Head of Career Advising
Published: July 15, 2025Outside of very particular situations, reverse chronological should be the only format considered for the vast majority of job candidates. This format prioritizes your professional experience, placing it beneath your profile. It displays your work history in reverse chronological order, enabling the hiring manager to quickly view your most recent achievements. This format also effectively captures your career progression, enabling you to show potential employers how you’ve grown as an industry professional.
The main reason that reverse chronological resume formats are preferred by most hiring managers and recruiters is that they prioritize the most critical aspects of your background. Although skills, certifications, and education are important, they’re only sometimes the determining factor in whether or not a company decides to bring you in for an interview. Companies want to see engaging descriptions of what you’ve accomplished throughout your career and how you can bring that success to their organizations. By leading with your work history, you’re providing tangible reasons for why they should hire you.
Although reverse chronological formats are generally the best option, they might not be the ideal choice for anyone who has taken a long break from the workforce. If you haven’t had hands-on experience in your field for a while, it’s better to prioritize other aspects of your background. Because this style of format emphasizes work experience, it won’t have the same value or impact.
Morgan Davis
[email protected] | Portland, OR 97205 | Portfolio | LinkedIn
UX Product Designer with seven years of experience building intuitive interfaces for education platforms and financial management tools. Skilled at simplifying complex workflows, translating user research into scalable systems, and improving feature adoption through targeted interaction design. Known for applying behavioral insights and rapid prototyping to drive product growth and streamline decision-making.
Lead UX Product Designer | ClearLedger Financial Tools, Portland, OR | September 2020 to present
UX Designer | BrightPath Learning Solutions, Remote | August 2017 – August 2020
Product Design Associate | BeaconGov, Washington, DC | June 2015 – July 2017
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Visual Communication Design | Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR | May 2015
Certified UX Designer | Nielsen Norman Group | 2023
Figma for UX Teams | Interaction Design Foundation | 2022
Taylor Lee
[email protected] | Sacramento, CA 95814 | LinkedIn
Senior Construction Manager with over 12 years of experience overseeing public infrastructure projects, highway expansions, and utility upgrades across municipal and state-funded programs. Recognized for leading field operations with a focus on safety, environmental compliance, and on-time delivery. Proven ability to manage multimillion-dollar contracts while building strong partnerships with city agencies, engineers, and subcontractors.
Senior Construction Manager | WestPoint Civil Engineering, Sacramento, CA | February 2019 to present
Construction Manager | Atlas Infrastructure Group, Fresno, CA | July 2014 – January 2019
Field Engineer | Benton & Sutter Contractors, Oakland, CA | May 2012 – June 2014
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Civil Engineering | California State University, Sacramento, CA | May 2012
Certified Construction Manager (CCM), CMAA | 2019
OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety and Health Certification | 2018
Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP), California State Water Resources Control Board | 2021
Sam Jordan
[email protected] | Charlotte, NC 28202 | LinkedIn
Regional Sales Director with over nine years of experience driving enterprise technology sales and partner strategy across the Southeast region. Skilled in leading account teams, scaling revenue pipelines, and forging C-suite relationships in high-growth markets. Known for delivering consistent quota overperformance, building channel ecosystems, and aligning sales execution with long-term customer value.
Regional Sales Director | VertexCore Technologies, Charlotte, NC | January 2020 to present
Sales Manager | BlueVector Systems, Raleigh, NC | May 2016 – December 2019
Account Executive | NovaGrid Tech Partners, Atlanta, GA | June 2014 – April 2016
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration | University of Georgia, Athens, GA | May 2014
Certified Sales Leader (CSL), Sales Management Association | 2021
Strategic Enterprise Selling (SES), Miller Heiman Group | 2020
Salesforce Sales Cloud Consultant Certification | 2022
Jamie Smith
[email protected] | Chicago, IL 60601 | LinkedIn
Digital Marketing Manager with six years of experience leading cross-channel campaigns for e-commerce and B2B SaaS brands. Skilled in driving qualified traffic, optimizing conversion funnels, and using performance data to inform strategy. Known for managing multi-functional teams, improving ROI through A/B testing, and aligning marketing execution with company growth targets.
Digital Marketing Manager | Alloy Commerce Group, Chicago, IL | October 2020 to present
Marketing Specialist | Uplytic Software, Remote | August 2017 – September 2020
Marketing Assistant | Finch & Field Retail, Naperville, IL | June 2016 – July 2017
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Marketing | DePaul University, Chicago, IL | May 2016
Google Analytics Certification | 2023
HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification | 2022
Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate | 2021
Casey Clark, RN
[email protected] | Phoenix, AZ 85004 | License: RN #B3894276 | Phone | LinkedIn
Nurse Manager with eight years of nursing experience, including three in unit leadership across post-surgical and step-down units. Skilled at managing multidisciplinary teams, implementing evidence-based protocols, and driving improvements in patient outcomes, staffing, and compliance. Known for fostering high-performing clinical teams, streamlining care delivery, and leading initiatives that reduce risk and improve safety.
