A functional resume is a resume format that primarily showcases a candidate’s skills. The functional format focuses on skill sets rather than work experience. A functional resume is helpful for professionals who want to transition into a new career because it focuses on the transferrable skills they bring to a new job or industry. The functional format works best when work history is unrelated to the targeted job for professionals with gaps in their employment history or those who have frequently changed jobs. Use a functional resume if the standard reverse-chronological format is not a flattering or appropriate representation of qualifications.
Writing a functional resume involves highlighting skills and abilities rather than work experience. A functional resume is a good option for people who want to highlight their skills and abilities rather than their work history. To write a functional resume, start with a summary that summarizes the primary experience, relevant skills, and career goals. Choose at least three skills that are highly applicable to the job being applied for. Provide bullet-point examples that prove those skills are present. Add numbers to those bullet points to show the impact of work. Consider writing a cover letter to explain professional history and match skills to the employer’s needs.
A functional resume must include contact information, skills, education, work or volunteer experience. Contact information is essential and includes name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile. A summary statement is a brief paragraph that highlights skills and experience and explains why the individual is a good fit for the job being applied for. The skills section is the most important part of a functional resume and must list all relevant skills, both hard and soft. Hard skills are learned, such as proficiency in software programs or languages. Soft skills are personality traits and abilities, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
The work experience is able to be listed in the work experience section if there is any relevant work experience. Focus on skills and accomplishments instead of listing job titles and duties. For example, instead of saying, “Managed a team of 10 employees,” it is able to be said, “Increased sales by 15% by implementing a new marketing strategy.” The education section must list educational background, including degrees, schools, and GPA.
Recruiters are able to dislike functional resumes for a couple of reasons. Functional resumes are difficult to scan and understand, make it tricky to see work history, and are able to be seen as a way to hide something. Some job applicants use functional resumes to conceal information. For example, it is used to cover up significant gaps in employment or a lack of experience in general since the main focus is on skills rather than career history. The functional resume format raises suspicion among recruiters because it takes information out of context and makes it easier for applicants to exaggerate their skills and accomplishments.
What Is A Functional Resume?
A functional resume is a resume format that primarily showcases a candidate’s skills. A functional resume, sometimes called a skills-based resume format, groups a candidate’s experience under skills or categories of skills instead of a reverse-chronological resume that organizes a candidate’s experience under their previously or currently-held professional jobs held in order of recency. The functional format allows employers to focus on the candidate’s qualifications, such as any technical or soft skills required for the job.
Functional resume objectives are to showcase the candidate's relevant skills and abilities, which are grouped into different skill categories such as "Communication Skills," "Leadership Experience," or "Technical Proficiencies" in a functional resume. The candidate provides specific examples and accomplishments that demonstrate their proficiency in those areas under each category.
The work experience section in a functional resume is usually concise, mentioning only job titles, company names, and employment dates without going into extensive detail about specific responsibilities or tasks. The primary goal is to highlight transferable skills and qualifications that make the candidate well-suited for the desired position. A functional resume template helps job seekers organize their skills and accomplishments in a way that highlights their strengths and downplays any weaknesses or gaps in their employment history.
What Does A Functional Resume Highlight?
The purpose of a functional resume is to emphasize the skills, qualifications, and achievements of a job seeker rather than focusing primarily on the chronological work history. The functional format is beneficial for addressing employment gaps or career transitions. Candidates tailor their resume to the job requirements and increase their chances of being considered by highlighting relevant skills and achievements.
The functional format allows for customization, enabling candidates to showcase their value and potential, even with limited work experience. Ultimately, a functional resume builder aims to present the candidate's qualifications in a way that captures the attention of potential employers and highlights their suitability for the desired position. Examples of functional resumes provide job seekers with inspiration and functional resume guidelines on how to showcase their skills and experience effectively.
When Should You Write A Functional Resumé?
Use a functional resume if the standard reverse-chronological format is not a flattering or appropriate representation of qualifications. Below are some specific situations when a functional resume is proper.
- Changing careers: A functional resume helps to highlight the skills that are present, even if they are not directly related to the new career when someone is changing careers and does not have a lot of experience in the new field.
- Gaps in work history: A functional resume allows one to explain why there was unemployment or underemployment and highlights the skills and experience gained during those periods if there are gaps in work history.
- Emphasizing transferable skills: A functional resume highlights transferable skills, especially if applying for a job that differs from previous jobs if someone has a lot of transferable skills.
Who Should Use A Functional Resume?
