best format to submit resume online

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The Best Sites to Post Your Resume Online in 2024

Table Of Contents

The best places to post your resume online, ziprecruiter, reasons to post your resume on ziprecruiter:, reasons to post your resume on dice:, reasons to post your resume on indeed:, reasons to post your resume on linkedin:, careerbuilder, reasons to post your resume on careerbuilder:, reasons to post your resume on monster:, reasons to post your resume on upwork:, reasons to post your resume on flexjobs:, university career center, reasons to post your resume with your university career center:, why post your resume online, tips for posting your resume online, bottom line.

We recommend trying ZipRecruiter because it’s a premium job board and consistently ranks as our top pick for employers and job seekers.

Posting your resume online is crucial to optimizing your job search. Surveys show that over 90% of recruiters source candidates through social media, making it necessary to have your resume on the right social networks and job sites. Uploading your resume is typically easy, with many sites offering simple upload features or the ability to extract your information to their database.

By posting your resume, you can quickly apply for job openings and match with positions based on resume keywords. You can also tweak your resume easily once it's posted, making the application process even faster. To get started, we recommend using ZipRecruiter, our favorite job posting site , which allows you to post your resume for free and get it in front of hiring teams.

If you need resume help, we recommend working with a resume writing service prior to uploading your resume.

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Our top picks for posting a resume online cater to both industry-specific and general audiences, while also filtering out spam to ensure job seekers receive genuine inquiries.

After reviewing the top sites and services these are our best recommendations:

• ZipRecruiter - A leading online employment marketplace that connects millions of employers and job seekers
• Dice - The place to go for tech jobs
• Indeed - The biggest job search engine
• LinkedIn - The largest and most venerable professional social network
• CareerBuilder - Highly visited job board with full-time opportunities
• Monster - Popular job site with all kinds of jobs, including part-time
• Upwork - The biggest online freelance marketplace
• FlexJobs - An extensive, subscription-based jobs database offering vetted job listings for part-time, contract, remote, and flexible jobs
• University Career Centers - Leverage your expert and alumni network

ZipRecruiter is a leading online employment marketplace that leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered smart matching technology to actively connect millions of employers and job seekers.

Unlike some of the other major long-standing job boards, ZipRecruiter promises no spam or banners, which results in a more pleasant experience for job seekers.

You can post your resume online by creating a free account and setting up job alerts. Your resume will be searchable, and you’ll be matched to jobs that are hiring now.

• Easily searchable database
• Ability to see how many people have viewed your profile
• Mobile app with extremely positive user reviews

How does ZipRecruiter stack up against Indeed? Read our full review for more information on comparing and contrasting these two popular sites.

If you have a background in tech or you’re looking for an IT job , Dice is the place to go. There are also a good number of contract jobs available on Dice. The quality of job seekers on Dice is high, which means that recruiters and employers are likely to keep coming back to find talent.

To post your resume:

• Create a MyDice account
• Click your name
• Go to the Resume section and click Upload New or Upload Resume

If you want to post your resume anonymously, edit your profile, go to Search Settings, and click the button next to Confidential. Now, your contact info will be hidden.

• Laser-focus on tech; Dice says that 1 in 2 U.S. technologists are registered on the site
• Learn more about hiring trends, the state of the industry, and salary information with free reports

Related: Best Tech Careers

Indeed is the largest and top-ranked job site, with over 250 million monthly users. In terms of visibility, no other job site gets more action. It’s also free for job seekers, who can search for jobs through the site, via mobile app, or through email alerts.

Posting your resume on Indeed.com is pretty simple. All you have to do is create a free account and then either build your resume from scratch or upload it. Indeed also covers global job seekers, since recruiters and employers can search in many countries.

• Find jobs quickly: uploading your resume takes seconds and many jobs are tagged “Easily Apply” or “Hiring Quickly,” which allows you to target your job search
• Wide reach across industries, job categories, and countries

Your LinkedIn profile is more than just your resume on steroids. It’s a living, breathing document that shows your connection to your industry as well as your skills and achievements. Your resume is part of a sales pitch; your profile tells a more complete story about your career.

That said, it still makes sense to post your resume on LinkedIn. Doing so will make it easier to apply for jobs through the network. You can even use LinkedIn to create new resumes and customize them for open positions.

To upload your resume:

• Go to Job Application Settings
• Click Upload Resume
• Wide reach: LinkedIn boasts 875 million members worldwide
• Easily apply to job listings via the site, app, or email alerts

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CareerBuilder was a pioneer in the job search space, entering the market in the late 1990s when almost no one was using the internet for recruiting and hiring. Twenty-plus years later, they have a lot more competition. But the site still offers a wide reach via its partnership model, resume database, and mobile app.

To apply quickly to CareerBuilder’s job listings, upload your resume to the site. You’ll have the option to display your resume (with or without visible contact information) or hide it.

• See advanced features like recommended jobs.
• Apply quickly to 25+ jobs in one click.

Monster offers a massive resume database–the first one to be publicly available to internet users. Job seekers can post their resumes, search for jobs, and access salary tools and career advice for free. The site also offers paid features like a premium resume service that helps you get in front of the right employers.

Job seekers can choose to make their resumes searchable or keep them confidential. Uploading your resume is simple:

• Create a profile
• Click Upload Resume in the top menu
• Click Upload Your Resume
• Upload or drop your resume file from your computer, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox
• Easy resume upload via multiple sources
• Free resume review feature for first-time users

For more information, check out our Monster review .

Upwork is a highly-rated freelance marketplace that connects independent workers with gigs around the world. Industries served IT, finance, customer support, writing, design, sales, and marketing.

Freelancers create a profile based on their resumes, undergo a straightforward identity verification process, and can then apply for jobs or create projects that clients can buy. Companies can also reach out to freelancers based on their profiles.

Upwork’s fees range from 5%-20% based on freelancer earnings. The fee comes out of earnings at the time of payment.

• Multiple industries and job categories
• Clients are required to place funds in escrow, increasing the likelihood that freelancers will get paid

Need a flexible schedule, part-time or freelance work, or a remote job? FlexJobs is a solid place to start your search. The subscription-based service allows you to post your resume, search for jobs, and apply directly to positions in 50-plus categories ranging from account management to youth services. The top categories include administrative, accounting and finance, writing, customer service, and marketing.

Subscription pricing ranges from $9.95 for a one-week membership to $59.95 for a year. The site vets each job posting to ensure safety from scams and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. FlexJobs also offers many free resources for professionals including job search trends and research, employer information, and guides to resumes and cover letters.

• Vetted job listings mean a low chance of running into fraudulent listings or employers
• Money-back guarantee

University career centers offer alumni a wealth of job resources even years after graduation. You can use your college career center for resume help, job leads, interview prep, and networking connections long after you’ve left school.

One way to leverage your career center is by posting your resume online. Career offices often maintain online portals specifically for students and graduates. Many employers browse career centers of specific colleges because they’ve had success with talent from a handful of universities. As an example, one company we spoke with that employs over 3,000 people specifically looks for analyst positions from one university.

Having your resume on your university career center can also open up opportunities for the university to promote you. Several alumni associations have groups on LinkedIn and Facebook. Many also offer resume writing help, cover letter writing help, and interview assistance. At the end of the day, the success rate might still depend on the reputation of your university and the type of employers coming to the university career center website to find candidates. If your skills and career trajectory match those employers, you’re probably going to get a lot better results than someone who doesn’t.

Every college and university has its own rules for uploading resumes. The process usually involves making an account with their system and uploading documents like resumes, cover letters, and letters of recommendation. Be sure to follow any posted rules about file sizes and types. Check your career center’s website for more details or reach out to a university career counselor for specifics.

• Access to employers who are looking for candidates with your specific educational background
• Alumni referrals and informational interview leads

Employers and recruiters are increasingly turning to social media and online platforms to find new hires. Over 90% of employers use social media to source candidates. By posting your resume online, you ensure that your information gets in front of the right people at the right time. In addition, uploading your resume to job sites and networks:

• Gives you access to advanced job site tools like keyword matching and resume review
• Offers an opportunity to synch your professional brand across multiple sites
• Makes it easier to apply for open positions quickly

Most sites make it easy to upload your resume and use it to search for jobs and access insights via their proprietary tools. But that doesn’t mean that you should post your resume on every site that allows you to do so.

To maximize your efforts:

• Stick to reputable sites with solid ratings on review sites like Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot.
• Look for sites with a wide reach and partnership network like ZipRecruiter and Indeed.
• Keep your resume confidential unless you’re unemployed.

Posting your resume on the right job search sites and professional social networks will ensure that your information gets in front of the right recruiters, hiring managers, and employers. It will also speed up your job search process by making it easier to use online job applications and other tools.

Ready to take your job search to the next level? Upload your resume to ZipRecruiter and connect with employers in your area.

Michael Gardon

Mike is our Founder, career coach, and resident expert on all things resume, hiring and work-life. He is author of The Break newsletter and host of The Break Podcast on Careercloud. He has seen everything from being hired (and fired) to hiring and managing hundreds of people over his career. Mike has also successfully navigated many career pivots. He is a former derivatives trader turned corporate consultant turned entrepreneur who also holds a Bachelors' Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago. Mike is often interviewed and quoted on career topics in major publications such as Business Insider, Forbes, USA Today, Yahoo Finance and Fox News. Mike resides in the beautiful midwest where he built a life around his family. Connect with Mike to talk purpose, career change, entrepreneurship and side hustles like Quotebook , which he built with his kids!

