

Under each category title should be a combination of job duties and descriptions of applying your skills . Use the job listing for the job you’re applying for to find out what types of skills the company needs.

Once you know the skill-sets, talk about how you’ve applied those skills and abilities to get tasks done.

Detailing Your Tasks & Job Duties

Tasks and duties you describe should vary in length (daily tasks to monthly or yearly goals) and responsibility (team vs. personal accountability). And ultimately, the skills and abilities you talk about should be in the context of an accomplishment whenever possible.

For example, if you’re working in a call center and hit daily goals of getting to 100 callers a day, then you would talk about your ability to handle customer issues quickly in the context of meeting (or exceeding) company expectations.

You can also use specific job category titles depending on the job you are applying for. For example, in the resume above there is a title for “Web Design”. But if the job you are applying to requests a specific coding language rather than talking about general web design, it may be a good to make a more specific category title such as “Javascript Developer”.

This is the most important section of any functional resume, so it is crucial to explain your strongest points with as much detail as possible so that an employer an see your matching experience alongside what you’ve accomplished.

Functional Resume Templates To Download For Free

3 column skills functional resume template.

Three columns of specific skills lead into your categorized experience.

Make sure to still include all of your employment history at the bottom of the resume.

Click For Download Page

File name:  Functional Skills Resume Template.docx

File size: 7.9 KB

Total downloads: 315

2 Column Functional Resume Template

The left column address your most specific & technical skills.

The right column is a combination of detailed employment experience & talking about how you used your skills.

File name:  functional two columns resume template.docx

File size: 18.2 KB

Total downloads: 239

Years of Experience Functional Resume Template

More resume details coming soon.

File name:  Years-of-Experience-Functional-Resume-Template.docx

File size: 7.2 KB

Total downloads: 92

College Education Functional Resume Template

Show off your skills as well with a dedicated skills section.

File name:  College-Education-Functional-Resume-Template.docx

File size: 7.5 KB

Total downloads: 74

Video Tutorial

The above video is a tutorial on how to build a functional resume for job hoppers, career changers, and students.

A functional resume is a great way to show off your technical knowledge and skills while disguising your past work history (or lack thereof).

Answers for functional resume frequently asked questions:

What is a functional resume example?

An example of a functional resume is a type of resume where you explain why you’re the best fit for a job through your skills and abilities rather than through specific jobs.

For specific examples & templates of what a functional resume looks like, click here .

Who should use a functional resume?

A functional resume can be used by just about anybody!

Having said that, functional resumes are most often used by people who need to group their resume skills and knowledge into multiple categories so that they can fully showcase their strengths.

To learn more about if a functional resume is right for you, click here .

What is the difference between a chronological resume and a functional resume?

A functional resume is a resume where particular skills or job categories are emphasized instead of your specific work history.

A chronological resume is a resume format in which the job listing is emphasized and specifically listed by date, with the most recent first and the least recent last.

Technically, a functional resume should still have your work history listed in a chronological style, even if the overall format of the resume is not chronological.

The distinction between the two is often purely academic, with most resumes being some type of combination between the two.

Are Functional resumes bad?

No particular resume format is bad insomuch as it can be used to help you get a job.

Functional resumes are often critiqued for hiding employment information. But any resume, including functional resumes, should have the dates of your employment.

The functional resumes on our site include all of the necessary information and we encourage you to include it.

The object of a functional resume is not to withhold information. It’s to explain your experience in a different, and hopefully more favorable light.

What is a functional resume?

A functional resume is a resume format that emphasizes specific skill and ability categories rather than employment experience.

Learn more by clicking here .

What are functional job skills?

Functional job skills is just a different way of talking about how you would describe your skills & abilities through the categories on a functional resume.

Since a functional resume generally does not include job descriptions, your “functional job skills” can be anything from a short phrase that quickly communicates your competency to multiple sentences that describe your skills in terms of your achievements.

It may or may not make sense to include a dedicated skills section on a functional resume, so think about what is right for you and the jobs you’re applying to. But if you do, the skills you list should be short phrases of 2-3 words at most and should be focused on specific tools, processes, or certifications.

To learn more about adding skills to your resume and for skills based resume templates, click here .

What type of resume do employers prefer?

Employers prefer that a candidate communicate why they are the best fit as quickly and clearly as possible.

Therefore, there is generally not a specific type of resume format that an employer would prefer.

Functional Resume Templates

What you miss out on with a Functional Resume.

Resume checker, resume bullet point generator, resume job description match.

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Resume summary generator.

Autofill Job Applications

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LinkedIn Resume Builder

Craft your skills-based resume with our functional templates, find and select a resume template.

You'll be taken into the Teal Resume Builder

Update the template with your information

Import your existing resume, connect your LinkedIn profile, or quickly add the details yourself

Customize your template further

Dozens of formatting options with granular control over the look and feel of your resume template

Resume Templates by Job

Explore our comprehensive selection of resume examples across job titles, industries, experience levels, and more. Draw inspiration from thousands of real samples hand-picked by our team.

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Discover the best resume formats to stand out in todays job market as we head into 2024.

