hybrid resume examples 2022

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

In This Guide:

What is a combination resume, why should you use the combination resume format, the key factors of a combination resume, is a combination resume right for you, advantages of a combination resume, disadvantages of a combination resume, how to create a combination resume step-by-step, 6 hybrid example case studies from enhancv, additional tips to perfect your hybrid resume.

Thinking about creating a combination resume that works?

Before you go in guns-blazing, you should understand this:

The combination resume format won’t work well if you have very little work experience to show for.

Seeing what resume formats are available, you’ll either be working with a chronological resume or a functional skills-based resume .

Or, there’s the combination resume – this is also known as the hybrid resume.

These resumes aren’t easy to make, but at the same time, it’s not as hard as you would think.

In this ultimate guide we’ll cover:

• What is a combination resume?
• Why should you use the combination resume format?
• The key factors of a combination resume
• Is a combination resume right for you?
• Advantages of a combination resume
• Disadvantages of a combination resume
• How to create a combination resume step-by-step
• 6 Hybrid Resume Case Studies From Enhancv
• Additional tips to perfect your hybrid resume

Wait, are you feeling a bit overwhelmed?

No worries! You can skip ahead and start by finding a proven resume for your profession in our megalist of 530+ examples here.

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

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Are you ready to start? Let’s dive straight into it!

As mentioned, combination resumes are also known and referred to as hybrid resumes.

This type of resume combines the key elements from a traditional functional resume and the chronological resume format to highlight both your skills and employment history.

Here’s a quick recap:

The functional skills-based resume focuses on highlighting the candidate’s strongest skills and recent experiences for the new career they’re seeking. Whereas, the chronological resume format focuses on the chronological order of the applicant’s most relevant work history in their career timeline. Employers mainly want to see the roles you take on develop as you handle more responsibilities over time.

When you put both of those core components together from both types of resumes, you get the combination resume. This means it merges the emphasis from both your resume skills and employment history that are most suited for your next job position.

The combination resume is the perfect in-between for hiring managers who are strict on the resume format rules. It also works well for those who need more flexibility on their resumes.

One easy way to think about it is Goldilocks testing the resumes between three bears. And out of all of them, the combination resume would be “just about right”.

Every resume format comes with its own benefits and setbacks. They can either take you one step closer to landing your job or one step further if you do it wrong.

With the hybrid resume, one clear advantage is that you have a well-balanced, all-rounded resume to catch the job recruiter’s eye. Unlike the applicants who use the functional resume, any small gaps you have in employment won’t be as noticeable.

And, it indicates to recruiters that you have a steady, consistent work history – alongside a positive track record.

With this in mind, you can showcase both your employment experiences confidently while emphasizing your strengths. This way, employers can see the amount of value you’ll bring over to their organization. Not just in one particular aspect, but through multiple features throughout your resume sections that are as good as one another.

You may have already noticed, but the combination resume is composed from 2 particular formats merged. These are:

• The functional resume format
• The reverse-chronological resume format

In comparison, the combination resume maintains a balance between both of these resume format objectives and aspects. Therefore, it’s not one-siding or overshadowing one factor over the other.

Check out the grid below to see a comparison of how each of these resume formats differentiates from each other with their criteria:

Although the combination resume creates a solid overall impression, it’s not for everyone. Ideally, it should be used for those who want to prioritize highlighting their skills, qualities and the level of value behind their capabilities they have to offer.

If you want the recruiters to have more recognition in your work experiences, it makes more sense to stick to a chronological resume format.

However, the reason why a combination resume works so effectively is that it gives employers valuable insights. By this, I’m referring to the fact that you have relevant work experience and skills they can quickly identify.

I’ve listed out the 3 reasons for when the hybrid resume is most ideal for you to use. If you don’t fit into any of the categories, it’s worth reconsidering.

You're considering switching careers significantly or applying to head into a different industry

In this situation, you could test between the skills-based resume and combination resume. Try to see which one has a higher response rate and if one performs better than the other.

If you’re someone who has significant gaps in your career, go for the functional resume. It helps with showing you’re more than capable for the job even if you don’t meet all the desired requirements.

On the other hand, if you’re the opposite then the functional skills-based resume isn’t your only option. If you’re confident that your record is positive and there aren’t major openings within your professional background, a combination resume is more recommended.

Using the combination resume is generally better for getting the recruiters attention because they can see you have an impressive employment timeline overall. You’re also able to present the information at hand, so that puts you one step closer for an interview.

You're a new college or university graduate or someone with some relevant work experience.

Have you just graduated from university or college? Or are you someone who has work experience, but still feel that it’s not enough?

Well, I’ve got some news for you…

The combination resume would work for you in any of these scenarios. It just depends on one condition:

Do you have any professional corporate experiences in the workforce for at least one year? And are any of them relevant to the job title you desire?

This also includes internships and volunteering experiences …

And, if the answer is yes to any of the above, the combination resume would be applicable for you!

Ultimately, you’ve done work that’s aligned with the responsibilities you’re soon going to take anyway. Employers will see that as invaluable – it’s not something easily replaced through something like a hobby or skills section.

Compared to the other applicants who may have no relevant experiences at all, you can provide those details that others can’t. It sets you one step ahead of the competition so you can land that new job and get hired!

Job recruiters will know that you have the skills to take on the expected tasks, responsibilities and duties.

Because you’re using a combination resume that implicates both your skills and experiences you have to support those statements.

No matter how minimal it may be, that information is enough to enable employers to conclude that you have a good understanding of what needs to be done. You’re not a complete amateur, but you’re someone who knows what to do.

My recommendation is that, if you have between 1-3 years of work experience, the combination resume should work for you. Anything less than that, you’re probably better off using the functional resume. And in opposition, if you have tons of work experience, you may want to consider sticking to the chronological resume format.

I’ve mentioned it earlier but I’ll say it again: one thing you can do is have more than one resume. See which resume performs better for the industry you’re targeting, and stick to the results or trends you’re seeing.

You have a positive employment record

Combination resumes are most ideal for job seekers who have a positive employment record. If you use a functional resume format when you have a solid career history, you’re technically reducing the value behind those experiences because it’s not built for you to emphasize those details.

By using a hybrid resume, it allows you to highlight the information behind your professional background and skills simultaneously.

There are several benefits gained from using a combination resume. We’ll take a look at what each of these main benefits is so you can maximize and make the most out of this resume format when creating your own.

Some hiring managers don’t accept the functional skills-based resume format, but it’s a different story when it comes to the combination resume.

These templates are sometimes preferred because they don’t try to shift the recruiter’s focus or conceal things the applicant is intentionally concealing.

With the hybrid resume, there’s nothing for the reader to suspect or doubt. All the information to reinforce your statements that they’re looking for will be shown through your experiences.

Changing careers or heading to a new industry

With an equal focus on your career history and skills, the hybrid resume is the perfect choice when changing careers. Using this format, you can showcase the transferable skills you’ve built-up that will be relevant for your new position.

This becomes particularly beneficial if your experience doesn’t appear immediately relevant. For example, discussing all of your sales experience when applying for an operations role. In these circumstances, discussing your skills at the beginning of your resume will be most impactful.

Take a look at the tech resume template Sam used which enabled him to switch from investment banking to working for Spotify:

With the Enhancv resume builder , you can adjust the format to put specific sections in the spotlight. The minimal and clean design also makes it highly readable, and it’s how it even caught the attention of a billionaire.

Since it’s easy to rearrange, Mark used his most recent job titles and experiences and integrated his skills into the description. This puts emphasis on both his career history and corporate skills, which gives a lot of value for the recruiter who’s making the decision of accepting him on board or not.

Conveying a consistent job history

Nothing can leave a worse impression than having three jobs in one or two years…

You don’t want the recruiter to begin questioning all the smallest, and slightest of things.

“What happened in those years? Were you fired? If so, why?”

We only have a limited amount of time that’s given to each individual resume. During this decisive moment, it determines if your resume will be sent to the “yes” or “no” pile.

You can give greater weight to your skills section in a combination resume.

Let the company know how you can apply yourself to the new role and later reinforce this by describing your previous positions. Doing this makes the recruiter less likely to care about the inconsistency in your history as you’ve shown how well you can perform.

versatile and works for multiple roles within one company

Let’s face it, we all perform tasks that don’t fall within our job description. Sometimes you work on long-term projects that may seem out-of-place to even talk about…

However, one advantage of the hybrid resumes is that they’re not fixed and limited to only one specific role. But rather, multiple roles in that same company.

For example, you can discuss all of the skills you’ve managed to develop (IT and software proficiency, data analysis, etc) and discuss how it’ll be useful in other areas for the tech company you’ve applied for.

No matter what your official role was in your previous company, you can describe all those skills. As long as they’re transferable and relevant for the new company, there won’t be a problem.

Re-entering the workforce

Re-entering the workforce can be challenging. It’s more difficult when there’s a considerable gap between your most recent position and now.

Taking the combination resume approach, you can change the recruiter’s perception. Instead of being someone rusty who’s been out of work, you’re going to be seen as a worker with respectable skills.

Despite being out of the working culture, you can show employers you’ve got the ideal expertise that they’re determined to see.

Ahead of the competition by playing a different game

The hybrid resume lets you play by a different set of rules a small percentage of candidates are following.

