Whether you are a recent graduate or you are going through a career change, a traditional, chronological resume is not always the best choice. The best resume format for any job application can depend on several factors. From transferable skills to professional experience, trying to fit everything of note on a resume can be tough. This article will explain what a hybrid resume is, when it is most appropriate to use it, and how you can tailor it to land you a brand new job.
A combination, or hybrid resume, is a resume format that blends the key features of the traditional chronological resume and a competency-based, functional resume format. This means that a hybrid resume format provides a broad view of a job seeker's capabilities. The benefits of using this resume format are:
As such, this format is great for people who have gaps in their work history, those who have a few years of experience, and career changers. This format is also more likely to rank well in applicant tracking systems (ATS) than a functional resume because it allows you to list more job titles. The main downsides to using the hybrid resume format are:
Because this format treats work experience and skills as equally important, these two sections take up most of the space on the page. This means that those who have a lot of relevant experience and those who might want to add sections for professional certifications, internships, etc., may find other formats more useful. If you want help deciding whether the hybrid format is right for you, you can consider relevant hybrid resume examples online.
When you start writing your hybrid resume, there are several crucial sections that you should include. You can of course choose to include additional sections for information about certifications, internships, or other relevant undertakings, but it is important to note that there is less space for these extras in a hybrid format. The core sections of a combination resume are:
While this structure will help you to create a solid, generic resume, the best type of resume is a tailored one. If you want your job search to be successful, follow these resume writing tips to personalize each application:
Everything you need to know about a potential employer's values and priorities can be found in the job description. Make a note of the skills and experiences that they mark as essential.
In your resume summary, focus on your top skills, whether they are hard or soft skills. But don’t be afraid to provide additional skills in your skills section.
Try to show how recent jobs and previous positions in your employment history have helped you to develop relevant skills. When you provide information about achievements, try to feature experiences that bring value to a potential employer.
If you have a LinkedIn profile or similar, linking to it from your header can offer additional information to an interested recruiter.
Action verbs will jump from the page and demand attention from the hiring manager, so opt for phrases like “Developed” rather than “Was responsible for.”
Just as you can learn from a hybrid resume example, a great resume template can ensure that you are in line with all formatting requirements. Small details like these have a huge impact in the long run. Use the ResumeNerd resume builder to get access to free combination resume templates.
If you want to ensure your job application is as good as it can be, match your resume and cover letter templates. ResumeNerd also has a cover letter builder that can help you to stand out and impress recruiters!
A hybrid resume format is best for job seekers that have gaps in their work history or a limited amount of work experience. Because this format balances skills and experience, it can help to mitigate these flaws while still being preferable to the functional resume format that many hiring managers dislike.
Hybrid and combination resumes are the same. These are just two different names for the same basic resume format.
A hybrid resume should be 1-2 pages in length. In certain cases where job seekers have a huge amount of work experience, it may be appropriate to add a second page to a resume. But in these cases, a chronological resume format may be more appropriate.