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• Resume Tips

Should You Send Your Resume as a PDF or Word Doc?

You have your resume written, formatted, and tailored just the way you want it. You’re nearly ready to send it out to impress recruiters and hiring managers. But as it’s time to click save, you stop and ponder. Which resume format, Word or PDF, are you supposed to use?

You want to get your resume noticed — but for the right reasons, not the wrong ones. Don’t panic — we’ve got you covered! 

In this post, we will share all the latest advice, and by the end, you’ll have all the details you need to make an informed as to whether you should send your resume as a PDF or Word doc. 

Before we get started, though, there is one unbreakable rule to bear in mind:

Use the file type specified in the job advert

Not all companies will specify which file type they want. However, if the job posting includes something along the lines of, “please send a resume as a PDF attachment to [email protected],” then it goes without saying that you should send your resume as a PDF attachment to that email address.

Read the job advertisement thoroughly to see if the employer prefers a certain file type. You should always send the format that the employer is asking for. Failing to do that means that, at best, they’ll think that you can’t follow a simple instruction or, at worst, that your resume will be unreadable to them. 

In the rest of this article, we’ll pick out the pros and cons of which resume format, Word or PDF, to choose if the job posting doesn’t provide specific instructions.

What are the most common file types for resumes?

The most common resume formats are:

Microsoft Word

TXT (Plain Text)

Of these options, the top two — PDF and Word documents — are by far the most common, so these are the two we are going to focus on within this article regarding the best resume format of Word or PDF to use.

Your best option for a resume: PDF or Word?

You’ll find plenty of Word and PDF resume examples available online that include Microsoft Word, PDF, Google Docs, or TXT, although we recommend consulting with a professional resume writer before you decide to use any of them. That’s because many of these can be more style than substance and simply aren’t suited to being scanned by the applicant tracking systems used by organizations. Such templates may do your application more harm than good.

When you’re considering which file format to use for your resume, bear in mind that each format is best suited to different purposes.

The best format for a job application

When applying for a job online a few years ago, the best format to send and upload your resume in was usually a Word document. This format is the most easily read by the majority of applicant tracking systems , also known as the ATS.

With it being increasingly common for companies to invest in sophisticated ATS software that will parse your resume in any format, you can be confident that virtually all ATS scans can accurately read a .doc file.

Most job openings now specify that both MS Word and Adobe PDF file formats are acceptable when sending over a resume.

So why take the risk of potentially getting overlooked because of your file format by choosing another type? ZipJob’s resume experts recommend submitting your resume as a Word document most of the time. You just can’t go wrong with this format!

The best file format for attaching your resume to an email

On the other hand, many job seekers pass out their resumes like business cards while job searching. If you’re sending a direct message to someone and attaching your resume, you could consider sending it as a PDF. This preserves your formatting to ensure that your resume looks the same on everyone’s screen.

However, take note: sending a resume PDF does NOT mean that it’s a good idea to use a creative or graphic resume format . The ATS, hiring managers, and recruiters all prefer traditional, single-column resumes that can be quickly scanned and understood. 

If you aren’t sure which resume format to use, this guide walks you through the three most popular resume formats for American and Canadian employers, covering chronological, functional, and hybrid-type resumes.

Below are some additional tips for choosing the most suitable file format for your resume. 

What to know about sending a PDF resume 

Many job seekers prefer sending a resume PDF, as it keeps the formatting the same for whoever views it, and it’s compatible across most operating systems.

There are some of the benefits to sending your resume as a PDF file: 

You know the layout that the reader sees will be exactly as you created it.

The reader won’t be distracted by Word’s wiggly underlines for spelling and grammar errors; not that you’d make any, but sometimes proper nouns, like employer names, can get picked up if they don’t appear in the dictionary.

The reader can’t make any changes to your text.

But there are also some problems with sending a resume PDF:

The employer or recruiter might want to make a note or highlight on your resume; if you’re sending your resume to someone for a review, the “suggest edits” feature on Word is quite valuable, and sending your resume in a PDF form removes that option.

A PDF can be locked — great for security, but not so great if the password doesn’t arrive with the file.

Although this issue is now rarer as ATS programs have evolved, some ATS may have difficulty with accurately reading a PDF file.

Should you send your resume as a PDF?

Many job seekers ask, “Does ATS read PDF?” A PDF file is acceptable to many employers — but you’re better off sending a Word document if you’re sending it to a company that uses an ATS — which is over 99% of Fortune 500 companies in 2024.

Unless you’re sending your resume to a REALLY small company, the chances are they’ll use an ATS at some point during the recruitment process. If you’re sending your resume to a recruitment agency, a Word document is often preferred because it’s easier to make edits.

33% of people decide whether or not to open an email based on the subject line. We have some handy hints on the subject in this blog to ensure your email is opened every time.

What to know about sending a Word resume

A Word document is the easiest file type to edit, which gives it a huge advantage. It’s also really easy to keep your Word document neat and organized, giving it a strong advantage over other files.

A Microsoft Word document is the safest bet when submitting your resume. ZipJob recommends normally submitting a Word document because:

Surveys consistently show that employers and recruiters prefer a Microsoft Word document over resumes in a PDF format.

A Microsoft Word document is easily opened on most devices.

An ATS can scan a Word document much better than other types of files.

The problems associated with sending your resume as a Word document are few but include: 

It’s possible that the recipient can make changes to your resume — whether on purpose or by accident.

It may look messy if there are lots of words that are highlighted as spelling or grammatical errors. 

To avoid this happening, take the time and effort to thoroughly proofread your resume. You can do this by using a spellchecker, reading it from back to front, and even asking a trusted friend or colleague to go over it to get that fresh pair of eyes.

Should you send your resume in Microsoft Word?

Do employers prefer PDF or Word? Sending your resume in Word is the safest bet. In short, it’s the format that most employers prefer for resumes, and it can easily be screened by ATS.

How to save your resume as a PDF or Word document

Assuming that you’ve written your resume in Word, all you need to do now is click “File - Save As” and then choose where on your computer you want to save it. Then, add the file name (more on that below!) and select the file type. You can do this by using the drop-down menu in the “Save As Type” field and choosing either “Word Document” or “PDF.” 

To convert a Google Doc to a PDF or Word format, click on “File – Download” and select either the Microsoft Word or the PDF option. 

Applicant tracking systems and your file format

ATS is a type of software that the majority of companies use to screen your resume. The resumes that the ATS identifies as a good match for the position are then highlighted and recommended to the hiring manager.

Over 76% of resumes submitted aren’t even considered, and a simple thing, such as an incorrect file type, may be one of the many reasons why. Other resumes can be scored poorly by the ATS for a lack of keywords , experience mismatch, or complicated formatting. Always send a Word or PDF document to ensure that your resume performs well with ATS. 

Final note: what to name your resume file

The name that you give to your file is an important factor to consider when sending out any job search documents. Your resume should be named as a combination of your name and the word “resume.”

ScottBrettResume.doc

SBrettResume.PDF

SBrettSalesManagerResume.PDF

Recruiters or hiring managers may sometimes need to search the database for your resume. You want to ensure that they can find your resume easily when they type in your name. It also looks more professional than naming your resume “My Resume” — they’re likely to receive hundreds of resumes with that file name! Make their job easier, and make yourself stand out, with a well-considered and easy-to-find file name. 

It’s time to send your resume out into the world!

Your file format is just one of the important factors to consider when sending out your resume. So, should your resume format be Word or PDF? Although resume PDFs are becoming more widely accepted, submitting your resume in a Microsoft Word format is still the safest bet. Though, as previously emphasized, check the job application for any guidance on which format is required, and send it in the one that is specified. If there’s any doubt at all, send a Word document that’s simple, easy to read, and specifically tailored to your career goals.

Now that you’ve saved your file, all that’s left to do is to send it out and land that interview! 

If you’d like an expert opinion on your document before you apply for your dream job, why not send it over to ZipJob for a free resume review ? Armed with some advice on how to improve your document, you’ll soon be fully booked with interviews and well on your way to your next role.  

Recommended reading:

How Many Resumes Should You Be Sending Out?

Best Skills To Put On Your Resume

10 Tips To Get Your Resume Past Applicant Tracking Systems  

This article was originally written by Jen David and has been updated by Elizabeth Openshaw

Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer, Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer

Elizabeth Openshaw is an Elite CV Consultant with over 12 years of experience based in Brighton, UK, with an English degree and an addiction to Wordle! She is a former Journalist of 17 years with the claim to fame that she interviewed three times Grand Slam winner and former World No.1 tennis player, Andy Murray, when he was just 14 years old. You can connect with her at Elizabeth Openshaw | LinkedIn .