Customize Your Next Resume with a Functional Style

Take full advantage of Teal's advanced customization options that give you full control over the look and feel of your resume template.

• Color Patterns
• Date Formatting
• Date Range Control
• Section Order
• Section Groupings
• Skill Categories

Choosing a Functional Template for Your Next Resume

For job seekers looking for the next role, a functional resume template offers a unique approach, focusing primarily on your skills and experiences rather than the chronological order of your work history. This style is particularly beneficial for those with gaps in their employment, career changers, or individuals with a rich variety of skills not confined to a single industry. Functional resumes allow you to strategically showcase your abilities and competencies that are directly relevant to the job you're applying for, making it a powerful tool for many job seekers.

Functional resumes are about more than just listing skills; they offer a platform to demonstrate how your experiences and abilities make you the ideal candidate. They are especially effective for those who have acquired a diverse skill set through various roles, projects, or voluntary work and want to highlight these strengths upfront. Let's delve into the key features and considerations that make functional resume templates a compelling choice for your next job application.

Key Aspects of a Great Functional Resume Template

A functional resume shines through its ability to highlight your skills and experiences in a clear and organized manner. Here are some key aspects to look for in a high-quality functional resume template:

Emphasis on Skills and Achievements

‍ A functional resume should have a prominent section for skills and achievements. This section is the heart of your resume, showcasing your abilities and successes relevant to the role you're targeting.

Relevant Work History

‍ Though not the focus, a concise work history section is still vital. It should succinctly list your previous roles, focusing on the company and duration rather than the responsibilities.

Clear, Logical Structure

‍ Look for a template that offers a clear and logical structure, making it easy for the employer to navigate through your skills and experiences without getting lost in a chronological timeline.

Customization Flexibility

‍ Choose a template that allows you to customize and highlight different skills or experiences depending on the job you are applying for. This flexibility is key in a functional resume.

Professional Design and Layout

‍ Even with a focus on skills, the design and layout of your resume should remain professional and easy to read, with adequate spacing and clear section headings.

Key Considerations for Any Functional Resume Format

Opting for a functional resume format involves more than just highlighting your skills; it requires a strategic approach to ensure your potential as a candidate is clearly communicated.

Targeting the Right Roles

‍ Functional resumes are particularly effective for specific types of roles, such as those heavily reliant on a particular set of skills or expertise. Ensure that the roles you're applying for align with this format.

Balance Between Skills and Experience

‍ While skills are the centerpiece, balancing them with your work history is essential. This balance ensures your resume is well-rounded and gives context to your skills.

ATS Compatibility

‍ Given that many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), it's crucial to ensure your functional resume is ATS-friendly, focusing on relevant keywords and a clear layout.

Clarity and Precision

‍ With a functional resume, clarity in how you present your skills and achievements is paramount. Be precise and specific about what you bring to the table.

Professionalism and Authenticity

‍ Maintain a professional tone throughout your resume. Authenticity in presenting your skills and experiences will speak volumes about your suitability for the role.

Build Your Resume with Teal

Should I use a Functional resume template for my job application?

A functional resume template is ideal if you have a diverse skill set, gaps in your employment history, or are changing careers. It allows you to focus on your relevant skills and experiences, rather than a chronological work history, making it suitable for many unique job application scenarios.

Can I use any of these templates for free?

Yes, our functional resume templates are available for free use. They are designed to help you effectively showcase your skills and experiences. Feel free to choose a template that suits your needs, and customize it to highlight your unique professional journey.

Select a functional resume template that best aligns with your industry and the specific job you are applying for. Consider templates that allow for flexibility in highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences, and ensure it has a clean, professional layout.

How can I make my resume stand out with a Functional template?

To make your functional resume stand out, emphasize your unique skill set and achievements that are most relevant to the job. Use a clear, professional layout and customize each section to reflect the specific requirements of the position you are applying for.

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Functional Resume Templates

With our functional resume template, you’ll be on your way to interviewing in no time. To get started, just click on a template below and start importing your existing content.

Single Column

Skill-based resume template. Resume is focused on your abilities gained at different companies, rather than career Timeline.

Career-change resume template. If you're switching career fields, pick this template.

Job-hopper resume template. Keep your skills updated when switching jobs.

Competency-based resume template. A functional design that highlights your skills and competencies, making it suitable for professionals with transferable skills and experience in a variety of industries. Ideal for entry- to senior-level professionals.

Double Column

Career summary resume template. A functional resume that highlights your career summary and accomplishments, making it easy for employers to understand your strengths and experience. Great fit for mid-level professionals.

Expertise-focused resume template. A functional resume that focuses on your areas of expertise and the value you can bring to an organization, making it a perfect fit for entry- to mid-level professionals.

What is a functional resume template?

A functional resume template is a fantastic option for anyone who’s starting their career or switching to a different field. The focus is on your professional skills rather than your work history.

Functional resume templates are a format that groups your experience under skill categories instead of job titles to emphasize transferable skills by listing examples of your abilities from both work and personal experiences.

Functional resumes are perfect for highlighting your experience and are easy to write with our already-made template structure .

