combination resume for fresh graduate

Combination Resumes: How (and When) to Use Them + Examples

3 key takeaways

A clear understanding of this resume format and how it differs from other resume types
What scenarios a combination resume is most beneficial in (and how it can improve your job application)
Tips and guidance for creating your combination resume with Teal's AI Resume Builder

When you're job searching, you need to present your skills and experiences in a way that stands out to potential employers.

For many, especially those with employment gaps or diverse professional backgrounds, the solution is learning how to use a combination resume.

This unique resume format blends the best of chronological and functional resumes, offering a versatile approach to showcasing your career journey.

Combination resumes are especially useful for those looking to transition between industries, re-enter the workforce, or highlight a broad skill set. And with the right combination resume templates or examples, you can effectively bridge the gap between your past experiences and future ambitions.

What is a combination resume?

A combination resume incorporates elements of both functional resumes and reverse-chronological resumes . It allows you to showcase your relevant skills and your work history in a balanced way.

This format typically starts with a clear professional summary, then highlights your hard skills, followed by a reverse-chronological listing of your work experience.

Combination resumes are particularly useful if you have diverse skills or varied work experiences and want to showcase these elements effectively. It's ideal for those making a career change, re-entering the workforce, or who have gaps in their employment history.

By emphasizing your skills upfront, you can draw attention to what you can do rather than when you did it. For job seekers looking to emphasize both their skills and experience, the combination resume template is an excellent choice.

How does a combination resume compare with other formats

While the chronological resume focuses primarily on work history and the functional resume emphasizes skills, the combination resume strikes a balance between the two. This hybrid resume approach offers the flexibility to highlight the aspects of your professional profile that are most relevant to the job title you're applying for.

That’s what makes it a strong option compared to other resume formats .

It's important to remember that a combination resume still maintains a chronological order in its work history section. It's not just about listing skills but also about demonstrating how these skills have been applied throughout your career.

For recent graduates, this format can highlight educational experiences, while for those pivoting careers, it can focus on relevant projects or volunteer work that aligns with the new role.

How to format a combination resume

A combination resume, as its name implies, combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes. This format allows you to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences while providing a clear timeline of your work history.

Key sections of a combination resume

Header : This includes your name, contact information, and, optionally, links to your professional online presence (like LinkedIn).
Professional Summary : A brief, impactful section encapsulating your career highlights and key skills.
"Skills" section : A list or bullet points showcasing your most relevant skills. Remember, this section should be tailored to the specific job you're applying for.
Professional experience : Focus on accomplishments, impact, and how you used your skills for each role rather than just duties. Keep in mind every job should be relevant to the role you're applying for.
Education : Your educational background, often listed in reverse chronological order.
Additional sections : Depending on your experience, this can include certifications, awards, volunteer work, or personal projects.

The beauty of a combination resume lies in its flexibility.

Typically, after the header and professional summary, the skills summary comes next, immediately showcasing your most relevant abilities. The professional experience follows, providing context and proof of your skills.

Education and additional sections come at the end, supporting the overall narrative of your resume.

That said, there’s a slight difference in format depending on the context.

Combination resumes for recent graduates

The combination resume format particularly benefits recent graduates lacking extensive work experience.

Instead, they can substitute their educational experience, including relevant projects and courses, in a prominent position.

This approach allows them to highlight their potential and the skills they've acquired through their education, which are relevant to the job they're applying for. The format would still maintain a reverse chronological order, ensuring it is easy to read and professionally structured.

Combination resumes for a career pivot

For individuals making a career pivot, the combination resume format provided above allows them to emphasize transferable skills and relevant projects or volunteer work. These elements can replace or complement the traditional work experience section.

This approach helps in showcasing how their skills and experiences, even from different fields, are applicable to the new role they are targeting. Again, maintaining a chronological format ensures clarity and structure, which is essential for any professional resume.

In both cases—for recent graduates and career changers—a combination resume serves its purpose well, balancing the skills and experiences relevant to the new role while maintaining a clear, chronological format.

How to write a combination resume

Here’s a detailed guide to writing each section of your combination resume.

As the first impression, your header should clearly display your name, contact information, and any professional links like LinkedIn.

Make sure it’s easily visible at the top of your resume. A professional-looking header sets the tone for the rest of the document.

2. Professional summary

This is where you craft your elevator pitch. The goal is to summarize your career journey and highlight skills that transfer well to the new role.

Make it engaging, concise, and focused on why you’re a great fit for this career shift.

Here’s an example of a professional summary for Sarah, a junior marketer looking to enter a mid-level role:

Dynamic junior marketer with 3+ years of experience specializing in digital campaigns, SEO, and social media strategies. Proven ability to boost web traffic and conversion rates through innovative and data-driven approaches. Seeking to leverage creative problem-solving and market analysis skills in a challenging mid-level marketing role.

Pro-tip: Try Teal's Resume Summary Generator to write tailored, position-specific summaries in a matter of seconds.

3. Skills summary

List hard skills like tools or programs that are directly relevant to your new career.

In a combination resume, this part immediately showcases your most relevant capabilities and will ideally be a balance of hard and soft skills relevant to the job description.

4. Professional experience

Start with your most relevant job roles, even if they aren't in the new career field. Focus on achievements and demonstrate how you used transferable skills to have an impact.

If you’re feeling stuck on how to write your professional experiences, use the Problem-Action-Result (PAR) method to articulate your past contributions.

You can also rely on Teal’s built-in AI to help you draft your resume’s content:

Just be sure to manually check that the information is accurate when you review your resume.

5. Education

Include all relevant degrees, certifications, and coursework.

If you’re a recent graduate or have less professional experience in the new field, this section would be used in place of “Professional Experience.” It can also be expanded to showcase academic achievements, projects, or relevant courses that align with your new career path.

6. Additional sections

This is your space to include anything else that strengthens your application. Consider adding sections for volunteer work, projects, languages, or other certifications. Tailor this part of the resume to showcase experiences and achievements that further demonstrate your suitability for the career change.

Remember, the key to a successful combination resume for a career change lies in how well you customize these sections to showcase your transition into a new career effectively.

Writing a combination resume with Teal

If you’re just getting started, crafting the perfect combination resume can feel overwhelming, especially when balancing so many elements of your professional journey.

But Teal’s Drag-and-Drop Editor transforms this challenge into a seamless and intuitive process. You can effortlessly rearrange sections to suit your unique story, ensuring that your skills, experience, and accomplishments are presented in the most impactful way.

Whether you're a career changer, a seasoned professional with diverse experiences, or someone bridging employment gaps, Teal allows you to create a resume that highlights your strongest assets. Then, you can modify your resume layout to your liking.

Plus, Teal recognizes the importance of a resume that can be scanned by applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Teal helps you craft resumes and cover letters that incorporate keywords directly from job descriptions. You can write them from scratch, use the Achievement Assistant, or generate them with the help of Teal’s built-in AI.

From there, you can polish everything to ensure your combination resume is as strong as it is genuine.

Tips for writing compelling resume content

An impactful combination resume not only showcases your qualifications but also tells a compelling story of your professional journey. With the right approach, your resume can capture the essence of your career and present you as an ideal candidate for the job.

