Best Resume Format: Templates & Examples (2024)

How important is the right resume format? Is it necessary at all? Do recruiters pay attention to how you format a resume, or is it all about its content?

Read my article and discover 3 main resume formats for 2024. Learn how to format a resume, see which one is preferred by recruiters, and find a perfect template for your next job application.

Want to create a resume in the most common resume format? Our resume builder can do that just in minutes. Just pick a resume template you like best and follow the tips.

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Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

Based on an in-depth analysis of 11 million resumes created in our builder, we’ve gathered valuable insights from a diverse range of users across various industries and experience levels. Here are our top findings to help you craft a more effective resume

Feeling lost already? Want to know more about writing a resume? Here’s a great guide to get you started: How to Write a Resume

What Are the 3 Main Resume Formats?

I remember when I created my first resume. It was pure chaos. My experience section was the most prominent, even though I had no experience to show. There were too many irrelevant skills and too many additional sections. And believe it or not, somehow, it was 3 pages long! How did that happen?!

Had I known that there were some resume formats to follow, my personal career story might have looked slightly different

Don’t repeat my mistakes. In this guide, I’ll show you the difference between resume formats, but in the meantime, here’s a brief explanation:

• Reverse-chronological resume format: focuses on your work experience. 
• Functional resume format: focuses on your skills.
• Combination resume format: focuses on both your experience and skills.

But how to choose the resume format that’s best for you? First, let’s learn more about each one of them.

Resumes, CVs, Cover Letters… It might get confusing. Start with the basics: What is a Resume?

Chronological Resume Format

The chronological resume (also known as the reverse-chronological resume) highlights your relevant work experience, starting with the most recent one. You continue to list your positions and achievements going backward, placing them in reverse chronological order. 

Let’s see what it looks like.

Chronological Resume Format: Text Example

Here’s an example of a chronological resume created in our online resume builder:

Chronological Resume Format: Visual Example

As you can see, this resume format focuses on your work experience. However, it’s not the only section you need to remember about.

Let’s find out how to structure a reverse-chronological resume.

Chronological Resume Format: Structure

1. Resume Header
2. Resume Profile (Resume Summary or Career Objective)
3. Work Experience
4. Education
5. Skills
6. Additional Information

These 6 sections form a complete document that will make recruiters’ jobs easier. They’re familiar with this resume layout, which helps them spot all relevant information within 7.4 seconds of looking at a resume. On the other hand, you need to put some extra effort into making your resume stand out from the other candidates.

Let’s see some simple resume tips to help you get noticed and impress recruiters even more.

Chronological Resume Format: Formatting Tips

• List your relevant achievements (not only responsibilities) in your work experience section. That way, you'll show your career progress and your uniqueness.
• Follow the reverse chronological order in your education section as well. List only your highest level of schooling if you have a few years of relevant work experience.
• Highlight your key skills. But don’t just list them. Make them mirror your quantifiable work achievements and adapt them to the job ad.
• Include some additional sections that might be useful for proving your skills. Give them context to make your recruiter realize how much value you’ll bring to the company.
• Write your resume profile last, but place it on the top of your document. Select 2–3 accomplishments and skills from your resume that are most relevant to the job ad. 

Who should consider choosing this resume format? Take a look.

When Is a Chronological Resume Format Good For You?

This resume format is perfect for candidates with several years of professional experience who have progressed steadily and preferably in one industry. It’s also great for those with no significant gap in their employment.

However, following the chronological resume order is very universal. And therefore this resume format works also if you don’t have much experience. For example, if you’re writing a student resume, all you have to do is rearrange your resume sections a bit.

That being said, whether you’re writing an accounting resume, an IT manager resume, a nurse resume, a law student resume, or any other resume, this format might work out.

Time for a quick summary.

Let’s move on to our second resume format.

Want to learn more about the reverse-chronological resume format? Visit our complete guide to see more templates and examples: Reverse-Chronological Resume.

Functional Resume Format

The functional resume format, also called a skill-based resume, showcases transferable skills over work history. Its purpose is to disguise having little experience. With this resume format, you list your relevant skills, emphasizing how you’ve practically used them in the past.

This resume format will work well for creative jobs where a portfolio matters most, military transitioners, and candidates who don't want to seem overqualified.

Let’s take a look at the sample.

