What is the best resume format in 2024?

It’s important to remember that there’s no such thing as a “best” resume format. There’s only the right resume format for your needs. In general, if you have more applicable work experience, you should go with a chronological resume format. If you have less applicable work experience, you should consider a combination format. If you’re a first-time job seeker or applying for a job emphasizing skills over experience, you should consider a functional layout. If you’re still unsure, remember that you can always “try-out” multiple formats using the ResumeHelp Resume Builder. Try writing a professional resume in each format and see which one you like. You can also review our resume examples to see the best resume formats in action, along with our templates. You may find that once you see it on paper, it’s much easier to decide on a specific resume format that effectively presents your information.

What are the 3 resume formats?

The three resume formats are the chronological resume format (also known as the reverse-chronological resume format), the combination resume and the functional resume. They’re not interchangeable, so choosing the correct resume format is important. Each resume format has a purpose and will impact how hiring managers receive your information. The reverse chronological resume highlights your career progression in reverse chronological order, so it’s ideal for candidates with extensive experience. Functional resumes highlight your skills, so it’s best for job seekers with little work experience who want to show hiring managers they have potential. The combination resume format focuses on both, making it perfect for mid-level professionals with just a few years of experience.

Can I use a resume template for any resume format in 2024?

ResumeHelp offers over a dozen different resume templates that can be adapted for any resume format. If you like how a specific resume template looks, you can customize it to work for your specific resume format. If you’re using the ResumeHelp Resume Builder, you can change your template at the click of a button. Our resume examples library is a great place to view our templates in action. Our samples are made by experts following the standard resume formats, so you can find inspiration or use it as a base.

How do I make sure that my resume is ATS-friendly?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a type of software that automatically scans incoming resumes to look for the presence of certain keywords that fit the job being applied for. If your resume doesn’t have those keywords, the applicant tracking systems could reject it outright without ever sending it to recruiters. This is why it’s important to consider getting your resume ATS-ready when writing it. On average, employment history is important when you’re being scanned by applicant tracking systems, which means the reverse chronological resume format typically works more effectively. If you need to submit a functional format and want it to be ready for an applicant tracking system, use a polished, readable resume layout based on our templates and focus on your resume summary or objective along with your skills, making sure you address keywords in the job posting. With ResumeHelp, you can make it easy to hit all the keywords using our builder. Our step-by-step approach and job-specific suggestions will ensure you make a proper resume format that gets you in a great position for your career change. Utilize our resume formatting tips and advice to get the most out of your resume, no matter who’s looking at it.

Which format do most employers prefer for resumes?

Most employers and recruiters prefer the chronological format because it’s the easiest to read. However, not everyone has the experience necessary to fill this resume format. That’s why it’s important to consider the other formats and how it might benefit you to use them. For example, if you’re a recent college graduate with no experience, your reverse chronological format will have a lot of white space, whereas your functional format will look full.

What is the difference between a reverse chronological and functional resume?

There are several major differences between the three main resume formats but especially the chronological and functional resume. One thing that differentiates them is their purpose. The chronological layout is the best resume format to present extensive work experience and career progression, while the functional resume is the best format to showcase a wide range of skills and abilities. The heart of the chronological resume is the work history section. It’s almost at the top of your resume, right below the resume summary and takes a good chunk of space. It organizes your professional history in reverse chronological order, so your most recent job is at the top. The chronological format also only features one skills section after the work history, followed by the education section. Its strong emphasis on career progression makes it the best resume format for people with extensive careers. On the other hand, the functional resume has multiple skills sections and reduced work history. This format doesn’t place that much importance on your previous work experience because it places it on your abilities. That’s why we always say it’s the best resume format for candidates with little to no experience.

Does resume format matter?

Yes! A good resume format will determine how your resume looks and reads. Each of the main resume formats serves a different purpose and is targeted at different job seekers, so you need to review each carefully to make sure the format you choose is a good fit for you. For example, choosing a chronological layout when you have little to no experience might do more harm than good. A reverse chronological resume is ideal for candidates who have a long professional history, so recent graduates may have a hard time making their resume look full. Resume formatting is also a big part of ensuring your resume looks professional. The best resume formats follow standard formatting guidelines, such as using appropriate fonts, clear resume section headings and the right margins across the document. For more ways to have the best format for a job, check our resume formatting advice further up on this page. You can also choose one of our resume templates and remove all formatting guesswork.

How do you structure a resume?

