3 key takeaways
- What a functional resume is, and when it's the right choice for your experience
- How to write a functional resume (plus, get inspired with functional resume examples)
- How to create a functional resume using Teal's free AI Resume Builder
A functional resume focuses on what you can do over when or where you did it.
Unlike other types of resumes, this resume groups your experience by skill rather than job title or timeline, making it a potential option for career changers, professionals with gaps, or anyone with a non-linear career path.
And while It’s not right for the majority of established professionals, it can work to highlight strengths that might get overlooked in a standard format.
In this guide, we’ll cover when to use functional resume (and when not to). You'll also learn how to write a functional resume in 2025 and get examples and templates to help you build your own if you decide it's the right choice for you.
What is a functional resume?
A functional resume is a skills-based resume format that emphasizes skills over work history. Its primarily focus? What you can do vs. where and when you did it.
Unlike other types, a functional resume format groups your experience by relevant skills and competencies, making them particularly effective for career changers, job seekers with employment gaps, or professionals with non-traditional career paths.
TL;DR? A functional resumes highlight your most relevant capabilities rather than your work timeline.
When to use a functional resume
A functional resume works best when your skills matter more than your work timeline. Rather than a chronological or hybrid resume, you can consider this format if you:
- Have significant employment gaps
- Are changing careers with very limited relevant experience
- Need to showcase transferable skills over work history
- Are entering the workforce as a recent graduate
- Are returning to work after an extended break
When not to use a functional resume
Functional resumes can raise red flags for hiring managers, especially if they make your career path harder to follow. While there’s no universal standard, many report preferring chronological resumes because they’re faster to scan and easier to assess at a glance.
While functional resumes might work well in very specific situations, they’re not the right fit for every job search.
Avoid a functional resume if:
- You have a strong and relevant work history
- You’re applying to a traditional or conservative industry
- The job description requests a chronological format
- You're trying to hide employment gaps
- Your previous job titles already align with your target role
💡Pro Tip: When in doubt, a combination resume gives you flexibility without the disadvantages of a functional resume.
Pros and cons of a functional resume
Choosing the right resume format depends on your background and your goals. A functional resume has its advantages—but also comes with trade-offs, especially in more traditional hiring environments.
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of a functional resume:
Advantages of a functional resume
- Emphasizes skills by highlighting abilities over job titles
- Shows potential by focusing on strengths instead of past roles
- Flexible for transitions, making it easier to reframe unrelated experience
- Focuses on relevance, even when previous job titles don’t match your target role
- Minimizes attention to gaps or nontraditional career paths
Disadvantages of a functional resume
- Unfamiliar to many recruiters, which may lead to confusion or dismissal
- Can appear evasive, especially if career progression is unclear
- Makes it harder to show growth or establish a clear work history
- May limit how well you showcase specific, job-relevant skills
- Not always ATS-friendly, depending on how the resume is structured
Functional resume vs. other formats
While the functional resume format focuses on skills, it's important to understand how it compares to other common types. Here's how the traditional chronological and combination types differ in a resume format comparison.
Chronological resume format
The more traditional resume format, the reverse chronological resume, lists your work history from most recent to oldest. When it comes to functional vs. chronological resumes, chronological emphasizes career progression and is preferred by most recruiters and hiring managers.
Combination resume format
The combination resume blends both chronological and functional elements by featuring skills and work history. While functional resumes focus solely on skills, this format balances your capabilities with your employment timeline—making it a middle-ground option.
How to write a functional resume
A functional resume flips the traditional format by leading with skills instead of work history. If you've made it this far and have decided this is the best option for you, here's how to structure it for maximum impact:
- Contact Information
- Professional Summary
- Skills Categories
- Work History
- Education and Certifications
- Optional Sections (additional relevant experience like volunteer work or projects)
The Skills resume section is where you'll make your strongest case to employers, grouping your achievements under skill headings that match the job requirements. Here's how to get each section right:
Step 1. Include your contact information
You want prospective employers to contact you, so you're going to need to give them those details as clearly as possible.
Your resume contact information should include:
- Full Name
- Phone Number
- Location
- Professional email address
- LinkedIn profile URL
- Portfolio or personal website URL (if applicable)
Step 2. Get specific with your target title
Your target title should clearly signal the job you're applying to. For a functional type of resume, this becomes especially important as it helps frame your skills in the right context. For example, if you're transitioning into project management, use "Project Manager" or the specific title from the job posting.
Step 3. Add a unique professional summary
Rather than outdated funtional resume objective, write a strong professional summary that emphasizes your core skills and major achievements. Unlike traditional resumes, a functional resume summary should focus on your relevant capabilities and expertise rather than where you gained the experience.
Step 4. Group your skills
In a functional resume format, your skills section is the main focus. Start by carefully reviewing the job description to identify the most important skills needed for the job.
Then, choose 3-4 skill categories that directly align with these key requirements. Under each skill category, add 3-5 bullet points that demonstrate how you've successfully used these abilities.
💡Pro Tip: Use Teal's Drag-and-Drop Editor to customize your section names—creating a functional resume that emphasizes your top skills without manual formatting.
Step 5. Add your employment history
For a functional resume, keep your Work History section brief since you've already highlighted your achievements in the skills section. You only need to include these basic details for each job in your employment history:
- Job title and company name
- Location (city, state)
- Employment dates (month/year)
Step 6. Include education
Your education section should be concise and focused on credentials that support your target role. Include these basic details:
- Degree and major (or anticipated graduation date)
- University name and location
- Relevant coursework or academic achievements (if they align with the job description)
Step 7. Add optional sections
While your skills section is the core of your functional resume, choosing to add additional sections can strengthen your application. Consider including these optional sections when they are relevant to the job description and support your skills.
- Certifications and professional development
- Volunteer experience that relates to the relevant skills
- Projects or research
- Industry awards or recognition
Functional resume examples and template
Looking for functional resume examples? Below are real-world examples across different industries for different situations to show you how to create one.
Functional resume example - employment gap
Functional resume sample - career change
Functional resume template
Use this functional resume template as a starting point to showcase your skills and achievements effectively. This free template follows a simple format that helps highlight your capabilities.
[Full Name]
[Phone Number] | [Professional Email] | [City, State]
[LinkedIn URL] | [Portfolio URL (if applicable)]
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
[Write 3-4 sentences highlighting your most relevant skills and achievements. Focus on capabilities that directly match the job requirements.]
CORE SKILLS & ACHIEVEMENTS
[Skill Category 1]
Achievement with metrics
Achievement with metrics
Achievement with metrics
[Skill Category 2]
Achievement with metrics
Achievement with metrics
Achievement with metrics
[Skill Category 3]
Achievement with metrics
Achievement with metrics
Achievement with metrics
WORK HISTORY
[Job Title] | [Company Name] | [City, State]
[Month/Year - Month/Year]
[Job Title] | [Company Name] | [City, State]
[Month/Year - Month/Year]
EDUCATION
[Degree] in [Major] | [University Name] | [City, State]
[Graduation Year or Expected Graduation Date]
CERTIFICATIONS (Optional)
[Certification Name] | [Issuing Organization] | [Year]
💡Pro Tip: Need a functional resume? Explore Teal's collection of functional resume templates to help you get started!
Create your functional resume today
The functional resume offers a powerful alternative when traditional formats don't serve your needs. By organizing your experience around skills rather than timeline, you can present your capabilities in a way that resonates with employers—regardless of your career path.
Ready to build your functional resume? Teal's Resume Builder makes it easy to organize your experience by skills, with flexible section naming and drag-and-drop editing that handles the formatting for you.