Functional Resume Format: Text Example

Let’s look at a functional resume sample created in our online resume builder. 

Functional Resume Format: Visual Example

The skills summary is the most important section of this resume format. But you still need more than that to impress your recruiter.

How to structure a functional resume? Read on and see.

Functional Resume Format: Structure

1. Resume Header
2. Resume Objective
3. Skills Summary
4. Additional Skills
5. Work Experience
6. Education

As you can see, these sections differ from those in the reverse-chronological resume format. 

The listed transferable skills are divided into subcategories and explained further. That gives recruiters an understanding of how those skills can be helpful for this job opening.

Take a look at these tips to improve your functional resume.

Functional Resume Format: Formatting Tips

• Write a career objective explaining your professional goals. Include your skills and qualifications and add a link to your online portfolio, a blog, or a personal website.
• Pick 4 to 5 hard and soft skills relevant to the job you’re after. Give examples of when and how you applied them. Use either bullet points or go for plain paragraphs.
• List additional skills. They can include your language skills, software you’re proficient in, tools you’re familiar with, etc.
• Briefly list your work experience. Add job titles, dates, and name locations of the companies you’ve worked with.
• Add an education section. Your alma mater name and date of your graduation should be enough; however, if you have some relevant coursework, include it as well.

Let’s see who will benefit most from choosing this resume format.

When Is a Functional Resume Format Good For You?

While the previous resume format seems to work for all, this one is more specific. Use it if you’re one of the following three types of candidates:

• Creative workers. The functional resume will give you creative space to highlight your skills. Just remember to add a portfolio for confirmation of your abilities.
• Veterans. Highlighting a detailed military work experience in any other resume format is tricky. Recruiters are usually not familiar with these types of qualifications. Sowing your abilities might be a better idea.
• Overqualified candidates. Having tons of relevant experience is valuable but often difficult to show on your resume. Sometimes it’s easier to show your skills instead. Especially considering what’s easier for your recruiter to wrap their heads around.

If you’re a graphic designer, military transitioner, or a Chief Executive Officer, the resume format you should choose is a skill-based one.

Let’s do a quick recap.

It’s time to see what our last resume format has to offer.

Learn all there is to know about this resume format. Templates, examples, tips: this how-to guide has it all. Read more: Functional Resume Format.

Combination Resume Format

The combination resume format combines elements of a chronological resume and a skills-based resume. It places equal emphasis both on your skills and work experience. The skills summary section lists relevant skills, while the experience section validates them with examples of past accomplishments. 

This resume format is great for seasoned professionals targeting a specific position, career-changers, and candidates with employment gaps.

We’ll start with the example.

Combination Resume Format: Text Example

Below, you’ll see an excellent example of a combination resume created in our resume builder. 

Combination Resume Format: Visual Example

As you can see, the two main resume sections in the combination format correspond with each other. And what about other parts of your resume?

Let’s explore how to structure a combination resume.

Combination Resume Format: Structure

1. Resume Header
2. Skills Summary
3. Work Experience
4. Additional Skills
5. Education

One section is missing in the combination format—it’s a resume profile. Describing your skills and experience will give your recruiter enough information while keeping your document readable and brief.

Have a look at these tips to improve your functional resume.

Combination Resume Format: Formatting Tips

• Build the skill summary section with both your hard skills and your soft skills. Add up to 4 bullet points describing your professional achievements that prove those skills.
• Make your work experience section correspond with the skills summary. Build this section the same way you’d do in a chronological resume. 
• List additional skills, just like in a functional resume format.
• Add your b and list your relevant coursework or other academic achievements, such as cum laude or Phi Beta Kappa.

Should you consider using this resume? Let’s find out.

When Is a Combination Resume Format Good For You?

Since this resume format combines the other two, is it good for every candidate? I personally advise you to use it only if you’re one of the three types:

• Experienced professionals. A combination resume is ideal for showcasing your key achievements if you have a long career.
• Career-changers. If you haven’t worked in your new industry yet, but have gained relevant skills in other roles, this is also a great resume format for you to choose.
• Job-seekers with employment gaps and valuable experience. It’s easy to show your achievements with this resume format. If you can show them clearly, your recruiters will overlook the gaps. 

If you’re an experienced marketing director, senior software engineer, or a stay-at-home mom who’s either returning to the job market or following a new career path, a combination resume is perfect for you.