The structure of your resume will be determined by the resume format you choose. However, generally speaking, most resumes will have the following structure: Name and contact information Resume summary or resume objective Skills Work experience Education You may include additional sections to your resume such as certifications, relevant training, extracurricular activities, volunteer work or awards. The key is to ensure that the information you feature on your resume is relevant to the job and company.

How do I make my resume look professional?

There are different factors that contribute to your resume design looking professional. First off, the layout itself needs to be clean and sophisticated. The easiest way to ensure your resume fits the bill is by using a professional resume template. As tempting as it is to use overly colorful designs, it’s not the right way to attract a hiring manager’s attention. The second aspect you should consider is resume formatting. Are you using a professional resume font? Are the margins consistent throughout the document? Did you write the correct subheadings? These small details come together to make a professional resume that not only reads well but looks great. At ResumeHelp, we have dozens of resume templates you can use that are pre-formatted to fit industry standards, so you don’t have to worry about spacing or margins and can focus on your information.

What’s the best resume format for job seekers with little to no experience?

Candidates who are making a college resume or a resume with no experience should use the skills-based resume format. The functional resume features different sections that focus on highlighting skills summary information as opposed to work history. So, your resume will have a skills summary, “Summary of Qualifications” and a “Professionals Skills” section, while the work experience section is moved to the bottom and only details the company’s name, the dates of employment and your job title. Job seekers with little to no experience should also think outside the box when it comes to their past experience. Internships, volunteer work and extracurricular activities count as experience if it’s relevant to the job you want. For example, if you’re an aspiring graphic designer who finished an internship at an advertising agency, you can include that experience. Likewise, if you’re an aspiring journalist who wrote articles for your school’s newspaper, you can include that too. Lastly, candidates with no experience should write a resume objective. In two-to-three sentences, include your top skills relevant to the job and state your desire to get hired. A resume objective is meant to establish your career goals.

3 Best Resume Formats for 2025 (Tips and Examples)

Q: What’s the best file format for a resume?

You should save and send your resume in a PDF format, even if you created your resume as a Word document. PDFs are the safest file format and the most commonly accepted by prospective employers. Saving your resume as a PDF ensures it will look good digitally and printed. If the job description specifically requests a different file format, go with what the employer is asking for and follow their guidelines to format a resume the way they want to receive it.

Which resume format is right for you? Get to know the three resume formats and find out which one will put you in a position to get your dream job.

By Maria May 12, 2025 3 minutes read

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The 3 formats for a resume

Proper resume formatting matters. It can make a chaotic resume clean and professional. It can help you hide gaps in your employment, emphasize different sections, and, yes—the best resume format can help you get a job.

This guide will give you:

An overview of the 3 common resume formats.
The best resume format for your needs.
How to put together a simple resume format.
Resume format templates you can use right away.

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What Are the Top 3 Resume Formats?

The three most popular resume formats are chronological, functional, and combination. When you’re choosing the right format for your resume, always think about your career progression and the type of job you’re seeking. The breakdown below will help you:

The chronological resume format, also called the reverse-chronological resume format, is the most common. It typically centers on the work experience section, listing your most recent job first and going back through time to detail your earlier jobs.
Also known as the skills-based resume, the functional resume format focuses on your resume skills instead of your work history. In a functional resume, your employment history will be brief with no bullet points and usually located at the bottom of the page, leaving space for the different skills sections this format features.
The combination resume format, also called a hybrid resume format, combines the best parts of the functional and chronological formats. It emphasizes your skills and work history by giving you ample space to provide information on both.

Now, let’s explore these common resume formats in detail, so you can see the differences and learn their strengths.

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1. Chronological Resume Format

The chronological resume format is one of the most popular resume formats. It features your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position and moving backward.

It’s also the best resume format for most scenarios, as recruiters and ATS programs are the most familiar with this style of resume. The chronological resume format features:

- Professional summary for a resume or a career objective: Two to three sentences summarizing your work experience and best skills.
- Work history section with the most recent job at the top: Each job title should have three to five bullet points (Use the STAR method to make them stand out) with your work accomplishments and major responsibilities.

Skills section with a mixture of 5–10 hard and soft skills.

Education section: Feature your college and post-graduate experience, with the high school listed only if you have no college education. Keep your most recent degree on top.

The chronological resume format best suits candidates with a consistent work history and a clear career progression within a specific industry. It’s a simple resume format that’s great for almost everyone. Plus, it’s especially suitable for experienced professionals and mid-to-senior-level job seekers who want to highlight a stable work history and advancing responsibilities. It’s also the best resume format for passing ATS scans.

