Resume Format Comparison Chart

Which type of resume is right for you? This table lists the pros and cons of the three main types of resumes.

	Chronological Resume	Functional Resume	Combination Resume
Overview	Offers a concise picture of you as a potential employee with the most recent experience listed first.	Brief and well-structured. Focuses on skills, not history. De-emphasizes a spotty work history.	Blends the flexibility and strength of the other two types of resumes.
Advantage	Easy to write. Emphasizes steady employment record. Employers like to see job titles, level of responsibility, and dates of your work history.	Allows you to highlight specific strengths and transferable skills that are important to employers that might not be obvious when outlined in purely chronological order.	Shows off a strong employment record with upward mobility. Show how the skills you have used in the past apply to the job you are seeking.
Disadvantage	Calls attention to employment gaps. Skills can be difficult to spot unless they are listed in the most recent job.	No detailed work history. Content may appear to lack depth. Employers dislike it if you omit names of former employers and do not link your accomplishments and skills to your chronological work or education history.	Work history is often on the second page, and employer may not read that far.
Best used	To emphasize past career growth and development in the same career. Or when the name of a former employer may be significant to prospective employer.	To emphasize transferable skills you have used in the past in volunteer work, paid work, or coursework. Use this or a combination resume if you are a new graduate, your work experience is limited, or you do not want to call attention to your age.	To emphasize skills developed throughout your work history instead of the positions held. Use when you are making a career change and names of former employers may not be obvious to prospective employer.
Don't use if	There are gaps in your work history, when calling attention to your age could be a problem, you have changed jobs frequently, or you are entering the job market for first time or after a long absence.	You want to emphasize growth or development.	Your experience is limited, or there are wide gaps in your work history.
Resume samples	Work-to-Work (441KB, .pdf): for switching jobs School-to-Work (413KB, .pdf): recent graduate Blank Worksheet (316KB, .pdf): develop your resume	Work-to-Work (431KB, .pdf): for switching jobs No Paid Work Experience (422KB, .pdf) Blank Worksheet (335KB, .pdf): develop your resume	No Paid Work Experience (422KB, .pdf) Work-to-Work Job Seeker (405KB, .pdf) Blank Worksheet (376KB, .pdf): develop your resume