With resumes that focus on your previous work experience as your selling point, the people who have worked with big names are those that truly make the biggest impact…

When comparing someone that has worked in a major company to someone that has worked in a smaller company – no matter if the skills are the same – you’re going to lose the bargaining power.

But, if you change the focus of your resume, you can avoid this issue. In fact, you don’t have to worry about it at all.

Not many job seekers are capable of using this format because they have important parts of their careers that are missing. While their resumes have a lesser focus on the influence of their experiences, you’ll stand out in that aspect significantly.

One way to think about the combination resume is as a jack of all trades – all aspects of the resume are balanced. Yet, each resume section is compelling enough for employers to realize your potential.

Unlike chronological and functional resumes, the hybrid format tends to be longer in length

When you compare conventional combination resumes to the other resume formats, the readability isn’t quite as good. And, it’s mainly because they tend to have longer length in terms of details.

Employment gaps are still noticeable

As a whole, when we’re not using the chronological resume format, it’s implicitly indicating that we have gaps in our career.

Although we can minimize the noticeability behind it, it’s still something job recruiters can see.

The information could be too similar and may get repetitive

Since the level of description tends to be more lengthy, if we’re not careful our use of words or phrases could be too identical. It’s avoidable, but making this mistake limits your personality because there’s no variation – it’s dull and boring.

Yes, they care about the value you’re bringing over. But, it’s also important to recognize the candidate’s working culture. The workforce is becoming more interpersonal, so it’s important to add flavors of creativity and be different!

(We’ve made an everything you need to know guide for what resume sections . If you haven’t yet, I highly suggest you give it a read!)

Use an appropriate format and design

The combination resume is slightly different than the conventional formats you’re used to. While this is true, it doesn’t mean there are drastic changes when it comes to the layout.

For instance, resume font principles still apply. And, your contact details should be at the top of your resume within your resume header.

Start off by using an optimal resume builder that gives you flexibility with constructing your resume and rearranging its design to tailor for your new job.

If you’re unsure, you can easily put together a resume using Enhancv resume templates. Our builder makes your resume sections drag-and-drop puzzle pieces that can be moved with ease without compromising on the format.

You can also take advantage of our unique resume sections including our exclusive My Time section which allows you to describe your typical work-day. All of our components are customizable too which helps with adding a unique flavor to your resume so that you stand out.

(Side note: luckily, you don’t have to worry too much about the minor technical details because we’ll take care of most of it for you!)

Start off with your resume header

Once you’ve got your resume format ready, it’s time to start off by including your resume header.

For any resume you have, this is always the first thing the recruiters should see. It includes your contact information along with any important pieces of detail you want recruiters to see at the beginning of your resume.

Another optional factor to take into consideration is including useful links. These links could take the recruiters to places such as your LinkedIn profile, portfolio site, or freelance website.

Writing the summary section

The summary should be kept very brief. Here, you want to summarize your entire professional career, or you can make a summary of your skills. In some cases, you can incorporate both together.

More importantly, it needs to give employers insight that you’re a qualified candidate capable of getting the job done.

If you’re fairly new to the workforce and don’t have years of experience, use this section to talk about your long term career goals and objectives.

Just ensure you keep to the fundamental principles. Keep it to no more than 5 sentences long, but preferably 3 sentences max unless you have more details you want to fit in.

Employment history

At this point, you want to start listing out the job titles you’ve held in the past. This should be accompanied by a description that describes your duties, role, responsibilities and the company success you contributed towards.

Don’t start talking about your daily routine at your old job, but rather describe the value you provided. The key thing to remember is that the order of your job listings should start from the most recent experience, then work backward from there.

Top skills and relevant strengths

What skills do you have that directly correlate with what the job recruiters need? How capable are you, and do you understand in full transparency what you’re getting yourself into?

(Side note: we have a full guide to create your resume skills section – you can read it by clicking here )

The answers are all found from doing the background research. But, one hack is to use Enhancv’s resume scanner to see if your resume matches the job description, or if it’s missing something.

In the skills section, pick out one of the skills that are in high demand. Whatever skill you pick, be honest and confident that it’s something you’re exceptional at. If necessary, you can add extra subsections to include more skills or depth of detail within this section.

Don’t just blatantly stuff in as many skills as possible. Otherwise, recruiters can detect those intentions which can lead to getting your resume application rejected.

Additional sections

If there are other useful sections you feel that are worthy enough, and useful to talk about, don’t be afraid to bring them up!

One section I suggest you don’t disregard is your education section. It lets employers know you’ve got the academic knowledge that’s required. But the additional sections you could include are:

• Volunteering experiences
• Awards and certifications
• Hobbies and interests
• Publications

Making a significant career change and getting hired at Spotify

Sam had been working in investment banking for several years. Eventually, she decided it was time to make a significant career change and to steer towards a new path.

When designing her resume, she knew she’d have to show something impactful that would influence recruiters. So, bringing her personality into her resume (such as including her Life Philosophy and Favorite Books) was one of her ideas.

And, it led to real conversations with recruiters.

They related to her more easily and were able to determine her culture fit. Take a look for yourself here:

Soon after, the hiring managers made their decision, and she found herself hired to work for Spotify.

Using a volunteer resume to work on a project with AIESEC

Avery was looking to volunteer with AIESEC in Indonesia for two months. Despite Avery having little work experience, the company knew that it was a perfect fit.

In a volunteering resume, it’s important for organizations to see who you are, and to understand your motivations for free work. To do this, Avery spoke on the achievement of being one of the eight students chosen to study Global Business in Ireland from France (props for being a chosen candidate!).

Then, on her resume, you can see the description of Avery’s strength of adaptability and even included a personal photo. This made it easier for AIESEC to see Avery take on the role as well as building rapport.

Remote working in customer support at Intercom

In this case study, Daniel had been involved in remote work for his entire career. He found an organization that would facilitate his preferred working style, so this opportunity was very important.

Recruiters at Intercom are interested in seeing how well a person is equipped to work together with a team despite the distance. Keeping this in mind, Daniel made it a priority mission to give insight to his personality to show how he would work well with everyone at Intercom.

In order to do this, he included “useful links” that gave more information about his background and who he was. After, he decided to start his resume with a summary section.

With the unique approach that gave recruiters what they wanted, he now works remotely the way he wants to. He does this at one of the biggest customer support organizations in the world!

The Substitute Teacher Resume

In the example above, Mitchel created his resume with Enhancv to highlight both his work experience and skills. We can see this almost immediately on his resume template.

What’s also effective is the “My Time” section at the very beginning. Not only is it a different approach, but it tells recruiters a lot about how he uses his time. It’s another way of combining his career history and skills to show how it’s consistently being developed.

The Entry Level Sales Resume

This time, Sherry emphasizes her work experiences first and included a section dedicated to her strengths at the bottom. From this, we can tell she’s a hard-worker just by seeing all the results she’s contributed to when describing her experiences.

On her resume, she knows how to sell herself. And this means for recruiters that she’ll be skilled working in the sales profession. Sherry reinforces her expertise by listing her strongest skills at the bottom and giving us a brief description to follow up.

The Classic Double Column Resume

In our last handpicked example, we can see she’s using elements from the combination resume by the way she’s highlighting her skills and experiences.

The first thing we see on Isabelle’s resume is a one-line quick and short summary of her skills. She then dives straight into her employment history and gives us a brief, listed description that’s showing she’s a capable candidate. This is clear because we can see the company’s success that she’s contributed towards.

Still with me? Hang in there, we’ve nearly got everything covered!

Now that you’ve created your combination resume from following the steps above, it’s time to perfect it. Use the extra tips below to polish and add the final touches!

• Combine different elements from different sections subtly with each other. There’s no problem with integrating your skills into other sections to further illustrate how you’re going to be a beneficial asset to have in their team and organization. Just don’t be too repetitive!
• Ensure you’re implementing not just keywords, but buzzwords too. Your use of language plays a big part in getting hired. Optimize your resume using the right trigger words – avoid common, generic, and obvious words anyone can use.
• Don’t forget to include soft skills and any useful transferable skills . If you’re making a drastic change in a job vacancy or industry, then you want to show employers what you can do that’s going to help you do your job better.
• Prioritize the main content that’s needed. The conversation on hybrid resumes is focused on what sections you should make as your biggest priority. This concept just limits the idea of the main content required since it’s strictly concentrating on your resume format. With hybrid resumes, their true future is centered around the content you include more than how that content is presented itself.

Want more expert insights, tips, and proven advice when it comes to creating your resume? Have a read on our guide: Top 21 Resume Tips And Advice for 2021 [With Expert Insights]

Work experience is a key section to include on your resume since it’s section recruiters want to track. If you’re a professional who has a good career timeline, using the combination resume makes it easy for job recruiters to recognize you’re a skilled individual.

Fortunately, Enhancv makes the entire resume building process simple and straightforward.

Is there anything else we’ve missed on our combination resume guide? Do you have any questions you want to ask? Comment below and let us know!

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Combination Resume Guide [w/ Templates & Examples]

Are you in the middle of a career change?

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

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

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

So, want to learn more?

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

Let’s get started!

What’s a Combination Resume

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

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

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

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

The format offers 2 main advantages:

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

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

Read on to find out.

