The Functional Resume: Writing Guide + Templates & Examples

A common misconception about functional resumes is that they are used to hide your work experience gaps. While they do mask them to an extent, that’s not the primary goal.

Instead, they allow job seekers from all backgrounds to put their best foot forward for every application they send out.

We’re going to show you exactly how to assemble your own functional resume, step by step. There are also free downloadable templates at the bottom of the page.

Table of Contents

1. 1. What is a Functional Resume?
   2. The Functional Format in Six Sections
   3. Downloadable Functional Format Template Pack + Text Versions
   4. Resume Writing Tips for Rejoining the Workforce (Infographic)

1. What is a Functional Resume?

A functional resume uses a skills-based resume format. Similar to its chronological and hybrid/combination cousins, it is a popular resume format used by job seekers worldwide.

While sharing certain similarities with other resume styles, there are certain attributes that set it apart. Specifically:

1. The resume introduction and skills section are more substantial than usual
2. Work experience is de-emphasized 

Anatomy of the Functional Resume Template

1. Contact Information – Regardless of format, contact info goes at the top.
2. Qualifications Summary – A great resume introduction for emphasizing skills & achievements.
3. Work Experience – This section can be smaller, and if necessary timeframes can be omitted as well. This is to de-emphasize experience (but not ignore it).
4. Relevant Skills Section – Functional resumes are great for anyone who hopes to highlight their skills over experience. This section should be larger as pictured above.
5. Education – Your highest degree and relevant certifications should be mentioned here.
6. Accomplishments – This section should include your highest awards and honors (if relevant to your target job.)

Emphasizing your strongest abilities and experiences in your resume gives you the best shot at landing interviews.

For many people, their work history helps make their case for employment. Such people tend to use the reverse chronological resume format. However, this not the case for everyone.

For someone using a functional resume, skills happen to fall under that umbrella.

And when elements of both (strong, industry-relevant abilities and a successful history of employment) seem equally critical to your application, the balanced combination resume format is the best choice.

Should I use a functional resume or not?

Since you’re here already, there’s a good chance you should. There are three main reasons you may want to use this particular resume format:

1. You have long periods of unemployment mixed into your work history (so a timeline-type style like the chronological resume format isn’t suitable)
2. You’re switching industries – in particular, you’re leaving one that comprises most of your work experience
3. You’d like to highlight your specific skills rather than your experience

If that doesn’t sound like you, you may want to jump back to our resume format mega-guide to evaluate which style fits your career trajectory best.

2. The Functional Format: Six Sections

If our Anatomy of a Functional Resume section didn’t cover the essentials in-depth enough, here are the six main sections of this vitally important resume format explained in detail:

1: Contact Information

Adding your contact information is by far the easiest part of the resume writing process. Simply include your name, phone number, E-mail, and address, then you’re ready to move on. In regards to styling, your name should be the largest text on the page (20-24pt font is a safe range).

Finally, if you have a personal website that you believe will help your case, then be sure to add it in this section.

2: Qualifications Summary

For those of you with spotty employment records and periods of unemployment, the Qualifications Summary is an ideal way to begin your resume. It allows you to de-emphasize the specific dates that you’ve worked professionally, because your record may reveal gaps in employment.

A Qualifications Summary also has the added benefit of letting you put your best traits and achievements from your work history (and educational history) right at the top of your resume.

Therefore, in this section you should should include 4-5 examples of your most relevant personal achievements. By “relevant”, we mean that they should be relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Read our in-depth guide about writing a qualifications summary here, so that you have the highest chance of impressing the hiring manager.

3: Skills Section

Similar to a combination resume format, the candidate’s skills are more important than their work history in a functional format. If you check out the samples below, you will notice that this section looks similar to a traditional Professional Experience section.

Again, this is due to the fact that the applicant has a spotty work history or wants to change their career path.

As you can see above, the key to the skills section for a functional format is to first choose at least three skills that are applicable to the job you are applying for. For each skill, come up with 3-4 bullet points that help provide evidence of your abilities.

Remember that adding numbers to your resume instills confidence in the employer that are able to fulfill the requirements of the position. Aim to include at least one quantified bullet point for each skill and you will be sure to catch the attention of the hiring manager.

4: Professional Experience (dates optional)

Missing Work Experience Concealer Tip #1: Label Your Period of Unemployment

You may have legitimate reasons for being unemployed — taking care of an ill relative, being a parent, doing an independent study, or being a full-time student. Use these to label your period of unemployment — here are some examples:

• Full-Time Student
• Independent Study
• Full-Time Parent
• Family Management (or Home Management)
• Adventure Travel (or Travels to…)
• Personal Travel

You must show on your resume that you did something during those gaps of unemployment. However, they must not be explained as a result of:

1. Medical issues like rehab, or
2. Unemployment due to a recession.

If you reveal these causes, hiring managers will think that you are a “high risk” hire.

Missing Work Experience Concealer Tip #2: Do Not Include Months

In the resumes samples on this page, you’ll notice that the candidates have left off the periods of employment in the Work History section. Therefore, even if they had an employment gap during the middle of the year 2014, it appears as though they’ve been consistently working.

This is also an acceptable way of “fudging” your resume, which you can explain later during your interview.

5: Education

For a functional style, the Education section is all about the basics. Unless the educational section of your resume directly relates to the job you are applying for, all you need to include is the name of the university or organization, city and state, the degree you received, date you graduated, and your GPA.

6: Awards & Honors (if relevant)

Albeit not as important as other sections, if you have a nice award or honor in something related to your target position, it’s a nice addition to your resume. It shows you’ve been able to stand out amongst your peers, and could very well make your application stand out as well.

3. Four Functional Resume Examples + Text Formats

The functional resume template can be adapted to any of our various chronological resume templates with a bit of tweaking. However, we’ve put together four examples to illustrate exactly how to accomplish this.

You can download the following four functional resume examples and change them to your exact specifications. Click the images to enlarge the samples, or press the button below to download the files – it’s all free. We’ve also provided the text versions for your convenience.

Functional Resume Template Examples x 4

Downloadable Functional Resume Templates

Functional Resume Example Text Versions

Copy and paste the following text versions of our four primary functional resume examples, and mold them to your own specifications. Good luck on the job hunt!

4. Infographic: 5 Resume Tips for Anyone Rejoining the Workforce

If you’re reading our functional resume format guide, you may be someone looking to rejoin the workforce after an extended period of time unemployed. If this sounds like you, check out our five resume-writing tips specifically for candidates facing employment gaps.