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Functional resume templates and examples
4 tips for writing a great functional resume
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Functional resume templates and examples
4 tips for writing a great functional resume
Most hiring managers spend approximately seven seconds looking at a resume. That’s all it takes to decide whether you’ll get an interview.
While they’re certainly noting your work experience, they’re also looking for things like typos, life experience, and education.
If you’re a recent graduate or newly employable, you might not have extensive industry experience, so it’s best to flaunt other notable qualities. That’s where a functional resume comes in.
A functional resume is what one uses to focus on relevant skill sets and qualifications and omits work experience. We’ll differentiate between this skills-based resume and other resume types and note when the former is most appropriate, as well as how to write a functional resume.
We’ve outlined the key sections of a functional resume with example templates below:
Put essential details like the following in the top right-hand corner of your resume:
Include a 2–4 sentence statement about your professional identity and why you’re applying for this position. Make sure to personalize this to each job ad and organization.
Here are a few summary starement examples for functional resumes:
Recent graduate of [program name] from [university name]. Experience with [list skills acquired through internships or other experiences]. Knowledge of [areas of study that apply to job description]. Detailed-oriented and a resourceful problem solver [or other soft skills listed on job description].
Why it works: Highlights experience and demonstrates basic knowledge relevant to an entry-level position.
Results-driven [or other soft skill] [field or job role] with over [number] years of experience in [industry]. In-depth knowledge of [hard skills]. Strong [skills] with a commitment to [value]. Recipient of [certification or award]. Achieved the [name a specific example of an accomplishment with stats, if possible]. Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments.
Why it works: Places strong emphasis on hard and soft skills that are transferable to the desired company or industry.
[Job title] with [years of experience]. Seeking to [goal] at [company name]. Have [most significant/relevant work accomplishments with stats]. Spent the last [number of years] developing my [2–3 soft skills].
Why it works: Explains what this person did during the career break and reflects accomplishments or acquired skill, like being a new mom or caregiver.
Skills and qualifications are the center of any resume.
Carefully read the job description, study the company's values and mission statement, and align your language to both.
Outline three hard skills that are required or valuable to the job role, and be specific about how you acquired and used those skills with action verbs and statistics.
Imagine you’re transitioning from a sales to a project manager role. Highlight commonalities between the roles and use examples from your previous position to show proficiencies outlined in the job ad.
Here’s an example:
Sales management
Use this space to outline degree specifics while highlighting honors, achievements, or relevant courses and certifications.
Now that you know what to include in your functional resume, it’s time to start writing. Here are four tips for building an effective document:
Hiring managers spend a lot of time perfecting the job description to make sure they get the best candidates. Write down the requirements, responsibilities, and skills, and create a checklist you can mark off as you include each on your resume.
For example, if a job ad mentions they’re looking for people who can “work independently and meet deadlines,” be sure your resume emphasizes a history of successfully working on your own and borrows their phrasing. Try including language like “comfortable with team and independent work” and “deadline-oriented” in your summary, skills, or work experience sections.
Curiosity is an essential trait for a successful career and a behavior that many employers actively seek out. Demonstrate a love for learning so hiring managers understand how you’ll approach obtaining new skills and experiences.
Like all hard and soft skills on your resume, show rather than tell. Describe experiences where you learned new tools, studied a certification, or polished a craft to advance your career or improve performance.
Hiring managers often sift through hundreds of resumes to fill a position. And an applicant tracking software is likely taking a first pass at your resume, scanning it for essential keywords and moving it along. A cluttered resume with inconsistent formatting could be the difference between getting put in the “Yes” or “No” pile.
Here are a few general rules to increase your chance your resume is chosen:
Fresh perspectives are invaluable. Once your resume is created, ask for constructive feedback. If possible, reach out to someone with industry experience as they’ll better understand what employers are looking for. Friends and family with professional experience can also offer a fresh take if that’s not an option.
While combination resumes give hiring managers the most well-rounded understanding of your experience, functional resumes are a better fit for the following circumstances:
Learning how to craft a good resume is an integral part of the job search. If a functional resume is the format that works best for your needs, pay careful attention to aligning your skills with what your potential employer is looking for to stand out from candidates that use the traditional resume format.
Don’t worry too much about lacking work experience. Show off personal achievements and skills with a comprehensive and well-constructed functional resume and you’ll have a good chance of getting that first interview.
Explore effective job search techniques, interview strategies, and ways to overcome job-related challenges. Our coaches specialize in helping you land your dream job.
Explore effective job search techniques, interview strategies, and ways to overcome job-related challenges. Our coaches specialize in helping you land your dream job.
Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships.
With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.
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