When to Use a Combination Resume

The combination resume is pretty rare.

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

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

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

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

What to Put on a Combination Resume

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

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

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

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

Starting with -

Add Contact Information the Right Way

Let’s start with the basics.

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

In the contact information section you include:

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

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

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

Got the basics down? Good!

Now, let’s move onto the resume summary .

Grab the Recruiter’s Attention With a Resume Summary

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

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

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

So, how do you write a good resume summary?

You mention things like:

• Career highlights
• Qualifications
• Top achievements
• Relevant skills

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

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

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

Use Your Work Experience to Show Off Relevant Skills

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

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

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

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

Sounds simple enough, right?

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

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

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

Web Developer

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

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

Here’s what’s done right:

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

Now, compare that to -

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

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

That’s extremely vague, right?

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

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

Which one would you pick?

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

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

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

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

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

So, how do you write a skills summary section?

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

For example:

• SEO, Content Writing, Growth Hacking
• Graphic Design

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

Combination Resume Skills Summary Example

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

Not bad, right?

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

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

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

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

Additional Skills for a Combination Resume

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

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

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

Let’s take a look at an example...

Combination Resume Skills Example

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

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

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

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

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

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

Write an Education Section That Stands Out

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

The section is pretty much a requirement for any resume.

Here’s what you include in your education section:

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

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

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

Do you still list it?

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

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

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

B.A. in Communications

University X, 10/2013 - 06/2017

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

Key Takeaways

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

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

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

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

Discover More Resume Templates

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• Creative Resume Templates
• One Page Resume Templates
• 2 Page Resume Templates
• Word Resume Templates
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Recommended reading:

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

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

If you are looking for a great way to highlight your best skills on your resume while showcasing a clear timeline of your career, you may want to learn how to write a hybrid resume.

For some job-seekers, showing that you have the right skills for the job you are applying for can be difficult. If your most recent position isn’t directly related to the job posting, it’s important to list your transferable skills, but your most relevant accomplishments might not have been in your most recent job. This requires some creativity when structuring and formatting your resume.

Fortunately, there is a great way to show your best skills while retaining a clear career history: the hybrid resume format.

The hybrid resume format opens with a robust Skills section, ensuring your transferable skills are emphasized, then follows with a reverse-chronological Work Experience section, listing your past positions in a logical order.

This article will explore:

• Resume formats
• The hybrid resume format
• Reasons to write a hybrid resume
• How to write a hybrid resume
• Hybrid resume templates and examples
• What is a hybrid resume?

A Hybrid resume is a resume that emphasizes skills over work experience, but retains a clear timeline of past positions.

To truly understand a Hybrid resume format, it’s important to understand the two other most common resume formats: the reverse-chronological resume format and the functional resume format.

The Reverse-chronological resume

A reverse-chronological resume, often incorrectly called a chronological resume, is a resume that focuses primarily on past jobs.

In a reverse-chronological resume, the Work Experience section is the largest and most important part of the resume, and past positions are listed in reverse-chronological order, beginning with the most recent job and working backwards. The resume may open with a Summary section or a short Skills section, but the Work Experience section will receive the most focus, particularly the most recent positions.

This is the most common resume format, and the one most job-seekers will use. It is the ideal resume format for people who have had a typical career path, where each position is a logical next step from the previous one.

The Functional resume

A functional resume, sometimes called a skills-based resume, is a resume that highlights skills over work experience. In a functional resume, the Skills section is the largest and most important part of the resume, while the Work Experience section is shorter and less detailed. Further, in a functional resume, jobs listed in the Work Experience section are ordered by relevance rather than chronology.

In a functional resume, the Skills section will be more detailed than in a reverse-chronological resume. Instead of a simple list of relevant skills, each skill area will be its own heading, and examples of your accomplishments or abilities in that skill area will be listed below. This makes the Skills section much longer and more important.

The functional resume is sometimes used by people with less traditional career paths, who may want to focus on their abilities rather than their recent positions. However, most employers prefer to see the dates of employment for recent positions, so this format is not popular.

Instead, if you want to emphasize skills over past jobs, you may want to write a Hybrid resume.

The Hybrid resume

A hybrid resume, sometimes called a combination resume, is a resume that combines the best features of the functional resume format and the reverse-chronological resume format. It begins with a long, detailed Skills section (like a functional resume), but still retains a reverse-chronological Work Experience section (like a reverse-chronological resume).

In a hybrid resume, your Skills section will be positioned above your Work Experience section. It will also be longer and more detailed. Like a functional resume, it will have detailed examples in the Skills section rather than a simple bulleted list of skills, and like a functional resume, entries in the Work Experience section will be short and less detailed. Unlike the functional resume, however, past jobs will still be listed in order.

This allows you to showcase your skills without obscuring your dates of employment and career journey.

If you want to highlight skills rather than work experience, consider writing a hybrid resume.

• Why should you write a hybrid resume?

You should write a hybrid resume if your career path has been unconventional or unusual and you feel that your skills are more important than your career timeline.

A hybrid resume allows you to emphasize all your best and most relevant skills right at the top of your resume with lots of detail, with less of a focus on the timing of specific accomplishments. This can be helpful when your most recent position isn’t directly relevant to the job you are applying to.

If you are changing careers, for example, a hybrid resume can help you highlight your most transferable skills better than your current position. Similarly, if you are returning to work after an absence, a hybrid resume will emphasize your existing skills. If you have a history of job-hopping, have worked in many different industries, or your work history has some long gaps in it, a hybrid resume format might work for you.

Now that you know what a hybrid resume is for and when you should use one, you are ready to start writing. When it’s time to write a hybrid resume, follow these steps:

1. Write a brief summary

While not strictly mandatory, it is a good idea to start your resume with a Summary section whether you are using a hybrid resume format or not. This section should be short, no longer than a few sentences or bullet points, and punchy. This is where you introduce yourself to an employer, listing a few important qualities, skills, or highlights from your career. If done well, your Summary section can be what hooks an employer and convinces them to read the rest of your resume.

2. Focus on your skills

In a hybrid resume, your Skills section is the most important part of the resume. It should be the largest section of the resume, positioned high on the first page and written with lots of detail.

In your Skills section, identify your most relevant and most impressive skill areas . Make each skill area a heading, then list examples or explanations underneath. For example, if you are applying for a sales role, you may want to include a section such as:

Sales and Marketing

• Successfully conducted over 150 new and resale transactions, achieving sales volumes exceeding $25M and selling 48% of the project's condominiums within the first year at York Simpson.
• Overcame buyer challenges, such as high property taxes and HOA fees, to secure 5 offers within 24 hours at York Simpson.
• Generated awareness of new properties through targeted in-print and online marketing strategies, effectively reaching potential buyers and increasing property visibility.
• Utilized strong negotiation skills to secure favorable deals for clients, resulting in high customer satisfaction and repeat business.
• Consistently met or exceeded sales targets, demonstrating a strong ability to drive results and achieve business objectives.

When coming up with examples of your skills, focus on your achievements in past roles. Your past accomplishments should contain examples of the skills you want to highlight for the position you are applying for.

Try to use concrete examples of your successes. This should include quantifiable details, like sales, revenue, team size, project budgets, or customer success scores. Any measurable details from past jobs will look great on a resume. They show not only that you are successful, but that you measure your success and track your performance, all attractive qualities in an employee.

Further, when describing past accomplishments, use active language as much as possible. Action words like spearheaded , overcame , conducted , and negotiated all characterize you as an independent worker who can take initiative. The way you describe your accomplishments is almost as important as the accomplishments themselves.

Throughout your Skills section, make sure to include both soft skills , the transferable skills that make you a great employee, and hard skills , the technical abilities that make you competent in your vocation. This will allow you to demonstrate that you are a well-rounded worker who would be an asset both in terms of your abilities and your personal attributes.

The Skills section is the centrepiece of a hybrid resume, so it’s important to get this section right.

3. List your previous work experience

In a hybrid resume, your Work Experience section is secondary to your Skills section. That doesn’t mean, however, that it isn’t important.

In your Work Experience section, list your previous positions in reverse-chronological order. For each item, include the

• Company name
• Dates of employment

Because your key accomplishments are all listed in your Skills section, it isn’t necessary to add more detail to your Work Experience entries. However, if you feel some explanation is needed, you can add a bullet point or two with some details about the specific roles.

4. Show your education

It’s important to list your education in your resume, even if it isn’t directly relevant to the job at hand. Academic credentials can still impress employers. In your Education section, list your degrees in reverse-chronological order. For each item, include the:

• Institution name

Dates are optional in your education section.

• Hybrid resume example

Jordan Armstrong is a Marketing Specialist with a strong background in marketing and management. With experience as a Marketing Manager and Assistant Manager at ACME, Jordan has demonstrated expertise in developing and implementing successful marketing strategies. They hold a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from State University. Their experience in marketing management, combined with their strong communication and problem-solving skills, make them a valuable asset to any organization.

• Developed and implemented strategic marketing campaigns, resulting in a 20% increase in brand awareness and customer engagement.
• Implemented a successful direct-mail follow-up program for new customers, resulting in a significant 55% increase in repeat business.
• Led and coordinated marketing operations, ensuring alignment with the company's brand, product, and service standards.
• Ensured consistency and professionalism in all marketing communications, avoiding industry-specific jargon for better comprehension.

