blank functional resume template

Functional Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

• Resume Examples

How To Write a Functional Resume

• Resume Text Examples

A functional resume prioritizes skills, training, and education instead of work experience. The logic behind this approach is that job seekers who lack hands-on industry experience can instead draw attention to relevant skill sets and qualifications. While you might initially want to discard work experience that is largely unrelated to the career you’re targeting, you also eliminate the opportunity to highlight transferable skill sets from your previous jobs.

The reverse chronological resume format is widely accepted as the industry standard because it enables you to create compelling bullet points that effectively showcase your professional journey. This format also ensures that your most recent and relevant experience is featured at the top of your document, which is important for hiring managers. Throughout this guide, we’ll compare and contrast functional resumes and reverse chronological resumes to help you make an informed decision as you begin building your document.

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

1. Craft an outstanding profile with a summary of your functional qualifications

On a functional resume, your professional profile should only focus on relevant skills. While concision has benefits, the drawback is that you won’t make a lasting impression on the hiring manager. This approach tends to read very generically, which won’t help you stand out during the hiring process. In addition, it’s possible to showcase your skills and qualifications while providing a compelling snapshot of your career experience. Notice how the first example lists a number of relevant skills but fails to tell the job seeker’s story.

Functional Resume Profile Example

Skilled nursing professional with advanced knowledge of acute care, clinical workflows, pediatric care, and team collaboration. Developed a strong understanding of infection prevention protocols, EHR, and HIPAA.

Reverse Chronological Profile Example

A nursing professional with seven years of experience delivering high-quality healthcare services in acute care environments. A proven track record of delivering empathetic and compassionate treatment to diverse patient populations.

2. Showcase your functional experience

Due to the nature of the functional resume format, it isn’t easy to showcase your career achievements in the professional experience section. The emphasis is instead placed entirely on your skills. Although this approach might seem usable for a recent graduate, there are drawbacks even in this situation. For instance, showcasing academic projects and volunteerism in detail is often a stronger way to grab the hiring manager’s attention. Even a job in retail that doesn’t match your current goals can be leveraged to showcase your communication and team leadership skills.

Functional Resume Professional Experience Example

Digital Marketing Manager, Radiant Software Corp., San Francisco, CA October 2016 – Present

• Utilize advanced knowledge of marketing strategy, email campaigns, SEO marketing, and A/B testing to support campaigns
• Strong understanding of digital marketing and advertising strategies
• Experience working in paid search, display, and programmatic marketing channels

Reverse Chronological Professional Experience Example

• Lead digital marketing campaigns across paid search, display, and programmatic marketing channels for a software company, resulting in a 20% increase in lead conversions and $2M in pipeline revenue
• Coordinate with the Director of Marketing to define digital advertising strategy for new products and services and enhance market penetration
• Improve web traffic by 400% over a two-year span and achieve open rates of 13% and click rates of 3.1% for email blasts

3. Outline your education and functional-related certifications

Formatting for education and certifications is primarily the same for both functional resumes and reverse chronological resumes. The key difference is that you’d likely place these sections above your work experience on a functional resume. While you can make a case for this approach in certain instances, it’s generally recommended to showcase your career accomplishments closer to the top of your document.

Certifications

• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
• Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI, 2015
• Certified Associate Project Manager, PMI, 2013
• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Digital Marketing
• UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, CA September 2007 – May 2011

4. Outline your most useful functional skills and proficiencies

Listing skills and keywords that align with the job description are important regardless of the resume format you select. The key difference is that a functional resume will always feature this section below the professional profile. There are certain instances where this makes sense, especially if you’re applying for a technology role. Hiring managers will always be more interested in how you’ve utilized these various skill sets throughout your career. Below, you’ll find a broad list of industry skills that you might encounter during the job search:

How to Pick the Best Functional Resume Template

In most cases, it’s best to choose a well-organized resume template that uses minimal color and graphics. This ensures that the hiring manager’s attention is focused on your career accomplishments and qualifications. Because the functional resume is only focused on highlighting skills, you can use a modern template that is more aesthetically focused. Remember that it’s your content, not your template, that ultimately determines whether or not you receive the job interview.

Functional Resume Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Now that you understand the differences between functional resumes and reverse chronological resumes, we’ll provide three examples to illustrate the end result of each approach. You’ll notice that the functional resume example does feature a variety of important skill sets, but the bullet points themselves don’t read proactively. In the two reverse chronological examples, the job seeker is able to paint a clear and compelling picture of your strongest career achievements.

• Functional Resume Example #1
• Functional Resume Example #2
• Functional Resume Example #3

Jessica Lang (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY 12345

Skilled Nursing Professional with advanced knowledge of acute care, clinical workflows, pediatric care, and team collaboration. Developed a strong understanding of infection prevention protocols, EHR, and HIPAA.

• Patient-Centered Care
• Communication
• Clinical Operations
• Medication Administration

Professional Experience

Licensed Vocational Nurse, St. Joseph’s Assisted Living, New York, NY November 2018 – Present

• Developed knowledge of acute care, patient education, and clinical operations while working in a fast-paced healthcare environment
• Acquired strong team collaboration and communication skills by working with patients and teams
• Advanced understanding of EHR, HIPAA, and patient intake protocols

Licensed Vocational Nurse, Fair Acres Retirement Community, New York, NY June 2016 – November 2018

• Obtained a strong knowledge of cardiac care and orthopedic care while working in a senior living facility
• Cultivated advanced understanding of patient-centered care standards
• Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), State of New York, License #123456

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Nursing Columbia University, New York, NY September 2012 – June 2016

A Nursing Professional with seven years of experience delivering high-quality healthcare services in acute care environments. A proven track record of delivering empathetic and compassionate treatment to diverse patient populations.

• Coordinate with a team of 25+ doctors, nurses, and other health care and social work professionals to ensure a high quality of life for 75 residents
• Interface with residents to ensure compliance with medication, provide enrichment activities such as film, workshops, and events, and communicate with empathy and compassion to achieve a patient satisfaction rating of 91%
• Collect samples, prepare residents for treatments, educate patients on care plans
• Collaborated with medical teams and LPNs to treat patients undergoing cardiac care and rehabilitation and provide education on patient care
• Administered medications, IV therapy, and other treatments for patients in the cardiac emergency room, including surgical preparations

Selena Ramirez (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Santa Maria, San Francisco, CA 12345

A Digital Marketing Manager with eight years of experience specializing in marketing strategy, email campaigns, SEO marketing, and A/B testing. A proven track record of building and leading dynamic marketing teams to execute digital campaigns for multi-million-dollar businesses.

Digital Marketing Manager, Bay Area Marketing Inc., San Francisco, CA May 2011 – October 2016

• Partnered with product marketing teams and the marketing director to establish a brand identity centered on integrity and transparency
• Collaborated with the data analytics team to build dashboards incorporating data from the CRM, Google, and social media accounts to enhance reporting

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Digital Marketing University of San Francisco, CA September 2007 – May 2011

• Brand Marketing
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Lead Generation
• Digital Marketing Campaigns
• Social Media Marketing

Frequently Asked Questions: Functional Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for functional resumes -.

