Functional Resumes: What They Are and When to Use Them in Your Job Search

Submitting the best resume possible is essential regardless of the job you're applying for. Selecting the proper format for your unique circumstances is one aspect of ensuring you put your best foot forward. 

Many turn to the common chronological resume format. But what happens if your work history and skills don't fall neatly within that format? Then, a functional resume might be an option.

What is a functional resume?

The functional resume format emphasizes your skills over your work history. The goal of a functional resume is to craft your career history in such a way that proves how the skills you've acquired align with the job you want. It's these skills that will stand out first and foremost to the hiring team. 

You still include your work history in a functional resume, though you don't go into detail about your accomplishments for each specific position. Instead, you include your accomplishments within each skill category. 

A functional resume tends to be a last-resort format for a couple of reasons:

1. Applicant tracking systems sometimes have a difficult time reading a functional resume format. 

2. Since the functional format is not that common, it can be more difficult for recruiters and hiring managers to find the information they're seeking quickly.

Still, if you don't have a traditional work history but have many skills relevant to the job you're applying for, a functional resume could be the best choice for you. 

What is a functional resume vs. a chronological resume?

The chronological resume, also referred to as a reverse chronological resume, is the most commonly used resume format. This format focuses on achievements from your work history instead of skills like the functional format. 

In the chronological format, you will include your most recent job first, with the rest of your experience in reverse chronological order. Each position will have a set of bullets that flesh out your achievements in that role. 

A chronological resume is an ATS-friendly format when it's written correctly. It also is the most popular among hiring teams since they're familiar with it and can easily locate the information that matters to them. 

Related reading: How to Use a Reverse Chronological Resume Format

What is a functional resume vs. a hybrid resume?

A hybrid resume, also called a combination resume, blends aspects of the chronological and functional resume formats. 

The hybrid resume has become a popular format choice for candidates since it gives the opportunity to emphasize the skills you have in combination with your work history. It's also a format that is easily read by ATS and human readers. 

Related reading: The Best Resume Format to Get You Hired

Why do applicant tracking systems have issues with functional resumes?

One of the main issues with using a functional resume is the fact that today's resume screening technology – the ATS – can’t always parse relevant information from it. Applicant tracking systems screen resumes using relevant keywords, job titles, and years of experience. They are programmed to scan resumes looking for a straightforward timeline. 

When you use a functional resume format, that timeline doesn't exist in the traditional sense of the word. This can make it harder for the ATS to cull the right information from your career history. 

Here's what the ATS is looking for that will be missing from your functional resume:

• Clear job titles and dates: Since the functional resume is built with a focus on skills, aptitudes, and transferable abilities, the ATS may have difficulty extracting details about your career timeline. 

• Lacking context for your experience: The clearly defined timeline of a chronological resume makes it clear which skills you got from which job. Since the functional resume doesn't include bullet point achievements with your work history, there's no context for the ATS to assess your skills. 

• Less effective keyword matching: You'll hear it time and again – you have to tailor your resume to different jobs using the right keywords. The ATS is looking for those keywords. The lack of association with job titles or experiences makes it harder for the ATS to determine if you're a match for the job. 

All of this could lead to your resume being wholly rejected by the ATS and that's one of the main reasons that job seekers are ghosted by companies. 

• The ATS rejects an application

• The human beings at the company don't know the candidate exists

• The candidate is ghosted 

When should you use a functional resume?

Now that we've answered “What is a functional resume?” and some of its challenges, let's discuss when you should and shouldn't use this format option.

A functional resume might work well for you if:

You’ve been out of the workforce for a while

Suppose you're reentering the workforce after some time. In that case, you might not want that fact to be the first thing prospective employers notice about your resume. Instead, you'd prefer they see your impressive categories of skills. 

You have a gap in your employment history

Similar to being out of the workforce for a while, a functional resume helps emphasize your relevant skills first to give a positive spin on your resume, helping take the emphasis off of your employment gap(s). 

You’ve held different jobs or worked in different industries

If your employment record is all over the place regarding the industries and types of jobs you've held, it might not be easy for a hiring team to connect your experience to the job you're applying for. A functional resume will allow you to emphasize that you have the skills necessary for the job first, so your diverse employment record isn't called into question (hopefully) as much. 

You have little to no work experience

You might not have much work experience if you're right out of college. You do likely, however,  have a lot of skills you've acquired through school activities, sports, part-time work, or school clubs. A functional resume allows you to be creative in the skills you represent first, helping grab the attention of hiring teams with what's most relevant.

Your skills come from means other than traditional work experience

Suppose you have relevant skills acquired through things like hobbies, interests, or volunteer experience over conventional work experience. In that case, a functional resume will allow you to emphasize these skills so they stand out better than they would in a chronological format. 

When should you NOT use a functional resume?

If any of the following pertain to you, then it's likely in your best interest to choose a hybrid or chronological resume format:

You have a traditional employment career trajectory

If you have plenty of work experience related to the job with a typical career growth path, then a chronological resume is the way to go. 

You're changing careers 

Often, changing careers means you’ll have to provide an accounting of transferable skills. Those are the types of skills you can use no matter what job you hold. If you've gained a lot of transferable skills and are making a career shift, a hybrid resume is an excellent way to highlight your transferable skills first, with your work experience coming in second. 

Your most recent employment history is relevant

If your most recent employment is relevant to the job you want, even if some of the rest of your work history isn't, you'll likely do better with a hybrid or chronological format over a functional one. 