Business development

• Maintained clear and open communication with stakeholders, ensuring a shared understanding of goals and objectives.
• Significantly improved customer satisfaction ranking from #10 to #3 among twelve branches, demonstrating exceptional customer service skills and dedication to enhancing the customer experience.
• Proactively sought customer recommendations, resulting in a 20% increase in referral business.
• Effectively communicated with customers through multi-lingual telephone and written correspondence, promptly addressing queries and resolving claims.
• Successfully managed high-performing teams, consistently delivering excellent results and maintaining the highest operational standards across all areas of business.
• Conducted regular performance evaluations and provided constructive feedback to team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and development.
• Utilized data-driven insights to identify areas for improvement and implemented targeted strategies to enhance overall store performance.
• Successfully improved staff retention rates at a high turnover store by effectively managing expectations, proactively addressing issues, and implementing a tracking and reward system to recognize employee progress.
• Implemented customer retention initiatives, resulting in a significant increase in customer retention figures from 70% to 94%, directly contributing to increased profits.
• Conducted comprehensive evaluations of employee productivity, identifying untapped potential and implementing strategies to maximize performance, resulting in a 33% increase in sales compared to the previous year.
• Consistently met or exceeded performance targets, including customer satisfaction ratings and sales quotas.
• Maintained clear and concise documentation of customer interactions and issue resolutions, facilitating efficient communication and knowledge sharing within the team.

Work Experience

Marketing Manager ACME May 2019 - Oct 2021

• Promoted to the role of Marketing Manager at ACME, contributing to the smooth operation of the organization.
• Led all marketing initiatives and strategies.

Assistant Manager ACME Nov 2016 - Apr 2019

• Supported the Manager in daily operations, ensuring efficient workflow and adherence to company policies.
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills by effectively managing a team of employees.

Customer Service Advisor PowerTrain Industries Jan 2007 - Jan 2010

Customer Service Advisor InfoCorp Jan 2004 - Dec 2006

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration State University

• Hybrid resume templates

If you are still looking for inspiration, here are some hybrid resume template examples to help you get started.

Hybrid resume template example 1

Hybrid resume template example 2

Hybrid resume template example 3

Community Success Manager & CV Writing Expert

Ben is a writer, customer success manager and CV writing expert with over 5 years of experience helping job-seekers create their best careers. He believes in the importance of a great resume summary and the power of coffee.

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Hybrid Resume Templates and Examples for 2024

Hybrid Resume Template Example

How to write a hybrid resume, check out related examples, hybrid resume template text example.

Hybrid resumes combine the design of traditional and functional resumes to create an all-purpose format that works for various job fields and positions. When you’re looking for a hybrid resume template, find one that places roughly equal emphasis on your professional experience and your skills. The resume should be simple, without distracting elements or complicated fonts. It should be easy to move around the sections if you want to highlight your skills first for one job and your work history first for another.

A hybrid resume has the same general information as other resume types. But it organizes this information in a way that’s ideal for those with minimal experience or who are seeking a career change. Here’s an overview of which sections to include on your hybrid resume and what information to provide:

Contact information

Professional experience, education and certifications.

Make it easy for a hiring manager to let you know they’re interested by including your contact information in the header. Don’t include your address unless it’s directly relevant to the job. If you have extra room after your email and phone number, add your LinkedIn or a link to a portfolio.

The profile is the first section in the hybrid resume, and it’s the initial experience the hiring manager has with you as a candidate. Include keywords and language from the job description to show you’re a fit for the position. Keep this section to just a few sentences and focus on your more relevant qualifications.

A hybrid resume includes a list of professional and technical skills. This should be a bulleted list that’s easy to skim and can be customized for each job. If the list seems too long, split it into two or three separate categories.

Common hard and soft skills for a hybrid resume

Resume writer’s tip: use common action verbs.

Hiring managers only spend a few seconds per resume, so the words you use need to be impactful and engaging. Use precise action verbs for each bullet describing your job duties and in your profile section to level up your resume and generate interest from the hiring manager. Try some of these options if you’re not sure where to start:

Hiring managers want to know you have professional experience, so provide a list of your most recent or most relevant positions. Don’t worry if you lack experience in that particular industry — hybrid resumes are designed to focus on your transferable skills.

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

Adding metrics and numbers to your work history bullets makes general job duties more specific and gives the hiring manager a better idea of whether you can handle the position’s responsibilities. It also helps set you apart from other candidates by showing the impact your skills have had.

For example, if a position says candidates need to “develop efficient processes,” your resume could include “implemented streamlined onboarding process for increased efficiency.” But if you add that this also resulted in a 20% decrease in expenses, you’re showing the hiring manager the value of this accomplishment.

Check out our example for a better idea of how to do this:

• “Administered medications to an average of 10 patients per shift with 100% accuracy.”
• “I was responsible for giving patients their assigned medications.”

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

While you don’t need to write a new resume from scratch for every position you apply for, you must spend some extra time customizing it. Tailoring your resume ensures it’s optimized for that specific job and that you’re hitting everything that’s important to the hiring manager.

Examples of tailoring your resume include:

• Using similar language as the job description
• Highlighting must-have qualifications like a college degree in your profile
• Customizing the skills list to match what’s listed in the job posting
• Reorganizing the sections of your resume to put what’s most relevant in the top half

What if you don’t have experience?

A hybrid resume is a great option for someone who doesn’t have specific experience in that role. It puts roughly equal weight on your skills as it does formal training like education and work experience. If your work history is lacking, put your skills lists toward the top of your resume and highlight what you’ve learned in other positions.

Say you’re applying for a job as a bank teller, but you’ve only worked retail sales. Highlight things like balancing a cash drawer, ringing up accurate transactions, and contributing to a positive customer experience.

Include your highest level of education and any certifications or professional licenses. If the position requires a certain level of education or major, make sure this section is toward the top of your resume.

General (Universal) Resume Templates and Examples

Resume Templates and Examples For Microsoft Word

Minimalist Resume Templates and Examples

Your Name (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio City, State Abbreviation ZIP code

Process-driven operations manager with over five years of experience in the health care industry, specializing in process optimization, strategic planning, and facility management. Expert in large-scale operations, medical facilities, and staff development. MBA with a focus on operations management.

Technical Skills

• Financial forecasting
• Inventory management
• Project management platforms, including Trello and Asana

Professional Skills

• Interdepartmental collaboration
• Leadership skills
• Process optimization
• Risk mitigation
• Time management

Master of Business Administration Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, August 2017 – May 2020

Certifications

• Black Belt, Six Sigma, 2022

Professional Experience

Operations Manager, Chippenham Hospital, Richmond, VA June 2021 – present

• Spearheaded a strategic initiative to optimize inventory management, resulting in a 31% decrease in expired products

Manager, Medical Billing Management, Richmond, VA August 2020 – May 2021

• Led integration of a new records system across all departments, resulting in a 20% decrease in data-entry hours

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

A resume should be a forward-looking value proposition that showcases your most relevant accomplishments for a target role — not a rear view summary of your previous roles and responsibilities.

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Combination Resumes: How (and When) to Use Them + Examples

3 key takeaways

• A clear understanding of this resume format and how it differs from other resume types
• What scenarios a combination resume is most beneficial in (and how it can improve your job application)
• Tips and guidance for creating your combination resume with Teal's AI Resume Builder

When you're job searching, you need to present your skills and experiences in a way that stands out to potential employers. 

For many, especially those with employment gaps or diverse professional backgrounds, the solution is learning how to use a combination resume.

This unique resume format blends the best of chronological and functional resumes, offering a versatile approach to showcasing your career journey.

Combination resumes are especially useful for those looking to transition between industries, re-enter the workforce, or highlight a broad skill set. And with the right combination resume templates or examples, you can effectively bridge the gap between your past experiences and future ambitions.

What is a combination resume?

A combination resume incorporates elements of both functional resumes and reverse-chronological resumes . It allows you to showcase your relevant skills and your work history in a balanced way. 

This format typically starts with a clear professional summary, then highlights your hard skills, followed by a reverse-chronological listing of your work experience.

Combination resumes are particularly useful if you have diverse skills or varied work experiences and want to showcase these elements effectively. It's ideal for those making a career change, re-entering the workforce, or who have gaps in their employment history. 

By emphasizing your skills upfront, you can draw attention to what you can do rather than when you did it. For job seekers looking to emphasize both their skills and experience, the combination resume template is an excellent choice.

How does a combination resume compare with other formats

While the chronological resume focuses primarily on work history and the functional resume emphasizes skills, the combination resume strikes a balance between the two. This hybrid resume approach offers the flexibility to highlight the aspects of your professional profile that are most relevant to the job title you're applying for.

That’s what makes it a strong option compared to other resume formats . 

It's important to remember that a combination resume still maintains a chronological order in its work history section. It's not just about listing skills but also about demonstrating how these skills have been applied throughout your career.

For recent graduates, this format can highlight educational experiences, while for those pivoting careers, it can focus on relevant projects or volunteer work that aligns with the new role.

How to format a combination resume

A combination resume, as its name implies, combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes. This format allows you to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences while providing a clear timeline of your work history.