Action verbs are used in a limited capacity on functional resumes due to the lack of detail in the professional experience section. In most cases, you’d want to use verbs to open bullet points that describe different skill sets you’ve developed in your work experience. Below, you’ll find a list of action verbs you can use to accomplish this:

How do you align your resume with a job description? -

Aligning your document with the job description is essential to the resume-building process. As you review various job postings, you’ll want to incorporate as many keywords and skill sets as possible that match the role you’re applying for. One benefit of a functional resume format is that it does place relevant qualifications at the forefront of your document. The downside is that while this will ensure you pass the initial ATS scan , it doesn’t show hiring managers how you’ve used your industry knowledge to create value for your team and organization.

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If you choose a functional resume format, you should almost always include a cover letter to supplement your application. Because your document will lack a substantial description of your work history, you’ll need to use this opportunity to fill in the gaps for the hiring manager. You should also make a point to mention something about the organization and why its culture or reputation draws you to apply for the position.

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

Check Out Related Examples

Basic Resume Examples and Templates

Professional Resume Examples and Templates

Traditional Resume Examples and Templates

Build a Resume to Enhance Your Career

• Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: List of Best Examples for the Workplace Learn More
• How to Build a Resume Learn More
• How to Describe Your Current Job Responsibilities Learn More

Essential Guides for Your Job Search

• How to Write a Resume Learn More
• How to Write a Cover Letter Learn More
• Thank You Note Examples Learn More
• Resignation Letter Examples Learn More

Resume templates

Put your best qualities on display with professional, customizable resume and cv templates. no matter your line of work or length of professional history, you'll find resume and cv templates that'll help you get the gig..

Download free resume templates

Land your dream job with free, customizable resume templates. Showcase your potential to recruiters and stand out from other candidates with a professional template. Whether you're applying to corporate positions or creative roles, go with a sleek design or show your creativity with bold colors .

Resumes don't need to look boring—add flair to your professional experience with a creative resume template. There are plenty of resume designs to choose from, like simple resume templates and modern resume templates. Each resume template is fully customizable in Microsoft Word , so you can personalize each design element and add your own text. Using a template also makes it easier to customize your resume for each position you apply to.

Print out as many copies as you'd like or download the template for free to share digitally when applying online. These professional resume templates are perfect for any stage of life or career. Whether you're a high school student, actor, or seeking a career in nursing, you can find any format for any job type.

There are also a variety of free CV (Curriculum Vitae) templates to choose from. A CV is often longer than a resume and contains an in-depth look at your education and professional accomplishments. Like our resume templates, these CV templates are also customizable in Word.

Remember, your next job is only a template away! Once you've customized your resume, explore free cover letter templates to help you land the job.

Functional Resume Templates

With our functional resume template, you’ll be on your way to interviewing in no time. To get started, just click on a template below and start importing your existing content.

Single Column

Skill-based resume template. Resume is focused on your abilities gained at different companies, rather than career Timeline.

Career-change resume template. If you're switching career fields, pick this template.

Job-hopper resume template. Keep your skills updated when switching jobs.

Competency-based resume template. A functional design that highlights your skills and competencies, making it suitable for professionals with transferable skills and experience in a variety of industries. Ideal for entry- to senior-level professionals.

Double Column

Career summary resume template. A functional resume that highlights your career summary and accomplishments, making it easy for employers to understand your strengths and experience. Great fit for mid-level professionals.

Expertise-focused resume template. A functional resume that focuses on your areas of expertise and the value you can bring to an organization, making it a perfect fit for entry- to mid-level professionals.

In This Guide:

What is a functional resume template, when to use a functional resume template, functional resume templates pros and cons.

A functional resume template is a fantastic option for anyone who’s starting their career or switching to a different field. The focus is on your professional skills rather than your work history.

Functional resume templates are a format that groups your experience under skill categories instead of job titles to emphasize transferable skills by listing examples of your abilities from both work and personal experiences.

Functional resumes are perfect for highlighting your experience and are easy to write with our already-made template structure .

With their specific structure, functional resumes put your skills and achievements front and center and before the work experience. After your contact information, you go straight into your most relevant abilities and accomplishments, and then you can give brief details about your job history.

That’s why this format is preferable to people with employment gaps , military experience, or entry-level.

Functional Resumes are also perfect for jobseekers who are switching industries or want to take a new direction in their career path. The main purpose of this resume template is to put to light your skillset, especially if you apply to a different industry. In this case, emphasizing your transferable skills can help you land a new job.

Unfortunately, a functional resume, as attractive as it can be to some jobseekers, can cause suspicion in recruiters, because of the presented information, which can be taken out of context. That’s why some recruiters prefer a combination of functional and reverse-chronological resumes.

But still, there are so many good reasons to use this formatting if you do it right. Check our guide on how to write a resume .

Tips for building the best functional resume

A functional resume or skill-based structure can be used with the modern design template or the classical one. It will depend only on your personality, experience, and the type of business industry you are applying to. Let’s begin to create the best functional resume, so you can get the job of your dreams:

Take the best from both worlds. You can use some features from the modern design and the traditional one. Keep your resume clean of unnecessary graphics. Use icons only to pop up your skills and achievement sections. Each section on your resume is arranged in blocks to emphasize the important information - your accomplishments and abilities. You can be inspired by some of the best resume designs .

Your resume should be easily readable. That’s why you should choose your font carefully . The best fonts are those that have enough white space to read well on both screens and print, it will make your resume easier to scan/read. Enhancv’s functional resume template uses Lato for all headings, subheadings, and body text. And while the body of the text is consistent throughout, the resume headings are large enough to catch the readers' eye.

Using black, white, and a third color like blue or green is a safe resume color scheme . That’s why we are using a splash of blue to help draw attention without being distracting. The general rule is to make one color dominant, one secondary, and the third to place emphasis. Use white for the background, black for the text, and the third color to highlight important parts like heaters for the different sections.

Select the best layout

A functional resume follows a skill-based structure to emphasize your strengths and achievements, which are one of the first things to list. The resume features several sections: heading, summary, strengths, achievements, experience, and education.

Of course, you start your resume from the header , where you can list your name and contact information. Your name is the biggest thing on the resume to ensure you stand out. It’s always better to add something more about yourself, as a link to your profile in professional networks or if you have a portfolio website that is appropriate to share. Headshot’s not a must to include, but if the recruiters specifically mention it in the job application, you should add it at the header near your name and contact information.

The summary in the functional resume looks a little bit different. The focus here is to highlight your skills and achievements, allowing you to describe your qualifications with more detail using strong action verbs. If you have gaps in your employment history or other problems, here is the place to explain them. Use the summary to illustrate to the recruiters why you're qualified for the position.

The next step is to the key sections on your functional resume. Strengths and achievements are featured first to show recruiters what sets you apart from other candidates. In the first section, list and give examples of your transferable skills like time management, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, organization, leadership, and so on. Emphasize these strengths, giving examples of what you accomplished by applying this skillset to your previous jobs, personal situations, or academic life in the achievement section.

A functional resume is focused on your experience and skills, in the education section you can list the basic facts regarding your degree, including institution name, location, degree, and major. If you don’t have any previous work experience, you should spend more time in the education section by providing more details on your courses if relevant to the job you are applying for. You can check our guide for resumes without work experience .