What to include in a functional resume

Here are the sections to include in a functional resume:

Start with your contact information

Regardless of the format you select, you'll start it off with your contact information. This includes your name, cell phone number, email address, and location (city, state, zip code). You can also include your LinkedIn or professional website URL – but only if they’re professionally organized and properly optimized. 

Kick it off with a resume summary

Another common element across all resume formats is starting it off with a resume summary. Your summary should encapsulate what your resume is about. You want to grab the reader's attention enough for them to want to learn more. Include three to five essential skills and one to two accomplishments, with a good balance of hard and soft skills. 

Categorize your skills

The bulk of your resume for a functional format will be your Professional Skills section. Here's where you'll categorize your skills and include key accomplishments from your experience to showcase how you applied those skills successfully in the past. 

Incorporate your work history

Following your Professional Skills section, include your work history. Here, include the name of the employer, your position, and the dates you were employed. Where you would include bullet points of your accomplishments below each position for a chronological and hybrid format, you will leave those off in the functional format. You've already covered key accomplishments within your categories of skills.

Close it off with education

Like other resume formats, your functional resume will end with your Education section. An exception to this is if you are a new hire with little to no work experience and a few skills to highlight. In that case, you'll emphasize your education by listing it first, followed by your Skills section and then your work history. 

Your Education section should include your degree and where you obtained it. You can also include any honors you might've achieved. 

You might also choose to include relevant certifications in your Education section. Or, you can opt to include a separate Certifications section if you have more than a couple to highlight.

Include additional sections as appropriate

You may include additional sections on your resume depending on your unique circumstances. Additional sections could include Volunteer Experience, Hobbies and Interests, Certifications, Special Projects, and Technical Skills.

Tips for writing your functional resume

Here are a few additional tips to help you craft a job-winning resume:

• Tailor your resume to each job: Refer to the job description and tailor your resume to include keywords and information that aligns with your skills and experience. 

• Use power verbs: Begin each work accomplishment bullet point with a power verb. 

• Include as much quantifiable information as possible:When describing your accomplishments, include results and use data to quantify those results as much as possible. 

Example of a functional resume 

Here is an example of a functional resume for someone pursuing an HR-related job. You'll see this individual has a brief employment gap and a bit of an unconventional career path, making a functional resume a suitable option.

Kendra Smith

555.555.5555 | ksmith@email.cm | Morgantown, WV 26505 

TITLE OF THE ROLE YOU’RE SEEKING

Intuitive professional with multi-dimensional expertise in Human Resources for diverse group of industries, including oil & gas, finance, Internet marketing, and real estate. Timely and efficient with the ability to work with all levels of staff within an organization. Influential in working with leadership teams to support the best interests and wellbeing of employees. Expertise includes recruiting, employee relations, training and development, and performance management. 

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Staffing & Recruiting

• Partnered with recruiters to rebuild workforce after a 40% reduction due to Hurricane Katrina relocation

• Counseled management while going through a reduction in force for 150+ positions

• Recruited for over 500 positions in multi-faceted environments

• Utilized applicant tracking system (ATS) software, including Taleo, and JobVite, to monitor resume submissions and data

• Designed a one-stop shop website to assist new hires in assimilating to the community and company

Employee Relations & Performance Management

• Managed employee relations for multimillion-dollar global and domestic client groups totaling 500-700 employees

• Designed and implemented new company-wide Service Award Program

• Developed new performance management process, resulting in more effective employee development, documentation, and communication

• Directed relocation project and successfully transferred 300+ positions from Austin to Houston, TX

Communications & Policy Design

• Prepared and administered 40+ HR-focused policies, including performance management, non-solicitation, harassment, education reimbursement, annual MVR reviews, and discipline, for $4.5B start-up company

• Partnered with HR & Legal departments to develop and present materials for pertinent employee communications, including Austin relocation, benefits open enrollment, and policy updates

• Presented HR updates, including goals and projects, for monthly Leadership staff meetings

• Drafted and wrote 200+ employee, HR, and CEO communications

Training & Development

• Developed 30+ training modules focused on HR Foundational skills for supervisors and managers, including union avoidance, effective communication, performance management, employment law, recruiting, and employee development

• Spearheaded culturally sensitive technical and professional career development plans for 100 international and domestic employees

• Trained HR colleagues on I-9 government compliance

WORK EXPERIENCE

• HR SME Copywriter: IESquared, LLC, Houston, TX, 06/2020 - Present 

• Public Relations Specialist: PrimeWay Credit Union, Houston, TX, 04/2017 - 06/2020 

• HR Recruiter: HighMount E & P, Oklahoma City, OK, 11/2012 - 05/2013

• HR Operations Manager: Dominion E & P, Houston, TX, 09/2010 - 10/2012

EDUCATION  

West Virginia University – Morgantown, WV

• Master of Science in Human Resources and Industrial Relations

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Is a functional resume right for you?

Now it's time to decide if the functional resume is the right option for you. If you have a traditional work history, recent relevant work, or are applying for a job where your work history is necessary to include in detail, then you should forgo the functional resume format. 

If you fall into any of the other categories above where a functional resume could be of value, then go for it. And, when in doubt, you can always hire a resume writer to help. Good luck!

Are you using the right format for your resume? Find out by submitting it for a free resume review. Our experts will review it and provide specific tips to help improve it and get past an ATS!

Recommended reading:

• How to Check If My Resume Is ATS-Friendly for Free

• 15 Expert Tips to Working with Recruiters

• Strategic Job Search Planning: Land Your Dream Job