Resume Help... Hybrid Resume Format

Hybrid of Chronological & Functional Resume Formats - Better Together?

It's a struggle that plays out the in early stages of every resume that's ever written: whether the writer should go with a chronological format, or a functional. And there's a lot riding on the outcome, especially today when the stack of resumes on the desk of the hiring official is two feet thick. Anything one can do to highlight job qualifications while playing down any perceived negatives can often make the difference between an interview invitation and a phone that never rings.

But it doesn't have to be an either/or choice. In fact, professional resume writers discovered long ago that a combination (hybrid) of the two formats often results in a more powerful marketing document. First, here's how each format is defined in their purest form.

The Pure Chronological Format

The chronological resume is a resume focused on an employment timeline. The work history is showcased in considerable detail, with individual jobs arranged in reverse chronological order (most recent job first, then working backwards with each prior position). It's a traditional format, and one that is comforting in its straightforward simplicity to a good number of job seekers and employers. In it's purest form, the work history (or "experience" section) is preceded by

The Pure Functional Format

The functional format dismisses the timeline approach and focuses instead on a collection of skills honed over the years. These skills are lifted from the work experience in no particular order of chronology, and placed in categories that are deemed relevant to the targeted employers. For example, categories for a candidate seeking a job as sales manager might include: New Business Development; Key Account Relations; Management. In its purest form, the functional format does away with the "work history" or "experience" section; no job titles, no company names, no dates of employment.

The Hybrid Format - Taking The Best Of Both

The summary or profile section will be placed above the work history, commanding prime real estate on the resume in an effort to focus initial attention on a candidate's most qualifying attributes – important, for those critical first few seconds of reading.

Learning how to effectively combine the two formats into a hybrid isn't easy, but the potential payoff is a phone that rings with interview invitations.

Where we go from here: A few pages over, you can find out how to craft a resume that avoids the common pitfalls of the screening process. We call it our Top 10 Checklist for a Good Resume. You can also find help writing a Resume Objective, as well as our top 5 tips for writing Resume Accomplishments. Check the Site Menu at the top left of the page for more resume help.

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