Another section that you can add to your functional resume is information about your certifications . Especially in the cases in which you decided to career change and took professional retraining courses to enable you to do the job you are applying for. It’s essential to mention this certification on top of your resume in the summary section, or you risk the recruiter just skipping over your resume and missing this information.

Additional sections and information that you can add if applicable to your resume can be - special awards or commendations; testimonials from clients; volunteer work; projects; publications, or special courses. You can list them by importance and significance in separate sections. Name each of your sections, then add a short description below

Number of pages

Keep your resume between one or two full pages . Your application’s length should be determined by the position you’re applying for and the amount of relevant experience you have. If you are an entry-level candidate or a fresh graduate, you can fill up one page effortlessly. It’s your choice how to arrange all the sections - in one or two columns. Functional resumes are very flexible and can give you a lot of freedom to creatively shape your resume on one or two pages.

• A functional resume is the right choice for candidates with non-traditional work experience or no work experience entirely.
• A functional resume emphasizes your skills and accomplishments. It is an effective way to tell your career story if you have a lot of experience and want your goal is to showcase your accomplishments.
• It is easy to adjust the content to a specific role you’re hoping to land without thinking much about job titles that aren’t relevant to the job application, employment gaps, or lack of experience in the field
• More experienced recruiters don’t like this type of resume formatting because your skills and achievements are laid out without context.
• Some recruiters will skip to the part of your work experience and education and entirely miss evening else.
• Functional resumes aren’t very common, which can lead to confusion, and the recruiter might have a hard time scanning and understanding this alternative formatting

Frequently asked questions about functional resume templates

Do employers like functional resumes, how do i write a functional resume with no experience, are functional resumes still used.

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10 Blank Resume Templates You Can Use Today [Download]

If you want to make a great first impression on recruiters, you need to have a killer resume.

Applying for jobs with a well-structured, visually-appealing resume can do wonders for your application, as it shows you are a detail-oriented candidate that’s willing to go the extra mile. 

Creating a great resume from scratch, however, can be particularly challenging, especially if you’re not a graphic design pro.

Fitting all the sections on one page and making them look good can quickly turn into a time-consuming, nerve-wracking task. 

Well, here is where blank resume templates come in!

With the right blank resume template, however, you can create a well-designed, easy-to-read resume within minutes (without having to deal with all that layout or design hassle). 

To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best blank resume templates out there. Simply create an account on novoresume.com, fill the template in, and start applying for jobs in no time! 

10 Blank Resume Templates You Can Use Today

Without further ado, here is a list of 10 blank resume templates: 

#1. Creative Blank Resume Template

Price: Free with Basic Features

Format: Online Editor

This template is defined by its prominent colors and creative use of space. The vivid orange and blue will definitely make you stand out from the competition and get recruiters to notice all the professional achievements listed there. 

Get the template here . 

#2. Modern Blank Resume Template

Standing out from the crowd can be challenging, but this modern resume template will help you do just that. Not to mention, it prioritizes your skills over your work experience, which is perfect for all those who are looking to “cover” some employment gaps on their resume . 

Get the template here .

#3. Basic Blank Resume Template 

This basic yet attractive basic resume template can be filled out and personalized in under ten minutes, making it a perfect choice for professionals from all industries and fields. You can list your skills , work experience, education, and all these extra sections, like your foreign language proficiency and the organizations you belong to, all in the optimal one-page resume length. 

#4. Executive Blank Resume Template

Format : Online Editor

This executive resume template takes a contemporary approach and eye-catching design to ensure that your resume gets noticed first! There are no limits to what resume sections you can add to show off your executive skills and experiences, as customizing it is literally a piece of cake. 

Not to mention, using yellow and grey is guaranteed to show off your creative side on top of your executive abilities (you can choose from over 20+ color combinations, from conservative to more creative combinations). 

#5. Simple Blank Resume Template

This simple resume template is the minimalistic upgrade of the traditional resume, and it’s perfect for more conservative industries that are looking to stick to what they already know works. 

Following the highly popular reverse chronological resume format, it lets you list your contact information , skills, and comprehensive work history right off the bat, showing exactly what makes you the ideal candidate for the job. And, if some of the sections appearing on our free resume builder don’t match your profile, you can easily replace them with other optional resume sections! 

#6. Functional Blank Resume Template

This functional resume template lets your highlight your skills and work experience with its eye-catching design and colors, as well as lets you add a variety of other important job-hunting sections like your languages, honors, and awards. 

And, to add a bit of a personal touch, you can include a professional picture on your resume to add a face behind your application (this is an optional feature and differs from country to country)! 

#7. Professional Blank Resume Template 

This professional resume template was created by recruiters and has helped a number of candidates on their job hunt ! 

It pays special attention to your resume summary , which is your chance to make a lasting impression on recruiters laying eyes on your resume. Additionally, you can quantify your skills and language knowledge, as well as list any organizations you’re a member of and your awards and honors. 

Try out the template here .

#8. Minimalist Blank Resume Template  

Price : Template part of the Premium Account

Minimalism is all the fuss right now. It’s simple, neat, and easy to follow, which means you can’t really go wrong if you choose to use this minimalist resume template. 

A thin blue line divides your resume sections into two columns - the column on the right contains all the essential information, including your contact details, work experience, and education , whereas the column on the right can be personalized to include optional sections such as your language skills, interests, etc. 

#9. Traditional Blank Resume Template 

Price: Template part of the Premium Account

Don’t let the name trick you; although traditional, this blank resume template is perfect for professionals in all fields, as it lets you equally emphasize all the sections in your resume, starting from your work experience and skills all the way to your achievements, interests, and languages. 

And if you’re worried about being too traditional, you can rest assured the design and color use still give this template a fresh look. 

#10. Tech Blank Resume Template

Use this well-designed and perfectly structured resume template to apply for jobs in the tech industry and get picked over other candidates. 

You can skip your education altogether and focus on more important achievements in the field, including your personal projects, certificates, technical skills, and work experience. This resume template has ample white space and distinctive headers that make it easy for recruiters to read. 

6 Benefits of Using a Resume Template

Are you still not convinced whether you should use a blank resume template to make your resume in 2024? 

Here are the top benefits of using a resume template that’ll convince you to pick one asap:

• It can save you time and effort. Instead of spending hours tinkering with the page margins, fonts, and text size, you can concentrate your efforts on simply filling in the sections in the best way possible.
• Fits the needs of professionals in every field. Want to stand out from professionals in your field? You can use a dedicated blank resume template for that field specifically! In our list, we included templates for executives, ITs, creatives, students, and more.
• It can be easily modified. Instead of having to create a new template every now and again, blank resume templates let you modify them every time something changes in your career or acquire a new skill without any hassle.
• It can accelerate your job hunt. The faster you can create a spotless resume, the faster you can start applying for jobs, which is exactly what blank resume templates can help you with.
• It doesn’t require any experience. For 90% of blank resume templates, all you need to do is download them and fill in the contents, which means you don’t need any experience to create one.
• It can help you make a great first impression. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds looking at resumes . This means that first impressions matter more than you may think. As such, a well-designed resume can do wonders and get recruiters to pay closer attention to your application.