Key sections of a combination resume

• Header : This includes your name, contact information, and, optionally, links to your professional online presence (like LinkedIn).
• Professional Summary : A brief, impactful section encapsulating your career highlights and key skills.
• "Skills" section : A list or bullet points showcasing your most relevant skills. Remember, this section should be tailored to the specific job you're applying for.
• Professional experience : Focus on accomplishments, impact, and how you used your skills for each role rather than just duties. Keep in mind every job should be relevant to the role you're applying for.
• Education : Your educational background, often listed in reverse chronological order.
• Additional sections : Depending on your experience, this can include certifications, awards, volunteer work, or personal projects.

The beauty of a combination resume lies in its flexibility. 

Typically, after the header and professional summary, the skills summary comes next, immediately showcasing your most relevant abilities. The professional experience follows, providing context and proof of your skills. 

Education and additional sections come at the end, supporting the overall narrative of your resume.

That said, there’s a slight difference in format depending on the context. 

Combination resumes for recent graduates

The combination resume format particularly benefits recent graduates lacking extensive work experience.

Instead, they can substitute their educational experience, including relevant projects and courses, in a prominent position.

This approach allows them to highlight their potential and the skills they've acquired through their education, which are relevant to the job they're applying for. The format would still maintain a reverse chronological order, ensuring it is easy to read and professionally structured.

Combination resumes for a career pivot 

For individuals making a career pivot, the combination resume format provided above allows them to emphasize transferable skills and relevant projects or volunteer work. These elements can replace or complement the traditional work experience section. 

This approach helps in showcasing how their skills and experiences, even from different fields, are applicable to the new role they are targeting. Again, maintaining a chronological format ensures clarity and structure, which is essential for any professional resume.

In both cases—for recent graduates and career changers—a combination resume serves its purpose well, balancing the skills and experiences relevant to the new role while maintaining a clear, chronological format.

How to write a combination resume

Here’s a detailed guide to writing each section of your combination resume.

As the first impression, your header should clearly display your name, contact information, and any professional links like LinkedIn. 

Make sure it’s easily visible at the top of your resume. A professional-looking header sets the tone for the rest of the document.

2. Professional summary

This is where you craft your elevator pitch. The goal is to summarize your career journey and highlight skills that transfer well to the new role. 

Make it engaging, concise, and focused on why you’re a great fit for this career shift.

Here’s an example of a professional summary for Sarah, a junior marketer looking to enter a mid-level role:

Dynamic junior marketer with 3+ years of experience specializing in digital campaigns, SEO, and social media strategies. Proven ability to boost web traffic and conversion rates through innovative and data-driven approaches. Seeking to leverage creative problem-solving and market analysis skills in a challenging mid-level marketing role.

Pro-tip: Try Teal's Resume Summary Generator to write tailored, position-specific summaries in a matter of seconds.

3. Skills summary

List hard skills like tools or programs that are directly relevant to your new career.

In a combination resume, this part immediately showcases your most relevant capabilities and will ideally be a balance of hard and soft skills relevant to the job description. 

4. Professional experience

Start with your most relevant job roles, even if they aren't in the new career field. Focus on achievements and demonstrate how you used transferable skills to have an impact.

If you’re feeling stuck on how to write your professional experiences, use the Problem-Action-Result (PAR) method to articulate your past contributions.

You can also rely on Teal’s built-in AI to help you draft your resume’s content: 

Just be sure to manually check that the information is accurate when you review your resume. 

5. Education

Include all relevant degrees, certifications, and coursework. 

If you’re a recent graduate or have less professional experience in the new field, this section would be used in place of “Professional Experience.” It can also be expanded to showcase academic achievements, projects, or relevant courses that align with your new career path.

6. Additional sections

This is your space to include anything else that strengthens your application. Consider adding sections for volunteer work, projects, languages, or other certifications. Tailor this part of the resume to showcase experiences and achievements that further demonstrate your suitability for the career change.

Remember, the key to a successful combination resume for a career change lies in how well you customize these sections to showcase your transition into a new career effectively. 

Writing a combination resume with Teal

If you’re just getting started, crafting the perfect combination resume can feel overwhelming, especially when balancing so many elements of your professional journey. 

But Teal’s Drag-and-Drop Editor transforms this challenge into a seamless and intuitive process. You can effortlessly rearrange sections to suit your unique story, ensuring that your skills, experience, and accomplishments are presented in the most impactful way. 

Whether you're a career changer, a seasoned professional with diverse experiences, or someone bridging employment gaps, Teal allows you to create a resume that highlights your strongest assets. Then, you can modify your resume layout to your liking. 

Plus, Teal recognizes the importance of a resume that can be scanned by applicant tracking systems (ATS). 

Teal helps you craft resumes and cover letters that incorporate keywords directly from job descriptions. You can write them from scratch, use the Achievement Assistant, or generate them with the help of Teal’s built-in AI. 

From there, you can polish everything to ensure your combination resume is as strong as it is genuine. 

Tips for writing compelling resume content

An impactful combination resume not only showcases your qualifications but also tells a compelling story of your professional journey. With the right approach, your resume can capture the essence of your career and present you as an ideal candidate for the job. 

Here are some essential tips to help you create content that stands out, aligns with the job requirements, and effectively communicates your value.

1. Start with action verbs: Begin each bullet point in your experience section with dynamic action verbs. 

For instance, instead of saying, "Responsible for managing a team," say, "Led a team of 10 professionals to surpass quarterly sales targets by 13%."

2. Quantify achievements: Whenever possible, include concrete numbers and metrics to quantify the work you’ve done. 

For example, rather than saying "Improved sales," specify with, "Increased sales by 25% over six months through strategic marketing campaigns."

3. Tailor content to the job: Align your resume's content with the job description by incorporating relevant keywords.

 If the job listing emphasizes "project management" and "team leadership," ensure these terms are reflected in your resume, like "Spearheaded a project team to deliver on-time solutions in a fast-paced tech environment."

4. Write clearly and concisely: Avoid industry jargon and complex sentences. 

For example, instead of saying, "Utilized cutting-edge methodologies to engender an increase in consumer engagement," you could say, "Applied innovative strategies to boost customer engagement by 30%."

At the end of the day, the key to an effective combination resume is to present a clear, engaging narrative of your career that aligns with the job you're applying for. 

Writing a combination resume for career change

Changing careers can be challenging. You’ve already climbed the ladder in one field, and now you’re starting all over at the bottom wrung. 

Plus, you need to quickly and concisely explain the transition to hiring managers so they don’t assume you’re a flight risk. 

Here are a few tips for writing a combination resume specifically for a career change. 

1. Highlight transferable skills

When transitioning to a new career field, it's essential to showcase skills from your previous roles that are relevant to your new path. Focus on transferable skills that can be applied in various contexts. 

For instance, if you’re moving from a teaching role to a corporate training position, skills like public speaking, curriculum development, and audience engagement are highly relevant. 

List these skills in a dedicated section and use specific examples in your work history to demonstrate how you've applied them effectively. 

2. Emphasize relevant experience

Your past roles may have more in common with your new field than you think. Scrutinize your work history to identify projects, tasks, or responsibilities that have a direct correlation with the role you’re targeting.

For each job you list, focus on aspects that align with your new career. For example, if you’re moving into project management, highlight your experience coordinating tasks, managing teams, or overseeing project timelines.

Even roles in different industries can provide relevant experience, such as managing a project or leading a team.

3. Use the professional summary wisely

Your professional summary is the first thing employers will read, so it's your chance to make a strong impression. This is where you can express your career change intention and why you are a suitable candidate. 

Write a compelling summary that combines your passion for the new field with your proven skills. 

For example, “Passionate about transitioning into digital marketing, leveraging extensive experience in content creation and audience engagement gained from a successful journalism career.”

4. Include your education and continued learning efforts

Highlighting your education and any ongoing learning efforts is crucial, especially if they are relevant to your new career path. This shows employers your commitment to the field. 

List any recent courses, workshops, or certifications at the top of your education section. For instance, if you’re moving into IT, including certifications like CompTIA or Cisco CCNA can be highly beneficial.

5. Include projects or volunteer work

Non-professional experiences can be just as valuable as paid roles, particularly when they're relevant to the field you're entering. 

Include any freelance projects, internships, or volunteer work that’s related to your new career. 

For example, if you’re aiming for a career in graphic design, include freelance design projects or volunteer work where you created promotional materials for events. Detail these experiences just like you would a job, focusing on what you achieved and learned.

Using Teal’s AI Resume Builder

Teal’s AI Resume Builder simplifies the process of writing a combination resume. It provides guidance and suggestions for each section, ensuring your content is optimized and impactful. With Teal, you can:

• Use AI-driven suggestions to enhance your professional summary and skills summary.
• Tailor your resume to each job application, with Teal highlighting the skills and experiences most relevant to the role.
• Format your resume with ease, thanks to Teal’s user-friendly interface.

Writing a combination resume with Teal is not only easier but also more effective.

Combination resume examples

A good combination resume example can be a great reference to understand how to create your own resume more efficiently. Here are a few examples you can learn from.

Frontend Developer

This combination resume example is perfect for a junior-level employee looking to transition into a new role. The relevant skills are placed after the professional summary, followed by her work experience. 