Here are some essential tips to help you create content that stands out, aligns with the job requirements, and effectively communicates your value.

1. Start with action verbs: Begin each bullet point in your experience section with dynamic action verbs.

For instance, instead of saying, "Responsible for managing a team," say, "Led a team of 10 professionals to surpass quarterly sales targets by 13%."

2. Quantify achievements: Whenever possible, include concrete numbers and metrics to quantify the work you’ve done.

For example, rather than saying "Improved sales," specify with, "Increased sales by 25% over six months through strategic marketing campaigns."

3. Tailor content to the job: Align your resume's content with the job description by incorporating relevant keywords.

If the job listing emphasizes "project management" and "team leadership," ensure these terms are reflected in your resume, like "Spearheaded a project team to deliver on-time solutions in a fast-paced tech environment."

4. Write clearly and concisely: Avoid industry jargon and complex sentences.

For example, instead of saying, "Utilized cutting-edge methodologies to engender an increase in consumer engagement," you could say, "Applied innovative strategies to boost customer engagement by 30%."

At the end of the day, the key to an effective combination resume is to present a clear, engaging narrative of your career that aligns with the job you're applying for.

Writing a combination resume for career change

Changing careers can be challenging. You’ve already climbed the ladder in one field, and now you’re starting all over at the bottom wrung.

Plus, you need to quickly and concisely explain the transition to hiring managers so they don’t assume you’re a flight risk.

Here are a few tips for writing a combination resume specifically for a career change.

1. Highlight transferable skills

When transitioning to a new career field, it's essential to showcase skills from your previous roles that are relevant to your new path. Focus on transferable skills that can be applied in various contexts.

For instance, if you’re moving from a teaching role to a corporate training position, skills like public speaking, curriculum development, and audience engagement are highly relevant.

List these skills in a dedicated section and use specific examples in your work history to demonstrate how you've applied them effectively.

2. Emphasize relevant experience

Your past roles may have more in common with your new field than you think. Scrutinize your work history to identify projects, tasks, or responsibilities that have a direct correlation with the role you’re targeting.

For each job you list, focus on aspects that align with your new career. For example, if you’re moving into project management, highlight your experience coordinating tasks, managing teams, or overseeing project timelines.

Even roles in different industries can provide relevant experience, such as managing a project or leading a team.

3. Use the professional summary wisely

Your professional summary is the first thing employers will read, so it's your chance to make a strong impression. This is where you can express your career change intention and why you are a suitable candidate.

Write a compelling summary that combines your passion for the new field with your proven skills.

For example, “Passionate about transitioning into digital marketing, leveraging extensive experience in content creation and audience engagement gained from a successful journalism career.”

4. Include your education and continued learning efforts

Highlighting your education and any ongoing learning efforts is crucial, especially if they are relevant to your new career path. This shows employers your commitment to the field.

List any recent courses, workshops, or certifications at the top of your education section. For instance, if you’re moving into IT, including certifications like CompTIA or Cisco CCNA can be highly beneficial.

5. Include projects or volunteer work

Non-professional experiences can be just as valuable as paid roles, particularly when they're relevant to the field you're entering.

Include any freelance projects, internships, or volunteer work that’s related to your new career.

For example, if you’re aiming for a career in graphic design, include freelance design projects or volunteer work where you created promotional materials for events. Detail these experiences just like you would a job, focusing on what you achieved and learned.

Using Teal’s AI Resume Builder

Teal’s AI Resume Builder simplifies the process of writing a combination resume. It provides guidance and suggestions for each section, ensuring your content is optimized and impactful. With Teal, you can:

Use AI-driven suggestions to enhance your professional summary and skills summary.
Tailor your resume to each job application, with Teal highlighting the skills and experiences most relevant to the role.
Format your resume with ease, thanks to Teal’s user-friendly interface.

Writing a combination resume with Teal is not only easier but also more effective.

Combination resume examples

A good combination resume example can be a great reference to understand how to create your own resume more efficiently. Here are a few examples you can learn from.

Frontend Developer

This combination resume example is perfect for a junior-level employee looking to transition into a new role. The relevant skills are placed after the professional summary, followed by her work experience.

However, because her professional experience is limited, this example provides more information about internships and volunteer projects.

Marketing Manager

Here we have Max, a marketing manager with a more extensive work history. The skills section is still prioritized, but his working history takes on a reverse chronological format.

Crafting your combination resume

Navigating the creation of a combination resume isn't just about assembling parts of your professional history; it's about strategically highlighting your diverse skills and experiences to capture the heart of your career journey.

A combination resume is your chance to paint a compelling picture of your professional landscape—from your multifaceted skills to the chronological narrative of your work history. It elegantly bridges the gap between showcasing a rich skill set and a robust employment history.

Whether you're navigating employment gaps, embarking on a career change, or a recent graduate, this format adapts to your unique story, ensuring that your application resonates with potential employers.

Teal’s Drag-and-Drop Editor simplifies this process, allowing you to effortlessly blend sections, customize layouts, and build the combination resume that best represents you.

I you're ready to elevate your job application, bring your unique professional story to life with Teal. Sign up today , explore the power of the combination resume with Teal’s innovative tools, and step into your next career chapter with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary advantage of using a combination resume over other resume formats, how can i decide if a combination resume is the right choice for my job application, can a combination resume be used for entry-level positions, or is it only suitable for experienced professionals.

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Best of both worlds: How to write a combination resume

A combination resume joins the best qualities of the reverse-chronological and functional resume formats. It allows job-seekers to foreground their skillset, as with a functional resume, but it doesn’t sacrifice the simple organization of a reverse-chronological resume.

You are changing careers

Combination resumes are a great way to show the transferable skills you gained in a previous industry. With its emphasis on abilities rather than past positions, a combination resume allows you to pick out the best skills from your work history and make sure they are visible right at the top of the resume.

A combination resume should not be used to obscure the fact that you are changing careers, however. It should be used to foreground what you are able to do, while letting your less relevant experience take a back seat.

You have gaps in your work history

If you have had long periods of unemployment, your work history may be difficult to display in a reverse-chronological resume. A combination resume will allow you to begin with a strong skills section that showcases your abilities so that the gaps in your employment won’t be the first thing employers see.

The gaps will still be visible in your work history section, and your employer may have questions. A combination resume simply gives you the power to show off your skills right away.

You have a history of job-hopping

If you have held several positions with short tenures, it may be a good idea to emphasize your skills and achievements separately from your work experience. Employers are looking to make long-term investments in their employees, and they can be wary of people who haven’t held a job for long. With a combination resume, you can ensure that your most impressive skills are the first thing they read.

You have many years of experience

When you have been working for more than a decade in the same industry, the list of jobs you have held can become long. This is impressive, but the most relevant experience can be difficult to pick out. With a combination resume you can make sure that your most relevant skills and accomplishments are easy to find right at the top of your resume, without the employer having to read through your entire resume.

How to write a combination resume

Now that you know whether or not a combination resume is right for you, it’s time to get writing.