Want to take your job application to the next level? Then go the extra mile and present a great package by using a cover letter template to match your resume! 

How to Use Blank Resume Templates

To use any of the blank resume templates listed above, take the following steps: 

• Create a (free) Novoresume account. 
• Hover over your chosen blank resume template and click the ‘Create My Resume’ button. 
• Use the online editor to fill in the contents of your resume and modify them according to your personal work history and qualifications. 
• Change specific elements of your resume, such as the font, theme (including the color and background), and layout by clicking on the bar that appears on the top of the online editor.

Sending Your Resume by Email

There are a few things that you need to consider before mailing your resume to a potential employer , the most important of which being:

• Use an appropriate email subject line (position title + your name). For example, “Content Writer Job Application | John Doe.” 
• Add a couple of sentences regarding your application, such as why you’re excited to be applying for that particular position and what you can bring to the company. 
• Add your contact details in the email body (e.g. your full name and job title in the signature). 
• Attach your resume as a PDF file to make sure that the layout stays intact no matter what operating system the recruiter is using. 
• Include a cover letter along with your resume - after all, the majority of recruiters expect to receive one , even if they don’t read it. 

Mailing Your Resume

If you’re sending your resume by traditional mail (some employers might specifically ask that you send it both via email and traditional mail), here is what you should keep in mind:

• Use high-quality paper to print out your resume and cover letter. On top of showing you’re a serious candidate, a resume printed on high-quality paper can also make a more lasting impression. 
• Put both your resume and cover letter inside an envelope. If the job opening or employer asks for additional documents, don’t forget to print those out and include them in the envelope too. 
• Write your contact details on the envelope, including your full name, professional title, and address. Don’t forget to write something to let recruiters know it’s a job application, such as “please find attached my application for the position of content writer.” 

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap! 

Before you start filling out the resume template of your choice, here are the main points we covered in this article:

• Using a resume template can help you save time and effort, accelerate your job hunt, and make a great first impression on recruiters. 
• Some of the benefits of blank resume templates include that they don’t require any experience and can be easily modified every time you get new qualifications. 
• If you’re sending your job application by email, make sure to add a proper email subject line, include a cover letter, and attach your resume as a PDF file. 
• If you’re sending your job application by traditional mail, then consider using high-quality paper and make sure to write that you’re applying for a job on the envelope. 

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Functional Resume Templates

Functional resume templates and CVs are the right choices for highlighting your soft and hard technical skills over your work experience.

Browse templates by resume style

Mix & match unlimited theme, font and color combination..

Use our suggestions to complete your resume 5x faster.

Get a head start with one of our resume examples.

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Functional Resume: Formatting, Examples, and Templates

A functional resume is an efficient way to balance your work history with your skills on your resume - find out how to create yours!

If your career journey has taken some unusual turns, a traditional chronological resume may not be right for you. It might expose some career gaps that may jeopardize your resume’s chances of success, or it might not leave you with enough room to cover the wide range of skills you’ve acquired across multiple roles. If any of this applies to you, you may be wondering how best to present yourself as a candidate.

That’s where the functional resume comes in! It’s an efficient way to balance your work history with your skills on your resume, without relying on a chronological list of what you’ve done in the past. If you’re making a career change, or if you’re looking for a way to obscure a career break, this format could be perfect for you.

To help you out, we’ve written this guide to the functional resume format. On this page, we’ll cover the following points:

• What a functional resume actually is
• Why you might opt for a functional resume
• How to write a functional resume
• Which templates work best for a functional resume
• An example of a great functional resume

What is a Functional Resume?

A functional resume is a resume format that prioritizes your skills over a chronological outline of your work experience. It’s designed to call attention to your transferable skills, instead of focusing on a laundry list of roles that may not be relevant to the job you want. You might also have heard it described as a skills-based resume.

A good functional resume will tie your relevant skills to a non-chronological list of the roles where you’ve used them. This ensures that both your skills and your work history remain visible—just in a slightly unusual format. It shouldn’t hide any relevant information! Instead, it should arrange the information in a way that shows you at your best.

This resume format can be contentious among hiring managers, because it can be harder to skim-read than other formats. As such, it’s a good idea to opt for a standard reverse-chronological resume format if you can. But if you have a strong, compelling reason to choose a functional resume, it might just be worth the risk for you.

Why Might You Choose to Create a Functional Resume?

There are two main reasons why you might choose to create a functional resume. The first is that you have one or more career gaps that might ring alarm bells for a hiring manager on a reverse-chronological resume. The second is that you’re making a career move—or have made one in the past—which has left you with a lot of work experience that may not be relevant to the jobs you’re applying for now.

You could also consider a functional resume if you have a history of freelance work, which has allowed you to build up a lot of skills without also building up a coherent or consistent work history. These conditions often apply to creative workers, whose portfolio of past work is usually more important than their actual work experience.

Candidates who are overqualified for the job they want may also benefit from a functional resume, which focuses more on skills than educational background or comprehensive work history. This can help these candidates to brush over highly-specialized positions that may raise red flags for hiring managers, focusing instead on the skills relevant to the position they want.

It’s worth keeping in mind that a functional resume is a highly specialized resume format, and it will only work for a very limited number of job searchers. Most people will get more out of a reverse-chronological resume format than a functional resume format. In particular, you should avoid the functional resume format if you have no work experience at all!

But if you have an unusual work history or a compelling reason to focus on your skills over the specifics of your experience, a functional resume will give you the tools you need to make a successful application. As long as you approach it carefully, it’s a great resource for job searchers with a less conventional background.

How to Write a Functional Resume

If you’re going to write a functional resume, you need to know how to do it right! A standard functional resume will contain all of the following sections, usually in this order:

• Your name, job title and contact information
• Your resume summary, focusing on your skills and achievements
• A skills section, which will be the longest and most substantial section of your resume
• A work experience section, which can be omitted
• An education section, featuring your highest academic qualification and your most recent certifications or licenses

As a matter of course, your name, job title and contact information can form a header for your resume as a whole. It’s important to note, though, that you should omit a job title if you’re making a career change! Otherwise, it may confuse the hiring manager who reads your resume.

Your resume summary should focus on your biggest professional achievements and how they have required you to use your skills. Remember, this type of resume should be all about your skills, so make sure you refer to them here! If you’re making a career change, you can also incorporate an objective statement into your resume summary—this can help hiring managers to get a sense of where you hope your career will take you in the future.

The skills section is the centerpiece of a functional resume, so you need to make sure it shines! To start, look through the job description and identify the skills needed for the position—these will usually appear in a list. Then compare them to your own strongest skills. Wherever these lists of skills overlap, you have a skill that can be included in your skills section.

For each skill you list—and you should aim to list between 3 and 4 skills—include 3 or 4 bullet points. Each bullet point should contain evidence that you have used these skills in the past. We’ll give an example of this section later in the article, so you can see exactly what this looks like in practice!

