It’s functional resume time.
Anyone with tired, boring resume, or who is simply looking for new ways to present their resume, should consider trying to create a functional resume. These functional resumes can help increase attention, share experience, and be a great way position you for a role.
We spoke with expert recruitment professionals to learn more about the benefits of a functional resume— and brought you the best advice we can.
A functional resume, also known as a skills-based resume, is a type of resume format that emphasizes an individual’s skills and abilities over their chronological work history.
Unlike the traditional chronological resume, which lists work experience in reverse chronological order, a functional resume focuses on the job seeker’s skills and qualifications.
Background Overview of Functional Resumes
The functional resume format has been around for many years, but it has gained popularity in recent times due to the changing nature of work and the increasing importance of transferable skills.
This type of resume is particularly useful for individuals who have gaps in their employment history, are changing careers, or have a diverse range of experiences that don’t fit neatly into a single job category.
When Should Functional Resumes Be Used?
Functional resumes should be used when:
- You are changing careers: If you are transitioning into a new field, a functional resume allows you to highlight the skills that are relevant to the new job, even if you gained them in a different industry.
- You have gaps in your employment history: If you have periods of unemployment, a functional resume can help to de-emphasize these gaps.
- You have a diverse range of experiences: If you have worked in a variety of roles or industries, a functional resume can help to consolidate your experiences and present them in a coherent way.
Features and Benefits of Functional Resumes
- Emphasizes Skills: Functional resumes allow you to showcase your skills and abilities, rather than your job titles. This can be beneficial if your previous roles don’t directly align with the job you’re applying for.
- Highlights Transferable Skills: This format is excellent for highlighting skills that can be applied across different roles and industries.
- Flexible Format: Functional resumes can be easily tailored to each job application, allowing you to highlight the skills that are most relevant to the job at hand.
- De-emphasizes Employment Gaps: By focusing on skills rather than chronological work history, functional resumes can help to minimize the impact of employment gaps.
- Showcases Career Progression: Even if your career path has not been linear, a functional resume can help to show how your skills have developed over time.
- Highlights Achievements: This format allows you to highlight your most significant achievements, regardless of when or where they occurred.
- Ideal for Career Changers: Functional resumes are perfect for individuals who are transitioning into a new career field.
- Useful for Recent Graduates: Recent graduates who lack extensive work experience can use a functional resume to highlight their academic achievements, internships, and relevant skills.
Sample Functional Resume
Name: John Doe
Contact Information: [email protected] | (123) 456-7890
Skills and Qualifications
Project Management: Led a team of five to complete a six-month project on time and under budget.
Communication: Presented quarterly reports to a team of 20+ individuals, improving department understanding and collaboration.
Leadership: Supervised a team of 10 sales associates, increasing overall sales by 15%.
Work Experience
Project Manager, XYZ Company, 2020-Present
Sales Associate, ABC Company, 2018-2020
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration, University of XYZ, 2018
Limitations of Functional Resumes
While functional resumes have many benefits, they also have some limitations:
- Not Always Accepted: Some employers prefer the traditional chronological format and may be suspicious of functional resumes.
- Can Be Confusing: If not well-organized, functional resumes can be confusing for hiring managers to read.
- Lack of Detail: Because they focus on skills rather than jobs, functional resumes can sometimes lack detail about your work history and achievements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a functional resume can be a powerful tool for showcasing your skills and abilities, particularly if you are changing careers, have gaps in your employment history, or have a diverse range of experiences.
However, it’s important to remember that not all employers prefer this format, so it’s crucial to tailor your resume to each job application.
We encourage you to explore our frequently asked questions, special offers, and our ready-made training course material.