1: Contact information

Like all resumes, your name, phone number, and email address should all be easy to find at the top of your resume.

The most important section on your combination resume is your Skills section . This section is located near the top of your resume, and it should demonstrate the depth and breadth of your abilities.

You can title it Key Skills, Core Competencies, Qualifications Summary, or whatever best fits your experience and your resume.

If you have more than one skill area you would like to showcase, you can separate the Skills section into different categories. For example, splitting your skills among Web Development, Project Management, and Data Analysis headings lets the employer know where to look for each skill.

Your Skills section can include technical skills and soft skills , and should use active language to describe your abilities. Remember to customize your skills section for every application so you know that the skills you highlight are the right ones for the role.

3: Work History

Your work experience can be shorter than it would be in a reverse-chronological resume, but it is still important. List past positions in order and give each item a brief description. Use quantifiable information to demonstrate your accomplishments and responsibilities, and be sure to include the titles and dates of each role.

4: Education

Your Education is important, but this section can be brief. List your degrees in reverse-chronological order, and only include your GPA if you are a recent graduate and it is higher than 3.5.

5: Optional Sections

If you have other information that doesn’t fit into the sections above, new sections can be added to accommodate that. A summary , a portfolio section, a certifications section, or a volunteering experience section can all be great additions to a resume. As long as your resume isn’t too long , include the sections you need to make the best case for yourself.

Combination resume example

Marketing Manager resume example

Qualifications Profile

Proven track record in delivering clear, insightful strategies with tactical solutions which have moved markets and drove new initiatives.
Marketing roadmap creation based on SWOT, annual customer research, business objectives and industry/customer analytics.
Intimate understanding of the customer and applied targeted customer insights to all marketing directives.
Experience in brand development, marketing, technology, customer care and sales to drive conversion and expand customer LTV.
Cloud-based business suite/CRM and database integration to improve business operations, create brand awareness, and drive revenue.

Project Management

Have led dozens of large projects to completion, including strategic roadmap for the company, brand, content, and navigation.
Budgeting, cost tracking, requirements tracking, scheduling, interpersonal, vendor selection, and reporting with senior management.
Familiar with tools such as Visual Paradigm and ActiveVOS.
Have demonstrated outstanding leadership, with great coaching acumen with direct reports and cross-functional teams.

Business Analysis

Have good exposure in building queries, optimizing queries, requirement gathering & analysis.
Build daily, weekly, and monthly dashboards and delivered to stakeholders.
Strong knowledge of business and systems architecture to provide knowledge to IT Management and Business Representatives.
Mentoring and training junior Business Analysts to boost organizational Business Analysis capabilities.
Banking, finance, capital markets, treasury and derivatives in partnership with IT Management to build organizational capability in the domain.
Working closely with IT Management and Business Representatives to review business initiatives and recommend solutions.
Contribute to feasibility studies, business case development, project definition, requirements definition, and technical specifications.

Work experience

Chief marketing officer, sirtex medical limited.

Developed an online strategy, including online reputation, visits, and conversion improvement and the online experience, that supports the company’s overall goals and oversee all aspects of its implementation.
Promote opportunities for the growth and execute strategies, then initiate, execute and monitor them to take advantage of these opportunities.
Intimately understand the online audience and apply targeted customer insights to execute online, mobile, and social media strategy.
Analyze user flow on all landing pages to recommend and bring into effect changes to improve conversions.

Marketing Director

Influenster.

Created long-term marketing roadmaps based on SWOT, customer research, and customer analytics.
Created and executed a strategic roadmap for the company including the brand, content, navigation, search engine optimization, responsive/mobile-friendly build-out, and internationalization.
Created and championed an intimate understanding of the customer and applied targeted customer insights to all marketing directives.
Brand/product development, marketing, technology, customer care and sales to create brand awareness, drive conversion, and expand customer LTV (lifetime value).
Integrated a cloud-based business suite/CRM and database to improve business operations, create brand awareness and experience, customer loyalty and drive revenue.

Associate Business Analyst

Ingram micro.

Worked on building a set of six weeks and four daily dashboards which helped in understanding sales, revenue, NPS and other top line metrics from all direct channels for extended warranty provider client.
Enabled the stakeholders to identify the reasons for low customer satisfaction and sales.
Identified the pinpointing the agencies that were not meeting the expected revenue goals.
Worked on the development of a full-fledged multi-channel view of a customer, which along with the use of online performance data, was used to drive improvements to the customer experience.

Bachelor of Science

Texas tech university.

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Combination Resume: Definition, Examples, and Writing Tips

Most resume formats fall into one of two categories. There are functional resumes that emphasize your skills. These are ideal for inexperienced applicants who have developed skills through their education but have less on-the-job experience.

There are also chronological resumes – the standard choice for experienced candidates who prefer to highlight the work they have done, and the positions they have held. Sometimes forgotten, is the third resume type – the combination resume.

What is a Combination Resume?

A combination resume meshes chronological and functional resume formats. It emphasizes your skills, experience, and accomplishments without following the timeline of a chronological resume.

The standard combination resume format opens with a larger header area , featuring a skills summary or qualification section. Afterward, it lists a condensed chronological work history and educational credentials.

Who Should Use a Combination Resume Format?

Many people can benefit from using a combination resume. Those who are seeking a career change or recent graduates are especially likely to find it useful. This is because these folks tend to have:

At least some work experience
Hard and soft skills
Relevant education

At the same time, because they are entering fields that are new to them, they need to find a way to balance the best elements of functional and chronological resume formats . Thus, the combination resume is a perfect option.

That said, a combination resume can work for other professionals too. Martin Yate , an international expert in resume writing and a best-selling author, argues that candidates can get better results with a new resume layout , which includes:

Performance Summary subhead that explains how you’ve helped past employers achieve their goals. This is where you should use the employer’s phraseology and keywords from the job description as much as possible.
Professional Skills section, offering an overview of your core competencies, ideally formatted as two or three columns.

By adding the above information at the “front” you target the recruiter with the right message. First, you confirm that you can fulfill the job requirements. Secondly, you explain how you’ll do that through a combination of highlighted hard and soft skills.

Sample Combination Resume (Word Version)

Let’s now move on from theory to practice and check several working combination resume examples.

Download resume example (.docx)

Combination Resume Example (Text version)

Creative, self-starting design professional with 4 years of experience in website and UX design seeking to enter the field of digital marketing.

Design Tech Stack: Adobe Studio, Sketch, Adobe Experience Design, Webflow, Shopify, WordPress, HTML5, JavaScript, and Python.
Marketing Skills: UX copywriting, social media marketing, content marketing, infographic design.
Marketing Tools: Google Analytics, Buffer, HootSuite, Clout, Curata, BuzzSumo, Ahrefs.
Other Relevant Skills: Skype, MS Office, Google Docs, Customer Service, Verbal And Written Communication Skills, Leadership, and Negotiation.

Work History

Smith And Smith Digital Marketing Intern July 2019 – Present

Duties: Completed an internship under the VP of the social media marketing team. Created visual content for Instagram, Tumblr, and Facebook. Worked with professional bloggers and content creators to add visual elements to content. Used analytics tools to measure customer engagement. Communicated digital marketing concepts to customers.