If you decide to include a work history section, it doesn’t have to be long, and it doesn’t have to include bullet points as it would on a reverse-chronological resume. Select two to three items from your recent work history and list them from the most recent to the oldest—including your job title, your dates of employment, the company where you worked, and the location of the company. If your recent work experience involves a career break of over a year, you can list that as well, along with an indication of the reason for your time away from work.

Lastly, your education section shouldn’t differ much from the education section on a reverse-chronological resume. If you’re a recent graduate or a current student, you can list achievements like academic prizes and honors that you’ve earned while studying. Otherwise, list your highest qualification and any recent certificates you’ve earned—you don’t need to do more than that.

Functional Resume Template

At VisualCV, we pride ourselves on our versatile resume templates. Any of our templates will work with a functional resume format! But it’s worth keeping in mind that hiring managers may struggle to skim-read a functional resume—so ideally, you should choose a template that will make it as easy as possible for them to read.

That means choosing a template that’s fairly stripped-back, without too many distracting design flourishes. Here are some of our favorite templates that work well with a functional resume format.

This ATS-optimized template is one of the most simple, clean templates we offer—which makes it ideal for a functional resume. All you’ll need to do is switch the Work Experience section out for the Skills section, and the rest will be taken care of for you. And when you submit your application, this template will be readable enough to limit the risks of using a functional resume format at all.

This is another streamlined, uncomplicated template that makes a point of being easy to read. From the fonts to the color choices, it’s geared toward presenting you in the most elegant and professional way possible. And you can arrange the sections of this template in whatever order you need, so you can choose what to focus on and what to minimize on your resume.

If you’re looking for a template that makes subtle but stylish design choices, without being impossible to read, Monte is a great choice. The key is that its eye-catching fonts are still very readable, and the pops of understated color don’t distract from what you’re saying in the body of your resume. That makes it an ideal option for you to present your functional resume in an aesthetically satisfying way.

Functional Resume Example

Want a head start on your functional resume? Here’s a great example of a functional resume, to show you how it all comes together:

Gail Edwards Freelance Writer [email protected] | New York, NY

Summary Dedicated and self-motivated copywriter with a BA in Marketing from New York University. Experienced in writing, editing and researching for both print and digital media, with a strong track record of increasing clients’ visibility. Strong time management skills, with a history in project management. Enthusiastic about leveraging my skills and experience in a full-time career in advertising.

Skills Copywriting

• Produced groundbreaking and innovative digital copy for a range of major brands and clients, working to specific briefs
• Developed and enacted a framework for the successful production of print copy, in collaboration with graphic designers and artists and in close communication with clients
• Met and exceeded company KPIs every quarter while employed at Content Solutions Ltd

Copy Editing

• Edited all drafts of written copy before submitting work to clients, ensuring a high standard of quality across all work produced
• Supported junior colleagues by offering editorial assistance on an ad-hoc basis, helping Content Solutions Ltd to maintain its high standards of client satisfaction
• Performed meticulous and in-depth market research for each new client, ensuring that all new copy responded directly to the needs of each campaign
• Sought out relevant statistics to support all print and digital copy, positioning clients as trustworthy thought leaders in their fields

Work Experience Freelance Writer | Content Solutions Ltd, New York 2021-present

Career Break | Parental Leave 2019-2021

Administrative Assistant | New York University, New York 2015-2019

Education Bachelor of Arts in Marketing | New York University, New York 2012-2015

Copyright © 2024 Workstory Inc.

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Modern Resume Templates

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Simple and Basic Resume Templates

Uncluttered editable resume template with minimal styling. Choose a time-tested basic resume design to avoid any faux pas with employers or applicant screening software. 

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Clean and compelling resume design that sits well with applicant tracking software and hiring managers alike. Optimized fonts, clear formatting syntax, and optimal layout for readability.  

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Not sure which resume design works for your profession? Go with a professional resume template if you’re an experienced worker applying via email. Or download a basic resume template if the company uses an ATS — this way, your resume won’t get filtered out. 

Gunning up for a job in a creative industry or a hip startup? Try out one of the modern resume templates or a creative resume design to give your job application a unique, brandable flair. Resume templates with photos also work great! 

Or better yet, test-drive several free resume templates to see which one gets you the most positive responses! 

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• Select a design you fancy and download a free copy to your computer. 
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• Fill in the blanks using your personal details. Refer to relevant resume examples for ideas and tips. 
• Review and edit your resume. Include strong verbs and adjectives to add persuasion. 
• Save and name your document: Resume – First name and Surname. 
• Create a PDF resume version to send via email. PDFs help avoid formatting issues. 

How To Write A Resume

A resume template is the best cure for the blank page syndrome. You’re halfway done — all that’s left is to fill in the blanks in the resume template and hit save. 

Select The Right Resume Format 

The 3 most popular resume formats are chronological, functional, and combination resumes. 

• Chronological resume organizes the information like LinkedIn does – from the latest position to the first one, with education, interests, and additional info listed later. It’s the most popular resume format, preferred for recruiters. Go for it unless you’re entry-level or changing careers. 
• Functional resume keeps the focus on your skills and experience, rather than employment history. It’s the go-to choice for candidates with employment gaps and those without much hands-on work experience.
• Combination resume takes the best of both worlds and allows you to spice up your “dry” employment history with some juicy details about your skill set and achievements. Startups and edgier companies may prefer this. 

Create a Compelling Summary 

A resume summary is a two-sentence statement highlighting your key qualifications, skills, and value proposition for the role. It sits in the header area, right after your name and contact details. Think of it as a teaser to a movie — you should put your most marketable skills upfront to immediately capture the hiring manager’s attention and get them interested in reading the full copy. 

Add Work History 

List your employers in reverse chronological order. Each entry should include the employment date, job title, company name, key responsibilities, and achievements listed in bullet format . Include 3 to 5 bullet points for each position. Don’t get long-winded — your resume must fit into one page. 

Include Marketable Resume Skills 

With skills-based hiring on the rise, you must demonstrate specific competencies rather than just tenure and educational credentials. Showcase your best hard and soft skills in a featured sidebar section, plus your resume summary and work experience entries.

Check the following posts for ideas:

• Business acumen skills for resume
• Critical thinking skills for a resume 
• Conceptual skills for a resume
• Leadership skills for a resume 
• Organizational skills for a resume 
• Technical skills for a resume  
• Childcare skills for resume 
• Nursing skills for a resume 
• Transferable skills for a resume 
• Retail skills for a resume  

List Education 

Unless you are a recent graduate, don’t dwell on this section too much. Simply list all your degrees (highest to lowest), the name of your educational institution, and your graduation date. But if you’re still in college, you can also add your GPA , dean’s list , or research .  

Learn more from our ultimate guide to writing, styling, and formatting a resume . 

FAQs about Resume Templates 

Your popular Qs about our free resume templates answered. 

How can I format my resume for free?

Download a free pre-formatted resume template from Freesumes.com in your preferred format (Word or Google Docs). Open a copy in the word processing software and edit the blank sections with personal details. Click save, and you’ll have a professionally formatted resume in no time.

Is there a truly free resume builder?

Yes, Freesumes resume builder is 100% free to use. No account registration is required. Using our free generator, you can make a resume in PDF using one of the six free templates and contextual writing prompts created by expert writers.

