The first step to writing a job-winning resume is knowing how to structure all your information properly.
Crafting a well-structured resume goes beyond just listing qualifications and work experiences – it also involves presenting your information to highlight your strengths and downplay any weaknesses.
Below, we go over the three most common ways to structure your resume and explain which type of structure is best for you:
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Using a chronological resume
The chronological resume structure, also known as the chronological resume format, is the most common way to structure a resume.
A chronological resume focuses on your work history by placing the experience section close to the top, just below the resume introduction. Each job title is then listed in reverse-chronological order.
If you have any experience relevant to the job (including non-work related experience such as volunteer work), this is the best structure for your resume.
To use a chronological resume structure, place your resume sections in the following order:
Resume introduction
- Provide a brief overview of your skills, experience, and qualifications
Relevant experience
- List your experiences in reverse chronological order
- Include position title, company name, location, and employment dates
- Use bullet points to highlight your key responsibilities and achievements for each role
Education
- List your highest level of education first, followed by other relevant degrees or certifications
- Include the name of the institution, degree obtained, graduation year, and honors (if applicable)
Skills
- List key skills related to the job you’re applying for
- Make sure to include any skills mention in the job description
Additional sections
- Add other relevant sections such as languages, certifications, volunteer experience, etc.
Example
Here’s a resume structured in chronological order to help you visualize what your resume will look like:
Using a functional resume
When using a functional resume structure, you put the emphasis firmly on your transferable skills. This is why the functional resume is sometimes referred to as a skills-based resume.
This resume structure is ideal if you’ve got significant gaps in your work history, or if you’re a career changer who lacks relevant experience in your new field.
To write a resume using the functional structure, arrange your resume like this:
Resume objective
- Provide a brief overview of your skills, relevant experience (if any), and goals
Relevant skills
- Choose 2-4 relevant skills to highlight
- Use bullet points to demonstrate when you applied these skills previously and what you achieved as a result
Education
- List your highest level of education first, followed by other relevant degrees or certifications
- Include the name of the institution, degree obtained, graduation year, and honors (if applicable)
Work experience
- List your job titles in reverse-chronological order
- Add company name, role, and location
- Include the years you were employed, but don’t write specific dates
Additional sections
- Add other relevant sections such as languages, certifications, volunteer experience, etc.
Example
This is what a resume written according to the functional resume structure looks like:
Using a combination resume
The combination resume structure is exactly what it sounds like: a mix between the chronological and functional structure.
Combination resumes place equal importance on abilities and work experience by making both sections the same size.
Here’s how to properly structure a combination resume:
Resume summary
- Provide a brief overview of your top skills and most impressive achievements
Relevant skills
- Choose 2-4 relevant skills to highlight
- Use bullet points to demonstrate when you applied these skills previously and what you achieved as a result
Work experience
- List your job titles in reverse-chronological order
- Add company name, role, location, and dates of employment
- Use bullet points to highlight your key responsibilities and achievements for each role
Education
- List your highest level of education first, followed by other relevant degrees or certifications
- Include the name of the institution, degree obtained, and graduation year
Additional sections
- Add other relevant sections such as languages, certifications, etc.
Example
Below is an example of the combination resume structure:
Additional tips for structuring your resume
Here are some additional tips for how to structure your resume and ensure it showcases your qualifications:
- Add your contact information at the top of your resume
- Keep consistent spacing between sections, headings, and bullet points
- Clearly label each section with appropriate headings
- Make sure the content is properly aligned
- Use a consistent date format (e.g., “MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY” or “Month Year – Month Year”)