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Choosing the Right Format to Send Your Resume

Creating an up-to-date electronic resume is the essential first step in any job hunt. Whether you want to email or fax your resume, paste it into a job board, or post it on the web, it all starts electronically. And once you create the resume , you’ll need to decide which format to send it in: Word, PDF, HTML, or plain text. How do you know which one to use? There are pros and cons to each. Why Electronic? It’s important to point out that printed resumes are not totally obsolete; you’ll still need fancy paper copies for your face-to-face interviews , and for handing out at job fairs or networking events. But to run an effective job search, you’ll need to create an electronic resume in a word-processing program or online resume builder. Once you’ve done that, it’s easy to edit the resume, tweaking the details to fit each position you apply for. You may wind up with five, 10, or even dozens of different versions. There Are 4 Types of Electronic Resumes An electronic resume can be saved and sent in at least four different formats , and there may be times when you’ll need each of them:

1. Word (or similar) 2. PDF 3. HTML 4. Plain text

How do you know which one is right for any given situation? Sometimes the employer will ask specifically for a particular format, but it’s not always so clear cut. Here, the strengths and potential weaknesses of each format are detailed so you can make an informed decision and present your resume in the best possible format for your situation.

1. Word Microsoft Word is currently the most popular format for submitting a resume as an email attachment. Many job ads specifically say, “Email your resume in Word.”

• Word is standard in most businesses.
• It retains formatting so the resume will look the same on the receiving end as it looked when you sent it.
• Word is easy for an email recipient to open, print, and forward.

POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES

• Some companies don’t allow email attachments because of virus risks.
• Compatibility issues (e.g., different versions of Word, PCs vs. Macs, etc.) can cause formatting glitches or prevent recipients from opening the attachment.

2. PDF (Portable Document Format) Emailing a PDF resume gives you 100% assurance that the employer will see your resume exactly as you formatted it, no matter what program you used to create it.

• Eliminates virus risk.
• Compatible with both Macs and PCs.
• No one can change the resume once it’s saved in PDF.
• The recipient must have Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free download) to open and view PDFs.
• Job seekers may not have the right software to convert documents to PDF.

3. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) HTML is the coding language for documents to be displayed on the web. An HTML resume can be sent as an email attachment or posted on a web site.

• HTML retains formatting and layout when the resume is sent as an email attachment.
• The recipient can view the resume right in the email browser without downloading it.
• The resume can be posted to your web site (if you have one).
• You may require a separate software application to convert the document to HTML.
• Not all browsers support HTML documents.
• The resume file may be mistaken for SPAM, which is often sent in HTML.

4. PLAIN TEXT A text resume has no special effects such as bold, italics, or centering. It contains only plain (ASCII) text characters that can be created from the standard keyboard. It is often the required format for posting a resume on a job board or pasting it into an online application.

• A text resume can be sent within the body of an e mail to companies that don’t accept email attachments.
• Text makes it easy for employers to place the resume into a searchable database, if they use one.
• Some creative effects can be added using keyboard characters. For instance: * ALL CAPS can emphasize headings; * Rows of hyphens (------) or equal signs (====) can simulate borders; * Asterisks (*), plus signs (+), or hyphens (-) can serve as bullets.

POTENTIAL WEAKNESS

• Text strips out all graphics and special text effects such as centering, boldface, italics, and bullet lists, leaving a barebones resume that is not very visually appealing.

Whichever format you use, take one final step before you send a resume to an employer: Send the resume to yourself first in your chosen format to see how it will look. If you see some weird characters or it’s missing some of the special text effects you had when you wrote the resume, make the appropriate adjustments so that the employer will have an easy-to-read copy.

RELATED LINKS Check Your Resume Before You Send It

The Best Resume Formats to Use in 2024 [+ Examples]

3 key takeaways

• What a resume format is (plus three types you should know about)
• How to choose the best resume format for your experience (with examples and templates)
• How to format your resume with the free Teal Resume Builder

You have the experience, you have the skills, but how do you make a good first impression on paper?

It's all about your resume format.

The right presentation can snag a hiring manager's attention. But the wrong one might send your application into a digital black hole.

Learning how to structure a professional resume that emphasizes your strengths and impact is key. And knowing how to format that resume can transform just a "piece of paper" into your next opportunity.

Want to choose the best resume format for your experience without more research and manual work? Sign up for Teal for free .

What is a resume format?

Resume format refers to the layout and structure of a resume, which is designed to provide a snapshot of your professional background and qualifications. 

There are many options, each with unique pros and cons. But choosing the best resume format ultimately depends on your experience and the job requirements of the position you’re applying for.

Why is it important to format your resume?

Formatting your resume makes a difference in how potential employers see you as a candidate.

Here's why getting it right is so important:

Grabs attention

Catching a potential employer's attention is key when it comes to your resume.

A polished, well-organized resume looks appealing and signals that you take your work seriously.

To grab attention, use a clean layout, choose a professional font, and make sure there's plenty of white space to make it easy on the eyes. Also, incorporate bold headings and bullet points to break up text and make it easier for people to skim through your document.

Not sure what this looks like? Check out the best resume templates designed and optimized by career experts based on what has proven to drive hiring decisions.

Organizes work experience

Resume organization is vital for showcasing your skills and experience. This means every section is clearly labeled and easy to find.

Then, within these sections, list information logically, such as chronological order of work experience By doing so, potential employers can quickly identify your most recent roles and accomplishments.

Properly arranging your information helps hiring managers find what they're looking for and makes your resume more user-friendly and professional.

Highlights achievements

Your resume is the perfect place to showcase your accomplishments, and the right formatting can make them stand out. Use bullet points to list achievements concisely and clearly.

Start each bullet point with a strong resume action verb and quantify your successes with numbers, percentages, or other metrics whenever possible. This gives potential employers a better understanding of your impact in previous roles.

For example:

Boosted employee productivity by 200% and achieved 50% fewer misplaced documents by creating/implementing a new filing system

Presents a professional image

A well-formatted resume creates a professional image. It's a direct reflection of your personal brand and immediately sends a positive signal to hiring managers. 

Here are a few tips for building a professional resume:

• Pay close attention to details like consistency in font style and size, alignment, and spacing
• Double-check for grammatical errors and typos, which can make your resume look sloppy and unprofessional
• Use a resume file format that's widely accepted and easily parsed by applicant tracking systems (ATS), like a PDF

The best resume formats to use 

Now that you understand what they are and why you need them, it's time to get familiar with the three main resume formats.

These formats include:

• Chronological resume format
• Functional resume format
• Hybrid or combination resume format

1. Chronological resume 

The chronological resume format (or reverse chronological resume format) is the most popular. This layout emphasizes your most recent work experience first.

Using this format is super straightforward—list your experience, starting with your most recent position, and work backward.

How to format a chronological resume

 In a chronological resume, each job entry includes the job title, company name, dates of employment, and key bullets with impact relevant to the position you're applying for. This gives potential employers a clear picture of your work experience and your contributions in previous roles.

A chronological resume format includes the following sections in this order:

• Contact Information
• Target Title
• Professional Summary 
• Work Experience
• Certifications
• Optional – Projects – Awards and Scholarships – Volunteering and Leadership – Publications

How is a chronological resume organized?

The chronological resume is organized by time, with the most recent experiences listed first.

The core of this organizational style is the Work Experience section, where each job is presented in reverse chronological order to showcase a clear timeline of your career progression.

This meticulous structure helps employers quickly understand your background, accomplishments, growth trajectory, and the skills you bring to the table.

When to use a chronological resume format

A reverse-chronological resume format is ideal when you have a solid, continuous work history in a specific field. It's the most common resume format, so hiring professionals are most familiar with it.

It's great for showcasing your career growth and highlighting your relevant experiences.

Choose this format to emphasize your consistent work history and progression in a particular industry.

However, this format might not be the best choice for everyone. If you have large employment gaps or are switching careers, a different resume format might be better for highlighting your relevant skills and experiences.

Example of a chronological resume format 

2. Functional resume 

The functional resume format, also known as the skills-based resume, focuses on your skills, experience, and achievements rather than your work history. 

It's designed to showcase your most relevant skills that align with a specific job instead of listing job titles and work experience. And while your work history is briefly mentioned with minimal details, the primary focus of a functional resume template is your skill set group.

A functional format can be helpful for those just starting out, anyone with gaps in their employment history, career changers, or individuals with limited work experience. Just be aware that some employers might be skeptical of functional resumes because they don't offer a clear timeline of your work history. 

How to format a functional resume

 In a functional resume, the more expansive Work History section is replaced with a Skills section focusing on three or four skills with achievements and impact (in the form of resume bullet points). These skills should always be relevant to the position you're applying for—giving potential employers a clear picture of how you used them in previous roles.

A functional or skills-based resume format generally includes the following sections:

• Professional Summary
• Skills (with achievements and impact)
• Employment History (if applicable)

How is a functional resume organized?

The functional resume format focuses on organizing skills and prioritizing your top aptitudes that align with a specific job.

The core of this organizational style is the Skills section. Each skill is presented clearly, followed by resume bullet points that outline the ways you used that specific ability to have an impact.

This structure helps employers quickly understand how your competencies align directly with the needs of the position they're trying to fill.

When to use a functional resume format

A functional resume format is a fine option for job seekers just starting out, those with gaps in their employment history, or anyone making a career change.

As this professional resume format emphasizes your skills and abilities rather than your work history, it's a good way to showcase transferable skills and demonstrate your value to a new employer.

