Types of Resumes: Complete Guide to Different Resume Categories

Choosing the right type of resume can significantly impact your job search success. Different formats highlight different strengths, and selecting the appropriate type for your situation helps present your qualifications in the most compelling way.

Understanding the main resume types—and when each works best—empowers you to make strategic decisions about how to present yourself to potential employers. This guide explores all major resume categories, their advantages and disadvantages, and guidance on selecting the right format for your needs.

The Three Main Resume Formats

Most resumes fall into one of three primary categories, each with distinct characteristics.

Chronological Resume

The chronological resume is the most traditional and widely used format.

Structure:

• Contact information
• Professional summary
• Work experience (listed in reverse chronological order)
• Education
• Skills and additional sections

Key characteristics:

• Work history is the primary focus
• Jobs listed from most recent to oldest
• Each position includes dates, titles, and achievements
• Clear career progression is visible

Best for:

• Candidates with steady career progression
• Those staying in the same industry
• Job seekers with no significant gaps
• Traditional industries expecting conventional formats

Advantages:

• Familiar to all recruiters and hiring managers
• Easy to scan and understand quickly
• Shows career growth and progression
• Works well with ATS systems

Disadvantages:

• Highlights employment gaps
• May not work well for career changers
• Less effective for those with non-linear paths
• Emphasizes job titles over skills

Example structure:

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
[2-3 sentences about your value]

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Job Title | Company | Dates
• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2
• Achievement 3

Job Title | Company | Dates
• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2

EDUCATION
Degree | Institution | Year

SKILLS
[Relevant skills list]

Functional Resume

The functional resume emphasizes skills and abilities over work history.

Structure:

• Contact information
• Professional summary
• Skills sections (organized by category)
• Brief work history (often just titles and dates)
• Education

Key characteristics:

• Skills and competencies are the primary focus
• Work history is de-emphasized or abbreviated
• Achievements grouped by skill category rather than job
• Less emphasis on dates and timeline

Best for:

• Career changers entering new fields
• Those with significant employment gaps
• Candidates with varied, non-linear backgrounds
• Re-entering the workforce after extended absence
• Freelancers with project-based experience

Advantages:

• Highlights transferable skills
• Downplays gaps or job-hopping
• Focuses on what you can do, not where you did it
• Good for skills-first evaluations

Disadvantages:

• Many recruiters view it suspiciously
• Harder to verify experience claims
• May seem like hiding something
• Less ATS-friendly
• Not suitable for most situations

Example structure:

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
[2-3 sentences about your value]

CORE COMPETENCIES

Project Management
• Achievement demonstrating this skill
• Achievement demonstrating this skill

Team Leadership
• Achievement demonstrating this skill
• Achievement demonstrating this skill

Technical Skills
• Achievement demonstrating this skill
• Achievement demonstrating this skill

WORK HISTORY
Job Title, Company (Dates)
Job Title, Company (Dates)
Job Title, Company (Dates)

EDUCATION
Degree | Institution

Combination (Hybrid) Resume

The combination resume blends elements of chronological and functional formats.

Structure:

• Contact information
• Professional summary
• Skills summary or core competencies
• Work experience (chronological, with achievements)
• Education and additional sections

Key characteristics:

• Leads with skills summary
• Follows with detailed chronological work history
• Balances skill emphasis with experience verification
• Shows both what you can do and where you’ve done it

Best for:

• Career changers with relevant transferable skills
• Senior professionals with diverse expertise
• Those with both strong skills and solid work history
• Candidates wanting to emphasize specific competencies

Advantages:

• Highlights key skills upfront
• Maintains chronological credibility
• Flexible for various situations
• Balances multiple strengths

Disadvantages:

• Can become lengthy
• Requires careful balancing
• May feel redundant if not done well
• More complex to create effectively

Example structure:

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
[2-3 sentences about your value]

CORE COMPETENCIES
• Skill Category 1    • Skill Category 2
• Skill Category 3    • Skill Category 4

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Job Title | Company | Dates
• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2

Job Title | Company | Dates
• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2

EDUCATION
Degree | Institution | Year

Specialized Resume Types

Beyond the three main formats, specialized resumes serve specific purposes.

Targeted Resume

A targeted resume is customized for a specific position.

Characteristics:

• Tailored to match a particular job description
• Emphasizes relevant experience and skills
• Uses keywords from the job posting
• De-emphasizes less relevant background

When to use:

• For high-priority job applications
• When you’re highly qualified for specific roles
• When job descriptions provide clear requirements

How to create:

• Analyze the job posting thoroughly
• Identify key requirements and keywords
• Reorganize your experience to highlight matches
• Adjust your summary to address their needs

Infographic Resume

Infographic resumes use visual elements to present information.

Characteristics:

• Incorporates charts, graphs, icons, and visual design
• Presents information graphically rather than textually
• Highly designed and visually distinctive
• Often one-page, visually optimized

When to use:

• Creative industries (design, marketing, media)
• When applying to companies that value creativity
• As a supplement to traditional resumes
• For personal branding purposes

Cautions:

• Not ATS-compatible
• May seem unprofessional in traditional industries
• Can prioritize style over substance
• Should never be your only resume version

Video Resume

Video resumes present candidates through recorded video.

Characteristics:

• 60-90 second video introduction
• Showcases personality and communication skills
• Supplements rather than replaces written resume
• Demonstrates comfort on camera

When to use:

• Performance-based careers
• Sales or customer-facing roles
• When specifically requested
• Creative or media positions

Cautions:

• Quality matters significantly
• Can introduce bias concerns
• Not appropriate for all industries
• Requires production skills

Federal Resume

Federal resumes are specialized formats for U.S. government positions.

