Using the Right Resume Format for Job Applications

by Dice Staff Jan 22, 2024 4 min read

You know you need a resume. But what’s the ideal resume format? If you get “creative” with that format, will it help you stand out in a crowded job market? And what’s the deal with applicant tracking systems (ATS)?

Never fear: we’re going to touch on all those questions. In simplest terms, you have your choice of resume formats, and you can utilize them as necessary to emphasize different strengths, career paths, and so on. Always keep in mind that, no matter what format you choose, customizing your resume to fit the requirements of a particular job is critical.

Reverse-Chronological Format

This is the “classic” format, showing your work experience in chronological order from your most recent job to your first (or one a few years ago, if you job-hop and/or have enjoyed a long career). Each job entry features detailed descriptions of responsibilities, quantifiable results, and impactful projects. Here’s the layout for it:

Header (with your contact info, such as email)
Professional summary (although many tech pros treat this as optional)
Experience
Education
Skills and certifications

Certain elements (such as education and experience) can be moved around the resume as you see fit; but devote as much space as possible to your experience.

Pros:

Familiar to most hiring managers and ATS.
Easy to track skill development and career trajectory.
Perfect for showcasing extensive job experience.

Cons:

Less impactful for career changers or individuals with gaps in employment.
May not emphasize transferable skills or key achievements across different roles.

Functional Format

For those who’ve jumped jobs frequently, have bounced between contracting and full-time work, or who just want to show that you’re a specialist, this type of resume can work perfectly. In simplest terms, it prioritizes your skillset and achievements over work history, with an emphasis on skills and projects. Here’s the layout for it:

Header (with your contact info, such as email)
Professional summary (although many tech pros treat this as optional)
Skills (with bullet-points beneath each skill breaking down relevant projects and experience)
Experience (keep it shorter)
Education

As with the reverse-chronological format, you can play around with the order of the education section (some prefer to put it at the top).

Pros:

Ideal for showcasing valuable skills regardless of job titles.
Great for highlighting relevant achievements from diverse experiences.
Perfect for career changers or individuals with gaps in employment.

Cons:

Some hiring managers are used to reverse-chronological format and may not appreciate your attempt to highlight your skills.
You may have some issues with ATS compatibility.

Combination Format

This format blends the strengths of chronological and functional formats. It starts with a summary highlighting your skills and achievements, followed by an experience section (in reverse chronological order is probably ideal). Each job entry in that experience section will highlight your projects and impacts on your previous companies. Here’s the layout for it:

Header (with your contact info, such as email)
Professional summary (although many tech pros treat this as optional)
Skills (with bullet-points beneath each skill breaking down relevant projects and experience)
Experience (this section should be more robust than what you’d utilize for the functional resume, where you should devote more space to the skills section)
Education

The trick with this resume is to keep things as streamlined as possible; when you have larger experience and skills sections, you have a higher likelihood of inserting redundant details, etc.

Pros:

Provides a comprehensive overview of both skills and experience.
Appealing to a wider range of hiring managers and ATS systems.
Ideal for showcasing transferable skills within a work history context, especially if you’re a student or new to the tech job market.

Cons:

Requires careful balance to avoid redundancy and excessive length.

Bonus Tips

Writing a resume? Here are some additional tips:

Tailor your resume to the specific job: If you want a better chance at landing the job, examine the original job posting and note all the required skills; make sure to list the skills you’ve mastered on your resume. Many companies have ATS setups designed to scan for these keywords/skills, and you’ll have a better chance of passing them if you list as many as possible.

Always show your impact: The experience section of your resume should always show how your efforts impacted your previous employers’ results and strategy; it’s best if you can provide some numbers that quantify that impact.