What are the main resume formats?

There are three main resume formats: reverse-chronological, functional (skills-based) and hybrid (also called combination). They differ in how they organise your experience.

• Reverse-chronological: lists your jobs from most recent to oldest, with achievements under each role. It is the most widely used and expected format.
• Functional: groups your experience under skill headings, such as "Project Management" or "Customer Service", with only a brief list of employers and dates, or none.
• Hybrid: starts with a skills or key achievements section, then gives a full reverse-chronological work history.

For most people, reverse-chronological is the best choice because it is clear and familiar to recruiters and software. Hybrid suits career changers and people with diverse experience. Functional is rarely recommended, because many readers find it hard to follow and may suspect it hides something.