Pros & Cons of the Chronological Resume Format

Pros

Easy to Read—Since this is the most common format, hiring managers can quickly understand your career path.
Highlights Career Growth—Shows a clear progression and increased responsibility over time.
ATS-Friendly—The straightforward structure is easily read by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Cons

Not Ideal for Career Gaps—Gaps in employment are more obvious with this format.
Less Emphasis on Skills—It focuses more on work history than specific skills, which may not suit those with specialized skill sets outside traditional roles.
Not Suitable for Career Changes—If you’re switching fields, it may not effectively highlight the skills needed for the new industry.

Chronological Resume Format Example

Chronological resume example

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2. Functional Resume Format

The functional resume, or skill-based resume, emphasizes skills and abilities over chronological work history. This resume format focuses on a candidate’s transferable skills rather than specific job titles or career progression, making it ideal for those with varied work backgrounds or those looking to change careers.

The functional resume format includes:

- Resume profile: Located below your contact information, it indicates your strengths, skills, and career goals.
- Different sections for your key skills: Usually “Core Competencies” and “Additional Skills,” to give the recruiter or hiring manager an idea of what your resume strengths are.

Reduced work experience section: With very few or no bullets per job title.

Education section: You can include a brief overview of your educational achievements, including certifications and professional training.

A functional resume is ideal for job seekers with gaps in their employment history, those writing a career change resume, or candidates with freelance or project-based experience. This format allows you to showcase specific skills that may align with the desired role, regardless of when or where those skills were acquired.

Pros & Cons of the Functional Resume Format

Pros

Emphasizes Skills—Highlights abilities and qualifications rather than chronological job progression.
Minimizes Work Gaps—De-emphasizes dates, making employment gaps less noticeable.
Useful for Career Changers—Allows candidates to highlight relevant skills over unrelated past jobs.

Cons

Less Familiar to Recruiters—Hiring managers may find this format unconventional or difficult to scan quickly.
Can Raise Questions—Omitting specific work details can lead to questions about work history.
ATS Compatibility—This format is sometimes less ATS-friendly, as it doesn’t follow a traditional structure and may affect how keywords are picked up.

Functional Resume Format Example

Functional resume example

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3. Combination Resume Format

The combination resume, or hybrid resume, merges the functional and chronological formats. It emphasizes skills and qualifications at the top of the resume, followed by a chronological list of work experience. This format offers the flexibility to highlight specific skills while also providing a clear employment history.

The combination resume format has these elements:

Summary statement or resume objective. In a combination resume, this section can be substituted with a Summary of Qualifications.

Skills summary section: Include 3–6 curated skills, each described by strong bullet points.
Work history section with your jobs in reverse chronological order: Add a few bullet points with your professional accomplishments.
Education section with your highest education credentials.

The combination resume is ideal for those with consistent job experience who want to highlight specific skills. Unlike the previous resume formats, a hybrid resume requires a lot of relevant work experience. It allows job seekers to spotlight both relevant skills and solid employment history, which can appeal to employers looking for specific expertise alongside proven experience.

Pros & Cons of the Combination Resume Format

Pros

Flexible Focus—Combines skills emphasis with a chronological history, appealing to a wider range of employers.
Good for Career Changers—Allows candidates to tailor skills to a new field while showing past experience.
Balances Skills and Experience—Effectively showcases key accomplishments and work continuity.

Cons

Can Be Lengthy—Combining two formats can result in a longer resume, which may be challenging to keep within a standard one-page limit.
Is Less ATS-Friendly—If not formatted carefully, it can sometimes confuse the ATS, as it mixes chronological and skill-based sections.
Requires Careful Tailoring—To be effective, a combination resume needs to be carefully customized for each job application, which can be time-consuming.

Hybrid Resume Format Example

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Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Resume Format

What’s the best resume format for you? Picking one is not too complicated as long as you answer these questions:

1. What’s My Overall Work Experience?

If you have consistent, relevant experience in one industry or field, a chronological resume format will be the best choice for you. Likewise, if you’re writing a resume with no experience, you should also stick to the chronological format. When you have no job experience, focus on your education and additional sections.

If you have a varied or mixed background or have done freelance work in different fields, consider a functional or combination resume format to showcase diverse skills and experience.