When to use a functional resume template?

With their specific structure, functional resumes put your skills and achievements front and center and before the work experience. After your contact information, you go straight into your most relevant abilities and accomplishments, and then you can give brief details about your job history.

That’s why this format is preferable to people with employment gaps , military experience, or entry-level.

Functional Resumes are also perfect for jobseekers who are switching industries or want to take a new direction in their career path. The main purpose of this resume template is to put to light your skillset, especially if you apply to a different industry. In this case, emphasizing your transferable skills can help you land a new job.

Unfortunately, a functional resume, as attractive as it can be to some jobseekers, can cause suspicion in recruiters, because of the presented information, which can be taken out of context. That’s why some recruiters prefer a combination of functional and reverse-chronological resumes.

But still, there are so many good reasons to use this formatting if you do it right. Check our guide on how to write a resume .

Tips for building the best functional resume

A functional resume or skill-based structure can be used with the modern design template or the classical one. It will depend only on your personality, experience, and the type of business industry you are applying to. Let’s begin to create the best functional resume, so you can get the job of your dreams:

Take the best from both worlds. You can use some features from the modern design and the traditional one. Keep your resume clean of unnecessary graphics. Use icons only to pop up your skills and achievement sections. Each section on your resume is arranged in blocks to emphasize the important information - your accomplishments and abilities. You can be inspired by some of the best resume designs .

Your resume should be easily readable. That’s why you should choose your font carefully . The best fonts are those that have enough white space to read well on both screens and print, it will make your resume easier to scan/read. Enhancv’s functional resume template uses Lato for all headings, subheadings, and body text. And while the body of the text is consistent throughout, the resume headings are large enough to catch the readers' eye.

Using black, white, and a third color like blue or green is a safe resume color scheme . That’s why we are using a splash of blue to help draw attention without being distracting. The general rule is to make one color dominant, one secondary, and the third to place emphasis. Use white for the background, black for the text, and the third color to highlight important parts like heaters for the different sections.

Select the best layout

A functional resume follows a skill-based structure to emphasize your strengths and achievements, which are one of the first things to list. The resume features several sections: heading, summary, strengths, achievements, experience, and education.

Of course, you start your resume from the header , where you can list your name and contact information. Your name is the biggest thing on the resume to ensure you stand out. It’s always better to add something more about yourself, as a link to your profile in professional networks or if you have a portfolio website that is appropriate to share. Headshot’s not a must to include, but if the recruiters specifically mention it in the job application, you should add it at the header near your name and contact information.

The summary in the functional resume looks a little bit different. The focus here is to highlight your skills and achievements, allowing you to describe your qualifications with more detail using strong action verbs. If you have gaps in your employment history or other problems, here is the place to explain them. Use the summary to illustrate to the recruiters why you're qualified for the position.

The next step is to the key sections on your functional resume. Strengths and achievements are featured first to show recruiters what sets you apart from other candidates. In the first section, list and give examples of your transferable skills like time management, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, organization, leadership, and so on. Emphasize these strengths, giving examples of what you accomplished by applying this skillset to your previous jobs, personal situations, or academic life in the achievement section.

A functional resume is focused on your experience and skills, in the education section you can list the basic facts regarding your degree, including institution name, location, degree, and major. If you don’t have any previous work experience, you should spend more time in the education section by providing more details on your courses if relevant to the job you are applying for. You can check our guide for resumes without work experience .

Another section that you can add to your functional resume is information about your certifications . Especially in the cases in which you decided to career change and took professional retraining courses to enable you to do the job you are applying for. It’s essential to mention this certification on top of your resume in the summary section, or you risk the recruiter just skipping over your resume and missing this information.

Additional sections and information that you can add if applicable to your resume can be - special awards or commendations; testimonials from clients; volunteer work; projects; publications, or special courses. You can list them by importance and significance in separate sections. Name each of your sections, then add a short description below

Number of pages

Keep your resume between one or two full pages . Your application’s length should be determined by the position you’re applying for and the amount of relevant experience you have. If you are an entry-level candidate or a fresh graduate, you can fill up one page effortlessly. It’s your choice how to arrange all the sections - in one or two columns. Functional resumes are very flexible and can give you a lot of freedom to creatively shape your resume on one or two pages.

Functional resume templates pros and cons

• A functional resume is the right choice for candidates with non-traditional work experience or no work experience entirely.
• A functional resume emphasizes your skills and accomplishments. It is an effective way to tell your career story if you have a lot of experience and want your goal is to showcase your accomplishments.
• It is easy to adjust the content to a specific role you’re hoping to land without thinking much about job titles that aren’t relevant to the job application, employment gaps, or lack of experience in the field
• More experienced recruiters don’t like this type of resume formatting because your skills and achievements are laid out without context.
• Some recruiters will skip to the part of your work experience and education and entirely miss evening else.
• Functional resumes aren’t very common, which can lead to confusion, and the recruiter might have a hard time scanning and understanding this alternative formatting

Frequently asked questions about functional resume templates

Do employers like functional resumes, how do i write a functional resume with no experience, are functional resumes still used.

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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.

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] .

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