However, because her professional experience is limited, this example provides more information about internships and volunteer projects.

Marketing Manager

Here we have Max, a marketing manager with a more extensive work history. The skills section is still prioritized, but his working history takes on a reverse chronological format. 

Crafting your combination resume 

Navigating the creation of a combination resume isn't just about assembling parts of your professional history; it's about strategically highlighting your diverse skills and experiences to capture the heart of your career journey. 

A combination resume is your chance to paint a compelling picture of your professional landscape—from your multifaceted skills to the chronological narrative of your work history. It elegantly bridges the gap between showcasing a rich skill set and a robust employment history. 

Whether you're navigating employment gaps, embarking on a career change, or a recent graduate, this format adapts to your unique story, ensuring that your application resonates with potential employers.

Teal’s Drag-and-Drop Editor simplifies this process, allowing you to effortlessly blend sections, customize layouts, and build the combination resume that best represents you. 

I you're ready to elevate your job application, bring your unique professional story to life with Teal. Sign up today , explore the power of the combination resume with Teal’s innovative tools, and step into your next career chapter with confidence. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary advantage of using a combination resume over other resume formats, how can i decide if a combination resume is the right choice for my job application, can a combination resume be used for entry-level positions, or is it only suitable for experienced professionals.

Nathan Thompson

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• What is a combination resume?

Before we dive into that, we have to understand what is a resume format.

The resume format is the backbone of the resume, around which you outline your sections.

Before writing your resume, ensure that you choose the resume template according to your target profile & industry requisite. There is a different template for modern and basic resume writing.

There are 3 standard ways of writing a resume. The following shall give you an effective idea of what these formats are and how and why to choose the combination resume. By the end of the article, you will know how to write a professional combination resume for your work profile.

Here's what you will learn from this blog:

• Who should use a combination resume?
• When to use a combination resume
• How do you write a combination resume?
• Structure of combination resume

Also, check out Hiration's online resume builder to make your resume in under 5 minutes. You'll find pre-filled templates and infinite designs on our resume builder - making a resume has never been this easy!

Types of Resume Format

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

Reverse Chronological Resume Format

In the Reverse Chronological Resume Layout , you begin with information from the most recent work or education profile and trace back to the beginning of your education. You must enlist your major achievements and responsibilities along with the timeline.

The resume template follows the following order:

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

Also Read: How to compose a professional resume objective?

Functional Resume Format

In the Functional Resume Layout , a separate section is created in which all significant points are grouped under relevant skills. The professional experiences are listed without many details of the responsibilities or achievements. This format is recommended for people with gaps in their employment history or for ones who have often changed their jobs or industries.

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

You may find examples of functional resume templates for a better understanding of how you can proceed with writing your resume.

Combination Resume Format

The Combination Resume Layout is a combination of the reverse chronological resume format and the functional resume format. It showcases the skills and achievements of any candidate with detailed evidence from their professional experience. Alongside it highlights their work profile from the most recent to the initial stages in the industry. The points on this format of the resume are grouped based on the skills highlighted.

There are two ways of making a combination resume:

Grouping Inside Professional Experience

This format is similar to the reverse chronological resume format. The point of difference is in the professional experience section, where the points are grouped by the skills that they represent.

Here is an example of this type of combination resume format:

By Grouping in the Summary of Skills Section

This format lists all your achievements and significant career highlights to create a separate section of the "Summary of Skills". These points are grouped under several key skills, like in a functional resume format. This type of combination resume format replaces the summary to create a powerful snapshot of your career which is highly targeted for the job you are going to apply for.

Here are some combination resume examples:

Also Read: The best resume format in 2022

The following table will discuss the differences between the three templates

Combination Resume: What is it?

The combination resume is one of the three types of resume formats commonly used.

A combination resume is usually organized into two parts or pages.

The first part of the combination resume is in the functional format, which highlights skills and accomplishments.

The second part of the combination resume is in reverse chronological order that highlights work history.

Both the parts of the resume can be used interchangeably depending on the type of combination resume you are making. This format uses the best aspects of both the chronological resume and functional resume. While the chronological part focuses on the candidate's work experience, the functional part focuses on the skills. A combination resume, therefore, focuses on both the work history and skills to capture the recruiter’s attention.

• Combination resume formats appeal to recruiters for senior executive positions that require highly-specialized skills. These skills can be easily identified. This format also confirms that the candidate has the required work experience.
• Combination resumes are useful for job seekers with a significant amount of work experience and commendable skills and accomplishments.
• Combination resumes are suitable for job seekers who want to change careers. Since they highlight both your skills and any reputed companies you may have worked with, they can showcase transferable skills and emphasize outstanding employment history.
• In case a candidate has worked for the same company or has held the same position for a long time too, a combination resume is useful in highlighting the candidate’s skills and achievements for other job posts.

Disadvantages

• Combination resumes can be longer than other resume formats and can exceed the ideal length of 1 or 2 pages depending on your experience.
• Repetition of values may be predominant in the combination resume template.
• Career changes or employment gaps are visible in a combination resume template under the work history section.

Combination resumes: Who Should Use It?

As the combination resume templates highlights skills over experiences, it is particularly useful for people who are attempting to enter a new industry. It is also preferable when changing careers since many skills can be transferred between industries. Therefore, highlighting these skills is important for people looking to switch fields or industries.

The combination format is the best option for candidates with many experiences. The hybrid resume template represents your skills instantly. Therefore, in case you are applying for a job that requires technical skills or relevant certifications, a combination resume is your best option.

Since the style of a combination resume focuses on both the skills and the abilities of the applicant, it is best for those applying for positions that require a good possession of technical skills and expertise. Using a combination format is the best way to showcase all your abilities to the recruiter without giving the impression of hiding any information.

Combination resumes are ideal for applicants who already have a lot of experience in the same field or even in different fields.

Since a combination resume template can prioritize relevant skills over prior work experience, depending on the type of combination you choose, they are also suitable for candidates who are looking to try an industry to which they had previously not catered. Your transferable skills play a major role in your career change.

Some important transferable skills include:

• Personal Motivation
• Organizational and Time Management
• Adaptability
• Multitasking
• Decision-making
• Time management
• Prioritizing
• Problem Solving
• Written and Verbal Communication

Many candidates benefit from using a combination resume due to the career summary. This section pinpoints the candidate's top credentials so employers can seek their best abilities.

Despite the combination resume samples focusing more on skills, it leaves space to provide details of your work experience. Add impressive sets of accomplishments and job duties to make the combination resume your perfect choice.

To categorize the people for whom the combination resumes best benefits, read the list below:

• Students, new graduates, and entry-level candidates to emphasize their skills rather than their short employment history.
• Candidates with a steady, consistent employment history to add a qualifications summary that pinpoints the top credentials for the job.
• Candidates shifting careers to showcase required transferable skill sets. However, in case you are making a radical career change, use a functional resume template.
• Candidates reentering the industry after a significant gap in employment history. Here, the combination resume format takes the emphasis off the fact that you have not worked for a while.
• Older workers with extensive employment history need who need to showcase their strongest credentials. The summary section best highlights this.

Also Read: What skills to put on a resume?

Combination Resume: When to Use it?

The Combination resume format prioritizes skills over work experience. Therefore, this resume is useful for candidates who are trying to change industry or careers because many skills can be transferred between industries. The combination resume template highlights these skill sets to benefit the candidates.

Despite the combination template highlighting relevant skills, it allows the incorporation of strong features from your specific work history. So, if your past job history is impressive and you are looking to change your career, the combo resume format is just what you need.

So is a combination resume good?

The combination resume format is considered an ideal marketing layout because it first highlights skills and accomplishments, then gives the hiring company, or recruiter, a sense of security by providing an account of work history.

Combination resumes highlight recent job experiences which might be relevant to the position being pursued. They also allow easy perusal through the applicant's career progression.

Another aspect of the combination resume format is its flexibility. Since you have different options to create it, feel free to move the elements around. But try to make sure the recruiter can focus on the most relevant information.

For example, in case you have relevant experiences in a field even though it is old, you can include it in the skills section at the beginning of the resume. This can even describe your experiences and the corresponding responsibilities you have performed. You can include your dates of employment later in the resume, with a chronological list of positions held.

However, if the writer has a gap in their career history or an impeding career progression, then it is highlighted in the combination resumes.

When Should You Avoid Using a Combinational Resume?

Unless you are looking for a change in career or industry, avoid using the combination format resume.

Professionals at the senior level should also refrain from using the hybrid resume format.

Combination Resume: How to Write it

Although the combination resume templates highlight skills, it features heavy specifics of your work history. If your past responsibilities are impressive and you are only looking for a change in the industry, the combination resume style might serve you best.

While a chronological resume format emphasizes the work experience and duties of each position, the combination resume format underlines your skills while doing the same. However, to avoid unnecessary repetition, do not list your skills separately and then list them again in the employment history section.

In the combination resume, the flexibility of the structure of the document works to the advantage of the applicant. You should ideally lead with a career summary or a qualifications summary or a skills summary. This section emphasizes your strongest credentials. Your key qualifications at the beginning of your resume appeal to the recruiters to read the rest of your resume.

Incorporate your job objective, key skills, areas of expertise, accomplishment highlights, and related training into the summary section. Quantify your statements with relevant examples, if possible.