What is the most popular resume template?

The most popular resume templates are chronological resume templates. You can find several dozen popular, professional resume templates on Freesumes in Word and Google Doc formats. Our templates have been downloaded over 4 million times! 

How to get a free resume template?

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Do employers not like resume templates?

Employers don’t mind resume templates as long as they are professionally made and properly formatted. A sloppy or too vivid design, however, will make you look amateurish. Choose a simple, well-structured resume template in neutral colors, and you’ll always get a positive impression from a prospective employer. 

Is it better to make your own resume or use a template?

This totally depends on you. If you have an eye for design and know information architecture best practices, you can make a stellar resume on your own. Otherwise, you can save heaps of time by using a premade professional resume template to avoid any mishaps with layout or font selection.

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Functional Resume Templates & Writing Tips

Choose from our best functional resume templates.

Blending a classic single column layout with helpful color accents and dividers for ease of reading, the Simple resume template is a balanced choice.

Professional

If you’re looking for a design that is subtle, elegant, and combines the best of the old and new, the Professional resume template is the perfect choice.

For a resume that’s a bit more creative and fun, the Cool resume template uses a twin column design and eye-catching icons to differentiate sections.

This resume template gives you clearly defined sections while keeping an understated black and white color scheme.

Contemporary

With slim but bold lines and a classic single column design, the Contemporary resume template has presence and impact sure to leave an impression.

For a balance between lighthearted creative and serious profesional, the Creative resume template offers visualizations and a functional two column design.

Why You Should Use the Functional Resume Templates

While you may lack an extensive work history, you could have a lot of skills, job responsibilities, and professional expertise that help you stand out among applicants. Functional resume templates shine a light on relevant skills for individual job openings, so your template could look different for every job you apply to.

To make the most of a functional resume, you must understand the most favorable situations in which to use it. For instance, if you're exploring a new direction for your career, have gaps in your work history, have little relevant work experience, or held jobs in various industries, a functional resume could serve you better than other resume types.

Some companies frown on functional resumes, and some applicant tracking software dismisses resumes that don't feature a chronological work history. Despite that, a functional resume could be your most favorable chance at landing an interview. Make the most of your opportunity by including a resume summary, keywords from the job description, and bullet lists that describe how you've used your skills.

4 Functional Resume Templates FAQs

Which is the best resume template to use.

The best template for you depends on the message you want to send employers. For instance, if you desire a job in a creative industry, you may want a resume with color, so it's more eye-catching. Even then, be careful of your choice of color, as you don't want to overwhelm the reader's eye.

If you have a lot of ground you want to cover in your document, you may benefit from a double-column resume instead of a single column. You could also need to use different resume templates if different job openings have different requirements.

Is the functional resume template free?

One significant fact about our functional resume sample is you can use them for free. When you find a template you like, go ahead and sign up for it to enjoy all its unique advantages. We go beyond supplying you with free templates and also give you access to tools and resources that guide you on the finer points of assembling a knockout resume.

We make sure you know the right way to format your resume for different job opportunities and you receive insights about which professional skills work best in different industries and different job roles. You even get advice on demonstrating your professional experience.

How should I format the functional resume template?

When using the functional resume format, start with a summary that gives employers an idea of what you bring to the table as a professional. After adding your contact information, group your professional skills and abilities next, using the job description to understand which keywords to include on your resume. If you use skills categories, list only five bullets under each category. When listing job responsibilities on the document, focus on communicating the impact you had on the company, not just delivering a list of job responsibilities.

While formatting your functional resume template, focus on its advantages. For instance, the resume style centers on your most vital work experiences pulled from your work history. Another benefit is that you shine a light on transferable skills if you want to shift your career trajectory.

Does the Functional resume template work with Microsoft Word?

After matching your resume template with your desired job and your professional background, you're ready to use our resume builder to input your information into the template. You'll have a finished document in no time.

We go beyond providing you with a customizable template and resume builder. Once you draft unique resumes for different employers, it's easy to download your finished work into Microsoft Word and make even more changes.

More Resume Templates Like This

Using color and a two column design, the Awesome resume template gets a lot of information across with an air of creativity.

WTO / Human Resource / Resumes / Functional Resume Format: 18 Free Templates & Examples

Functional Resume Format: 18 Free Templates & Examples

A functional format for a resume is used if you wish to focus more on your skills than on your chronological work history. Using this format for the resume allows the recruiters and hiring managers to easily see all your technical and soft skills as a candidate.

Though your chronological work history is not required, a hiring manager will still want to see your qualifications, work experience, and all the transferable skills that you possess. Ensure that the skills you include in your resume are relevant to the job you are applying for. With this resume, you should aim to emphasize your skills by categorizing them under “experiences” instead of job titles.

You can have different categories such as “summary of qualifications,” “experiences,” and “professional skills.” Under these categories, ensure you highlight each skill in a way that will impress the recruiter. The resume should also highlight examples of your skills and experiences to help the hiring manager understand your qualifications better. You can include both work and life experiences; however, ensure that they are relevant to the job.

Be sure to concentrate primarily on how your skills can help you complete the tasks and responsibilities that come with the job position, even if you have a variety of experiences to draw from.  

Customizable Templates

When and Who Should Utilize a Functional Resume

This type of format is suitable for only certain types of job candidates. That is why you need to understand who should use this format and how best to prepare it to ensure you maximize your chances of getting the job. For example, when you are changing careers , that is, moving from one industry to another, or when you have employment gaps, that is, long periods without employment, this is the resume for you.

In addition, you can use this resume when you want to focus on your specific professional skills. It is also best to use this resume when you have a set of skills that you have learned from school and through mentorship. When the job you have applied for requires you to focus on your skills rather than your experiences, emphasize all of the skills you have that will distinguish you from other applicants.

You can also use a functional resume if you have recently graduated and lack professional experience . Additionally, if you consider yourself a creative individual, an overqualified job candidate, or a military transitioner, you should consider using a functional format for your CV.

How to Create a Functional Resume?

If you want to learn how to create a resume in a functional format, here are the seven steps you should observe when creating a functional resume:

Step 1: Provide your personal information

Ensure that you start by providing your personal information . This entails your name, your current job title, and contact details such as your phone number and email address. Your address is not required on the resume. However, you can include your personal website and LinkedIn profile if they are relevant to your prospective job. It is important to type your name in a font larger than the rest of the text; however, ensure that you use a professional font.

Emmanuel Peters Financial officer 333-333-3332 [email protected]

Step 2: Write an introduction or summary

The next step is to write an introduction that summarizes your skills. The idea is to prepare a compelling introduction that will make your resume interesting and capture the recruiter’s attention. The summary should be compelling and include details about your most relevant skills, achievements, responsibilities, and career goals. You can either write this section in a paragraph or as bullet points.

You should not only include about three examples of your most relevant skills but also use keywords as highlighted in the company’s job listing. These keywords will make your resume more noticeable and ATS-friendly, guaranteeing you a chance in the next stage of the job application process.

I am a financial officer with five years of work experience in overseeing financial transactions, developing budgets, and preparing financial reports. I have strong accounting and analytical skills and solid knowledge of procedures that guarantee a 10% increase in proficiency in the financial and accounting departments if I am hired.