It’s time to summarize what we’ve learned here today about this resume format.

Now that you’ve learned about all 3 resume formats, let’s see which one’s best.

Find out more about this resume format from our guide: Combination Resume

What Is the Best Resume Format?

The best resume format in 2024 is the reverse-chronological resume format. It’s also the most common resume format, working perfectly for most candidates. Plus, it’s recruiters’ all-time favorite, so it’s hard to go wrong choosing a chronological resume.

Here’s what Milena Makowska, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, has to say about this resume format:

Think about it: an average job opening attracts hundreds of resumes. If you follow a specific resume format, you will make HR’s job much more manageable.

Many of us consider chronological resumes as our go-to resume format. We know it best; it’s easy to scan, and we can see what you’ve been up to most recently. Usually, this information is the most relevant, and it helps us base our decision on what to do with your resume next.

However, you should always choose your resume format according to your work history. It should serve you as a candidate, not me as an HR specialist or the company you’re applying for.

Just like Milena said, you choose a resume format that works best for you as a job seeker. Consider your professional history and then make an informed decision about the type of resume you will write. It’s important to tailor your resume to the job offer, but better to stick to one resume format for all applications. 

Still, trying to figure out which format is for you? Let me show you an easy way to find out.

Learn how to answer the job ad perfectly with your resume. Read our guide: How to Write a Targeted Resume.

Which Resume Format to Choose?

You know that choosing the right resume format depends on your professional experience. By now, you probably know which format is the right one for you. But allow me to make it even easier for you. 

Below, you will find a table with hints on which resume format should you choose. Just find which column suits you most et voila! That’s your resume format.

What Is the Best Resume Format for Me?

I’m sure you’ve picked your resume format already, so now it’s time to learn some tips that work for all three.

Pro-tip: As many as 7 out of 10 large companies use the Applicant Tracking System resume checker. Choosing a good resume template and a suitable resume format is only your first step in creating an ATS-friendly resume. Using specific resume keywords, selecting proper resume fonts, and labeling resume sections with headings will help you pass that test.

How to Format a Resume?

No matter which resume format you've chosen or whether you’re writing a CV or a resume, make sure it looks good. Here are a few simple resume tips. Follow them, as they will tell you exactly what your resume should look like in 2024.

All 10 of the following guidelines apply to all 3 resume formats. 

1. Set standard margins

Keeping the right resume margin size will boost the readability of your document, making it easier for the recruiter to see that you're the right fit. Making your margins an inch on each side should do the trick. 

2. Mind the line spacing

Giving some white space in between the lines of your resume is another must-do for all candidates to keep their resume readable. Use single or 1.15 line spacing to make your document easier to scan.

3. Select a professional font

Choose a 11 or 12-point font that’s easy to read, but also professional-looking. Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica, Georgia are some of the best fonts for a resume. But don’t be afraid to experiment with more modern, yet still smart, ones. 

4. Divide your resume into sections

You don’t want to have all your details scattered across your resume. Instead, keep your document well organized by creating sections with headings. And add an extra space before and after each section heading, to make reading even easier for your recruiter.

5. Apply bullet points

Use bullet points for each entry, whether you’re listing your achievements, skills, certificates, or hobbies. That’s a great way of boosting readability and keeping readers interested. Just don’t make them longer than two lines. Three lines are good for full paragraphs, not bullet points.

6. Be consistent 

Consistency is as important as readability. Be consistent with how you show each position, date format, what you bold, what you underline, and what you capitalize. This additionally shows great attention to detail, a skill valued by many employers for many professions.

7. Keep the right resume length

Aim at having a one-page resume. If you have a lot of experience or tons of skills relevant for the job opening, a two-page resume is also a good idea. Anything above that is different from the right resume length. 

8. Avoid using photos

Don’t use photos on your resume unless the job description specifically asks for them. Companies follow fair hiring practices that are free from bias and discrimination. Quite often, a resume with a picture will be rejected, only for that reason.

9. Name your resume correctly

Decide on a good name for your resume file. Your name, job title, and the word “resume” will always work great, as it gives the recruiter all the necessary information about this document: who has written it, why this person has written it, and what type of document it is.

10. Send your resume as a PDF 

Sending a PDF resume file, unless stated otherwise in the job description, will allow your document to remain intact, keeping the same structure and length. Plus, PDF format is operable on most devices, so your recruiter can surely access it.