Crystal Design Group UX Designer/Web Developer May 2015 – June 2019

Duties: Developed and tested apps, websites, and landing pages for small and medium-sized businesses. Worked directly with clients to gather requirements, and modified web products as customer needs changed. Specialized in developing sites for ecommerce stores using Shopify and other platforms.

Educational History

University of North Texas July 2012 – May 2016 BA Graphic Communications And Digital Media Minor: Business Management GPA: 3.65

Accomplishments and Awards: Dean’s List, Student Council Representative, Member of Creative Students Association, Recipient of The Graphic Communications Society Gold Standard Plaque, Graphic Design Society of North America scholarship Recipient.

Additional Awards And Experience

ASPCA Volunteer Leader 2016 Boys LaCrosse Coach U1 – U8 Karate Instructor Volunteer Regional Director, Art Across America Initiative for Disadvantaged Youth

Combination Resume IT Example

Chelsea Westacott iOS mobile app developer Objective C & Swift

Product-minded engineer, experienced in developing, testing, and debugging native iOS applications for financial, gaming, and ecommerce companies. Familiar with MVVM & MVC architectures and optimization of iOS memory concurrency to ensure high application performance.

Technical Skills:

Swift and iOS frameworks (Core Data, Core Animation, Grand Central Dispatch)
iOS Tools and packages: Xcode IDE, Fastlane, Swift Package Manager, CocoaPods
Mobile app testing and debugging: Appium, Kobiton
API programming: RESTful API integrations.
Agile and RAD software development methodologies

People Skills

Proven track record of successful cross-functional collaboration
Experience in mentoring junior software engineers
High attention to detail in code reviews
Practical experience with Scrum and feature prioritization

Work Experience

Senior iOS App Developer Santa Fe Dev Studios Dec 2021-present

Collaborate with product team and customers on requirements gathering and clarification for new ecommerce applications. Develop advanced iOS mobile features to support AR shopping, in-app commerce live streams, and visual search. Defined, created, and improved a database of automated test cases, thanks to which the number of app crash incidents in production decreased by 35%.

iOS App Developer Digital Bank April 2019-Nov 2021

Helped ship the MVP of a digital banking app and later supported a feature maturation strategy. Successfully implemented features for KYC, personal finance management, and P2P payments. Improved app load time by 25% through efficient code refactoring and optimized API management, resulting in a better UX and a 20% increase in daily user engagement.

The University of California Sep 2016 – May 2019 BS in Computer Science Minor: Product Management

Professional Certifications

Apple Certified iOS Developer (ACID), issued July 2019.
Udacity iOS Developer Nanodegree, completed in Aug 2020

Recommended Combination Resume Templates

For a combination resume, you need a template with ample space in the header area to fit in your summary section. Alternatively, you can opt for a two-column resume. This works better if you’d rather have a longer work experience section and a bullet-point-styled skills section in the side column.

At Freesumes, you’ll find over a hundred absolutely free and fabulous resume templates for all popular formats. Below are our top recommended combination resume templates:

How to Make a Combination Resume Step-By-Step

An effective combination resume accentuates your most marketable skills and competencies in the header and then further contextualizes these in the shorter work and education experience sections.

Ideally, you should aim to allocate one-third of the page towards your resume summary and the remaining two-thirds for other resume sections .

Your resume summary should be clear and concise, tailored to the job for which you are applying. Your work experience and education sections should further elaborate on how you apply the listed skills to perform your duties, drive specific work outcomes, and generate value for your employer. Lastly, emphasize any relevant certifications, training, volunteer, or extracurricular activities that make you stand out among others.

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making a combination resume.

Open with a Compelling Resume Summary Section

Think of this section as a “teaser” for your resume: Advertise your most relevant competencies and some note-worthy achievements. If you’re new to the field or changing careers, you can also add a one-sentence resume objective statement to explain what type of roles you’re after, just like in the first resume sample.

Craft a Banging Skills Section

Start with a resume outline and make a list of relevant skills that you already have. Include a good mix of role-specific competencies, technical skills, and soft skills. Don’t skim on the latter, since 97% of employers consider soft skills just as important or even more important than hard skills.

Next, you’ll want to back up these with your work experience. For example, you may list graphic design as one of your core skills. Later in your resume, you can show that you have used that skill in the real world designing logos for small business owners.

Need some inspiration? Check our lists of recommended skills for a resume:

Self-management skills
Critical-thinking skills
Meta skills
Organizational skills
Administrative skills
Conceptual skills

Focus On Transferable Skills

If you’re a recent graduate or seeking a career change, you probably have some skills that will make you more productive. These are called transferable skills .

Most soft skills fall into this category. However, depending on the job you are pursuing, you may have hard skills that are transferable as well. For example, there are several careers where having advanced MS Excel skills is considered to be a real selling point.

Pro tip : Your combination resume has to emphasize the skills and experience the company needs. That’s why you should use the job listing itself to help you determine which skills and experience should receive the most attention.

Don’t Forget The Extras

A combination resume format allows you to include relevant awards, volunteer work, research , and even hobbies and interests that you may not normally fit in a more standard one-page resume. Don’t hesitate to share some extra interesting facts about yourself if these can help better contextualize your work experience and personality.

That said, your resume shouldn’t look “crowded” as this affects readability. To compactly fit extra details, grab a free Google Docs resume with a two-column design or one of our recommended combination resume templates!

Final Thoughts

Despite not having the best work experience, you can create a resume that allows hiring managers to see you as an excellent fit for the position by combining your work experience, relevant skills, and education.

You can further impress the reader by carefully curating your duties and contextualizing your skills through accomplishments. Although less traditional, combination resume packs a powerful punch!

Elena runs content operations at Freesumes since 2017. She works closely with copywriters, designers, and invited career experts to ensure that all content meets our highest editorial standards. Up to date, she wrote over 200 career-related pieces around resume writing, career advice... more

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Graduate Resume Example for 2024 [Plus 10 Skills for Savvy Job-hunters]

Time to get a job to support your plans and kick off your mission to leave a mark on the world?

We’re here to help.

Whether you’re looking for your first part-time job to support your studies or internship or if you’re a fresh graduate looking for your first full-time job, you’ve come to the right place.

Here’s how we’re going to help you write your first student or graduate resume.

In a few minutes, you’ll hear four resume skills and insights that’ll last your entire working life:

The 6 sections to include in your resume
What a resume summary is – and how to write yours
The 10 student skills every employer needs
How to stand out from the crowd

Let’s follow the Jane Doe’s Novorésumé-created example throughout this guide.

Student and Graduates Resume Writing

Graduate resume sample.

Like the look of this? Stand out from other graduates and students, by creating your resume in minutes with templates that make hiring managers and recruiters take notice.

Here's more related resume examples that you might be interested in:

College Resume
High School Resume
No Experience Resume
Internship Resume
Research Assistant Resume
Teacher Resume

Sections to Include in a Student or Graduate Resume

Here’s a quick overview of the sections that you should include in every resume you write, regardless of how you customize it for each job advertisement or speculative cover letter .