When choosing between a functional vs. chronological resume , remember while a functional resume can be a great way to emphasize skills and accomplishments, it's important to consider the potential pros and cons of not showing your comprehensive work history before committing to this format.

Example of a functional resume format 

3. Combination resume 

The combination resume format (also called a hybrid resume format) combines chronological and functional formats.

It's designed to showcase your work history and specific abilities, making it a great professional resume template for those who want to focus on hard skills and work history.

The combination or hybrid resume is particularly helpful if you want to highlight your specific expertise while also mapping out your career progression. It's especially great for those in industries focusing heavily on tools, software, technical expertise, or specific methodologies.

Pro Tip: If you're trying to decide between a combination resume and another format, Tealets you quickly build a hybrid-style resume using the Drag-and-Drop Editor. This way, you can decide what works best for you without having to manually format your content (and then manually reformatting it if you don't love what you see).

How to format a combination resume

In a combination resume, your work history is presented in reverse chronological order, just like the chronological format.

However, because it's a hybrid between the two other formats, rather than putting skills at the bottom, a combination resume also focuses on skills by listing them directly beneath the professional summary and above your work experience.

A combination or hybrid resume format generally includes the following sections:

• Contact information

How is a combination resume organized?  

The combination resume is organized by skills and work experience, focusing on your top skills and relevant work history that align with a specific job description.

The core of this organizational style is the layout. A list of skills (preferably hard skills) is presented clearly, followed by work experience with resume bullet points outlining your achievements and impact in specific roles.

This structure helps employers quickly view your skills without taking emphasis away from your background, accomplishments, and growth trajectory.       

When to use a combination resume format

A combination resume format is the perfect blend of chronological and functional resumes.

It's ideal for those with a mix of experiences or a combination of work history and specific skills. This format is a great option if you want to emphasize both history and skills, presenting a well-rounded picture of your professional background.

Example of a combination resume format

Choose a resume format with Teal

With Teal's flexible resume design, you can change your resume format in just a few clicks. Use the Drag-and-Drop Editor to move any section, change the name of those sections to fit your experience, and more!

Examples of the best resume formats 

Now that you understand the different types of formats, let's take a look at a few resume format examples for:

• Candidates with no experience
• Candidates making a career pivot 
• Creative roles 
• Technical roles 
• Senior-level roles 

Teal Note: While this post only covers five examples of resume formats, you can also find an extensive selection of over 1500 resume examples developed by experts to help you win in 2024. Each example gives you a professional resume broken down by professional title and experience. 

Best resume format if you don’t have work experience

Writing a resume with no relevant work experience offers the chance to highlight the skills and strengths you've developed in other areas of your life. The resume format you choose should provide an opportunity to showcase your potential, adaptability, and diverse experiences that have shaped your unique skill set.

Benefits of a functional resume format for no work experience

If you're a job seeker with little or no experience, a functional or skills-based resume might be one of the better resume format options.

A functional resume will help you emphasize transferable skills over work history, which is more ideal for those with limited job experience. You can showcase relevant skills and experiences from other aspects of your life, like volunteer work and academic accomplishments.

If you'd rather stick to a more traditional resume format, you can also swap your Work Experience section for a more comprehensive Education section that includes relevant courses or projects.

Example of a resume with no work experience

What to love about this resume

First, you’ll note that the resume summary or short professional bio still focuses on what this candidate has done rather than talking about their professional goals or objectives.

The use of data, numbers, and metrics in the Skills section indicates this applicant has the proper training, knowledge, and hands-on experience to be considered for an interview.

But it's worth noting that as Ayesha Patel gains more work experience, this resume would ideally change to a chronological or hybrid format.

Best resume formats for pivoting careers

When pivoting careers, a functional resume can be useful as it allows you to highlight relevant skills. However, a hybrid resume is often more effective, blending your skills and experiences with a concise work history.

This combination resume format showcases not only your qualifications and abilities in new areas but also provides context with your career progression, making it a strong choice for career transitions.

Benefits of a combination format when pivoting careers 

A combination format enables you to showcase transferable skills and relevant work experience.

This format is great for career pivots, as it demonstrates your previous experience while emphasizing transferable skills applicable to your new career path.

Example resume format for a career pivot

This candidate focuses on the transferable skills they have that align with a specific job while being clear about relevant certifications and work history.

This simple resume format is clear and easy to scan, and it highlights the right skills and experience for a prospective new position.

Best resume formats for creative roles

Creative roles are inherently dynamic and multifaceted. A creative resume template that focuses on both what you've done and how you've done it provides a more comprehensive look at your qualifications.

Benefits of a chronological resume format for a creative role

A chronological format is probably your best bet if you're a job seeker in a creative position.

Creative roles often prioritize a traditional work history and a portfolio of your work. A chronological resume lets you highlight your experiences tailored to the job you're after, while a separate portfolio showcases your skills.

Example resume for creative roles

This resume reveals an accomplished person in a creative field by highlighting a consistent and progressive work history.

In other words, it balances creativity with professionalism, showing hiring managers that while this person is a creative spirit, they're a serious candidate who has made an impact in other positions.

Pro Tip: When you're applying for a position in a creative field, remember to include your portfolio URL at the top of your resume in your contact information. Your portfolio is where your creativity will shine brightest.

Best resume formats for technical roles 

For technical roles, the best resume formats emphasize proficiency in tools, software, and technical methodologies.

A reverse-chronological format that highlights your most recent technical experiences and projects can be effective. But, combining this with elements of a functional resume to create a hybrid format, where specific technical skills, tools, and software are also prominently displayed, ensures that your expertise aligns with more specific tech requirements.

Benefits of using a hybrid format for a technical role  

Using a hybrid resume format for technical roles merges the structured detail of your work history with a focused showcase of your tech skills.

This approach not only highlights various tools and technologies but also contextualizes them within your professional journey. It provides a balanced view, demonstrating how your technical capabilities have been applied and developed through your career, catering specifically to the nuanced needs of technical positions.

Example hybrid format for a technical role

This resume reveals an accomplished person in a technical field. It highlights the right tools and tech for someone in this position alongside a consistent and progressive work history.

In other words, it balances tools and professionalism, showing hiring managers that this person has the right experience and skills for the job.

Best resume formats for senior-level positions

For senior-level positions, your resume format should chronicle your career progression and highlight the strategic impact of your contributions. Think of it as a document that tells the story of your leadership, decision-making, and the significant results you've driven.

Benefits of using a chronological format for a senior-level position

For senior-level and executive positions, a chronological resume is best because it clearly outlines leadership experience, measurable bullets, and relevant skills and qualifications—demonstrating your ability to lead and make strategic decisions. This format prioritizes work history and career progression, important for roles requiring a solid record of success and leadership.

However, keep in mind it's important to prioritize professional achievements from roles within the last ten to fifteen years to:

• Emphasize your most recent accomplishments
• Focus on experience that's relevant to the position
• Keep your resume as concise as possible

Example resume format for a senior-level position

In concise, bullet-point form, this reverse chronological resume shows the measurable impact this candidate had at previous companies.

Without being too long or over the top, all of the information is scannable and easy to digest, perfect for any hiring manager to review easily.

9 resume format best practices

Ready to format your resume? Here are some best practices for getting it right.

1. Keep it simple and easy to read

Keeping your resume simple and easy to read is important to ensure that hiring managers can quickly understand your qualifications.

To do this:

• Write with a clean and easy-to-read resume font , such as Arial or Times New Roman
• make sure the font size is large enough to be easily read, typically between 10 and 12 points
• Keep the formatting consistent throughout the document
• Use consistent font, font size, and formatting for headings, bullet points, and other text

2. Use bullet points

Bullet points are an excellent way to make your resume more readable and user-friendly.

They allow the reader to scan your resume and identify key information. Use them to list your:

• Professional achievements with impact
• Multiple certifications or degrees

When using achievements for professional bullet points, begin each with a strong action verb and use specific examples.

3. Be consistent 

Consistency helps to create a cohesive document and makes it easier for hiring managers to read and understand your qualifications.

Ensure consistent formatting for headings, font sizes, and bullet points. Use the same font, font size, and formatting throughout the document.

4. Include white space

Proper use of white space is crucial to create a visually appealing and easy-to-read resume. White space refers to the areas of the page that are left blank or unoccupied by text or images.

Use resume margins, line spacing, and breaks to create space between different sections. This will help to highlight essential information and make it stand out.

5. Customize your content 

Tailoring your resume to the specific job you're applying for can increase your chances of getting noticed by potential employers.

Rather than sending out a generic resume, take the time to customize it to the specific job and company. To do this:

• Carefully review the job description
• Note the required skills, qualifications, and experiences.
• Customize your resume by emphasizing these skills and your experiences that align with the job requirements

6. Keep it concise

Keeping your resume concise is an important part of standard resume formatting.

While providing enough information to showcase your qualifications and experiences is important, a resume that's too long can be overwhelming and challenging to read.

To keep your resume concise, focus on providing only relevant experience and skills.

7. Proofread carefully

Proofreading your resume is crucial to keeping it error-free and presenting yourself in the best possible light.

