Functional vs. Chronological Resume

Choosing between a functional vs. chronological resume impacts how hiring managers assess your experience. Each format serves different situations and can help determine whether you advance to an interview.

Chronological resumes showcase career progression, while functional resumes highlight skills over a specific timeline. Your choice depends on factors like industry expectations, career transitions, and work history.

Not sure which format fits your situation? Keep reading to learn how each type can strengthen your application and when to use each for maximum impact.

What is a chronological resume?

A chronological resume, also known as a reverse chronological resume, is a more traditional format that presents your work history by starting with your current or most recent job. Hiring managers tend to prefer this format because it clearly shows career progression in reverse chronological order and focuses on growth and direct work experience.

Focusing on your chronological work history works best when you have:

• Consistent work history
• Clear career advancement
• Relevant industry experience
• Notable employer names

But while it's the most common format, it may not suit every situation. Career changers or those with employment gaps often find other formats more effective.

Chronological resume pros:

• Shows clear career progression
• Highlights recent achievements first
• Demonstrates industry expertise
• Spotlights promotions effectively

Chronological resume cons:

• Overshadows skills in favor of dates
• Challenges career-changers
• Limits focus on transferable abilities

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What do recruiters think about chronological resumes?

Many recruiters prefer chronological format resumes. These resumes clearly set out a candidate's work history and make it easy for recruiters to find the information they need. 

Writing for The Muse, recruiting and human resources expert Angela Mayhew explains, “Recruiters only have a few seconds to review your resume… Having your experience outlined in chronological order makes it easy to get a quick read on your career history. The last thing you want to do is make them try and piece it together themselves.”

What is a functional type of resume?

A functional resume emphasizes skills over chronology and employment dates. This resume type organizes achievements and experience under skill categories, making your qualifications immediately clear to employers.

Key elements of a functional format include:

• Skills grouped by expertise areas
• Achievements showcasing competence beneath each skill
• Technical abilities and certifications
• Relevant accomplishments across roles

This format might suit job seekers who are career changers, contractors, and professionals with diverse experience or those looking to highlight transferable skills. It helps employers see how your skills align with their needs, regardless of when you gained them.

Functional resume pros:

• Prioritizes your resume skills section
• Minimizes career gaps
• Highlights transferable abilities
• Works well for industry transitions

Functional resume cons:

• Can raise recruiter skepticism
• Hides career advancement
• Requires customization per job
• Works best for specific situations

What do recruiters think about functional resumes?

It’s worth noting that the functional resume format isn’t as popular with recruiters these days. Functional resumes can make it more difficult to see when and how you developed your skills. Some recruiters find this frustrating at best and deceptive at worst. 

GNR’s VP of Recruiting, Nick Thompson, estimates he has reviewed hundreds of thousands of resumes. About functional resumes, he says: 

“I end up having to read through all the skills and experiences that sound amazing for the role I am working on. I make my way down to the employment listings, to see the experience I was looking for was from 15 years ago! Companies generally want the applicable skills/experiences to be more up-to-date. The functional resume more often than not creates uncertainty in the reader about the qualifications of the candidate to fit the role.”

Many hirers now also use resume parsing software to initially screen resumes. The non-traditional format of a functional resume can be difficult for this software to read, potentially putting you at a disadvantage. The US Department of Labor, for example, specifically advises against using functional resumes for this reason. 

The difference between a chronological and functional resume

These two resume formats serve distinct goals in presenting your qualifications. Understanding the top differences will help you choose the right approach for your situation.

Each serves a distinct purpose

Chronological resumes demonstrate your employment history, showing clear advancement through titles and responsibilities.

This format lets employers track how you've grown in your field, building credibility through progressive experience. They see your career momentum and understand how each role prepared you for greater challenges.

Functional resumes, however, build credibility through grouped achievements and proven abilities. This approach shows employers your capability to handle role requirements, regardless of when you gained those skills—even if you're writing a resume for your first job.

Layouts emphasize specific details

Chronological formats present a clear timeline, starting with your current role and working backward. Each position includes specific dates, company names, and detailed metrics that showcase increasing expertise.

In contrast, functional formats organize accomplishments under skill categories like "Project Management" or "Technical Leadership." This structure emphasizes what you can do rather than when you did it, making your abilities immediately clear to hiring managers.

Presentation of skills significantly varies

In chronological resumes, relevant skills emerge in professional summaries and within the bullet points for each position alongside metrics and impact.

They can also be showcased after a Work Experience section in a stand-alone Skills section (especially when hard skills like tech and tools are involved). But employers should primarily see how you've applied and developed capabilities over time.

Functional resumes flip this approach, leading with skills and supporting them through achievements from various roles. This makes cross-industry expertise more visible and helps employers quickly match your abilities to their needs.

Need another visual? Check out this collection of example resumes to get a better feel for different resume formats and styles to figure out the best presentation for you.

How to decide which resume to use

Your career path and goals guide which resume type might work better. These aren't hard and fast rules but guidelines for deciding which is best for your unique situation.

Consider chronological if you have:

• Progression in the same field
• Same or similar industry focus over time
• Promotions
• Notable employers
• Traditional field or work history

Consider functional if you have:

• Specialized, relevant expertise to highlight
• Plans to change industries or are changing careers
• Key certifications that matter to your specific job
• Diverse experience across sectors

Finally, always make sure to read the job description and application guidelines closely. Some will explicitly state which format to use or avoid.

A third option—the combination resume

If you’re unsure what format to choose, another option to consider is a combination or hybrid resume. This approach lets you blend the chronological and functional resume formats to showcase both your skills and work history. 

A combination resume starts with a professional summary followed by a list of key skills (inspired by the functional resume). Under this, it lists your previous roles and achievements starting with the most recent and working backwards (like a chronological resume). 

Dave Fano, founder and CEO of Teal, has reviewed thousands of resumes. His advice about the combination resume format? “Functional or hybrid can be helpful if you’re changing careers, have large employment gaps, or want to showcase core skills over a linear career path. But be upfront and clear—don’t obscure your work history.”

For example, when writing a hybrid resume, make sure you clearly list your key roles and their dates, rather than trying to hide a career gap by distracting the reader with out-of-context skills. 

Create a functional or chronological resume that stands out

Your resume presentation shapes how employers see your qualifications. A chronological format tells a story of career progression, while a functional resume spotlights your specific skills and areas of expertise. The key is matching your choice to your strengths, career growth, and overall experience.

With the Teal Resume Builder's flexible resume design, you can switch between formats and reorder sections instantly with a Drag-and-Drop Editor—helping you create the perfect presentation without the headache of manual formatting or starting every version from scratch.