Contact and Professional Social Media details . List your professional email address – (not that ‘hilarious’ one you signed up for when you were 13!) – your phone number, and your professional social network profile).
Professional Resume Summary: A summary for a resume needs to dash off your professional achievements and your skills that are relevant to the job ad.
A Relevant Professional Title: A professional title for a resume will need to match the position/title that is advertised in the job ad, such as ‘media graduate, junior developer, or paralegal’.
Education and certificates: Include your thesis, if it’s relevant, and add key courses related to the job. Include your grade point average, scholarships or university medals – if you have them.
Relevant Experience: Don’t stress about this, we all started somewhere. Include any paid, unpaid or volunteer roles you held during your studies. No experience? No worries! Skip over to this dedicated guide with resume tips for students with no experience yet .
Skills and expertise: Wizard at Word? Proficient in Photoshop? Google Ad Words guru? Make sure to include your key hard and soft skills (more on this soon).

What about those ‘nice-to-have’ but not mandatory sections?

Here’s a few you can put in or leave out, based on the role and your own judgement.

Conferences, courses and certificates
Student organizations, clubs, or networks
Publications and awards
Volunteer Experience
Personal Projects

Think you already have enough information to create your student or graduate resume ?

Check out our intuitive resume builder , job-hunting tips and resume examples to help you choose the best resume template to reach recruiters and hiring managers.

How to Write a Resume Summary for a Student or Graduate Resume

Let’s get moving on the content of your resume, starting with your resume summary .

Hold up! Wondering what a resume summary is?

It’s quite straightforward.

Basically, a resume summary it’s a short paragraph at the start of your resume which sums up your experience and suitability for the role.

It’s a bit like that elevator pitch you might hear people talk about in movies, start-ups or sales-driven business areas.

Instead of pitching a company or idea, you pitch you – and the benefits and value you bring, but there is no need to mention everything - for example, your work for an essay service may raise some eyebrows.

Time for us to look at Jane’s resume to see this in action.

Her summary is clear and direct.

Being in business means knowing about a lot of interconnected areas and Jane shows that she is versatile by highlighting her ‘proven and tested’ skills in procurement, marketing and sales – just some of the key areas that every solid business professional needs.

“An independent and self-motivated business student with proven and tested business, procurement, sales, and marketing skills.”
“An award-winning and confident communication graduate, able to establish rapport quickly and conduct training sessions with clarity and enthusiasm.”

Top Skills to Include in a Student or Graduate Resume

Let’s take a look at some of Jane’s skills now.

She includes a nice mix of technical (hard) and soft skills on her resume.

She talks about her proficiency with Google advertising technology, Typeform, and SendGrid, while highlighting four in-demand soft skills.

Now you might be worried that you don’t have any of the skills Jane lists in her resume.

Don’t worry, we bet you have plenty that you can include once you give it some thought.

Your hard skills will differ drastically based on what you’ve studied too.

And here’s a little secret that will lift your confidence and readiness to complete your resume.

There are some Soft Skills that almost every single employer will need.

Here they are:

Communication
Adaptability
Punctuality
Organization
Flexibility
Problem Solving Abilities

How many of them would you add to your college resume template ?

How to Stand Out From the Crowd as a Student or Fresh Graduate

You clever clogs out there are probably asking: “What if you share these skills with many other applicants?”

How on earth do you stand out?

Simple: you highlight your individual achievements and how they relate to the job.

Jane does this by linking her past work and volunteer experience to results. She successfully overcame personal targets – suggesting she’s driven – for three months in a row.

This kind of example is a really strong way to show a high-performance attitude, without bragging or claiming ‘I’m a high performer’. It’s showing, not telling.

A lack of experience is one of the big worries that students and graduates have when first applying for jobs and working on new resumes.

Look how Jane solves this problem by highlighting her leadership in event planning and social media while at University.

Feeling inspired? Ready to create a resume that helps you get that interview?

The Combination Resume: Examples and Writing Tips (2024)

Introduction .

An underrated catch-all in the career world is the combination resume. It’s the best of both worlds; a sophisticated synergy between the chronological and functional resume. This hybrid format can display your work history, accomplishments, and entire skill set. When written right, the flexible format can attract hiring managers

It’s the most suitable for applicants who want to upgrade their CVs and propel their careers. If this is you, read on to get all the insight you need on building the best, eye-catching resume!

1. What is a Combination Resume?

The two most popular resume formats are chronological and functional resumes. The former features a chronological list of your work experience and achievements, starting from the current and ending at the oldest. Whereas the latter solely showcases your accomplishments and skill set, putting your work history at the back end. However, the combination resume is an elegant mix of both - it highlights all aspects simultaneously.

Not everyone has to follow the dominant resume patterns. To ensure being noticed by hiring managers, it is wise to use the resume format that most suits your experience and career ambitions.

Also read: What is functional resume?

2. What is the Combination Resume structure?

Here is what your ideal combination resume should look like:

We’ve covered the basics of a combination resume. Now, let’s get into making one. To begin, find a solid template for yourself, laying the foundations of an impressive resume.

‍ 2.1 Mention Your Contact Information:

No one wants to go through the meticulous and intricate process of perfecting your resume and submitting it, only to realize you left no avenue to be contacted. To avoid that devastating outcome, write your full name, professional email address, phone number, or a relevant social media handle.

Additionally, including your LinkedIn profile will give the employer more platforms to easily reach out to you. This slots into the header, which includes your full name in a larger font to indicate to whom the resume belongs to

2.2 Resume Objective First:

The specialty of a combination resume is that it allows you to summarise and strategically display a mix of your skills and experiences. This is why it needs to start with a resume objective that markets your accomplishments. This informs the candidate screener that you are a capable candidate.

AI tools like summarizer can help you to enclose all the necessary details of your resume objective in a concise way. Moreover, It must be professional and formally written, with relevance to the job position.

‍ 2.3 Categorize your Skills:

Use the combination resume to your advantage to carefully sell your skill set as valuable and diverse. This includes soft skills, hard skills, and technical skills, which are especially important in this digital age. For example, problem-solving, time management, crisis management, teamwork, proficiency in SQL, SEO, etc.

List your skills before your work history in a bullet point format. Limit it to two or three broad yet primary skills which are necessary and suitable for the job. Underneath each, list two to three-pointers that validate your claims and prove your capabilities. Remember to balance out each skill by assigning equal space for them.

2.4 Employment Profile:

It is recommended that you list two to three recent and relevant work experiences in reverse-chronological order, using bullet points. Then, list two to four responsibilities or accomplishments held during the job. Add some statistics or data to back up your tasks. It should display your impact and innovations to impress your potential boss.

Unlike a chronological resume, this format is more precise to guide the employer directly toward your qualifications and previous occupations. It encourages you to specify the jobs most attractive to your employer in terms of the position applied for.

Additionally, you can include volunteer or social work, internships, or extracurricular work done. It is the perfect area to highlight the skills learned apart from professional history, which are beneficial for the role you want.

2.5 Education:

After gaining mid-level experience, your educational background doesn’t remain as important. Still, state your college name, degree obtained, and graduation year. Keep it brief and the smallest part of your resume.