Now, you know which resume format to choose and how to format a resume. It's time to select a perfect resume template.

Pro-tip: The same rules regarding a resume header apply to all three of these formats. You should make it stand out most because you don’t want your recruiter to miss it. Remember to include your name, job title, and contact information because you want your recruiter to contact you quickly. Finish it with a link to your LinkedIn profile. Your recruiters will surely check your online presence, so make it easier for them.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

5 Best Resume Templates

Whatever job you’re after, you can’t get wrong with professional resume templates. Here, you’ll find some examples from our builder that are ready to make in just a few clicks. All these templates are great for all 3 resume formats. They are also ATS-friendly, and you can freely adjust them to your needs. 

1. Nanica

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Nanica is one of the all-time favorites among our users despite being a super simple resume format. The best thing about it? It has a very universal design with lots of white space. Highly recommended modern resume template for job applications in conservative fields: law, finance, and general business.

2. Primo

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Primo is a simple, elegant, yet unique resume template with a timeline on the left side to make your work experience and education dates easier to track. A sidebar for your skills and extra sections lets you save space and fit more information onto a single page.

3. Cubic

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I'd say Cubic is the prettiest resume format available in our builder. It’s a perfect combination of classical elegance and modern creativity. Subtle shading helps guide the reader's eyes across different sections. The side column for contact details and skills adds a dynamic twist to the design. This visual resume template is an excellent choice for applicants hunting jobs in IT, marketing, or sales.

4. Diamond

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As the name of this resume template implies, diamonds highlight the key areas: section headings, skill levels, and bullets in the work history section. Full-width from top to bottom (no side column featured) makes it easy to go through your work history chronologically. This eye-catching resume template is excellent for candidates with many years of experience.

5. Newcast

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With Newcast, you get a traditional and minimalist resume template with details that help your application stand out, like the tasteful icons for section headings and bar charts to indicate skill levels. If you're applying for a job at a company with a conservative culture, Newcast will be a great bet! 

That’s all! You’ve learned everything about resume formats, know all three types and can decide which is the best for you. Let’s do a quick recap. Then I’ll give you some more resume help, and we’ll end up exploring the FAQ section!

Now that you know all there is to know about a resume format, it’s time to learn how to format a cover letter. It’s a document you can’t skip to get invited for a job interview. Find out how to ace it: Cover Letter Format.

A great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

There are certain things I need to remind you of before you create your job-winning document with a perfect resume format.

• There are three main resume formats: reverse-chronological, functional, and combination. 
• All these have pros and cons and are all created for a specific type of job seeker.
• Reverse-chronological resume format is the best resume format for 2024. It’s the most commonly used among job seekers today. It’s also the easiest to scan for the recruiters.
• Apply the standard resume formatting rules: one-inch margins, elegant font, 11–12pt font size, single line spacing, and additional space before and after headings.
• Divide your resume into proper sections such as resume header, summary, work experience, education, skills, and extra sections.
• Save space using bullet points in your work experience and education sections.
• Make sure always to write an ATS-friendly resume to boost its chances of landing in your recruiter’s hands. Choosing a correct resume template from a professional resume builder will help you achieve it.
• Pick the proper resume format for your individual situation.

All check? Start working with the selected resume format that will impress entire HR departments and get you hired ASAP! You got this! 

Just one more thing before you go.

Extra Resume Help

Below, you will find 10 additional links to help you work on your resume after choosing a resume format. 9 of them are guides with tips and examples; the last is our collection of the best resume samples for over 500 job titles. 

Visit those links and get as ready for writing a resume as possible:

• Tips for Writing a Winning Resume Example
• The Perfect Resume
• Best Resume Template
• Two-Column Resume Template
• Creative Resume Templates
• Minimalist Resume Templates
• Curriculum Vitae Format
• US Resume Format
• Best Resume Examples for All Jobs

Do you have any questions about choosing the best resume format for your position? Is there anything else you’d like to know about formatting a resume? Give me a shout in the comments. Let’s chat!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ladders-updates-popular-recruiter-eye-tracking-study-with-new-key-insights-on-how-job-seekers-can-improve-their-resumes-300744217.html 
• https://career.vt.edu/job-search/presenting_yourself/resumes/types_and_formats.html 

Frequently Asked Questions about Resume Format

What is the best resume format for 2024?

