The Combination Resume: Examples, Templates, & Writing Guide

Combination resumes are a proven format across all industries because they highlight both your key skills and employment history.

Read on to learn how to create an excellent combination resume with our templates and HR-approved tips.

Table of Contents:

Who Should Use a Combination Resume?
Structure of the Combination Format
Combination Resume Templates

1. Who Should Use a Combination Resume?

Combination resumes are designed for highly-trained job seekers with work experience.

Similar to the functional resume format, a combination resume focuses on an applicant’s skills. If you’re applying to a job that requires technical skills and expertise, a combination format effectively showcases them.

Because this format emphasizes skills over work experience, combination resumes are also suitable for job seekers looking to change industries.

The Anatomy of a Combination Resume

How to Write a Resume, Combination Format Example

Contact details – Your contact details are in a prominent place so that the hiring manager can easily get in touch.

Resume introduction – Combination resumes are best paired with a professional profile to convey your skills.

Experience – In a combination resume, an outline of your work experience is provided.

Skills – Because a combination resume is used to showcase your skills, you can include more than one skills section.

Education – Just as with chronological and functional resumes, you must touch upon your educational background.

Although the combination style focuses more on skills, it still leaves room to detail your work experience. However, if you want to make your work experience your main focus, then the traditional chronological resume may be better for you.

2. The Structure of a Combination Resume (Five Parts)

Part #1. Contact Information

This section requires little explanation: include your name, phone number, email, and address.

Part #2. Professional Profile or Qualifications Summary

A combination resume needs to begin by emphasizing your transferable skills.

Starting with a professional profile or achievement-based qualifications summary is the best way to do this. Although both types of resume introductions aim to advertise your skillset, they are structured differently.

Whereas a professional profile demonstrates your skills, a qualifications summary emphasizes what you achieved using those skills. Choose one that makes the most sense based on your work history and abilities.

Part #3. Additional Skills

In a combination resume, the skills section comes before the experience section. As a mid- to senior-level candidate, you should have enough skills and abilities to fill both the resume introduction and skills section.

Keep this section organized by grouping similar skills. Also, if you see an opportunity to quantify (add numbers) to your skills, then you should. Quantification strengthens your resume by giving employers something concrete from which to evaluate you.

Part #4. Professional Experience

Your experience section will look fairly similar across all resume formats. Use it to provide detailed information about your employment history – mentioning ways you contributed to a company’s bottom line.

Avoid run-of-the-mill job duties. Instead, focus on accomplishments.

Again, adding numbers wherever possible strengthens your case and proves that you can fulfill the needs of the position.

For more guidance, read our tips on how to quantify your professional experience.

Part #5. Education

The education section of a combination resume can be brief because you’re already well into your career. Include your highest degree, school name, and graduation year, and you should be set.

if you had a very strong GPA or received impressive academic honors, you can also include those. However, your key selling points reside in your skills and work history, so there’s no need to overdo it here.

3. Four Combination Resume Examples + Text Formats

You can easily tailor the following combination resume examples into your very own resume. In fact, we encourage you to do so.

Click on the images to view the gallery, or download them all for free with the push of a button. You can also scroll down to view plain text versions.

Downloadable Combination Resume Templates

Combination Resume Example Text Versions

Copy and paste these text versions and change them to your own specifications. Note that these were written by actual professionals in their respective industries, and should (at least) help you understand how combination formats work.

Waitress Resume (Text Format)

CONTACT

Email: youremail@gmail.com
Phone: (895)-555-555
Address: 4397 Las Brisas Drive, Reno, NV, 89523

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Project Execution: Implemented new menu introduction strategies, increasing customer purchases of wine by 10% on avg.
Management: Assisted in the training of 6 new waiters, ensuring attention to detail and comprehensive understanding of restaurant methodology and practices
Awards & Recognition: Frequently praised for excellent service on restaurant’s online rating system
Salesmanship: Deep and broad knowledge of wines and pairings

KEY INDUSTRY SKILLS

Familiarity with Point of Sale (POS) terminals and common restaurant equipment/machinery
Able to memorize entire menus within a day, including ingredient combinations
Proven ability to “upsell” alcohol, dessert, and appetizers to customers
Bilingual – English (native) and Spanish (conversational). Able to comfortably take care of customers in either language

RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

Longhorn Grill

Waitress, Reno, NV, 2012–present

Memorized restaurant’s wine stock and appropriate entrée pairings, leading to daily wine sales averaging $180, fully 15% higher than the company average
Write patron’s food orders on slips, memorize orders, and manage food resources in a 120+ seat restaurant
Operate POS terminals to input customer orders, swipe credit cards, and enter cash amounts received

Mike’s Fancy Kitchen

Hostess & Waitress, Reno, NV, June 2010–August 2012

Awarded “Employee of the Month” two months consecutively
Bussed tables, presented menus, seated customers, and assisted waiters with drink orders
Trained 3 new hosts in providing excellent customer service and conflict resolution techniques

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

Problem Solving
Adaptability
Collaboration
Strong Work Ethic
Time Management
Critical Thinking
Handling Pressure

EDUCATION

B.A. Psychology
University of Nevada, Reno
2009–2013
3.95 GPA

Bookkeeper Resume (Text Format)

CONTACT

Email: email@gmail.com
Phone: (480)-555-555
Address: 47 Smith Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/yourprofile

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

A general bookkeeper with 8+ years of experience using both single-entry and double-entry systems for medium-sized businesses. Specialize in performing bookkeeping for multimillion-dollar companies. Possess expertise in numerous pieces of bookkeeping software. Identified and eliminated departmental inefficiencies to increase productivity by 15%.

