Functional Resume


Work Experience might be the most important thing for many employers but even without it, you can still land yourself a good job.


While most of the resumes are written in reverse chronological order (from most recent to the older one) which is the only way to present your skills and experience. But the chronological resume isn't perfect for everyone. If you have a lack of relevant work experience or if you are changing your work field then there are several other options for you like a functional resume which may come handy for you.

What is a functional resume?

A functional resume which is also known as a skill-based resume focuses on your skills and area of expertise rather than your work experience. It is used to hide the fact that you don’t have much experience or lack much experience in the field. So instead of listing your recent jobs on the top as you would do on a traditional resume, you'd select only the most relevant roles from each of your past jobs and combine them.

If you are entering the workforce for the first time or after a long absence such as recent graduates with no prior formal work experience or people who had stayed home for a long time and are now seeking employment.If you want to showcase your skills rather than your experience.

When to consider a functional resume format?

This resume format is a good option for people who have gaps in their professional experience or if they have been unemployed for a long period of time. If you are changing your career or industries like if your work history is not directly related to the job you're applying for.

If you are entering the workforce for the first time or after a long absence such as recent graduates with no prior formal work experience or people who had stayed home for a long time and are now seeking employment.If you want to showcase your skills rather than your experience.

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How to write a functional resume

  • Add your contact information
  • Add a contact section that includes your name, email, phone number and city and state of residence. (Note: it's not necessary to mention your full street address)

  • Write a resume summary
  • Consider writing a summary at the beginning of the resume that focuses on the skills you have that are relevant to the job. You can include your primary experience, relevant skills and overarching career goals. This is a great way of how the employer sees you at first glance.

  • Group your skills
  • Next, you’ll begin to list your primary skills and abilities. Typically, this is done within the structure of buckets or themes. you can use the work experience to assist your skills groupings. Include 3–4 examples within these groupings of your most relevant experiences or achievements.

  • Mention relevant projects
  • Also, remember to include any projects that you think are related to the job. Projects demonstrate your success in and completing tasks.

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  • Still include employment history
  • Regardless of what, you'll likely still have to include employment history. Include this at the rock bottom of your resume, in order that the employer will focus more on your skills instead of your work history.

  • List your educational background
  • Include the name of the institution or university, field of study, any relevant achievements, if applicable. Some people leave education off their functional resume if it’s not relevant to the job or if it would bring up additional questions for employers, so consider whether including your education would help you position as a robust candidate.

So should you use a functional resume when searching for a job?

So a functional resume is a resume which is not used by many people these days. Recruiters don't see functional resumes often these days and they might take it as a red flag and may assume that the applicant is trying to hide something, like a lack of qualifications. But a skill-based resume might also be an effective way to highlight your skills.

Recruiters want to learn as much as they can about an applicant from his resume, so they are going to look at which companies you have worked earlier, your tenure in each role and what you have achieved in that position.When you try to bury these things at the bottom of your resume (or might completely exclude them), a recruiter is most likely to assume that your background must not be very strong.



Written By :
Aman Pundir
Career Expert at CV Owl

Your CV or resume is your first impression for any company. With the help of CV Owl, you can get a well-structured CV and your time will be saved. Everything on your CV should be written in a formal manner and in a precise way. You have only 20 seconds to impress your recruiter with your CV, make the best out of it. Visit our series “The HR Talk” where we help you know everything about your job interview from the recruiters.

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