Nurse Manager | Valley Heights Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ | February 2021 to present
Charge Nurse, Step-Down Unit | Banner Eastside Hospital, Mesa, AZ | July 2017 – January 2021
Registered Nurse, Surgical Unit | Red Rock General Hospital, Tucson, AZ | May 2015 – June 2017
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) | Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ | May 2015
Registered Nurse (RN), State of Arizona | License #B3894276 | Active
Basic Life Support (BLS) | American Heart Association | Current
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) | American Heart Association | Current
Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) | American Organization for Nursing Leadership | 2023
Functional resume formats are occasionally used by job seekers who have been out of work for a while, because they highlight work experience and focus and deemphasize dates. . Unfortunately, there isn’t a single situation where we can recommend a functional resume format, even for entry-level candidates.
The bullet points under each position can contain responsibilities and impact statements, but the functional format is a big giveaway that something is missing. This type of resume is considered outdated, and when hiring teams see this format, regardless how much impact or focus it shows, their first question is always, “What’s missing?”
Alex Johnson
[email protected] | San Diego, CA 92103 | LinkedIn
Motivated office assistant with exposure to general administrative support in school and internship settings. Able to complete routine tasks with guidance, follow instructions, and help maintain organized workflows. Interested in gaining more hands-on experience in a professional office environment.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Organizational Studies | San Diego State University, San Diego, CA | May 2023
Office Intern | Bayview Community Services, San Diego, CA | January 2023 – May 2023
Student Services Assistant | SDSU Enrollment Center, San Diego, CA | September 2021 – December 2022
Chris Taylor
[email protected] | Boston, MA 02118 | Portfolio | LinkedIn
Recent marketing graduate with experience assisting with digital content, managing basic social media tasks, and supporting team projects. Comfortable working in fast-paced environments and looking to gain more experience in content development and campaign coordination.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Marketing | Emerson College, Boston, MA | May 2023
Marketing Intern | Beacon Creative Co., Boston, MA | January 2023 – May 2023
Digital Media Assistant | Emerson Student Affairs, Boston, MA | August 2021 – December 2022
Drew Miller
[email protected] | Long Beach, CA 90802 | GitHub | LinkedIn
Entry-level technical support specialist with familiarity in assisting users and handling common computer issues. Able to follow basic troubleshooting steps and work through help desk processes. Interested in growing technical skills in a support-based role.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Information Technology | California State University, Fullerton, CA | May 2022
IT Help Desk Intern | CSUF IT Services, Fullerton, CA | August 2021 – May 2022
Computer Lab Assistant | Fullerton Public Library, Fullerton, CA | June 2020 – August 2021
Pat Morgan
[email protected] | Las Vegas, NV 89101 | LinkedIn
Client service representative with experience assisting customers in retail and entertainment settings. Able to follow company procedures, provide basic support, and maintain a friendly attitude during busy shifts. Interested in continuing to grow in a customer-facing role with room for development.
High School Diploma | Clark High School, Las Vegas, NV | June 2020
Store Associate | Horizon Market, Las Vegas, NV | July 2021 – May 2023
Customer Attendant | Palace Cinemas, Las Vegas, NV | June 2020 – June 2021
Taylor Lee
[email protected] | Providence, RI 02903 | Portfolio | LinkedIn
Junior visual designer with experience creating simple layouts and visual assets for student events and small projects. Familiar with design software and digital file prep. Looking for an opportunity to learn from a collaborative team in a creative work environment.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Graphic Design | Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI | May 2023
Freelance Visual Designer | Remote | January 2022 – present
Design Assistant | RISD Student Engagement Office, Providence, RI | September 2021 – May 2023
Now that we’ve covered reverse chronological and functional resumes, it’s time to explore the combination format. This is usually considered a blend of the two previous styles, but the truth is that combination resumes are more nuanced. Rather than adhering to a specific layout, a combination format empowers you to prioritize and showcase your content based on what information would be most valuable to your application.
For example, say that you’re an aspiring UX designer who recently graduated. In this situation, featuring your academic projects and online portfolio would be much more impactful than a part-time customer service role you worked in college. You could also argue that your industry skills and certifications should take priority over the work history section. Now, let’s assume that you completed a prestigious internship at a well-known company. This changes the equation completely because you have professional experience that could be valuable to potential employers.
The key feature of a combination format is that it empowers you to fully customize your resume based on your industry, years of experience, and long-term aspirations. This versatility is especially valuable for job seekers looking to make a career change, as it can be difficult to tell the right story by strictly adhering to a traditional, reverse chronological format.