They follow with a reverse chronological employment history. Keeping your resume in the chronological format appeals to most recruiters, as it is the standard mode of presentation.

However, by including a career summary, you will essentially have lesser room for your work history. Therefore, you must be concise and straight with your experience section.

Maintain the focus on the accomplishments more than on the responsibilities. Avoid adding unnecessary information which is unrelated to your career goal.

Additional sections on your combination resume can include an education section, training and certification section, references, languages, and additional information.

Also Read: How to write a resume that can help you land a job?

Tips for Writing a Combination Resume

• First, look at your professional achievements and skills, and hobbies to get an idea of how it fits your profile within the combination resume structure.
• Reduce all the irrelevant information and make a list of your achievements, skills, job profiles, and other performance data to include in the combination resume. They should stand out to a recruiter for the specific vacancy that interests you.
• Fill out your combination resume template with these details. You can also use the online resume builder for professional resume-building experience.
• Both the summary and the work experience sections in your combination resume should include short quantifiable examples of how you have implemented your skills to prove yourself as an asset to your previous organization.
• Mention relevant awards and scholarships, internships, projects, courses, etc. in your qualifications summary to demonstrate your strengths. Use action words and keywords from the job description to present additional information.

Consider reviewing the following questions to help write a combination resume:

• Have you written a combination resume before?
• Have you ever come across challenges when writing a hybrid resume?
• When do you think a combination resume can be more effective than a reverse chronological resume?

Combination Resume: The Structure

Use the flexibility of the combination resume to your advantage. You can try moving sections around to see what best appeals to the recruiter. You can integrate your experiences into the chronological list of past employment. This makes your resume more traditional, while the emphasis provided in the skills section keeps the focus on function. The combination resume template works best in tweaking results.

The combination resume employs a mix of the two styles of resumes. Therefore, it is very important to consider the combination resume format.

It begins with a summary of the qualifications, includes education and skills section, and also a work history list. Not only does the work history focus on citing the most relevant positions, but also on detailing achievements and responsibilities from those roles.

You may try experimenting with the different layouts that can emphasize your strongest qualities on Hiration's online resume builder .

Combination Resume Key Sections

• Personal Information

Any application needs your basic information. Include your name and contact information - available phone number and professional email address, followed by your 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 Profile or Qualifications Summary

Begin with a professional profile or qualifications summary to emphasize your skills. Both introductions introduce your necessary skill set. However, they do it in slightly different ways.

Your qualifications summary displays your achievements that correspond to your skills. Therefore, they testify and validate your skills as opposed to the professional profile where you address the skills you gained in your previous work.

A combination resume should begin by emphasizing the transferable skills of an applicant. The best way to do this is to start with a professional profile or qualifications summary.

A professional profile showcases your skills in your previous positions or projects. A qualifications summary emphasizes your achievements corresponding to those skills.

While both introductions have the same mission, the qualifications summary might be more effective in highlighting both skills and accomplishments in a combination resume.

In a combination resume template format, your skills section is placed above your professional experience. Since a combination resume is usually used by applicants in mid/senior-level job profiles, your skills section holds equivalent weight to your work history section.

Group similar skills together for clarity and try to quantify them (e.g., Heightened sales by 10% in two months by using enhanced communication skills).

Although the skills section part of your combination resume is the trickiest, it is also very important. If you have a master list of skills but do not know how to list the relevant ones, reach out to us or read our article on the resume skills section in a 2022 resume template.

In a combination format, the skills section may come before the professional experience section. Keep this section organized by grouping similar skills together. Also, quantify your skills where relevant.

• Work History and Experience

Your professional experience section looks the same in every format. Many combination resumes contain the error of listing the most basic responsibilities of a job under each position. Your points should be accomplishment oriented and communicate your responsibilities.

For example, if you were a computer programmer, avoid writing "used to program computer software". Instead, discuss the software you designed and to what degree of quality. If you have been acknowledged for your work, mention that too.

The main objective of the work experience section in your combination resumes, or in any resume, is to provide detailed and relevant points to describe your professional experience.

Avoid unconnected job duties and focus on accomplishments. Again, quantify your case and prove your qualification to the recruiter. If you are looking to maximize your professional experience, you may use our online resume builder .

The combination resume format does not especially highlight the education section. While education achievements are necessary for freshers, the combination resume is most effective for senior candidates with a long work history.

However, it is still necessary that you mention your degree or educational certificate. If you have achieved any prominent academic success, include that too.

In a combination resume, the education section can be quite brief. Since the combination resume template is mostly used by senior professionals, it is considered that you are already well into your career and that your resume should focus on your work experience.

Also Read: What details to add to your resume sections?

Key Takeaways

A combination resume is a great way for an experienced professional to make sure the recruiters pay attention to your relevant skills.

Quantify your skills and link them to relevant examples of professional achievements, awards, or certifications.

Try to tailor your summary and your skills according to the job description. However, do not show off your skillset. Your resume should not only show off your career achievements but also meet your job requisites.

While you are listing your work experience, briefly explain your responsibilities and highlight your achievements. You may repeat some of the information from the skills summary to make your resume consistent and convincing.

The Combination Resume layout is ideal for candidates who have work experience yet wish to make use of their current knowledge and skills in a new role, industry, or sector.

In a combination resume for career changers, they can identify their transferable skills and suitably organize them to provide the potential employer with a guide to the type of worker they are so they can assess how they will perform in the new role.

The combination resume format essentially employs the following pattern:

The combination resume format provides a brief work history, skills, and examples of relevant experiences. Since students or freshers in the industry require a heavier focus on education, awards, and often soft skills than technical abilities, it is not the most preferred resume format for them.

The combination resume structure includes a Qualifications Summary which is similar to the functional resume format. It describes your abilities or achievements in under 5 points in a key skill category. Quantify your examples wherever possible.

Exemplify and quantify specific use of your skills to improve the credibility and relevance of your key abilities.

The combination resume structure employs bullet points under each job title similar to the reverse chronological resume layout. These points depict the responsibilities and objectives accomplished in each profile.

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

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

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How to Choose The Correct Resume Format in 2022 (With Examples)

Choosing the best resume format will be the first step you'll need to get right in order to lay the groundwork for your entire resume.

You may have been taught one standard resume format, but in reality, there are several formatting options for resumes that each come with their own strengths and weaknesses.

In this guide, we will delve into the main resume formats and help you decide which one best fits your needs. 

What are the Main Resume Formats?

• What are the Pros and Cons of Each Resume Format?

How to Choose a Resume Format

Tips on resume formatting, what sections to include on a resume, how to optimize a resume for ats, beautiful resume templates to land your dream job.

It is well known that a resume can make or break a job applicant’s chance at landing an interview for the position they are seeking.

However, resumes are not all made the same, and different formatting styles come with different strengths and purposes. 

Understanding how resume formats can differ is crucially important when creating the perfect resume for the position you are applying to.

There are three main resume formats that should be considered when deciding which best fits your needs: reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid.

1) Reverse-Chronological Resumes

Reverse-chronological resumes are typically the most commonly used format of resume.

When using this format, the focus of the resume is placed on the most relevant work experience a job applicant has in relation to a specific job. 

The term “reverse-chronological” is used to describe how your relevant work experience should be listed on the resume.

A chronological format would require jobs to be listed out starting with the very first job an applicant held.

Instead, a reverse-chronological format has applicants place their most recent jobs first, followed by the next most recent, etc.

This type of formatting allows for job applicants to show that they have recent relevant experience, as well as showing a history of working within a particular field or industry. 

Tip: When in doubt, it's the safest and most common choice to use.

2) Functional Resumes

While reverse-chronological resumes focus on relevant work experience, a functional resume comparatively focuses on a job applicant’s specific skillsets and areas of expertise.

Functional resumes will generally list skills along with a bulleted list of the applicant’s experience applying those skills in a professional manner. 

Work experience is, in fact, listed much lower on the resume when using this format, and for each job minimal details are given.

By using this type of format, a job applicant can emphasize skills and qualifications that they have to offer and shift the focus away from work experience that may not be entirely relevant or recent. 

3) Combination/Hybrid Resumes

True to its name, the combination resume ( sometimes referred to as a hybrid resume ) combines different aspects of both the reverse-chronological and the functional formats in order to best fit the needs of specific individuals.

This type of formatting will take advantage of the ways in which a functional resume emphasizes and details different skills and qualifications.

Combination resume's also provide more detailed work experience descriptions that would typically be seen in a reverse-chronological resume. 

When using a hybrid format for a resume, the layout may differ according to each individual person’s needs — but generally the section detailing skills and areas of expertise will come before the work experience section.

Additionally, the skills section may be slightly shorter in a hybrid resume in order to provide more room for a more detailed work experience section. 

Again, if you're not sure which format to use, choose reverse-chronological.

Take a look at this reverse-chronological resume example to get a better idea.

What are the Pros & Cons of Each Resume Format?

When it comes to these three main types of resume formats, they each come with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Understanding these is essential when selecting which format is best for your own personal purposes or intentions.

