Chronological
Your jobs, newest first. Recruiters and scanners both expect it, and it shows a clear path.
There are three ways to organize a resume, and the best one depends on your history — not on which looks fanciest. Here's what each format does well, when to reach for it, and how to keep the structure clean underneath.
The short version: most people should use a chronological resume and stop worrying about it. The functional and combination formats exist for specific situations, and picking one over habit rather than need usually hurts more than it helps.
Spending more time choosing a format than writing the thing?
It's a common trap. The format is a five-minute decision, and for most people the answer is chronological. Pick it, then put your energy where it counts — into what each line of experience actually says.
The three resume formats
What they are, in one line each.
Functional
Leads with skills instead of dates. Helpful for big gaps, but treat it as the exception.
Combination
A skills summary up top, then a dated history. A middle ground for career changers.
Rules that hold for any format
Whatever you pick, these keep it readable to people and software alike.
Keep it to one page
One page for most; two only past roughly ten years of relevant experience.
Favor a single column
Single-column layouts are the ones applicant tracking systems parse most reliably.
Use plain headings
Label sections plainly — Experience, Skills, Education — so a parser finds them.
Which one, at a glance
If you're unsure, you almost certainly want chronological. The other two solve specific problems — here's when each earns its place.
| Format | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Chronological | A steady work history and a clear path in one field. The default for most people. | Puts any gaps front and center, since it leads with dates. |
| Functional | Big gaps or a full career change, where skills matter more than the timeline. | Recruiters are wary of it and some scanners handle it poorly. Use with care. |
| Combination | A career pivot where you have relevant skills and a history worth showing. | Runs longer, so keep both halves tight or it spills to a second page. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best resume format?
For most people it is the chronological format. It is what recruiters expect and what applicant tracking systems read most reliably.
When should I use a functional resume?
Consider it only if you have long employment gaps or are changing careers entirely. Because some scanners struggle with it, a combination format is usually the safer way to lead with skills.
How long should a resume be?
One page is right for most candidates. Go to two pages only when you have more than about ten years of relevant experience worth including.
Does the format affect whether an ATS can read my resume?
It can. A clean chronological or combination layout in a single column parses well. A heavily styled functional resume with columns and text boxes is where parsing tends to break.
Related resources
Skip the setup
Let the format take care of itself
Rather than wrestle with columns and margins, start from a HubKit template built on a clean, ATS-safe structure and just add your content. Free to start.