Many employers do not require GPA unless you apply for an academic position (like a master’s program, consultancy, investment banking, and more). However, if you have a strong GPA or received any honorary certificates, feel free to display them.

3. When to use a Combination Resume?

If you have a diverse work background, this format prevents it from looking chaotic or disconnected. In addition to the attractive organization, it offers you, the resume is great to highlight prior yet appropriate volunteer or intern work. Admirably, it’s a fantastic option for those who want to climb the corporate ladder to a higher position.

Overall, it allows hiring managers to quickly recognize your capabilities and validate them using your employment experience. If you’re looking to create an outstanding resume , Qureos can help you with that!

However, there are some points at which you should avoid using this format. For example, if you lack any work experience and are applying for your first job. Secondly, if you have applied for a position that requires years of experience and expertise.

4. Who should use a Combination Resume?

A combination resume is highly effective for all kinds of professionals. There isn’t a limit to who can use one, but it is primarily recommended for a certain group of job seekers.

Firstly, the format is best for mid-level experienced professionals with three to eight years of work. Particularly if you’re looking to increase your knowledge and refine your abilities. So, if you feel like you’re neither an entry-level applicant nor a seasoned expert, but simply someone who wants to progress, this resume may be for you.

Secondly, the resume is ideal for those who are trying to shift careers. Such a change is daunting and requires smart personal branding to adapt to a novel field. Therefore building a stellar portfolio or resume that highlights transferrable skills alongside work history is crucial.

Thirdly, if you’re a student or a fresh graduate, you can use this format to balance out your work history with skills. If your employment hasn’t been extensive, use volunteer, social, or intern experience and emphasize the skills you hold.

Lastly, if at some point you issued a gap year, a combination resume is a productive tool to display it professionally. Upon re-entering the job pool, this format can advertise your pre-existing skills and experience without any confusion.

5. Combination Resume Vs Chronological Resume?

The combination resume is useful in linking various skills and work history to stand out as a valuable and authentic candidate. Whereas the chronological resume is focused on illustrating specialized skills obtained solely from your niche career path.

Moreover, the former provides the space to tactically display skills specific to your role to advocate for your suitability. On the other hand, the latter requires skills to be mentioned within the job description.

‍ 6. Combination Resume Vs Functional Resume?

Combination resumes include a focused resume objective while simultaneously displaying a summary written directed at your position. While functional resumes can utilize your skills to fill in the spaces left by a lack of work experience.

Secondly, combination resumes produce an elegant mix of skills and employment and slot it into chronological order, organizing it effectively. However, functional resumes discard the chronological format for simply marketing your skills.

In this article, we’ve covered the what’s, when’s, who’s, and hows of a combination resume. Once you finish curating one, Qureos can help you check your resume score , to further solidify it. When you’re done, we can go on to tackling other aspects such as drafting a cover letter .

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Combination Resume: Definition & Tips

There are three main resume formats that are commonly used today: reverse chronological, functional, and combination. This article will be focused on combination resumes, which are the least commonly used but serve a specific purpose for some job seekers. Read on to discover what a combination resume is, who should consider using the format, and how to write an excellent one.

Combination Resume Definition

A combination or hybrid resume is designed to showcase your work experience and skills together. This format stands out by featuring a skills summary at the beginning, followed by your work experience and additional skills. By blending the key elements of both the chronological and functional resume formats, a combination resume provides a comprehensive overview of your qualifications and achievements.

Other Resume Formats

The reverse chronological resume format is the most widely used, and it focuses primarily on work experience and/or education . It’s the easiest for employers to scan and it allows you to showcase your progression within your field or highlight your educational achievements if you are a recent graduate.

Functional or skill-based resumes focus more on hard and soft skills rather than providing a timeline of your work experience. This can be useful if you work in a creative profession where your skills are more important than your job titles, if you have multiple long gaps in your employment history, or if you are overqualified for a position.

Who Should Use a Combination Resume?

A combination resume is best suited for experienced professionals who have lots of work experience but some gaps in their employment history, those looking to make a career change, or those targeting very niche positions that rely equally heavily on work experience and skills.

Combination resumes are the most difficult to create out of the three main formats, so unless you have a specific reason to use a combination resume, you will likely be better off sticking with a reverse chronological or functional resume.

Students, recent graduates, and those who can demonstrate a clear and consistent progression within their field will likely not benefit from using a combination resume.

Sections To Include on a Combination Resume

If you feel that a combination resume will most effectively showcase your skills and work experience, be sure to include the following sections:

1. Resume Header

As always, begin your resume with a header that contains your full name, your contact information , and your customized LinkedIn URL. You can also include your address (or just your city and state) as well as your website or social media links if applicable.

2. Resume Summary

Next, add a compelling resume summary to catch the potential employer’s attention. Your resume summary should be 2-5 lines of text that effectively sum up your entire resume. Mention your experience, educational background, relevant certifications , skills and abilities, and specific metrics that back up your expertise and demonstrate your successes.

Here’s an example of what a resume summary might look like:

Passionate freelance graphic designer with 7 years of experience, seeking an in-house design position with ABC Design. Studied at XYZ School of Design and taught entry-level courses as a grad student. Professionally created a wide variety of logos, infographics, websites, branding packages, and more for clients spanning multiple industries using the Adobe Creative Suite.

3. Skills Summary

Then add a summary of your most relevant skills, breaking your skills into groups and providing more details. Under each skill subheading, write bullet points that describe your achievements and quantify your successes.

This summary section should only include the skills that are especially pertinent to the job - you can include an additional skills section later that outlines your other skills that are impressive but may be less directly relevant.

So, a skills summary might look like this:

Graphic Design

Expert proficiency level with all Adobe Creative Suite programs, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver
Named XYZ School of Design’s “Designer Most Likely to Succeed” in 2014 and DEF Design’s “Most Promising New Designer” in 2015
7 years of experience designing for clients spanning many industries and countries
Created unique, compelling branding packages for 30+ companies per year
Developed new client-facing website for DEF Design to streamline onboarding process
Exceeded all client expectations by presenting cutting edge design packages

Communication

Coordinated with multiple clients on a weekly basis
Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills

4. Work Experience

Add your work experience to support your skills summary. You can either list your past experience in reverse chronological order or simply include the most relevant positions that you’ve held in the past. Dates of employment and the timeline of your career are less of a focal point in a combination resume than they are with a reverse chronological resume.

For each position, list your job title, the company name and location, and a few bullet points that outline skills you honed and your accomplishments in each position.

5. Education

Next, add your education details. There’s no need to include your high school information if you have already completed college or a graduate degree. When listing your education information, include the name and location of each school, the degree you earned, your area of study or major, and the year you graduated.

If you have space, you can include relevant coursework or academic achievements , but remember that your resume should only be one page if you have less than 10 years of experience and no more than two pages if you have more experience than that. If it comes down to it, you should always include more details about your relevant skills and work experience rather than extra information about your education. Potential employers will generally be more interested in your recent accomplishments.