The reverse-chronological resume format is the best resume format. Listing your work experience and education in reverse-chronological order, i.e., starting with the most recent position and working backward through previous jobs or degrees, works for both candidates and recruiters. There are several reasons why it’s the best job resume format to use:

• Recruiters are familiar with it and find it easy to skim;
• It enables you to place your best, most relevant experience and professional accomplishments near the top of the page, where the reader is likely to look first;
• It’s the most ATS-friendly resume format, meaning that recruitment software has no trouble processing it.

All of Zety’s resume templates are available in the reverse-chronological format: you just need to fill in the blanks, and you could be ready to apply for your dream job in minutes!

What are the three resume formats?

There are three types of resume formats to choose from:

• Reverse-chronological resume format: considered the standard resume format, it focuses on work experience and/or education, highlighting your accomplishments.
• Functional resume format: also known as a skills-based resume, this professional resume format focuses on your skills and how you acquired them, providing only basic information about your work history. Although it can help to conceal gaps in employment, most recruiters aren’t very familiar with it, so it carries a risk of rejection. Plus, it’s not always ATS-friendly.
• Combination resume format: a hybrid of the other two formats, it gives equal attention to your key skills and work history. However, it suffers from the same issues as the functional format: both recruiters and ATS software may have a problem with it.

The reverse-chronological format is the best choice for most candidates: go with a functional or combination resume only if you’re sure a non-standard format will give you an advantage.

What is the best resume format for students?

No. A student resume is similar to a traditional resume. They are not very different from entry-level resumes and resumes with no work experience. 

Most student resumes follow the standard reverse-chronological format, assuming you’re applying for a job. However, you do need to use a different format if you’re applying for a job in academia or writing a graduate school resume. In those cases, go with an academic CV rather than a resume.

Is resume format important?

Yes, following a resume format is important. It clearly organizes your skills, experience, and achievements to give hiring managers the information they need. 

It's also crucial for applicant tracking systems (ATS), which are used by many companies to scan and filter resumes. An effective format helps ATS read and understand your resume easily, increasing your chances of getting noticed.

What does an ATS-friendly resume format mean?

ATS-friendly resume format organizes information into clear sections and features key information as plain text—most ATS software can’t read text within images, for example. 

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System(s)—software used by recruiters to sort incoming resumes. ATS software scans applications for specific resume keywords, such as key skills required for the role, rejecting irrelevant applications. 

To check whether ATS can read your resume, copy its contents into Notepad. If your information is still there and looks more or less organized, ATS should be able to make sense of your document. 

Is the resume format the same as the resume template?

No. The term resume format usually refers to the layout of a resume. It’s, for example, the type and order of information featured on the resume and the way it’s organized on the page, including document settings such as margins and line spacing. 

Meanwhile, a resume template is a blank document you can fill with your information—it’s much quicker than building your resume from scratch. If you’re interested, check out our list of free resume templates.

Can I get creative, or is a simple resume format always better?

Regarding resume formatting, it’s usually best not to get too creative and keep it simple. You want your document to be readable both to recruiters and to ATS software, so sticking to basic resume templates is advisable for most candidates. 

However, you may want to opt for a more complex resume design if you’re writing an artist resume or otherwise applying for a job in a creative field. Creative resume templates typically follow the standard format but feature bolder colors and graphic elements.

Which file format should I use for my resume?

Unless the job ad specifies a different format, submit your resume as a PDF. This file format keeps formatting intact and can be opened on any device, even a smartphone or tablet. Remember to give your resume file a professional name with no spaces, i.e., John-Smith-Waiter-Resume.pdf.

What’s the best type of resume template in 2024?

As of 2024, the reverse-chronological format is the most favored. This format is not only the most common but also highly effective for the majority of job seekers. It's a preferred choice for recruiters, making it a reliable option for you.

Which template offers the most space and a nice design?

Finding the right resume template can be tricky, but luckily for you, there are some online resume builders that provide resume templates. Not all of them, however are readable or ATS-friendly.

Zety offers not only highly readable, ATS-friendly modern resume templates, but also a resume checker to see how well your document is performing and what esle does it need to boost your chances of securing an interview. Plus, a consistent cover letter builder to help you create both application documents.