2. Do I Have Career Gaps or Unrelated Jobs?

If your work history has no breaks, or the breaks are one month long, the chronological format for a resume will work best, as it will showcase your steady career growth.

But if you have longer breaks in employment, or need to omit certain jobs as they have zero relevance to the position you’re currently pursuing, consider the functional resume format.

3. Am I Changing Careers?

If yes, consider a functional resume format to showcase transferable skills while downplaying past roles in unrelated fields.

If you’re staying in the same field, a chronological resume format will better underscore your experience in that field.

4. Are Skills My Strong Suit?

If you have impressive work experience in addition to your skills, you can best emphasize them using the functional or the combination resume formats.

If you want to showcase mostly your professional accomplishments, stick to the chronological resume.

To summarize, check the table below:

Best Resume Format for You—Table

Resume Format	Best For	Highlights	Pros	Cons
Chronological	Candidates with a strong, consistent work history relevant to the job	Work history in reverse order, showcasing career growth	ATS-friendly and familiar to recruiters, showcases career progression	May emphasize employment gaps or unrelated roles, less suited for career changers or limited experience
Functional	Candidates with limited experience, employment gaps, or switching careers	Focuses on skills and achievements over job titles and dates	Ideal for highlighting relevant skills, de-emphasizes job gaps	Less ATS-friendly, may lack specific job progression details recruiters prefer
Combination (Hybrid)	Mid-level candidates or those with diverse skills and relevant experience	Balances skills and work history, showing strengths and experience together	Combines skills focus with work experience, ideal for demonstrating versatility	Requires careful organization to avoid overcrowding, which can be complex for ATS

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Resume Templates for Each Resume Format

A good resume template is essential when deciding on a resume format because it sets the foundation for how effectively your information is presented and received. Here’s why:

Clear Structure and Readability: Resume templates designed with readability in mind help organize your content logically and intuitively. For example, in a chronological resume, a clear work history section in reverse order showcases your career growth and stability effectively. Functional or skill-based resume formats benefit from templates that highlight skills prominently, ensuring the recruiter immediately sees your relevant strengths.
ATS Compatibility: ATS-friendly resume templates increase the chances of your resume passing through automated systems.
Adaptability Across Career Levels and Industries: A well-designed template will be versatile enough to suit different career stages and goals, from entry-level to executive roles. For example, modern resume templates that can adjust to emphasize either skills or work experience are ideal for both career changers and established professionals. A professional or traditional resume template allows you to stand out in roles that demand specific industry styling—think marketing versus banking—and can help frame your resume to best suit the norms of the industry.

You can browse our resume format templates below, and click on any of them to use it in our resume builder.

Use this template

Consultant Resume
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Dentist Resume
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Electrician Resume
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Police Officer Resume
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Engineer Resume

It can be extremely difficult to start a resume from scratch. A blank screen can be incredibly daunting, especially if you’ve never created a resume format before. Luckily, our resume builder offers many different templates perfect for each resume format, together with step-by-step guidance to complete your resume in just a few minutes.

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8 General Resume Formatting Tips

Regardless of the resume format you choose for your application, there are certain general rules you should follow. Here they are:

1. Use Bullet Points and Concise Phrases

Recruiters and hiring managers usually spend less than a minute reviewing a resume. Make it easier for them to read your information using bullet points and short phrases.

2. Keep the Right Margins

Using the proper margins on your resume format will ensure the information fits within the page. All sides of your resume should have 1-inch margins—it’s the industry standard.

3. Use Professional Fonts

A resume format isn’t the place to get too creative. Your resume font should be clear and easy to read for the prospective employer. Your font choice also plays a big role in whether your resume will make it through ATS, which might have a harder time reading unusual fonts.

4. Apply Proper Font Sizes

Generally, the body text on your resume format should be between 10 and 12 points. Your name on the header can be 16 or 18 points, while the subheadings should stay somewhere between 12 and 14 points.

Adjust the sizes depending on the space. If you have a lot of white space, feel free to use a 12-point size on the body text. If your resume is packed with important information, however, consider taking it down to 10.

5. Use Standard Headings

You might be tempted to replace the “Work History” header with “My Professional Background” but you shouldn’t do it. It’s unprofessional and ATS might have difficulty reading your resume sections.

Here are 3 things you can do to make your resume format stand out:

Bold the heading
Underline the heading
Increase the size by one or two points, so it’s different from the body text

Sometimes, you can also use a different font to differentiate the subheadings from the body text. This isn’t typically recommended, but if you work in a creative industry and know how to choose the correct font combinations, you can play around with them to create a dynamic resume.