Characteristics:

• Significantly longer than private sector resumes (3-5+ pages)
• Includes specific required information
• Details hours worked per week
• References specific job announcement numbers
• Includes citizenship, veteran status, and other required data

When to use:

• Applying for federal government jobs
• USAJobs applications
• Government contractor positions requiring federal format

Requirements:

• Follow exact specifications for each announcement
• Include all required elements
• Use specific formatting as requested

Academic CV

Curriculum vitae (CV) format used in academic and research contexts.

Characteristics:

• Much longer than standard resumes
• Includes publications, presentations, research
• Lists grants, awards, teaching experience
• Comprehensive documentation of academic work

When to use:

• Academic positions (faculty, research)
• Scientific research roles
• Grant applications
• Some international applications

Key sections:

• Education and training
• Publications and presentations
• Research experience
• Teaching experience
• Grants and fellowships
• Professional service

International CV

Resume formats vary significantly by country.

Characteristics:

• May include photo, date of birth, nationality
• Format expectations vary by region
• Length expectations differ
• Personal information standards vary

Considerations:

• Research specific country requirements
• Adjust format to local expectations
• Some countries expect very different content
• Professional norms vary globally

Choosing the Right Resume Type

Selecting the appropriate format depends on your specific situation.

Use Chronological When:

• You have steady, progressive work history
• You’re staying in the same industry or field
• Your recent experience is your strongest qualification
• You’re applying to traditional organizations
• You have no significant gaps to explain

Use Functional When:

• You’re making a significant career change
• You have major employment gaps
• Your skills matter more than where you developed them
• You’re re-entering the workforce after absence
• Your work history is fragmented or non-traditional

Note: Functional resumes are viewed skeptically by many recruiters. Use cautiously.

Use Combination When:

• You have both strong skills and solid work history
• You’re pivoting careers but have relevant experience
• You want to highlight specific competencies
• You’re a senior professional with diverse background
• You need to balance multiple selling points

Use Specialized Formats When:

• Industry or employer specifically expects them
• Your situation clearly calls for differentiation
• You understand the risks and benefits
• You have appropriate backup formats

Format Considerations by Career Stage

Career stage influences format effectiveness.

Entry-Level Candidates

Best formats: Chronological or combination

Emphasis:

• Education and academic achievements
• Internships and relevant projects
• Skills and technical abilities
• Extracurricular leadership

Approach: Even with limited experience, chronological format typically works. Education can be positioned prominently. Combination format can highlight skills developed through various experiences.

Mid-Career Professionals

Best formats: Chronological or combination

Emphasis:

• Career progression and promotions
• Quantified achievements
• Increasing responsibility
• Industry expertise

Approach: Chronological format shows growth. Combination format can highlight key competencies while maintaining chronological credibility.

Senior Executives

Best formats: Combination or chronological

Emphasis:

• Leadership and strategic impact
• Major achievements and transformations
• Board and advisory experience
• Industry recognition

Approach: Senior resumes often benefit from combination format that highlights executive competencies while documenting career progression.

Career Changers

Best formats: Combination or targeted

Emphasis:

• Transferable skills
• Relevant achievements from past roles
• Applicable expertise
• Motivation for change (in cover letter)

Approach: Combination format highlights relevant skills while providing chronological context. Functional format can work but may raise questions. Resources like 0portfolio.com can help career changers build comprehensive professional profiles that effectively communicate transferable value.

Industry-Specific Considerations

Different industries have different expectations.

Corporate and Business

Expected format: Chronological or combination

Characteristics:

• Clean, professional appearance
• Focus on achievements and metrics
• Standard formatting conventions
• Conservative design

Creative Industries

Acceptable formats: Any, including visual

Characteristics:

• More creative license allowed
• Design can demonstrate skills
• Portfolio links often expected
• Personality can show through

Technology

Expected format: Chronological or combination

Characteristics:

• Strong skills sections
• Technical competencies prominent
• Project highlights common
• GitHub or portfolio links included

Academia

Expected format: Academic CV

Characteristics:

• Comprehensive documentation
• Publications and research prominent
• Teaching experience detailed
• Longer format expected

Government

Expected format: Federal resume format

Characteristics:

• Specific formatting requirements
• Required information elements
• Longer, more detailed
• Follow announcement instructions exactly

Common Mistakes by Format Type

Avoid these format-specific errors.

Chronological Resume Mistakes

• Listing duties instead of achievements
• Including every job ever held
• Burying impressive accomplishments
• Inconsistent formatting across positions
• Not showing progression or growth

Functional Resume Mistakes

• Making it seem like you’re hiding something
• Not providing enough work history context
• Exaggerating skills without evidence
• Using when chronological would work better
• Not preparing for verification questions

Combination Resume Mistakes

• Making it too long
• Redundancy between skills and experience sections
• Poor balance between elements
• Not integrating sections cohesively
• Confusing organization

Testing Your Format Choice

Verify your format works effectively.

The Readability Test

Can someone understand your qualifications in 30 seconds of scanning?

The Relevance Test

Does the format highlight what’s most important for this application?

The Credibility Test

Does the format make your claims verifiable and believable?

The Compatibility Test

Will this format work with the application system and employer expectations?

Conclusion

The “best” resume type depends entirely on your unique situation. Chronological resumes work for most people most of the time, which is why they’re the dominant format. Functional resumes serve specific needs but come with significant drawbacks. Combination resumes offer flexibility but require skillful execution.

Consider your career stage, industry, specific circumstances, and what you most want to emphasize. Then choose the format that presents your strongest case to employers.

Whatever format you choose, the fundamentals remain constant: clear communication, quantified achievements, relevant content, and professional presentation. Format is the vehicle; your qualifications are the destination.

Choose wisely, execute effectively, and let your qualifications shine through whatever format best serves your career goals.