Typos, grammatical errors, and formatting issues can make you appear unprofessional and decrease your chances of getting hired.

To proofread your resume carefully, read it slowly and pay attention to each sentence. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure that the formatting is consistent throughout the document.

8. Use an ATS-friendly resume format

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are digital filing systems used by recruiters to organize resumes and during the hiring process.

To make sure your resume scans correctly into these organizational tools, make sure to use an ATS-friendly resume template that's widely accepted and easily parsed by any modern ATS.

9. Take advantage of Teal's free resume templates

One of the best ways to save yourself time and quickly get up and running with your resume is to find a quality template that is designed for best practices.

Teal has over 100 free resume templates spanning multiple styles and formats that you can use.

How to make and format your resume with Teal (in two steps)

Step 1. Create your resume

Start by logging into Teal . 

If you don't already have an account, you can get started for free. This lets you test the software and see if it’s the right fit for you.

Click the Resume Builder icon from the left navigation menu. Then click "New Resume" in the top right corner. 

Now, create your resume. Fill in the resume sections by following the built-in guidance. (You can also upload an existing resume or your LinkedIn profile to save time.)

Pro Tip: If you're feeling stuck, try Teal's AI to create your professional summary and resume bullet points. AI will give you a great starting point and help you beat the blank page.

Step 2. Format your resume 

Teal gives you complete control over your resume formatting so you can submit every application with confidence.

To see flexible resume formatting options, click the Design tab at the top of your screen.

Teal's flexible resume design features allow you to blend your unique style and career journey so you can apply with confidence. Let’s look at how each feature can improve or change your resume’s format.

Resume presentation

This is where you can make changes to the following elements:

• Presentation: Choose from 10+ ATS-friendly modern, traditional, or creative templates
• Style: Select new fonts, accent colors, & line height

Resume sections

This is where you can change the organization of your resume:

• Sections: Reorder all of your resume sections
• Section titles: Rename any of your resume sections to match your experience and preferred format

Resume settings

Here you can customize the layout of specific information:

• Format: Dates, location, and experience
• Highlight: Opt to focus on specific companies, positions, degrees, and more

Advanced resume design

If you opt for a Teal+ membership to take advantage of more advanced tools, Teal+ is $9/week and with it you get:

• Advanced Styles : Change your bullet points and dividers
• Text Sizing : Choose different text weights, sizes, and customize headings, titles, and more
• Text Transformation : Opt for all CAPS or as written depending on your preferences
• Vertical Spacing: Change up your white space between sections
• Border Formatting: Add, remove, and format borders between sections

Choose the best resume format with Teal

Your resume formatting impacts your first impression on potential employers. The best resume format is visually appealing at first glance while effectively highlighting your key strengths and experiences.

Teal's  Resume Creator offers a comprehensive solution for all your resume formatting. With a wide range of templates and design options, Teal eliminates the tedious manual work of formatting and researching best practices. 

Whether you want to change your resume's structure or refresh its style, Teal's user-friendly platform empowers you to adjust your format with just a few clicks—giving you full control over the presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best format for a resume.

The best resume format depends on your career history and the job you're applying for. Chronological, functional, and hybrid formats each cater to different needs, with chronological being the most common and well-received.

What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Employers typically prefer a resume format that is clear, well-organized, and highlights your relevant experiences and skills. Chronological resumes are often favored because they provide a straightforward timeline of your work history, but the best choice can vary based on your industry and career stage.

What is a common mistake made on resumes?

A common mistake on resumes is the lack of proper formatting and attention to detail, which can lead to a cluttered appearance and make it difficult for employers to quickly find the most relevant information.

Using Teal’s free AI Resume Builder can help you avoid these issues with ATS-friendly templates and design tools that ensure a professional, clean presentation.

Kayte Grady

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Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the System and Into Human Hands

Does job searching sometimes feel like you’re flinging resumes and cover letters into a black hole? You may be wondering if your applications are being read at all.

Perhaps you’ve heard that computerized resume scanners reject applications before they even make it into human hands. And yes—at many companies that receive a high volume of applications, that’s true.

SEARCH OPEN JOBS ON THE MUSE! See who’s hiring here , and you can even filter your search by benefits, company size, remote opportunities, and more. Then, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll deliver advice on landing the job right to you.

The internet has completely transformed the job searching landscape. Long gone are the days when you’d “pound the pavement” or “go in and ask to speak to a manager” for all but the smallest local businesses. Instead, you apply online—which is a double-edged sword for everyone involved. Because you don’t have to physically fill out and deliver an application or send out resumes and cover letters via snail mail anymore, you can apply to a lot more jobs. But so can everybody . This means that an open position can easily get far more applications than companies have the resources to read.

Just ask Muse Career Coach Yolanda M. Owens, Founder of CareerSensei Consulting , who has more than 20 years of recruiting experience in a range of industries, including healthcare, tech, and financial services. When she was a corporate recruiter, she would post a job opening and get back, she says, “over 300 applications for an entry-level position within a week.” She was generally recruiting for between 15 and 20 roles at a time, meaning that she might have 6,000 applicants to track at once!

So hiring managers and recruiters like Owens frequently use an applicant tracking system (ATS)—software that helps them organize job applications and ensure none fall through the cracks. If you’ve applied to a job any time since 2008, your application has probably passed through an ATS. Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS of some kind, according to research conducted by Jobscan. Any time you apply for a job through an online form or portal, your application is almost certainly going into an ATS.

But an ATS does more than just track applications—it can also act as a filter, parsing every resume submitted and forwarding only the most relevant, qualified job seekers to a hiring manager or recruiter. That’s the resume-scanning technology you’ve probably heard about.

Luckily, getting past the ATS is a lot easier than you might think. Follow these dos and don’ts to create an ATS-friendly resume that’ll sail right through—and impress the hiring manager, too.

1. Do Apply Only to Roles You’re Qualified For

ATSs get a bad rap as the “robots” standing between you and your new job, and when you hear that Owens read only 25% of the applications she received for most postings, it might reinforce that impression.

But the reason she looked at such a small percentage of applications? Most candidates were not qualified for the job she was filling. And some were completely irrelevant. “If I’m looking at an entry-level [accounting] position and seeing someone who is a dentist or a VP,” Owens says, it’s totally fair for the ATS to discard those.

So first and foremost, make sure you’re truly qualified for the roles you’re applying to. This doesn’t mean you have to hit every single job qualification or apply to a job only if you have the traditional background for it. Owens says she was always “trying to cast a wide net and not exclude too many factors to pass up a candidate who might not be traditional”— career changers looking for an entry point into a new field, for example, or folks who had impressive transferable skills. But if you don’t have the core skills needed to perform a job, you’re better off not wasting your time or a recruiter’s.

2. Don’t Apply to Tons of Jobs at the Same Company

An applicant tracking system also allows recruiters to see all the roles you’ve applied to at their company. Owens often noticed the same person applying to every single opening the company or one of its departments had. When you do this, a recruiter can’t tell what you’re actually interested in or if you’re self-aware about your abilities.

If a company has two very similar roles open, absolutely apply to both. Or if you have a wide range of skills and interests and would be equally happy in two very different roles, then you can apply to both, though you should definitely tailor or target each resume you submit to the specific job.

But you generally shouldn’t be applying to both an entry-level position and a director-level position, or a sales position and a video-editing position. And you definitely shouldn’t be applying to every opening a company has. That just shows you haven’t taken the time to consider what the right role for you is—and a recruiter isn’t likely to take the time to do it for you.

3. Do Include the Right Keywords

At its core, what any applicant tracking system is programmed to do when it “reads” a resume is the same as what a person would do: It’s scanning for key pieces of information to find out whether or not you’re a match for a job opening. “ATS algorithms aren’t that different from the human algorithms, we’re all kind of skimming for the same things,” says Jon Shields, Marketing Manager at Jobscan. So when it comes to writing a resume that can make it past an ATS, you want to make sure that key information is there and that it’s easy to find.

One of the ways the ATS narrows an applicant pool is by searching for specific keywords. It’s like a Google search on a much smaller scale.

The recruiter or hiring manager can decide which keywords to search for—usually whatever skills, qualifications, experience, or qualities are most important for performing the job. For entry-level roles, that might mean certain majors, whereas for a tech position, it might be certain coding languages.

So if you want to make it past the ATS, you’ll need to include those important keywords on your resume. Hint: Look for the hard skills that come up more than once in a posting and are mentioned near the top of the requirements and job duties. Hard skills include types of software, methodologies, spoken languages, and other abilities that are easier to quantify. (The most important keyword could even be the job title itself!)

Depending on your industry, certain degrees and certifications might also be important keywords. Particularly in fields like nursing and teaching where state licenses are necessary, employers are going to want to know at a glance that you’re legally allowed to do the job you’re applying for.

If you’re having trouble identifying the important keywords in a job description as you craft an ATS-friendly resume, there are tools online (like Jobscan , Resume Worded’s Targeted Resume or SkillSyncer ) that can help you.

