A functional resume emphasizes skills and achievements over chronological job history. It can work for career changers, people with gaps, or those with limited relevant experience.
When to Use a Functional Resume
Use it when your job history is less relevant than your skills (e.g., career change, long gap, or many short stints). Some employers and ATS prefer chronological format, so use functional only when it clearly helps your case.
Structure
- Contact and summary: Same as usual. Summary should state your target role and key strengths.
- Skills or achievements section: Group skills or achievements by theme (e.g., "Leadership," "Project Management," "Technical Skills"). Use bullets with strong verbs and outcomes.
- Experience section: List jobs with dates but fewer or no bullets. Keep it short so skills take center stage.
- Education: Same as usual.
Tips
Use clear headings so recruiters and ATS can follow. Include keywords from the job description in your skills/achievements section. Keep the experience section honest and complete (dates, titles, companies). Consider a hybrid format: strong summary and skills, then chronological experience with bullets.
What to Avoid
Do not hide or falsify job history. Do not use a functional format when chronological would be stronger (e.g., steady, relevant experience). Some ATS and employers prefer chronological—check the job posting when possible.