6. Additional Skills

Finally, you can create an additional skills section to feature your other skills that didn’t make it into your skills summary. You may want to use subsections to list your soft skills and your hard skills.

7. Optional Resume Sections

If you still have room on your resume after including all of the above sections, you may wish to add one or more optional resume sections, such as languages , hobbies and interests , internships , and so forth. Only include these sections if you have something relevant and appropriate to list.

Tips For Writing a Combination Resume

Here are some tips to keep in mind when crafting your combination resume.

Tailor Your Combination Resume to Each Job Application

One of the best ways to boost your chances of scoring an interview is to tailor your resume to each job that you apply for. To do this, read the job posting carefully and identify keywords and phrases that describe the skills and experience that the employer is specifically looking for. Then use these words and phrases in your combination resume, addressing as many as possible of the desired qualifications that apply to you. Always be sure to mention the company and the position by name in your resume summary.

This will help your resume pass automated applicant tracking system ( ATS ) scans, and it will also show the potential employer that you took the time to read the job posting carefully and customize your resume.

Showcase Transferable Skills

If you are making a career change or if you have some experience that prepared you for your target role in a way that may not be obvious, be sure to highlight transferable skills. These are skills and strengths that apply in many (if not all) industries, such as leadership ability, communication skills, and so forth.

Often, soft skills are the most transferable, since they generally aren’t industry-specific to begin with. But, some hard skills may be useful in many positions, such as expertise with commonly used programs like Microsoft Word or Gmail.

You can outline how you will apply these transferable skills in your new role in the bullet points below each of your past positions and/or in your skills summary.

Link Your Skills to Professional Experience and Achievements

Rather than simply listing your job duties and responsibilities under each of your past positions, focus on your achievements in that role. Link each of your most impressive skills to an accomplishment, and quantify it whenever possible with numerical data. For example, you might say that you “created comprehensive brand guidelines for 30+ businesses each year with a 98% client satisfaction rating.” This statement showcases your experience and creative ability, and backs up your claims with hard data.

Key Takeaways

A combination resume can be the best option for those who have a lot of experience but some hard-to-explain gaps in their resume, those making a career change, and those who are applying to positions that rely equally on skills and experience. However, it is the most difficult resume template to create, so only those who truly need to should use a combination resume. To create an effective one, include your resume summary followed by a skills summary and then your professional work history. Be sure to link each of your key skills to accomplishments and tailor your resume to each job that you apply for.

Not sure how to build your combination resume? Consider using Jobseeker ’s professional resume creation tool. It allows you to input all of your details, test out different formats, layouts, and color schemes, and then download your polished resume instantly so you can get started applying to jobs right away!

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Resume Summaries for Fresh Graduates with Examples

A resume summary is a short description at the top of your resume that briefly describes your experience, skills and why you’re an ideal candidate for a job. Using a resume summary can help recruiters decide whether they want to give your resume more attention or not. In this article, you can review various examples of resume summaries for recent graduates with explanations for each sample.

Resume summary examples for recent graduates

Here are some examples of resume summaries for recent graduates that you can use when writing own resume:

Retail Associate

Example: ‘Aspiring Retail Associate with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Goal-oriented individual with a strong understanding of how to treat customers. Participated in skills development workshops at Boston College.’

This example begins with a statement of your career goals backed with soft skills needed for the job. As a recent graduate, it can help to focus on what you can offer to the recruiter rather than your specific experience.

Customer Service Representative

Example: ‘A former part-time shop attendant with a basic understanding of customer service looking for an opportunity in sales. Hard-working, proactive individual with strong problem-solving and communication skills and the ability to learn new concepts fast.’

When writing a resume summary as a new graduate applying to a Customer Service Representative position, focus on soft skills that are important for the job. Hiring managers in the customer service industry often focus more on a candidate’s experience and skills related to the job rather than the educational background. Start the resume summary by mentioning previous work experience relevant to customer service before describing your soft skills.

Sales Assistant

Example: ‘Recent graduate with a degree in business administration and a GPA of 3.5 looking for a position as a Sales Assistant. Reliable communication skills, both oral and written, with a basic understanding of sales and marketing. Capable of working in a fast-paced and demanding environment.’

Highlighting your achievements relevant to the job no matter how small they might be can be very useful in giving your resume an appeal to recruiters. Emphasizing GPA, academic training and responsibilities in school can give an impression of how responsible you are with fulfilling tasks. Soft skills necessary for the job are also important to include in your resume summary.

Nursing Assistant

Example: ‘Nursing student with a passion for helping people looking for a position as a Nursing Assistant. Demonstrated strong communication and leadership skills through volunteering with Red Cross International.’

This example is brief but informs the hiring manager about the individual’s background by highlighting skills and interests. It also shows that this is the right career path for the applicant because the interests and skills align well with the industry.

Gym Instructor

Example: ‘Health Science student with a major in Fitness and Nutrition. Highly motivated to work as a fitness instructor to demonstrate communication, time management and problem-solving skills. Physically fit to serve as a role model to new clients.’

If you have no experience working in the field, it is recommended that you focus on your coursework to give recruiters an idea of your educational background. You can also add important skills and characteristics that can show recruiters what you can contribute to the position and why you are an ideal candidate.

Medical Scribe

Example: ‘Recent graduate with technical knowledge in computing, data entry, communication software and databases. Interned as a clinic assistant at St. Luke’s Medical Center. Self-motivated, eager to learn, can work in a fast-paced environment and effectively communicate with other people.’

This resume summary for a Medical Scribe started by emphasizing technical skills fitting for an ideal candidate. It also indicated an internship experience which most recruiters prefer from fresh graduate applicants, and soft skills ideal to perform the tasks.

Information Technology (IT)

Example: ‘IT graduate major in computer programing with a background in Java application, HTML, CSS, Python, Tomcat, MySQL and Oracle database. Experience working in an IT company as software support as part of on-the-job training. Highly analytical, motivated and skilled at solving programming problems. Can work well both independently and in a team.’

When making a resume summary for the IT industry, you have to be specific with your skills. You need to emphasize which area you are most capable in to make sure that recruiters know that you are qualified for the job. Both technical and soft skills are important in the IT industry, so it is ideal to highlight them first in your resume.

Example: ‘Recent graduate with a degree in finance and knowledge of data management and cost and performance analysis. Skilled in identifying and resolving wash sales and share quantity discrepancies. Knowledge in virtual portfolio management, stock valuations, financial statement analysis and business management. Excellent problem-solving skills and experienced with using the latest financial software.’

A powerful resume summary understands the importance of providing specific information to readers. It should be able to cover a wide range of skills and background for the job and include enough information to highlight the strongest points of your resume to capture the attention of hiring managers.

Example: ‘Recent college graduate with an internship at Wall Street Financial Group. Seeking an entry-level accounting position to demonstrate accounting skills and knowledge. Highly competent, hardworking and detail-oriented with the capacity to go beyond what is expected to achieve higher career goals.’

This is an example of a resume summary that is brief but shares enough detail to encourage the hiring manager to read the resume more. In this example, the academic background is not mentioned. Instead, it focuses more on skills, experience and goals.

