Writing a functional resume can be a great way to highlight your skills and achievements, especially if you’re changing careers, re-entering the workforce after a gap, or don’t have a traditional job history. Instead of focusing on chronological job experience, a functional resume emphasizes your abilities and accomplishments. Here are some key tips to help you write an effective functional resume:
1. Start with a Strong Header
- Include your name, contact information (phone, email, LinkedIn or portfolio), and location (city and state).
2. Write a Compelling Resume Summary or Objective
- Resume Summary: If you have significant experience, write a brief paragraph summarizing your skills and expertise. Focus on how your experience is relevant to the job.
- Example: “Results-driven marketing professional with 5+ years of experience in digital campaigns, content creation, and social media strategy. Skilled in SEO, Google Analytics, and leading cross-functional teams.”
- Objective: If you’re changing careers or just starting out, a career objective can help explain what you’re looking for in your next job.
- Example: “Seeking a project management position where I can leverage my organizational and leadership skills to deliver successful projects.”
3. Focus on Key Skills and Competencies
Since a functional resume places less emphasis on job history, the skills section is the centerpiece of the document.
- Group skills into categories: Organize your skills into relevant sections to make it easier for the reader to understand. For example:
- Technical Skills: Project management software, data analysis tools, coding languages.
- Communication Skills: Written communication, presentation, social media management.
- Leadership Skills: Team management, conflict resolution, coaching.
- Provide evidence for each skill: Instead of just listing skills, back them up with brief examples or achievements.
- Example: “Project Management: Led a team of 5 to complete a product launch 3 months ahead of schedule.”
4. Highlight Achievements and Results
- In a functional resume, it’s crucial to highlight accomplishments that demonstrate the value you bring. Focus on quantifiable results to showcase your success.
- Example: “Improved client satisfaction scores by 20% through implementing a streamlined customer service process.”
5. Work Experience Section (Briefly)
- While your experience isn’t the focus, you should still include a work experience section. This can be brief and should just list the job title, company name, and dates of employment.
- Example: yamlCopy
Work Experience: - Marketing Coordinator, XYZ Corp, January 2019 – Present - Administrative Assistant, ABC Ltd., June 2017 – December 2018
This section gives employers a snapshot of your work history without dwelling on specific job duties.
6. Education and Certifications
- List your highest degree first, including the institution and year of graduation.
- If you have certifications that are relevant to the job, include them in a separate section, or under Education if they’re part of your formal education.
- Example: yamlCopy
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Marketing | University of California | Graduated May 2018 Certifications: Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) Google Analytics Certified
7. Additional Sections to Consider
- Volunteer Work: If you have volunteer experience that’s relevant to the job or shows transferable skills, include it. This is especially helpful for those changing careers or re-entering the workforce.
- Awards and Honors: If you’ve received any relevant awards or recognitions, list them to add more credibility to your resume.
- Languages: If you’re fluent in multiple languages, include a section to highlight that ability.
- Projects: If you’ve worked on relevant personal or freelance projects, especially in tech, design, or creative fields, mention them with specific details about what you accomplished.
8. Tailor Your Resume to the Job
- Customize the skills section: Tailor the skills you highlight to match the keywords and requirements from the job description.
- Match the job title: Use the job title from the description in your objective or summary to show alignment.
- Showcase transferable skills: If you’re changing careers, make sure to emphasize the skills that will transfer to the new field.
9. Keep It Concise
- A functional resume can sometimes be longer because it focuses more on skills and achievements, but it’s still important to keep it concise.
- Ideally, aim for 1-2 pages. Focus on the most relevant skills and experiences, removing anything unnecessary.
10. Use a Clean, Professional Design
- Keep it simple: Use a clear, easy-to-read font (like Arial or Calibri) and avoid cluttering the page with excessive colors or graphics.
- Organize sections clearly: Use headings for each section, such as Key Skills, Experience, Education, etc.
- Bullet points: Use bullet points for clarity and to make your resume easy to scan.
Example of a Functional Resume:
Jane Doe
Phone: (555) 123-4567 | Email: janedoe@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janedoe | Location: City, State