Step 3: Group and list your proficient skills

The third step in writing this resume is the grouping and listing your most proficient skills. Your skills section should expand on the three skills that are most important for the prospective job, with roughly three or four bullet points under each to show that you are proficient in that particular skill.

It is essential to add numbers, such as percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, or even the number of people you worked with, to emphasize your proficiency and expertise. And assure the recruiters that you can deliver tangible results. Also, ensure that the information in your CV is truthful and is intended to impact the company positively. It is also important for you to express this information in a way that is appealing to the hiring manager.

Analytical ability

Have a high aptitude for analyzing financial documents so as to prepare understandable and complete financial analyses.

• Ability to create budgets that can save the company up to 15% on raw materials by establishing legal, efficient, and affordable suppliers.
• Educate the finance department team on how to forecast the company’s profits and losses so as to prepare proper financial reports.

Attention to detail

• Proficient in Mathematics and digital tools, thereby being able to spot any mistakes in the company’s financial documents.
• Accurate and excellent in terms of preparing contracts and analyzing financial calculations.
• Ability to identify any discrepancies in the company’s financial documents and data.

Advanced MS Excel skills

• Able to use the MS Excel computer program to organize financial data into a digital format.
• Can prepare spreadsheets to determine the company’s revenue, prepare payrolls, calculate
• taxes, and forecast the company’s future performance.
• Ability to transfer data from a different source(s) and rebuild it in MS Excel in a way that is up to 6% faster, saving the company’s time and resources.

Step 4: Outline your professional history 

The next step is to outline your work history. This section should be short and concise, as it includes a list of all companies you worked for and your job titles. This information does not need to be listed in any particular order because a functional resume does not emphasize your career history. Also, this section is only important if you have the skills and work experience for the job you have applied for.

ABC Company        XYZ Company Avenue Road           Goodwill Street (2015-2016)            (2017-2021) Financial Director  Financial Officer

Step 5: Give your relevant educational background 

It is also important to include your educational background. You should include the name of your university, the address of this institution, the degree you received, and your GPA, if it is above 3.5.

B.A. in Finance                                M.B.A with Management Specialization St. Peters University, 2014         Charles University, 2018

Step 6: Highlight your professional accomplishments 

The next step is to highlight your professional accomplishments. Mention any awards or honors that you have earned, especially if they are relevant to the job you are applying to. Such accomplishments help you stand out among others as they represent a qualified job candidate who will benefit the company. You can mention these accomplishments under the section ‘Awards’ .

Attendee at the World Economic Forum and Global Agenda Councils, 2017-2019 Winner of the 2019 Best Finance, Accounting and Management Category

Step 7: Describe your additional skills

In case you have any other skills apart from those listed in your summary section and skills section, you should mention them in this last section of the resume. You can also mention any skills that you may have gained through internships, personal projects, or volunteer positions. These additional skills are meant to increase your chances of being hired

• Volunteered at the local weekly community kitchen
• Basic proficiency in French, and German
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills

You can write a proper and compelling functional resume by following all seven of the aforementioned steps.

Tips for Writing a Great Functional Format Resume

If you want to write an effective resume , you should follow the guidelines listed below: 

Make your summary an elevator pitch

The summary of your resume is an important section that is meant to capture the attention of a hiring manager. You should therefore write it like an elevator pitch. This means that you need to make a good first impression by keeping it short and positive. Your top qualifications and best skills should explain why you are the best candidate for the job. The focus is on convincing the recruiter that the skills you offer will benefit the company.

Organize your skills by theme or topic

It is also important to organize your skills by theme or topic to make it easier for the recruiter to identify all your professional accomplishments. Some of these categories include  “Summary of Qualifications”, “ Relevant or Professional Skills,” “Soft Skills,” or “People Skills” etc. Under the heading “summary of qualifications,” you should highlight your three most relevant and primary skills. For professional skills, you should focus on the abilities you gained from your education, internships , and work experience.

Briefly state only relevant work experience

You can also briefly include any relevant work experience in the resume. For this, you only need to include your job title, workplace, and years of employment. This makes a functional format different from a chronological one, which would have included an extensive work history with a detailed explanation of responsibilities.  

The most important tip is to always be concise. Your resume should be concise, to the point, and a maximum of one page long. This ensures that the recruiter can review your entire resume in a short period of time.  

Key Takeaways

• A functional resume is meant for job candidates who do not have a traditional work history or lack the required work experience.
• With this format, such job candidates can prepare a resume that focuses on all the relevant skills and qualifications they possess in regard to the job position.
•  You need to observe all the tips and include all the required information in your resume for you to have a compelling resume that will interest recruiters.
• You can use our functional resume templates to effortlessly prepare your resume for the job you want to apply for.

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Classic Format Resume Templates

Chronological

These are the three standard resume formats : chronological, hybrid, and functional.

The chronological resume template offers a classic, no frills format. Consider this template if you work in a formal industry or want to bring attention to the impressive companies on your resume. Hybrid resume templates are versatile and the most popular format in today’s job search. Functional resume templates are popular for people changing careers or masking holes in their resume. Jobscan doesn’t typically recommend the functional resume format because recruiters may be suspicious of them .

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Senior Level and Executive Resume Templates

Once you begin applying to senior level positions, a greater emphasis is placed on the results your organizations have achieved and executive soft skills like leadership , innovation, and entrepreneurial drive. At the executive level, technical skills aren’t as important as they were earlier in your career. Fill out your executive resume template with accomplishments , measurable results, and examples of leadership .

Management Resume Templates

When it comes to writing a management-level resume, try to demonstrate a trajectory of growth along with a combination of deep industry knowledge and interpersonal skills. You need to prove that you’re an expert in your field who is able to delegate tasks and lead your team.

Mid-Career Resume Templates

When you’re no longer entry-level but still working as an independent contributor (vs a manager), your resume needs to focus on your ability to execute. A strong emphasis should be on the hard skills found in the job description. Back these skills up with context to demonstrate your level of expertise.

Recent Grad Resume Templates

When you’re looking for an entry-level job right out of college, your resume is going to look a little different. Your education section is moved up above your work experience and you’re expected to expand upon your college experience. Go into detail with honors, clubs, coursework, etc.

The Importance of ATS-Friendly Resume Templates

If you’re uploading your resume into an online form as part of your job application, it is critical for your resume template to be compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) . An expertly written resume complete with a sleek design and optimized resume keywords and action verbs could still fall short if the formatting isn’t ATS compliant.

When you upload your resume , applicant tracking systems parse out the text to make it searchable for a recruiter. They may also transfer the information from our resume to a uniform digital candidate profile. Even if you’re perfectly qualified for the job, your chances of getting a job interview are much lower if an ATS can’t accurately parse your resume.

ATS-friendly resumes are often similar to minimalist resume templates but go a step further to account for ATS algorithms and behaviors. Among other considerations, ATS-friendly resume templates account for the fact that:

• Many ATS can’t handle tables or images.
• Parsing accuracy is dependent on heading names and correctly sequencing your work experience information.
• Certain resume fonts might not be displayed properly in all ATS.
• PDF and docx file types work better than others.