For instance, say you’re transitioning from an elementary teacher position to a learning and development specialist role. In this case, your curriculum development and teaching experiences are undoubtedly valuable and should be featured prominently. However, it could also be beneficial to highlight instructional design and LMS certifications above your work history to show hiring managers you’ve taken steps to prepare yourself for your new field.
One possible issue with employing a combination format is that it could confuse the reader, especially if you don’t have a cohesive strategy for structuring your content. Hiring managers are used to reading reverse chronological resumes, so it’s best to stick with this approach unless you have a good reason for using a combination format.
Taylor Lee
[email protected] | Denver, CO 80203 | GitHub | Portfolio | LinkedIn
Recent computer science graduate with hands-on experience developing full-stack applications through academic and personal projects. Comfortable working with web frameworks, databases, and cloud-based tools to solve real-world problems. Known for writing organized code, learning quickly, and contributing positively to team environments.
Meal Planning Web Platform | University Senior Project | Fall 2023
Book Review Sharing App | Personal Project | Summer 2023
Meta Front-End Developer Certificate | Coursera | 2023
Responsive Web Design Certification | freeCodeCamp | 2022
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science | University of Colorado, Denver, CO | June 2024
Sales Associate | Wild Pines Outdoor Supply, Denver, CO | August 2021 – May 2024
Drew Miller
[email protected] | Raleigh, NC 27601 | LinkedIn | Portfolio
Project manager with 10 years of experience delivering commercial buildouts, IT infrastructure upgrades, and municipal redevelopment projects ranging from $3 million to $20 million. Known for balancing stakeholder needs, reducing project risks, and improving delivery timelines through structured planning and on-site coordination.
Senior Project Manager | Granite Shore Development, Raleigh, NC | October 2018 – present
Project Manager | Southbridge Solutions, Durham, NC | July 2014 – September 2018
Project Management Professional (PMP) | PMI | 2019
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) | Scrum Alliance | 2021
OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Training | 2018
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Project Management | North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC | May 2014
Casey Clark
[email protected] | Minneapolis, MN 55401 | GitHub | LinkedIn | Portfolio
Data analyst with a solid foundation in SQL, Python, and data visualization gained through academic projects and internship experience. Skilled at preparing datasets, creating visual reports, and identifying patterns in complex data. Looking to contribute to a collaborative team focused on solving real business problems through data.
E-commerce Customer Segmentation | Capstone Project | Spring 2024
Public Transit Data Dashboard | Course Project | Fall 2023
Data Intern | Prairie Analytics, Minneapolis, MN | June 2023 – August 2023
Google Data Analytics Certificate | Coursera | 2023
Intro to SQL for Analytics | Mode Analytics | 2022
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Data Analytics | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN | May 2024
Jordan Brown
[email protected] | Chicago, IL 60607 | Portfolio | LinkedIn
Junior graphic designer with strong layout and branding skills developed through freelance and academic projects. Experienced in creating both print and digital materials, and known for following creative direction while contributing original visual ideas. Comfortable managing feedback and meeting fast-moving design deadlines.
Nonprofit Campaign Branding | Freelance Project | 2023
Editorial Layout Design | Senior Design Project | Spring 2024
Design Intern | Signal Creative, Chicago, IL | January 2024 – April 2024
Adobe Certified Professional in Graphic Design & Illustration | 2023
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Graphic Design | Columbia College Chicago, IL | May 2024
Sam Jordan
[email protected] | Atlanta, GA 30303 | LinkedIn
Human resources coordinator with internship and student work experience supporting onboarding, documentation, and employee communication. Familiar with HR systems, internal policy review, and sensitive records handling. Interested in contributing to an HR team that values collaboration, compliance, and continuous improvement.
HR Assistant Intern
Northgate Wellness Services, Atlanta, GA | Summer 2023
Capstone Project: DEI Training Proposal
Georgia State University | Spring 2024
Student Assistant – HR Office
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA | September 2021 – May 2023
HR Fundamentals | LinkedIn Learning | 2023
SHRM-CP (exam scheduled) | SHRM | 2024
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Human Resources | Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA | May 2024
A resume format is the structure you use to organize and showcase your content to the reader. Certain sections are prioritized differently depending on the approach, and based on what the company needs, so it’s important to select a format that truly fits your individual applications. For instance, a senior executive should avoid skill-based formats that fail to emphasize the work history section because their experience is a much better selling point than a list of industry skills.
The reverse chronological format is the best option for most job seekers. Even if you are changing careers, you can make an argument that it’s better to focus on highlighting transferable experiences from your work history rather than emphasizing certifications and skills.
Yes, functional resume formats are generally considered outdated by most experts. While arguments can be made for concise, streamlined resumes, formats other than reverse chronological will raise flags.