SKILLS

MS Office proficient
QuickBooks expert
Data entry skills
Strong work ethic
Leadership
Time management
Leadership
Handling pressure
Collaboration
Problem solving

EXPERIENCE

General Bookkeeper

Franklin & Rodgers Business Solutions, Scottsdale, AZ, September 2012–present

Performed financial calculations such as amounts due, interest charges, balances, discounts, equity, and principal for a multimillion-dollar company.
Accessed computerized financial information to answer general questions as well as those related to specific accounts.
Formulated, prepared, and issued bills, invoices, and account and financial statements with 10% increased efficiency to ensure timely deliverable.
Trained 3 new administrative assistants and junior bookkeepers
Corrected spreadsheet error saving A/P $3,500.

Administrative Assistant Bookkeeper

Patton Group, Tempe, AZ, June 2010–August 2012

Operated computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
Checked figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
Operated 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.

EDUCATION

B.S. Accounting
Wilhelm University, 2010
Phoenix, AZ

A.S. Accounting
Wilhelm Accounting, 2008
Phoenix, AZ

Certified Bookkeeper
American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers

Delivery Driver Resume (Text Format)

CONTACT

Email: Paul.Barron@gmail.com
Phone: (612)-258-1111
Address: 47 Hawthorne Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 42143
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/PaulBarron

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Delivery driver with 5 years of experience driving trucks and commercial vans with loads up to 30,000 lbs.
Proven Communicator: Foster relations with clients, ensuring retention and referrals.
Safety oriented: Possess a clean driving record through my strict adherence to safety guidelines.
Achievement: Slashed monthly maintenance costs by $300 through regular maintenance.

SKILLS

Familiar with CRM systems
Can lift at least 70 lbs
Class B CDL (HAZMAT)
Basic vehicle repairs

EXPERIENCE

Pro Courier, Inc

Delivery Driver, Minneapolis, MN, 2016–present

Drive trucks or vans holding up to 20,000 lbs, delivering up to 150 deliveries per day,
Received award for having no accidents for 3 consecutive years
Saved $7000 worth of gas costs per month by planning more efficient routes
Received 95% in positive feedback from customers, receiving company bonus of appreciation
Perform safety and maintenance check on vehicles, ensuring passing grade during inspections, saving over $20,000 in potential vehicle repair costs

Premium Waters, Inc

Delivery Driver, Minneapolis, MN, 2014–2016

Ran an average of 15 routes per day to residential and business areas, providing exceptional service to clients and maintaining 92% in account retention
Generated $40,000 in new business through referrals of existing customers, upselling products and services, and informing clients of promotional campaigns
Rearranged routes to maximize delivery efficiencies, saving 15+ monthly hours
Provided immediate response and on-site visits to install and troubleshoot equipment

EDUCATION

Washburn High School, Minneapolis, MN
Diploma, May 2014
Varsity Football

Receptionist Resume (Text Format)

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

Receptionist with 9+ years of experience managing administrative functions for office personnel
Possess strong ability in analyzing information and providing solutions to problems
Recognized for ability to implement processes that reduce costs, while improving efficiencies
Achieved: Saved the company $10K in undue payments from inaccurate billings

CONTACT

Phone: (541) 555-1234
Email: HarperStewart@gmail.com
Address: 45 Grey Road, Eugene, OR, 97403
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/Harper47

EDUCATION

BS Hotel Management
Portland Community College
Portland, OR
2011

AS Literature
Portland Community College
Portland, OR
2009

SKILLS

Type 85 WPM
MS Office expertise
Multiline phone system
MySQL
Problem Solving
Team Leadership

CERTIFICATIONS

Receptionist Certification – 2017
Certified Professional Secretary, Bureau of Labor Statistics – 2016
Financial Management – 2015

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Receptionist
2015–present
AMC Corporation, Eugene, OR

Researched and recovered $10K in undue payments from past erroneous billings, earning an award from upper management
Organized complex travel arrangements for 10 sales representatives, while reducing travel expenses by 40% by coordinating lower cost travel routes
Develop reports and documents, transcribe meeting notes, and take dictation, ensuring 100% accuracy

Receptionist
2009–2015
Stern Real Estate, Eugene, OR

Coordinated schedules, meetings, and property visits for 10 real estate agents, and provided administrative support to a total of 20 staff members
Assisted visitors, directing them to appropriate personnel, and answered an average of 50 calls and emails daily
Implemented new data management system that expedited data retrieval by 70%

Didn’t get the specific answers you wanted from this page? Please leave a comment with your question or visit Resume Genius on Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin and we’ll get back to you within the week. Good luck on the job hunt!