Find out if your resume is ATS-optimized with Jobscan’s resume optimization tool . It will help you write the perfect resume so that you stand out from the competition.

How to Use a Resume Template

Be Selective

Finding the right resume template for you is the first step. Select a template that is ATS-friendly and includes space for all the elements you need to tell your story.

Customize Your Template

Not finding the perfect resume template? Select the best one and make some adjustments. For example, you can remove a hobbies section if you need more room for your work history, add a space for key certifications that don’t fit in the template or add a skills section to better highlight your technical skills.

Resume templates are meant to be a guide to a better resume, not an unbreakable set of rules.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job Every Time

Recruiters and hiring managers are more likely to respond to a resume that is carefully tailored for the specific position .

This means using the job description to focus on the skills and keywords that are most important to the job. Showing that you are results-oriented is another great way to show you are the best candidate. Including relevant measurable results and accomplishments on your resume help demonstrate that you understand what is most important to the company’s success.

After you’ve tailored your resume information within the template, run it through Jobscan’s resume optimization tool to see how well it matches the job. In fact, more than 1 million job seekers have used our tool to help them find the next step in their career—see how it can help you!

Are you still tracking jobs in Excel or Google Sheets? Track and manage your job applications and interviews all in one place with Job Tracker . With the click of a button add a job to Job Tracker. From there you can organize your resumes and job descriptions, keep track of important interview dates and details, and manage multiple job opportunities in one place.

Resume Template FAQs

What is the best resume template for me?

The best resume template is the one that provides room for you to showcase your relevant skills and tell the complete story of your relevant work experience. If you are an entry-level or mid-career applicant, look for a template that highlights your hard skills. For executive-level applicants, a template that focuses on your executive summary and work experience will be best.

Which resume format is best?

Recruiters prefer chronological or hybrid formatted resumes. All of the templates above are great choices! We do not recommend using a functional template, which focuses primarily on skills and downplays work history.

Read more: Why Recruiters Hate the Functional Resume Format

What is the difference between a resume template and a resume builder?

A resume builder is a tool that prompts you to enter your information into input fields and formats a resume for you. Resume templates are typically editable Microsoft Word files that are already formatted. Prefer the ease of a builder? Jobscan’s resume builder is 100% free!

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What you miss out on with a Functional Resume.

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Craft your skills-based resume with our functional templates, find and select a resume template.

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Resume Templates by Job

Explore our comprehensive selection of resume examples across job titles, industries, experience levels, and more. Draw inspiration from thousands of real samples hand-picked by our team.

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Discover the best resume formats to stand out in todays job market as we head into 2024.

Customize Your Next Resume with a Functional Style

Take full advantage of Teal's advanced customization options that give you full control over the look and feel of your resume template.

• Color Patterns
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Choosing a Functional Template for Your Next Resume

For job seekers looking for the next role, a functional resume template offers a unique approach, focusing primarily on your skills and experiences rather than the chronological order of your work history. This style is particularly beneficial for those with gaps in their employment, career changers, or individuals with a rich variety of skills not confined to a single industry. Functional resumes allow you to strategically showcase your abilities and competencies that are directly relevant to the job you're applying for, making it a powerful tool for many job seekers.

Functional resumes are about more than just listing skills; they offer a platform to demonstrate how your experiences and abilities make you the ideal candidate. They are especially effective for those who have acquired a diverse skill set through various roles, projects, or voluntary work and want to highlight these strengths upfront. Let's delve into the key features and considerations that make functional resume templates a compelling choice for your next job application.

Key Aspects of a Great Functional Resume Template

A functional resume shines through its ability to highlight your skills and experiences in a clear and organized manner. Here are some key aspects to look for in a high-quality functional resume template:

Emphasis on Skills and Achievements

‍ A functional resume should have a prominent section for skills and achievements. This section is the heart of your resume, showcasing your abilities and successes relevant to the role you're targeting.

Relevant Work History

‍ Though not the focus, a concise work history section is still vital. It should succinctly list your previous roles, focusing on the company and duration rather than the responsibilities.

Clear, Logical Structure

‍ Look for a template that offers a clear and logical structure, making it easy for the employer to navigate through your skills and experiences without getting lost in a chronological timeline.

Customization Flexibility

‍ Choose a template that allows you to customize and highlight different skills or experiences depending on the job you are applying for. This flexibility is key in a functional resume.

Professional Design and Layout

‍ Even with a focus on skills, the design and layout of your resume should remain professional and easy to read, with adequate spacing and clear section headings.

Key Considerations for Any Functional Resume Format

Opting for a functional resume format involves more than just highlighting your skills; it requires a strategic approach to ensure your potential as a candidate is clearly communicated.

Targeting the Right Roles

‍ Functional resumes are particularly effective for specific types of roles, such as those heavily reliant on a particular set of skills or expertise. Ensure that the roles you're applying for align with this format.

Balance Between Skills and Experience

‍ While skills are the centerpiece, balancing them with your work history is essential. This balance ensures your resume is well-rounded and gives context to your skills.

ATS Compatibility

‍ Given that many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), it's crucial to ensure your functional resume is ATS-friendly, focusing on relevant keywords and a clear layout.

Clarity and Precision

‍ With a functional resume, clarity in how you present your skills and achievements is paramount. Be precise and specific about what you bring to the table.

Professionalism and Authenticity

‍ Maintain a professional tone throughout your resume. Authenticity in presenting your skills and experiences will speak volumes about your suitability for the role.

Build Your Resume with Teal

Should I use a Functional resume template for my job application?

A functional resume template is ideal if you have a diverse skill set, gaps in your employment history, or are changing careers. It allows you to focus on your relevant skills and experiences, rather than a chronological work history, making it suitable for many unique job application scenarios.

Can I use any of these templates for free?

Yes, our functional resume templates are available for free use. They are designed to help you effectively showcase your skills and experiences. Feel free to choose a template that suits your needs, and customize it to highlight your unique professional journey.

Select a functional resume template that best aligns with your industry and the specific job you are applying for. Consider templates that allow for flexibility in highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences, and ensure it has a clean, professional layout.

How can I make my resume stand out with a Functional template?

To make your functional resume stand out, emphasize your unique skill set and achievements that are most relevant to the job. Use a clear, professional layout and customize each section to reflect the specific requirements of the position you are applying for.

Accelerate Your Job Search with the AI Resume Builder

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16+ Sample Functional Resumes

If you are looking to write a functional Resume Templates then you can take help from the below-given sample functional resumes. Writing a functional resume is not the same as writing the chronological resumes people usually do for most jobs and thus can be difficult to do properly. The below-given resume samples are very useful and you can use them as references for you to write your own functional resumes with the utmost ease.

Sample Functional Architect Resume Template

• Apple Pages

Creative Functional Business Analyst Resume

Sample Functional Manager Resume Template

Modern Functional Project Manager Resume Template

Free Administrative Assistant Functional Resume Template

Free Functional Resumes for Experienced Professional

1. How do Functional Resumes differ from Chronological Resumes?

Free project manager functional resume template.

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2. When should a Functional Resume be used?

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