A functional resume is a good option for people who want to highlight their skills and abilities rather than their work history. It's common to have limited experience in a new field for individuals transitioning to new careers. A career change functional resume is a valuable tool in emphasizing the skills, even if those skills aren't directly applicable to the new position. A functional resume for job transition is a great tool for job seekers transitioning to a new career, as it allows them to highlight their transferable skills and downplay any lack of experience in their new field. Individuals with employment gaps utilize a functional resume to explain their periods of unemployment or underemployment while also highlighting the skills and experience acquired during those periods. A functional resume helps emphasize transferable skills when applying for a job that differs from the candidate’s previous roles. Newcomers with limited work experience showcase their education and skills using a functional resume. A functional resume with no educational background effectively highlights the candidate’s skills and experiences, emphasizing their qualifications for the desired position.
How To Write A Functional Resumes
To write the content of a functional resume, it is essential to follow the steps below.
- Begin with a heading: Include full name, contact information (phone number and email address), and optionally address. Place contact information at the top of the resume.
- Write a summary or objective statement: This is a brief paragraph that highlights skills and experience and explains why the individual is a good fit for the job being applied for. Functional resume objective examples provide job seekers with inspiration and guidance on effectively showcasing their skills, experience, and career goals clearly and concisely.
- List skills: Skills is the most important section of a functional resume. Be sure to list all relevant skills, both hard and soft. Hard skills are learned, such as proficiency in software programs or languages. Soft skills are personality traits and abilities, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
- Include work experience: Work experience is listed in this section if there is any relevant. Focus on skills and accomplishments, however, instead of listing job titles and duties.
- Add education: List the educational background, including degrees, schools, and GPA.
- Tailor the resume to the job being applied for: Be sure to highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job being applied for.
How To Write A Functional Resume With No Job Experience
To write a functional resume for entry-level with no job experience, follow the steps below.
- Start with contact information: Include name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile.
- Highlight strengths in a resume summary or objective: Write a brief statement summarizing primary experience, relevant skills, and career goals.
- Make a skills section: Categorize a list of functional skills for the resume in this section.
- Emphasize education: State degrees, schools, and GPA to showcase educational background.
- Substitute work experience with other sections: Include sections such as volunteer work or extracurricular activities to demonstrate skills and experience.
What Should Be Included In A Functional Resume?
A functional resume must include contact information, skills, education, work or volunteer experience. Functional resume writing requires carefully considering skills, qualifications, and career objectives. A functional format begins with a heading that includes name and contact information for easy reference. A summary or profile statement provides a concise overview of qualifications, key skills, and career objectives, aiming to catch the attention of potential employers following that.
The skill categories section is crucial as it helps organize functional skills in a resume. Common categories include communication skills, leadership abilities, technical proficiencies, problem-solving skills, and more. Specific skills are listed, and examples or achievements that showcase proficiency are provided under each category.
Education details include educational background, degrees earned, and relevant coursework or academic honors. Certifications and specialized training relevant to the desired position are also highlighted.
Work experience is included, but rather than focusing on a detailed job description, relevant accomplishments, and skills gained during each role are emphasized. Projects or internships demonstrating skills and experience in the desired field are able to be showcased if applicable. Volunteer experience relevant to the targeted position is able to be included to highlight contributions and skills developed.
Additional sections are able to be added, such as professional affiliations, publications, conferences attended, or languages spoken if they enhance qualifications depending on circumstances.
One of the functional resume tips is to tailor the functional resume to the specific job requirements, highlight the most relevant skills and experiences, and present qualifications clearly and concisely.
Why Do Recruiters Hate Functional Resumes?
Functional resumes are difficult to scan and understand, make it tricky to see work history, and are able to be seen as a way to hide something. Some job applicants use the functional resume to conceal information. The functional format covers significant gaps in employment or a lack of experience in general since the main focus is on skills rather than career history. Writing a resume with functional skills raises suspicion among recruiters because it takes information out of context and makes it easier for applicants to exaggerate their skills and accomplishments.
Conclusion
A functional resume is a valuable tool for individuals with specific circumstances, such as employment gaps, career transitions, limited work experience, or diverse skill sets. The functional format allows job seekers to highlight their skills, qualifications, and achievements in a targeted manner. Recruiters are able to have reservations about functional resumes due to their potential lack of clarity, obscuring of work history, and perception of hiding gaps or inexperience while it is an effective format for entry-level candidates. Job seekers maximize their chances of impressing recruiters and securing desired opportunities by tailoring the functional resume to the job requirements, presenting information clearly, and showcasing relevant skills and experiences.