Note: In some cases, an ATS scanning for keywords will only recognize and count exact matches. So if you have the correct experience, but you wrote it using language that’s different than what the system is looking for, you might not come up as one of the most qualified applicants. For example, if you write that you’re an “LSW” but the ATS is checking for “Licensed Social Worker,” it might drop your resume. (To be safe, write out the full name, then put the abbreviation in parentheses.) Or if you wrote that you’re “an Excel expert,” but the ATS is searching for someone who has “experience with spreadsheets,” your resume might never get to the hiring manager. When in doubt, match your phrasing to what’s in the job description, as that’s likely to be what the ATS is looking for.

4. Do Put Your Keywords in Context

Applicant tracking systems can recognize that a key skill or experience is present. But interpreting the strength and value of that experience is still for people to do. And humans want to see how you used your skills.

It’s obvious to a recruiter when you’ve just worked in a keyword because it was in the posting, without tying it to a specific personal achievement—and it doesn’t win you any points. “Instead of focusing on regurgitating a job description, focus on your accomplishments,” Owens says.

Plus, remember that you won’t be the only one adding those important keywords to your resume. “If [you’re] all using the same job descriptions and the same buzzwords, what’s going to make you stand out from the crowd?” Owens asks. Answer: your accomplishments, which are unique to you .

When describing your current and past positions, “ensure your bullet points are actually achievements, and use numbers and metrics to highlight them,” says Rohan Mahtani, Founder of Resume Worded . Instead of just telling recruiters and hiring managers that you have a skill, this will show them how you’ve used it and what the results were.

5. Don’t Try to Trick the ATS

ATSs have brought up a whole new host of problems with applicants “trying to cheat the system,” Owens says. You might have come across advice about how to tweak your resume to fool an applicant tracking system—by pasting keywords in white, pasting the entire job description in white, repeating the keywords as many times as possible, or adding a section labeled “keywords” where you stick various words from the job description.

Don’t do any of this!

Any tricks that have to do with pasting keywords in white will immediately be discovered because the ATS will display all text in the same color on the other end. So even if this gets your application flagged to a human recruiter, they’ll see that you added the full text of the job description or just wrote “sales sales sales sales” somewhere and move onto the next candidate as quickly as they can. Not only are you failing to prove you’re qualified for the job, but you’re also showing that you’ll cheat to get ahead!

If you were considering adding a “keyword” section, remember that it lacks any context. If you can’t also speak to your experience with the skill, it probably doesn’t belong on your resume, and if this is true of one of the main keywords, this isn’t the job for you. What you can do, however, is include a keyword-rich resume summary — not an objective statement —that concisely puts your skills in context at the top of your document.

You also want to be careful you’re not just stuffing your resume full of keywords. “You can use a keyword as much as you like so long as it’s used in [the] correct context that makes it relevant to the job description,” says Nick Francioso, an Army veteran who mentors other veterans during career transitions and the founder of resume optimization tool SkillSyncer . But if you just cram in random keywords all over the place, you might make it past a resume scanner only to irritate a recruiter or hiring manager with a resume full of nonsense.

6. Do Choose the Right File Type

In the great resume file-type debate, there are only two real contenders: docx vs .pdf . While PDFs are best at keeping your format intact overall, the .docx format is the most accurately parsed by ATSs. So if you want to get past the ATS, use a .docx file. But also follow directions (if the listing asks for a certain file type, give it to them!) and take the posting’s word for it (if a posting says a PDF is OK, then it’s OK).

And if you’re considering using an online resume builder, first check what file type it spits out—Mahtani cautions that some online resume builders will generate your resume as an image (.jpg or .png, for example).

Pro tip: If you don’t have Microsoft Word or another program that can convert your resume to .docx or .pdf, you can use Google Docs to create your resume , then download it in either format for free.

7. Do Make Your Resume Easy to Scan (by Robots and Humans)

In addition to making sure that your resume has the right content for an applicant tracking system, you also need to make sure the ATS can make sense of that information and deliver it to the person on the other end in a readable form.

Fortunately, ATS-friendly resume formatting is very similar to recruiter-friendly resume formatting. Like a human, the ATS will read from left to right and top to bottom, so keep that in mind as you format. For example, your name and contact information should all be at the top, and your work history should start with your most recent or current position. There should be “no surprises about where info is supposed to be,” Shields says.

Among the three common resume formats you can choose from— chronological , combination , and functional —ATSs are programmed to prefer the first two. Recruiters also prefer chronological and combination formats (starting to notice a theme?). “For me, it's more about storytelling to demonstrate a person's professional progression,” Owens says. That story is harder to see with a functional resume, which can confuse applicant tracking systems, too. Without a clear work history to draw from, the software doesn’t know how to sort different sections of text.

“Ultimately recruiters just want to find the info they’re looking for as quickly as possible,” Shields says. So making a resume ATS friendly will actually help your resume be more readable to recruiters as well.

8. Don’t Include Too Much Fancy Formatting

It may pain you to hear this, but you likely need to get rid of that expensive resume template or heavily designed custom resume. “If you speak to experienced hiring managers [and] recruiters, they’ll tell you that creative [or] fancy resumes are not only harder for [an] ATS to read, but also harder for them to read!” says Mahtani.

In order to scan your resume for relevant keywords most ATSs will convert the document to a text-only file. So at best, any fancy formatting will be lost. At worst, the ATS won’t be able to pull out the important information and so a person may never lay eyes on your nice designs—or read about the experience and skills that actually qualify you for the job.

When designing a resume to go through an ATS, avoid:

• Images: In the U.S., your resume should never include your photo.
• Graphics, graphs, or other visuals
• Columns: Since ATSs are programmed to read left to right, some will read columns straight across rather than reading column one top to bottom and then starting column two at the top.
• Headers and footers: Information in the header and footer sometimes gets dropped by the ATS completely. Make sure all text is within the document body.
• Uncommon section headings: Stick to conventional labels like “Education,” “Work Experience,” and “Technical Skills,” so the ATS knows how to sort your information. This is not the place to get creative with something like “Where I’ve Made an Impact.”
• Hyperlinks on important words: Some systems will display only the URL and drop the words you linked from, so don’t link from anything important (like your job title or an accomplishment). Instead, paste in the URL itself or link out from a word like “website” or “portfolio.”
• Less common fonts: Stick to a universal font like Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Garamond, Georgia, or Cambria. Avoid fonts you need to download, which the ATS may have trouble parsing.

Here are some elements you can use without tripping up an ATS:

• Underline: But stick to using underlines in headings and for URLs, Shields says. In general, people have been trained to see any underline within sentences as links.
• Colors: Just know that the ATS will return all text in the same color, so make sure your color choices aren’t vital to understanding the text of your resume.
• Bullets: Bullets are an important component of any resume, but stick to the standard circle- or square-shaped ones. Anything else could get messy.

Still not convinced that you should ditch your fancy resume? To show how formatting can trip up an ATS, we created a resume with many of the “forbidden” design elements—including columns, separate text boxes for the job seeker’s name and contact information, a table, icons, and text in the header—and used it to apply to a job at The Muse. The resume contains all the keywords found in the job posting , and since Victoria Harris is a fictional person, she hits every single requirement, making her an ideal candidate for the job.

Here’s what the resume looks like after it’s been run through an ATS:

You’ll immediately notice that the columns have been smashed together. Victoria’s current position is still first, which is good, but what comes next is an indecipherable jumble: “Education Sales Cloud Apollo.io.” Then, the ATS has combined the start date of her current job with her graduation date and interpreted that she’s been in her current position for just one month instead of over a year.

When you finally get to her bullet points, they’ve also been destroyed. Her fourth bullet, for example, now ends with: “Salesforce Analytics Cloud and Salesforce Sales Cloud Salesforce Salesforce.” Victoria wasn’t keyword stuffing, but it sure looks like she was.

Yes, this feels like a lot. But the main thing to take away when it comes to creating an ATS-friendly resume is that “it will help even if you’re not going through an ATS,” Shields says. At the end of the day, what an ATS is looking for in a resume is not that different from what a person is scanning for—so if you make a resume that beats the ATS, chances are it’ll impress a whole lot of humans, too.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• Functional Resume: Writing...

Functional Resume: Writing Guide, Examples, & Template

11 min read · Updated on August 28, 2024

What is a functional resume, and is it suitable for your job search?

Submitting the best resume possible is essential regardless of the job you're applying to. Selecting the proper format for your unique circumstances is one aspect of ensuring that's the case. 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.

Below, we answer, “What is a functional resume?” and share tips with a template, as well. 

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 carer 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. 

FORESHADOWING: We have a functional resume example at the end of this post you can refer to and see how this works. 

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

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

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 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 tends to be the most popular among hiring teams since they're familiar with the format 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 goal of a hybrid resume is to equally emphasize your skills and work history. 

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 tends to be easily read by ATS and human readers. 

Related reading: The Best Resume Format to Get You Hired

When should you use a functional resume?

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

A functional resume might work well for you if:

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

You have held jobs that span a lot of different types and 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 to grab the attention of hiring teams with what's most relevant.

Your skills have been acquired through 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 or hybrid resume is the way to go. 

You're changing careers and want to emphasize transferable skills. 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, 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. 

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 some powerful adjectives to describe you. 

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. 

