The Three Resume Formats
Every resume uses one of three formats: reverse-chronological, functional, or hybrid. Each structures information differently, and the choice affects how hiring managers perceive the candidate. Here's what 600+ staffing agencies and their clients actually prefer.
1. Reverse-Chronological (The Standard)
Lists work experience from most recent to oldest. Each role includes company, title, dates, and achievement bullets.
- Structure: Contact Info → Summary → Experience (newest first) → Education → Skills
- Best for: Most candidates. Shows clear career progression. Works for lateral moves and promotions.
- Why hiring managers love it: They can quickly scan career trajectory, tenure at each company, and progressive responsibility. It answers 'what have you done recently?' in seconds.
- ATS compatibility: Excellent. Every major ATS parses this format reliably.
- Hiring manager preference: 87% prefer this format across all experience levels.
2. Functional (Skills-Based)
Groups experience by skill categories rather than by employer. Employment history is listed briefly at the bottom.
- Structure: Contact Info → Summary → Skill Category 1 (with examples) → Skill Category 2 → ... → Employment History (brief) → Education
- Best for: Almost nobody. Sometimes recommended for career changers or those with employment gaps, but...
- Why hiring managers dislike it: It hides the timeline. Recruiters can't tell when achievements happened, at which company, or whether there are employment gaps. It's interpreted as hiding something.
- ATS compatibility: Poor. Many ATS systems can't properly parse skill-grouped content. Achievements get detached from employers.
- Hiring manager preference: Only 4% prefer this format. 62% say it raises red flags.
Agency advice: If a candidate submits a functional resume, convert it to chronological before sending to clients. Functional formats almost always hurt the candidate's chances, even when used with good intentions.
3. Hybrid (Combination)
Combines a skills summary at the top with chronological experience below. It highlights relevant skills while maintaining timeline clarity.
- Structure: Contact Info → Summary → Core Competencies/Skills Grid → Experience (chronological) → Education
- Best for: Career changers, professionals moving between industries, and candidates whose most relevant skills aren't obvious from job titles alone.
- Why it works: The skills section at the top immediately shows relevance, while the chronological section provides the timeline hiring managers need. It's the best of both worlds.
- ATS compatibility: Good. The chronological section parses normally. The skills section adds keyword density.
- Hiring manager preference: 9% prefer hybrid. It's well-received when the candidate is changing industries.
Format Comparison
Resume Format Comparison
| Factor | Chronological | Functional | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring manager preference | 87% | 4% | 9% |
| ATS compatibility | Excellent | Poor | Good |
| Shows career progression | Yes | No | Yes |
| Highlights transferable skills | Limited | Strong | Strong |
| Hides employment gaps | No | Yes (red flag) | Partially |
| Best for | Most candidates | Rarely appropriate | Career changers |
| Recommended by agencies | Yes (default) | No | Situational |
Beyond Format: What Actually Matters
Format is the container. What goes inside matters more. Regardless of which format you use, these structural elements determine whether a resume gets results:
Visual Hierarchy
The resume needs clear visual levels: candidate name (largest), section headers (bold, medium), job titles (bold), company names (regular or italic), body text (regular). If everything looks the same size and weight, nothing stands out.
Scannable Sections
Hiring managers scan — they don't read. Each section should be clearly labeled and visually separated. Use white space between sections (12pt spacing minimum). A recruiter should be able to find 'Education' in under 2 seconds.
Achievement Bullets (Not Responsibility Lists)
Every bullet point under a role should demonstrate impact, not just describe duties. Use the formula: Action verb + what you did + quantified result. Example: 'Grew revenue from $5M to $12M in 2 years by expanding into 3 new markets' beats 'Responsible for revenue growth.'
Consistent Formatting
Same fonts, same spacing, same bullet style, same date format throughout. Inconsistency is the fastest way to look unprofessional. This is where automated formatting tools shine — they enforce consistency automatically.
What Staffing Agencies Should Do
- Default to chronological: Use reverse-chronological as your standard template. It works for 90%+ of candidates.
- Offer hybrid for career changers: Have a hybrid template available for candidates moving between industries.
- Never send functional resumes: If a candidate submits a functional resume, reformat it to chronological before client submission.
- Standardize with automation: Use a formatting tool that applies your chosen format consistently across all recruiters.