6. Keep Your Resume One to Two Pages Long

In many cases, you should aim for your resume’s length to be just one page long. But, if you have an extensive work history that requires two pages, it’s OK to submit a two-page resume.

7. Save in a Readable Format

Unless the job description specifies the file type they want, it’s best to save and submit your resume in Word DOCX or PDF format. They’re universally accepted and easy to access.

Our online resume builder allows you to download your preferred resume format in several file types. You can also create as many resumes as you want for different jobs. So if you’re unsure whether you need a chronological, functional, or combination resume format and feel like creating all three, you can.

8. Don’t Add Photos

You shouldn’t add a photo to your resume format unless you’re working a BFOQ job. But, you should also avoid including other types of graphics on your resume. Infographic resumes are vastly unreadable by ATS programs. On top of that, graphics in Word documents tend to mess up formatting whenever anything is moved in the document.

If you’re looking for additional resume-writing resources, check out the guides below:

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FAQ: Resume formats

Have questions? We’re here to help.

What is the best resume format in 2025?

The best resume format in 2025 is the chronological resume format. It’s the most widely accepted format. It’s also a very versatile and ATS-friendly type of resume. The chronological format focuses primarily on your work experience.

Can I use a resume template for any resume format?

Some resume templates available online only work with a specific resume format. However, templates available in ResumeHelp’s resume builder are customizable, making them a great choice for creating a resume in any of the 3 main resume styles.

Our resume examples library is a great place to view our templates in action. Our samples are made by experts following the standard resume formats, so you can find inspiration or use it as a base.

Which format is the best for a resume with no experience?

When crafting a resume with no work experience, the chronological resume can be highly effective, especially when tailored thoughtfully. The chronological format showcases education, internships, and volunteer work in an easily scannable layout that hiring managers are used to seeing.

How do I make sure that my resume format is ATS-friendly?

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that automatically scans incoming resumes for resume keywords that fit the job being applied for. If your resume doesn’t have those keywords, the ATS could reject it outright without ever sending it to recruiters.

To ensure your resume format is ATS-compliant, follow these tips:

Use readable serif fonts.
Utilize clear headings.
Apply bullet points when listing professional accomplishments.
Avoid excessive images, infographics, or icons.

What’s the best file format for a resume?

You should save and send your resume in PDF format. PDFs are the safest file format and the most commonly accepted by employers. Saving as a PDF ensures your resume will look good digitally and printed. If the job description specifically requests a different file format, go with what the employer is asking for.

Does a resume format matter?

A good resume format will determine how your resume looks and reads. A well-chosen format organizes your information in a way that highlights your resume’s strengths, minimizes the influence of gaps in employment, and aligns with recruiters’ expectations for a specific role.

Each of the main resume formats serves a different purpose and is targeted at different job seekers, so you need to review each carefully to make sure the format you choose is a good fit for you.

WRITTEN BY Maria

Maria is a Puerto Rico-based Content Writer with ample background in digital marketing and copywriting. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a B.A. in English and enjoys making information accessible to others.

3 Best Resume Formats for 2025 (Tips and Examples)

The 3 formats for a resume

What Are the Top 3 Resume Formats?

1. Chronological Resume Format

Pros & Cons of the Chronological Resume Format

Chronological Resume Format Example

2. Functional Resume Format

Pros & Cons of the Functional Resume Format

Functional Resume Format Example

3. Combination Resume Format

Pros & Cons of the Combination Resume Format

Hybrid Resume Format Example

Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Resume Format

1. What’s My Overall Work Experience?

2. Do I Have Career Gaps or Unrelated Jobs?

3. Am I Changing Careers?

4. Are Skills My Strong Suit?

Best Resume Format for You—Table

Resume Templates for Each Resume Format

8 General Resume Formatting Tips

1. Use Bullet Points and Concise Phrases

2. Keep the Right Margins

3. Use Professional Fonts

4. Apply Proper Font Sizes

5. Use Standard Headings

6. Keep Your Resume One to Two Pages Long

7. Save in a Readable Format

8. Don’t Add Photos

FAQ: Resume formats

What is the best resume format in 2025?

Can I use a resume template for any resume format?

Which format is the best for a resume with no experience?

How do I make sure that my resume format is ATS-friendly?

What’s the best file format for a resume?

Does a resume format matter?

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