Choosing the Right Resume Style for Your Resume Needs

Updated June 18, 20221.7k

The resume style you use will have a big impact on how a hiring manager reads your resume. Here’s how to choose the right style for your resume?

Resume Styles

Resume styles, also known as resume formats, are an important part of creating your resume. A resume style will have ramifications beyond your resume. You may see its impact on your cover letter and any other document that you send in with your job application. This is why it’s so important to settle on a resume style that works for you. Here’s what you need to know about writing a professional resume with the right type of resume style.

What Are Resume Styles?

First of all, what is a resume style, exactly? A resume style has to do with the structure of your resume you use as well as how you flesh out each section. Recruiters use these resume styles to help them read through your resume more effectively, and you can use resume formats to emphasize or de-emphasize different elements of the resume.

Understanding the Three Resume Styles

What are the three most common resume styles? Typically, if you’re writing a resume, you’ll stick to one of these styles.

1. Chronological

The chronological resume format is the most common. Its name comes from the fact that your work experience is emphasized, in reverse-chronological order. This type of resume format showcases your work history as a main reason why you’re qualified for a specific job. For most people, this format is a great option, because most people’s work history relates to the career path they’re pursuing.

2. Functional

The functional resume format emphasizes your skillset over your work history. This format focuses on your skills and education. This is good for people who are first-time job seekers or going through a career change, as their work history may not relate to the job they’re looking for.

3. Combination/Hybrid

The final type of resume is the combination resume format, sometimes also called the hybrid resume format. This resume template tries to emphasize your professional skills while often not de-emphasizing your resume history, attempting to find a middle ground between emphasizing your skills and your work history.

Tips for Finding Your Resume Style

How can you find a resume writing style that works well for your particular resume? Many considerations go into deciding what resume style will be best for your needs. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Work experience

First of all, consider how much work experience you have. Higher-level candidates that may have years of experience will be more likely to use the chronological resume format than entry-level candidates. If your job search mostly relies on your work experience, you’re going to want to emphasize that experience as much as possible.
Recent jobs

Looking at your recent job titles can be important. Job seekers with job titles that make sense for the job they’re going into should look into chronological formats when applying for a new job. However, if your recent jobs have mostly been unrelated to the job you’re applying to, it could be best to try and reduce your emphasis on these elements.
Relevant skills and qualifications

You should also look at your relevant skills and how they impact your resume. Your skills section should include both soft skills and hard skills, but if you’re mostly relying on those skills, you must showcase them as much as possible. That could mean using a functional or combination style.

FAQ: Resume Styles

Is it important to choose a specific resume style?

Yes. Even if you don’t actively choose a resume style, you’re going to end up with a resume style anyway. If you don’t choose one, you’re more likely to end up with a format that doesn’t emphasize the best aspects of your career background and skills. Actively selecting a resume format makes it easier for you to craft the perfect resume for your needs.

Which resume style is best?

There’s not just a single best resume format that you would want to rely on no matter what. The choice of resume format will depend on resume elements like your work history, your skills section, what the job is asking for, and how many years of experience you have. That means it’s up to you to find a creative resume that still covers all the elements that lead to a great resume. The resume style that works for your own resume will be the best resume format for your needs.

Do my resume and cover letter need to match?

Ensuring that your resume and cover letter match can help you appeal to a recruiter because it makes your resume and cover letter both look more professional. Using the ResumeNerd cover letter builder and resume builder can help you create a cover letter and resume that look professional and show a hiring manager that you’ve invested in your career progression. A professional resume and cover letter are important in any part of your career, whether you’re looking for an entry-level job or one that requires years of experience.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.