Many also choose to include any relevant certifications in their Education section. Or, you can opt to include a separate Certifications section if you have more than one 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 | [email protected] | Morgantown, WV 26250 

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, JobVite, and SAP, 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 global and domestic client groups totaling 500-700 employees for multi-million dollar companies
• 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, 6/2020 - Present 

Public Relations Specialist:  PrimeWay Credit Union, Houston, TX. 4/2017 - 6/2020 

HR Recruiter:  HighMount E & P, Oklahoma City, OK, 11/2012 - 5/2013

HR Operations Manager:  Dominion E & P, Houston, TX, 9/2010 - 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 that you know the answer to “What is a functional resume?” it's time to decide if it's 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

Related Articles:

How to Write a Short Bio? (With Examples)

7 Best Personal Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)

Great Jobs for Teens: Top Picks for 16-Year-Olds

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Department of Economics

• Undergraduate

18 Résumé Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out

By  Allison Pohle

Updated May 11, 2021 2:15 pm ET

• A résumé isn’t just a list of every job you’ve ever had. It should demonstrate your accomplishments.
• Mirror language used in the job posting so your résumé isn’t discarded by an applicant tracking system.
• Use a clean and simple format. 

Companies increasingly  rely on software  to sort through applicants, which is why it is essential to tailor your résumé to ensure it makes the cut. Applicant tracking systems sort, scan and rank applicants by looking for keywords in applications. Although these programs can save time and money for employers, about 60% said such tools cause them to miss some qualified candidates, according to a 2016 survey of 1,200 job seekers and managers by CareerArc, a human-resources technology company, and Future Workplace, a research firm. Here’s how to make your résumé stand out to robots and humans alike. 

1. Highlight your achievements in your résumé. 

A common mistake job seekers make is believing a résumé is a recap of your career, when in reality, it should convey what you have accomplished, says Christy Noel, a career expert and author of “Your Personal Career Coach.” 

“I always say, spend less of your real estate describing your job, and more time describing your results,” says Ms. Noel.  

2. Customize your résumé.

Read over the job posting, and think about the work experience you have had that is most directly relevant to the position you are pursuing. You can leave out some past jobs and internships if the experience you had wasn’t related. Whatever you do: Don’t submit a generic résumé to dozens of postings. “Even if you have the best experience, if your résumé isn’t speaking directly to the position in which you are applying, there is a strong chance you’ll never even get an interview,” says Demisha Jennings, a certified professional résumé writer and founder and owner of She Assists LLC.  

The same applies to your cover letter. It is your chance to provide more detail on how your experience will help you succeed in the job.  Read our cover letter guide  for how to write one that makes you stand out.

3. Decide how to format your résumé.

Most of the time, a chronological résumé will work well for communicating your past experience. But, in some cases, a functional or hybrid résumé might be more appropriate.  Read more about résumé formats here.

4. Make your contact information easy to find.

Include your name, phone number, email address, city and state. It may also be appropriate to include the URL to your LinkedIn profile. You want it to be easy for hiring managers to reach out.

In addition to making it easy to connect with you, it is important to your job search that you grow your network.  Read our networking guide  for tips on how to do so.

5. Consider adding a summary. 

Many résumé templates leave space for an objective statement, outlining career goals, but that approach is outdated, says Ms. Jennings. Instead, consider a carefully worded summary. The summary is often the first place a hiring manager will look, and gives you an opportunity to introduce your skills high up on the page. You can also work in relevant keywords from the job description. “Recruiters are looking for what you can bring to the table and what you’ve done, rather than you saying, ‘I’m seeking a position,’” Ms. Jennings says. 

6. Great résumés should stand out to skim readers.

Most recruiters spend just a few seconds skimming through a résumé—with an average in one study of  7.4 seconds.  

To have the best chance of making an impression, ensure your job titles, company names and dates of employment are easy to read. The sections of your résumé should be adequately spaced, too, says Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and director of Brooklyn Resume Studio. 

For additional ways to make a good impression on recruiters and headhunters, read  our guide on how to work with headhunters .

7. Make your résumé robot-friendly. 

Structure your résumé to meet the requirements of an applicant tracking system to give yourself the best chance of having it reach an actual human. Ms. Leavy-Detrick suggests the following:

• Optimize keywords.  Use the same words and language that are in the job description. For example, three different companies might describe the same role as “programmer,” “developer” or “software engineer.” 
• Use a straightforward format.  Avoid tables and text-based graphics, which might not get picked up by a scan of the résumé. Sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica are also best to ensure readability.
• Think about order.  When formatting each line item of work experience, list the company name first, followed by the job location (city, state), your job title, and your start and end dates. Some résumés can get lost if the dates are listed before the job title. 

8. Prioritize relevant keywords. 

Tailoring your skills to include language from the job posting is an important way to let both the applicant tracking system and, eventually, a hiring manager, see how your prior qualifications tie into the job requirements. But just because you have a résumé full of keywords doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get an interview. “The ATS isn’t there to help the job seeker, it is there to help the employer review your skills against their most important qualifications,” says Ashley Watkins, a career coach and résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. 

9. Craft compelling and concise bullet points.

The goal of a résumé is to list your accomplishments, rather than every duty you performed in the role. Résumé-writing experts recommend including no more than five bullet points per prior job listed. 

• Don’t focus on tasks.  Many job seekers describe what they did every day, such as answering phones or creating marketing materials, Ms. Watkins says. “Simply copying and pasting the job description doesn’t account for the things you did great, that you did above and beyond your peers,” she says.
• Instead, explain what those tasks achieved.  Emphasize your results. Ms. Watkins suggests asking yourself “Did I save [the employer] money? Did I save time? Did I improve a process? Did I build a relationship?” These will help you format your bullet points.
• Use metrics.  Say what you achieved, then contextualize it—with figures if possible. You might not be able to put a monetary value on every accomplishment, but you can frame it by sharing details like the time it took or how many people were involved. “If you raised sales 50% in two months, that means a whole lot more than ‘I’m in charge of sales,’” Ms. Watkins says. 
• Don’t omit accomplishments that aren’t quantifiable.  Not every achievement will have metrics to show success. If there are figures, you might not always have access to them. But that shouldn’t stop you from including them, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. Perhaps you had a positive impact on the culture of an organization, or improved a struggling relationship with a client. These efforts could help to demonstrate your  soft skills.

10. Focus on transferable skills if you lack experience.

If you are applying for a job in a new field or you are an entry-level applicant and don’t have much direct experience, don’t worry. Highlight transferable skills you have developed in the past that will serve you well in the position, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. For example, you could play up leadership skills you developed participating in an extracurricular activity or time-management skills you learned in a prior job.

11. Go beyond your work history, and include all relevant experience.

If you are new to the workforce, or are job-hunting after being laid off, you could also include related experience that was outside of a traditional full-time job, says Ms. Watkins. For example, you can highlight volunteer work, consulting projects or educational training, all as part of making the case for your unique value, she says.

12. Don’t worry too much about gaps in your résumé.

The Covid-19 pandemic economy resulted in many people being laid off or furloughed. Ms. Watkins says the 2020 job market reminds her of 2008, when she worked as a recruiter. The expectation at that time, she says, was that candidates would have  gaps  on their résumés or list more short-term positions. While it isn’t necessary to directly address the gaps in your résumé, you should be  prepared to talk about them in an interview . “The focus should not be centered on the fact that you were furloughed or laid off, it should be focused on you and your skills and what you do that impacts the company’s bottom line in a positive way,” Ms. Watkins says.

While it is common to list the months and years you started and ended positions in the job history section, you could just use years. This will draw less attention to a six- or eight-month gap, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

13. Highlight relevant skills.

It is common to  add a skills section to your résumé , outlining expertise relevant to the position. You can include languages you speak, technical skills or courses you have done. If you lack experience, you can also complete some trainings, which you can find on LinkedIn and elsewhere, related to the job you are applying for and add the courses in this section, says Ms. Jennings.

14. Prioritize work experience over education.

The professional experience you have had is often more relevant to the position than your education history, which is why the work experience should be listed first. In the “Education” section, you should list where you attended college, if applicable, or the highest level of education you have attained. If you graduated with honors, you can flag that, but it isn’t necessary to list your GPA.

15. If you are early on in your career, a key résumé tip is to limit it to one page. 

If you are early on in your career, you should limit your résumé to one page. It is OK to start spilling onto a second page after you have eight to 10 years of experience, says Ms. Leavy-Detrick. 

16. Add some color for a stylish résumé that sets you apart. 

Your résumé should look clean and professional and you should keep applicant tracking systems in mind when formatting the document. But, if it is appropriate, you can add subtle accents of color in the section headings or in bars that separate sections as a way to differentiate your résumé. Ms. Leavy-Detrick doesn’t overstress the need for good design with her clients. “But it can definitely help,” she says. “When I say design, I don’t mean crazy graphic design. I mean having a polished application,” she says. “Think of it the same way you would coming dressed to an interview, it is part of your presentation, and so many people overlook this on the résumé.”

It may be appropriate to incorporate a more creative and graphic-based layout depending on the field in which you work and where you are applying. If you are applying for a position in a creative field, and you are emailing your résumé directly to a hiring manager, then it can be appropriate to use more designs, says Ms. Jennings. But if you are applying to a large company that uses an applicant tracking system or job portal, she says it is best to avoid using graphics unless you are working with a résumé writer who can help you get your resume through the system.

