Composing a Functional Resume: Step by Step

By Admin Last updated Apr 11, 2025

A functional resume focuses more on your skills and accomplishments rather than your work history. It’s especially useful if you’re changing careers, have gaps in employment, or want to highlight specific skill sets. Here’s a step-by-step guide to composing a functional resume:

Step 1: Choose a Functional Resume Template

Start with a clean, simple design. Many resume templates (available in Word, Google Docs, Canva, etc.) allow you to focus on your skills and experience.
Select a format that places more emphasis on your qualifications rather than a chronological work history.

Step 2: Add Your Contact Information

At the top of your resume, include:

Full Name
Phone Number
Professional Email Address
LinkedIn Profile (optional)
Location (City, State or just City)

Make sure your contact information is correct, clear, and professional.

Step 3: Write a Resume Summary or Objective

Resume Summary: If you have a good amount of experience, write a 2-3 sentence summary that emphasizes your skills and achievements.
- Example: “Results-oriented project manager with 5+ years of experience in leading cross-functional teams. Skilled in process optimization, resource management, and stakeholder communication.”
Objective: If you’re just starting out or changing careers, a brief objective statement can explain what you’re looking for and how your skills align with the role.
- Example: “Seeking a position in marketing to apply my expertise in digital content creation and social media management to help grow brand awareness.”

Step 4: Focus on Your Skills and Strengths

The main focus of a functional resume is to showcase your skills. Group your skills into categories based on relevance to the job you’re applying for. Use bullet points to list them clearly.

Examples of skill categories:

Technical Skills (e.g., Software, Platforms, Tools)
- Example: JavaScript, SQL, WordPress, Microsoft Office Suite
Leadership & Management (e.g., Team Building, Project Coordination)
- Example: Led a team of 10+, Managed projects from initiation to completion
Communication Skills (e.g., Writing, Presentation, Negotiation)
- Example: Strong verbal and written communication skills, Presentation expertise
Creative Skills (e.g., Design, Video Editing, Marketing)
- Example: Graphic Design (Adobe Illustrator), Content Creation, Social Media Marketing
Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills
- Example: Data analysis, Strategic problem solving, Process improvement

For each skill, try to quantify your accomplishments when possible or provide examples of how you’ve used that skill in previous roles.

Step 5: Highlight Your Achievements and Experiences

Instead of listing jobs in chronological order, you’ll be listing relevant accomplishments under each skill category. This is where you can demonstrate how your skills have been applied in real-world situations.

For each skill, add bulleted achievements or experiences that show the impact of your skills. Use action verbs and quantify results whenever possible.

Example:

Leadership & Management:
- Successfully led a team of 12 in delivering a $1M project ahead of schedule.
- Developed a training program that reduced onboarding time by 20%.
Problem Solving & Analytical Skills:
- Analyzed customer feedback data to improve customer service protocols, resulting in a 15% increase in customer satisfaction.
- Created a new inventory system that reduced stock-outs by 30%.

Step 6: List Your Work Experience (Briefly)

While a functional resume doesn’t emphasize work history, you still need to provide brief work experience to show your job history and provide context. You can list your jobs in reverse chronological order but keep the descriptions short and focused on transferable skills.

Example:

markdownCopy**Marketing Coordinator**  
ABC Corp | Jan 2020 – Present  
- Managed social media campaigns and content strategy
- Increased social media engagement by 25%

Tip: You can opt to list only job titles, companies, and dates of employment with limited details or omit this section entirely if you have strong skill-based accomplishments to highlight.

Step 7: Education

Include your education towards the end of your resume. Keep this section brief, especially if your work experience is more relevant. If your education is not directly related to the job you’re applying for, you can include it in a minimal way.

Example:

markdownCopy**Bachelor of Arts in Communication**  
University of XYZ | Graduated May 2018

Step 8: Include Additional Sections (If Relevant)

Depending on your field and the role you’re applying for, you may want to include other sections like:

Certifications (e.g., Project Management Professional (PMP), Google Analytics Certified)
Volunteer Experience (if it’s relevant and highlights transferable skills)
Languages (if you’re fluent in other languages, especially if it’s relevant to the role)
Awards & Honors (if applicable)
Projects (if you have side projects or freelance work relevant to the position)

Step 9: Proofread and Edit

Check for typos, grammatical errors, and formatting issues. A functional resume should look clean and professional, just like any other resume.
Have someone else review your resume to catch any errors you may have missed and to ensure it flows logically.

Example of a Functional Resume:

[Full Name]
[Phone Number] | [Email Address] | [LinkedIn Profile]

Resume Summary

Creative and results-oriented marketing professional with 5+ years of experience in digital marketing, content creation, and data-driven campaigns. Proven ability to increase brand engagement and drive revenue growth.

Key Skills

Digital Marketing: Expertise in SEO, SEM, and content marketing strategies that drove a 30% increase in organic traffic for clients.
Leadership: Managed cross-functional teams to execute integrated marketing campaigns, leading to a 25% increase in lead generation.
Analytics: Proficient in Google Analytics and other reporting tools to assess campaign performance and drive decisions.
Creative Writing: Developed compelling copy for blogs, emails, and social media posts, achieving engagement rates of up to 20%.

Relevant Experience

Content Strategy: Developed a content calendar that aligned with SEO objectives, improving blog traffic by 40%.
Campaign Management: Executed targeted email campaigns that resulted in a 15% increase in conversions.
Branding: Worked with design teams to create a unified brand presence across digital platforms, contributing to a 10% increase in customer retention.

Work History

Marketing Coordinator | ABC Corp | 2020 – Present
Marketing Assistant | XYZ Agency | 2018 – 2020

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Marketing | University of ABC | Graduated 2018

Final Tips:

Focus on skills and achievements rather than job titles and dates.
Use action verbs and quantify your accomplishments wherever possible.
Tailor your functional resume for each job application by emphasizing the skills most relevant to the role.
Keep it concise and easy to read. A functional resume should highlight your strengths while not being too long.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to create a functional resume that effectively highlights your skills and accomplishments, making you stand out to hiring managers!