Here is a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of each resume format we have described above:

Reverse-Chronological Resume Format Pros & Cons

Pros of a Reverse-Chronological resume:

• Information about the job applicant is written in a very straight-forward manner, making this format the easiest to read and skim through by employers. 
• For applicants who have consistent job experience or held specific previous positions for a long period of time, this format provides a great opportunity to showcase the applicant’s longevity in a work environment. 
• Reverse-chronological resumes are the easiest to update when new work experiences are acquired and generally do not require too much altercation for each individual job being applied to. 

Cons of a Reverse-Chronological resume:

• Reverse-chronological format typically is the most effective when applicants have a strong working history. For applicants with less work experience, or gaps in their working history, this can prove detrimental. 
• This format is the most commonly used, and as such it can be a difficult task to make your resume stand out from others. 
• For applicants who are changing career paths or entering into a new field or industry from which they were previously employed in, the reverse-chronological format is not ideal as the work experience the candidate has may not be directly applicable to the job they are currently applying for. 

Functional Resume Format Pros & Cons

Pros of a Functional resume:

• Job applicants with large gaps in their work experience, or those who lack relevant job experience, can take advantage of the functional format to emphasize their relevant skills or qualifications instead.
• For applicants looking to make a career path change, this format allows them to highlight the skillsets they have developed in their previous jobs or career that are transferrable to the new career they are seeking.
• Functional formatting provides a greater flexibility when it comes to designing and organizing a resume, compared to reverse-chronological formats that require applicants to list information in a specific order. 

Cons of a Functional resume:

• Due to the majority of resumes following the standard reverse-chronological format, a functional resume has the potential to be confusing or off putting to employers or recruiters. 
• Functional resumes tend to take more of the applicant’s time to craft and structure, as poorly-made functional resumes can come off as deceptive to employers due to the lack of work experience being presented.
• This format can very easily lack context, such as specific dates or job functions performed, which can signal to an employer that the skills listed may not have the backing of real experience and thus injure the applicant’s chances of making it to the interview stage. 

Combination/Hybrid Resume Format Pros & Cons

Pros of a Hybrid resume:

• For applicants without large gaps in their employment history, a combination resume is a good format to use to emphasize relevant skills they have honed in previous jobs that are not inherently relevant to the position being applied for. 
• Many applicants may have robust experience in non-paid positions, such as internships or volunteer positions. The combination resume allows for these experiences to be emphasized more thoroughly as part of a work history. 
• Combination formats utilize the chronological ordering of information that is familiar to employers, while also differentiating the format enough to potentially stand out among competition. 

Cons of a Hybrid resume:

• Due to combination resumes placing emphasis on both work experience and skills, it can be hard to keep the wording concise and the resume a proper length. 
• Without proper structuring, a combination resume can easily become cluttered or unorganized due to too much information being shared. 
• Like with functional resumes, an improperly designed combination resume has the potential to come off as deceptive to employers if they cannot clearly and easily connect the dots between the skills and work experience listed. 

When choosing which resume format is best for you, there are a few crucially important considerations to keep in mind:

• Do you have enough relevant work experience to fully flesh-out a reverse-chronological format?
• If your work experience is not entirely relevant, are there relevant skills you can pull from previous jobs or other experiences – such as from internships or volunteer work - and emphasize as transferrable skills?
• Are you applying to a position within your current career path, or are you switching to a new field or industry?

These questions are highly important to ask yourself, as they will point you in the right direction when it comes to choosing the best resume format to fit your needs.

Reverse-chronological resumes are likely to continue to be the standard that employers and recruiters are looking for from job candidates.

However, they are not ideal for candidates who are switching career paths or are dealing with significant gaps in employment history. 

Comparatively, functional resumes allow for candidates to de-emphasize their work experience, giving those with less relevant work histories or gaps in their employment the opportunity to showcase their other skills and talents that may not be readily apparent from a chronological listing of previous jobs alone. 

Despite this, functional resumes are not typically preferred by recruiters and can harm an applicant’s chances of making it to the interview stage if there is too little information given regarding work history.

Thus, the combination/hybrid resume gives applicants the opportunity to make the best of both world by showcasing both experience and skills, with greater emphasis being able to be placed on whichever category carries the majority of the candidate’s strengths. 

When it comes to formatting your resume, there are many important tips to keep in mind that can be applied to all formats to help make your resume more appealing to potential employers. 

Provide Both Detailed and Concise Information

While it is considered best to keep your information about your work experience or skills concise, there should still be enough detail for the employer to gain meaningful insight into your history and experience.

Incorrect : “ Responsible for staff scheduling .”

Correct : “ Optimized staff schedule to improve staff efficiency during shift and lower labor costs. ” 

Clearly Connect Skills to Experience

Simply listing a skill without any sort of explanation may not cut it for employers, especially in functional or hybrid resumes. Employers reading through your resume want to know not just your skills, but how you came to hone and improve said skills. 

Incorrect : Listing a skill without a proper explanation, such as “ Inventory Management ”

Correct : Describing how you have applied and developed the skills of inventory management through sales analyses or organizational systems you created. 

Include Your Soft Skills

While hard skills include industry- or career-specific traits that have been gained through official trainings or education, soft skills can include your inherent abilities and can be useful regardless of the industry or position. 

Incorrect : Only listing hard skills or listing soft skills with little to no description or explanation.

Correct : Listing soft skills, such as Teamwork or Communication, and following with a brief yet descriptive sentence that shows your merit in these skills. 

Use Easy to Follow Organization

An employer shouldn’t have to hunt through your resume to find the most meaningful or relevant information. Clear organization and writing is essential for impressing potential employers. 

Incorrect : Don’t use long paragraphs or complex sentences.

Correct : Utilize bullet points and singular, simple sentences. 

Regardless of the type of format you end up choosing, it is key to always tailor your resume to fit specific jobs. This will show employers that you are attentive to detail and picked up on keywords hidden throughout a job posting. 

When it comes to writing the perfect resume , there are several sections that should be included.

On any given resume, there are some generally expected sections that employers will look for that provide insight into you, as the applicant.

The organization of these sections will vary depending on the format you have chosen, but generally will follow the following flow of information:

• Your name as the heading
• Contact information, preferably a professional email and/or link to a professional website
• A short personal objective or professional summary statement
• A brief overview of your educational credentials. Note: in resumes being used to apply for academic positions, the education section may be longer and more detailed.
• Your work experience and history 
• Your skills, including both your hard and soft skills, as well as brief descriptions of how these skills are transferable in not readily apparent. 

Additional sections, such as volunteering or awards, can be included to help round out a resume that may be lacking sufficient work experience.

These extra sections are also a good opportunity to highlight transferable skills the employer may not have seen coming from work experience alone.

Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, are used by employers to automatically scan and organize information provided within a resume to help separate the stronger candidates from the weaker ones – and are used by roughly 40 percent of employers.

As such, it is crucial to optimize your resume for ATS regardless of what format you are using.

Simple formatting and using easy-to-read, non-serif fonts are two major components for optimizing your resume.

Additionally, dates play a huge role in the readability of a resume by ATS, so functional resumes that lack dates may not perform as well. 

Using keywords when writing descriptions and summaries, as well as using common names when titling your sections, are two practices to get in the habit of following when crafting your resumes. 

Final Thoughts

Although reverse-chronological resumes are the most commonly used and may be generally expected by employers, the functional and combination formats can provide great advantages to specific job applicants who may not have the necessary relevant work experience to fill a reverse-chronological resume. 

It is important to always provide concise yet detailed information, whether it be about work experience or skills, as this will prevent your resume from coming across as deceptive to employers.

The key to choosing which format best fits your needs is to assess where your most relevant assets lie and structuring your resume around those strengths.

If you don't have a resume yet, try our online resume builder for free and get your resume ready in minutes, or check out our modern and professionally designed resume templates , and start making your ideal resume today!

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Get inspired with more resume examples

Read our how-to guides on making your resume perfect, how to write a resume with no work experience in 2021 (with examples).

Don't worry, we've all been there. Thrown into the job world with little to none work experience and no idea how to start a resume. We're here to help.

How to Write Your Resume in Reverse-Chronological Order

When setting out to write the perfect resume, choosing a format is an important decision. Reverse-chronological resumes are the standard format, so knowing how to craft one is key! This guide will teach you how to write the best reverse chronological resumes.

How to List References on a Resume in 2022 (with Examples & Tips)

In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about including references on a resume, from how to format them to how to know when they should be included at all.

100+ Key Skills for a Resume in 2022 (Examples for any Job)

Learn how to professionally and efficiently list your skills on a resume.

More advice that will accelerate your career path

Should i include a photo on my resume in 2022 (tips & examples).

To include or not to include (a profile photo or a selfie) — that is the question.

Best Job Search Websites for Every Industry in 2022

Follow our favorite job search and placement website for job seekers in healthcare, technology, startups, finance, and college internships.

20+ Key Marketing Skills to List on Your Resume in 2022 (With Examples)

Being a marketer requires you to have many skills and proficiencies. In this guide, we will provide you with 20 of the best marketing skills to include on a resume. Plus, we will cover formatting and how to improve your marketing skills!

How to Explain Employment Gaps on a Resume in 2022

Your journey to discovering your career path can be full of twists and turns. Sometimes, life circumstances can result in gaps in your work history. In this guide, we will teach you all about how to include and explain gaps in your employment to keep your resume looking and sounding strong!

Professional resume templates to help land your next dream job.

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