17. Proofread and double-check the formatting.

You may be eager to send your résumé or submit your application, but you should take the time to first check for typos and grammatical errors. You could also have a friend or family member look over it. When you are checking for errors, be sure to double-check the formatting. Sometimes the spacing can get thrown off when you save the file, so check how it looks as a saved document and, if you can, save it as a PDF before sending. 

18. Make sure the saved file name includes your name. 

Make less work for the hiring manager by including your full name in the file name of the résumé document.

What to read next

• How to Prepare for a Job Interview
• What Questions to Ask During a Job Interview
• Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
• How to Dress for a Job Interview
• How to Write a Thank-You Email After a Job Interview  
• How to Negotiate and Counter a Job Offer
• How to Negotiate Salary for a New Job: The Do’s and Don’ts
• Severance Pay: What It Is and Why You Should Negotiate a Package Before Accepting a Job

Corrections & Amplifications Ashley Watkins is a résumé writer with Write Step Résumés LLC. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Write Steps LLC. (Corrected on Nov. 20)

Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Appeared in the November 23, 2020, print edition as '11 Résumé Tips to Help You Get Noticed

How to Write the Perfect Fresher Resume Templates and Examples

• August 25, 2024

Creating a resume as a fresher can be challenging, especially when you have little to no work experience. However, with the right approach, you can craft a resume that highlights your skills, education, and potential, making you an attractive candidate to employers. This guide will walk you through the process of writing a fresher resume, providing you with an example and a template to help you get started.

1. Choose the Right Resume Format

There are several resume formats to choose from, but the most suitable for freshers are:

• Chronological Resume: Lists your education and experiences in reverse chronological order.
• Functional Resume: Focuses on skills and abilities rather than experience.
• Combination Resume: Merges the chronological and functional formats, highlighting both skills and experiences.

For freshers, the functional resume is often the best choice, as it emphasizes your skills and education over work experience.

Free CV Builder: Moawin.pk 2. Start with a Strong Objective Statement

Your resume should begin with a concise objective statement. This statement should reflect your career goals and what you can offer to the employer. Since you are a fresher, focus on your enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and any relevant skills you possess.

Example Objective Statement:

"A highly motivated and dedicated recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, seeking an entry-level position in software development. Eager to apply my technical skills and problem-solving abilities to contribute to innovative projects."

3. Highlight Your Education

As a fresher, your education is one of your strongest assets. Be sure to list your degrees, institutions attended, and any honors or relevant coursework. If you have a strong GPA, include it as well.

Example Education Section:

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science ABC University, XYZ City | June 2024 - GPA: 3.8/4.0 - Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Web Development, Database Management

4. Showcase Your Skills

Example Skills Section:

• Programming Languages: Python, Java, C++
• Web Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Database Management: SQL, MongoDB
• Soft Skills: Problem-solving, Time Management, Team Collaboration

5. Include Internships and Projects

If you’ve completed internships, volunteer work, or academic projects, include them in your resume. These experiences demonstrate your practical knowledge and ability to apply your skills in real-world situations.

Example Experience Section:

Internship - Web Development Intern Tech Solutions, XYZ City | Jan 2024 - Apr 2024

• Developed and maintained the company's website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Collaborated with the design team to enhance user experience.

Academic Project - E-commerce Website

• Created a fully functional e-commerce website as part of a group project.
• Implemented front-end and back-end features using JavaScript and MongoDB.

6. Add Extra Sections

You can add additional sections to your resume to further highlight your strengths. Consider sections such as Certifications, Extracurricular Activities, Languages, or Awards.

Example Extra Sections:

Certifications

• Certified Python Developer, ABC Institute, March 2023

Extracurricular Activities

• Member of the Coding Club at ABC University
• Volunteer at XYZ Charity Organization

7. Keep It Concise and Well-Formatted

8. proofread and customize.

[Your Name] [Your Address] | [City, State, Zip Code] | [Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]

Objective A highly motivated and dedicated recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, seeking an entry-level position in software development. Eager to apply my technical skills and problem-solving abilities to contribute to innovative projects.

Education Bachelor of Science in Computer Science ABC University, XYZ City | June 2024 - GPA: 3.8/4.0 - Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Web Development, Database Management

Web Development Intern Tech Solutions, XYZ City | Jan 2024 - Apr 2024

E-commerce Website Project

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The Easiest Font to Read Is Already on Your Phone

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When it comes to typing a message, font choice can sometimes add a creative touch to your work, but for mass media formats like newspapers , academic papers, TV and popular web sites, sticking to a legible font is often more important than the flourish of decorative fonts.

Here, we'll go over some candidates for the easiest font to read in print and web documents, along with some history of typesetting and what makes for a readable font.

Common Qualities of the Most Readable Fonts

Serif vs. sans serif fonts, 4 of the best sans serif fonts, 4 of the best serif fonts, dishonorable mentions: fonts to avoid, the first printed font.

The easiest fonts to read are designed to be able to reach the most amount of people. They may be reading the font off of printed documents, road signs, or on mobile devices with low resolution screens. The reader could also potentially have eyesight problems or be a fair distance away from the text.

With these factors in mind, the most readable fonts need to have very distinguishable characters that can be easily read by the viewer at a variety of font sizes. The ideal font can serve everyone as long as they are literate, and it will also make the process easier for those just learning to read. Font weight is also an important factor.

For instance, things like road signs which are intended to be viewed far distances generally feature bold letter shapes. Readable font should also make capital letters and lowercase letters easy to tell apart from one another, with careful spacing between words and characters to make sure nothing appears to overlap or spread too far apart.

While browsing online, reading a newspaper or typing in a document editor like Microsoft Word, there are thousands of different fonts you could potentially encounter. However, popular fonts tend to fall in one of two categories : serif fonts and sans serif fonts.

Serif Fonts

The serif font style (named from the Germanic word for "pen stroke") was first designed in the late 1700s and features little flourishes or "tails" on each letter that give the fonts a bit of character.

These tails also showed off the precision quality of the printing dies which were becoming more widely available at the time.

Serif fonts look great blown up to big sizes and on high-resolution computer screens, but they tend to have poorer readability at smaller text sizes. For this reason, newspapers and online articles tend to use a serif font for the headline instead of the main body text of the piece.

Sans Serif Fonts

On the other hand, sans serif typeface is a derivative of serif font and attempts to solve some of its apparent shortcomings. Sans serif fonts do away with the little flourishes of serif and instead focus on bolder letters with very straight lines and uniform curves for maximum legibility.

Sans serif tends to be the easiest type of font to read, sometimes sacrificing creative potential. They're also used in graphic designs that aim to look more "modern" versus older serif typefaces.

• Arial : Originally based on Helvetica, this is a supremely readable font that can be found on all types of software and web pages.
• Calibri : In 2007, Calibri replaced Times New Roman as the default font for Microsoft Office apps and became one of the most prolific fonts in the digital space before being replaced itself in 2023 (the new kid on the block is Aptos).
• Open Sans : This popular sans serif font was commissioned by Google in 2011 and soon became the standard font for the Android mobile operating system.
• Montserrat : This is a very simple, classy, yet easy-to-read font that looks great in thinner styles, bolded or in italics.
• Times New Roman : First commissioned by London newspaper The Times in 1931, this ubiquitous serif font became a popular choice for book printing and is now included in most major computer operating systems.
• Berkeley Old Style : Also known as " Californian " font, this typeface created for the University of California newspaper in the 1930's can add a bit of class to your work without sacrificing readability.
• Larken : This is the font choice for adding bold, stylish letters to a poster or book title.
• Merriweather : A popular font choice for modern book printing, this serif derivative has a distinct mid-century feel by combining strong modern lettering with some classical flourishes.
• Comic Sans : This sans serif font is technically one of the easiest fonts to read, but the exaggerated bubbly style of its lettering means it's the most commonly mocked by graphic designers.
• Papyrus : Despite a clone typeface being used in the logo for the Avatar movies, this vaguely ancient-looking font has never been taken seriously.
• Jokerman : This silly font's lettering includes a bunch of needless and inconsistent details which give it poor readability and generally make it too irregular to be used in a professional setting.
• Wingdings : Before we had an emoji keyboard on our phones, this Microsoft Windows font replaced the characters on your keyboard with seemingly random icons and symbols. This is quite possible the least readable font in existence.

Basically everything that we take for granted today about fonts and typesetting started with the invention of the industrial printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1400's. Before the invention of Gutenberg's press, nearly all books in European circulation were bound and inscribed by monks of the Catholic Church who copied the body text by hand over several weeks.

This was grueling work, causing books to be generally unaffordable to the commoner and literacy rates to be low. Gutenberg's invention drove down the cost of bookmaking and allowed literature to reach the masses.

The default font for this press, Blackletter , was initially based on the writing of the monks, with a big font size and bold, ornate letters. It had style, but it didn't have the readability required for mass media and web design.

Improving Legibility

In 1470, a French printer named Nicolas Jenson came up with what could be considered the first readable typeface: the " Roman " font.

This style did away with ornate flourishes and focused on distinctive letter shapes that were evenly spaced, making it much easier to read by the layman. Many modern variants of the typeset exist today including the popular font, Times New Roman.

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