"Over the years, I’ve become quite the resume aficionado. Friends and family rely on me for writing, updating, and editing their resumes, which I can only chalk up to my meticulous nature and ability to use a computer. (My husband gets unreasonably frustrated trying to copy and paste on a Macbook…) I’ve seen my fair share of resumes across industries from marketing to tech to sales to hospitality, and I’ve spent hours trying to make even the most unrelated experience sound relevant.
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To me, creating a resume is as simple as plugging experience into a trusty template and making said experience sound, well, impressive. But apparently, there is a new resume trick that can help even the most inexperienced candidate show that they have what it takes. From what I hear, it all comes down to the layout. If you’ve been using a traditional resume style and fear it’s not doing you justice, it might be time to switch to a functional resume style instead. Here’s why:
What is a functional resume?
There are seven common resume types, according to Indeed, which is shocking considering I’ve spent my entire professional life thinking that there was only one. Most of us are familiar with chronological resumes, in which our work experience takes up the bulk of the page and is listed in reverse-chronological order—your most recent gig is at the top and your entry-level job is at the bottom, for example—with small sections for your education and skills. According to a TikTok posted by Erin McGoff from Advice with Erin, functional resumes are basically the same thing, “except you have your skills front and center and then you have where you’ve worked.” So instead of your skills acting as an accent to your experience, they are the main character.
Also known as skills-based resumes, functional resumes illustrate your abilities by the skills you have rather than where you learned them. You can (and should!) still have a section that outlines your previous roles, but they don’t need to be as built out and can be closer to the bottom of the page. With this in mind, “You’re showcasing more ‘This is what I have to offer as a professional’ instead of ‘these are all the places that hired me,’” according to McGoff.
Who should use functional resumes?
While no one can go wrong with a trusty chronological resume, McGoff explains that functional resumes are great for recent grads, anyone with hard skills-based jobs (think: data analysis or project management), people who have gaps on their resume, or people who have had a lot of different jobs. So, if you don’t have a lot of experience or have scattered experience, this layout allows you to showcase what you have to offer, no matter where you learned it. This is excellent news for those who want to switch careers and are worried about how their work experience will look to potential employers in a different industry. All you have to do is figure out which of your skills are transferable and put them at the forefront!
“This layout allows you to showcase what you have to offer, no matter where you learned it.”
One commenter on McGoff’s video said, “People don’t care that much about WHO you worked with but what experiences you have,” which can be true. However, if you work in an industry that cares a little bit more about who you worked for, like consulting, design, tech, or business, you might want to stick to the trusty chronological resume style.
What you should list on your functional resume
I know what you’re thinking: This all sounds great, but where do I even begin? Like any other resume, a functional resume features your name, contact information, education, and a short professional summary. Once you have those down, list your work experience. This can be short—sharing only your title, company, and dates of employment. You can add a short summary (one to two sentences) beneath each role, but remember, details here aren’t necessarily needed and should be condensed!
Finally, move on to the star of the show: your skills section. This will be the most detailed part of your resume, where you list your skills by theme or category (think: project management, content creation, or video editing). If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to choosing skills, Indeed recommends using keywords from job descriptions to inform your choices! Then, underneath each skill, add a few bullet points to explain your abilities, achievements, and experiences.
To ensure your resume packs a punch and that you communicate your abilities effectively, don’t shy away from adding numbers. For example, if one of your skills is management, you can say that you managed 10+ employees or that your team surpassed its goal by 15 percent. Employers love to see how you can make an impact! This is your chance to specifically communicate how your skills have driven results and why you’re the right candidate for the job.
The Bottom Line: Landing your dream job comes down to highlighting your skills
The job market is changing faster than ever, but luckily for us, there are plenty of ways to stand out among a sea of candidates—even when you don’t have relevant experience. As McGoff mentioned, functional resumes allow you to show off what YOU have to offer as a professional. Maybe you learned everything you know about design from in-person classes and webinars, or maybe you learned how to code from a club you were in during college. Functional resumes can help you show off your highly sought-after skills without worrying about needing a specific organization and role to group them under.
By using this layout option, you can make sure potential employers know what you are capable of instead of tossing your resume to the side because they don’t see relevant experience in your work history. Recent grads, recently laid-off job searchers, and ambitious career-changing go-getters, this is for you—the trick to finding your next role can be as simple as rearranging your resume.
Hailey Bouche, Associate Editor
As an Associate Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Bouche oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.