Primary Teacher

Example: ‘A recent graduate with a degree in primary education and a teaching certification, capable of teaching math to children between the ages of seven and 12 years old. Highly adept at various teaching techniques and ensures quality teaching by following education board standards, while making the learning environment fun and conducive to learning.’

This is an ideal resume summary for applicants applying to a teaching position because it highlights teaching skills and academic background. In your summary, you should mention specific credentials, such as the teaching certification, and show positive and nurturing characteristics, as well as other soft skills, to assure the recruiter that you work well with children.

Math Teacher

Example: ‘A highly organized Math Teacher with proven skills in teaching through teacher certification, academic awards and on-the-job training as a teacher’s assistant in a private school. Ability to work in a team, solve problems professionally and create a nurturing environment. Skilled at communicating complex ideas in a simple but entertaining manner. Looking for an opportunity to share my knowledge and skills in a school that offers career progression.’

This resume summary is very informative about the applicant’s background. It highlights academic achievements and skills that are ideal for a teaching position. It also sounds professional while highlighting a career-driven goal.

Example: ‘Graduate with a degree in office administration experienced in handling calls and organizing schedules. Possesses strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and takes a practical approach in handling different tasks. Looking for a position as a Secretary in a fast-paced environment.’

Recent graduates applying for secretarial jobs whether entry-level or not, should focus on highlighting their specific skills related to the role. Showing the capacity to fulfill the job is ideal to observe in resume summaries, especially that a secretarial job requires strong organization and communication skills aside from having a good credential. It is also advisable to include how an applicant deals with the day-to-day tasks of a Secretary.

Receptionist

Example: ‘Highly-skilled hospitality management graduate with various on-the-job training in a hotel, restaurant and office setting. Friendly and works well with customer concerns and has strong interpersonal and communication skills. Looking for a position as a Receptionist in the hospitality industry.’

Ideally, a resume summary for a Receptionist role highlights your educational background, experience in the industry (if available) and most importantly, the soft skills. It is highly recommended to indicate a customer-friendly and inviting personality in your resume summary.

Logistics Clerk

Example: ‘Recent graduate with strong attention to detail and organization skills looking for an entry-level job as a Logistics Clerk to build a career in the logistics industry. Can handle large amounts of information, multitask, answer calls and perform data entry jobs.’

While highlighting experience is ideal, resume summary for logistics focuses more on the skills required to function on the job. It would also help to express the kind of personality fitting for the job as well as the career goals.

Human Resources Assistant

Example: ‘Goal-oriented Human Resources recent graduate with experience as a Human Resources intern in an outsourcing company to assist in training and skill development. Highly adept in developing training programs and has excellent oral and written communication skills.’

This resume summary for an HR Assistant focuses mainly on academic background, work experience and specific skills gained from previous first-hand experience in the field. This is one way to emphasize how prepared you are for the job which can leave a good impression on recruiters.

Related: Writing a Resume Summary (With Examples)

Enhancv > Resume Examples > Freshers

The Ultimate 2022 Resume Format for Freshers Guide [Expert samples from over 100,000 users]

Top 5 tactics to create the best fresher resume format:.

Don’t simply list what coursework and internships you’ve done. It helps a hiring manager if they can learn about the important things you did in those roles (e.g. started ACM student chapter in Mumbai around Artificial intelligence and control theory)
Make sure that you use the right resume buzzwords and avoid the bad ones
Modify your resume to match the interests of the organization you are applying to
Don’t be vague, paint a complete picture of who you are and how you are a good for the job
Design your resume with care and make sure your most valuable work catches recruiter’s attention
Don’t build a 10+ page resume just to show everything you’ve ever done. Remember, it is your resume, not your biography

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How to create the best fresher resume format?

Make it one page.

In case you don’t know, there is a generally accepted industry standard on resume page length. Ideally, it should be one page for every 10 years of experience. Given that you’re about to graduate and have just started working, you should really only have a one page resume . A one page resume is not only more organized, but quickly helps a recruiter identify your key skills and shortlist you. Imagine getting 100 ten page resumes every day. Going through that is like reading a 1,000 page book!

Make your resume relevant to the role

Don’t underestimate your skills just because you lack work experience. One technique you can try is breaking down the job into 5 different parts and see how you can reflect in your resume that you have covered some (or all) parts. This increases the relevance of your resume to a hiring manager significantly. For example, to apply for a Junior software engineer role you can easily break it down to 5 parts. First is programming language, second is algorithmic knowledge, third is quality/scalability, fourth is GIT/JIRA (i.e. deployment tools), and fifth is database. Now, if you crafted a resume that reflects you mastering 3 programming languages, being proficient with well known algorithms and having used deployment tools. By doing so, you are creating the exact fresh resume format that a hiring manager is looking for!

Show your experience

A majority of employers out there want to see the difference you can make to their organization. Sadly, most freshers don’t account for this when they craft their resume or even while sending job applications. From your volunteering experience to your internships, try to show what you did and the impact it made. Use exact numbers when possible. If you’ve taken relevant coursework, certifications - make sure you don’t miss these important details. Proactively promoting your experience is often the most important factor to a positive assessment of your resume.

Conduct a resume review

Spelling and grammar mistakes
Inconsistent punctuation
Broken website links
Incorrect contact information
Long or unclear sentences

Secure impactful references

References can have a huge impact on your application. They are also a critical part of application tracking systems (ATS) that a vast majority of large organizations use. References in resume formats can be of two types: References of someone within the target organization, and references of a well known industry professional. If you get referred by an existing employee of the organization, your resume has a much higher chance of landing you an interview. And, if you cite the reference of a well known industry professional, your resume will definitely land you an interview.

10 sections recruiters and hiring managers are looking for in a fresher resume format

1. Your Resume Header

Your resume’s header is the first thing that any recruiter will see. Typically, a header has contact information, website link(s), a linkedin profile, and other social links. Make sure that your contact information is up to date, and only add emails that look professional. Ideally, a professional email looks something like '[email protected]'. Also, keep the number of things in your resume format header to a minimum. Your goal is to give recruiters a quick sense of who you are and how to contact you, not overwhelm them with a lot of information.

2. Personal Summary

A personal summary and a fresher resume don’t exactly match all of the time. Almost 90% of freshers write a summary like this in their resume: “My goal is to grow professionally and contribute to your esteemed organization and learn more” This doesn’t work for many reasons. First, this doesn’t say anything about what you really want to do. Second, it fails to convey relevance your resume to the job. And, third, it makes you sound passive and shows a lack of enthusiasm. A better version of a personal summary (for a design related role) would go in depth, connect your skills and goals with the role that you are applying for. Here’s an example: “To become one of the best UX designers in the world by practising minimalism, design systems with optimized onboarding for large scale software products. I have a keen interest in UX research, information architecture, and motion designs which drive my desire to accomplish great things in my career.” As you can clearly see, a hiring manager that looks at this professional summary will now understand who you are and what your motivation is for applying to the role. They will be more likely to take notice and evaluate your resume carefully. Mission accomplished!

Relevant to the role you’re applying for
Recognizable within your target industry
A mix of both soft and hard skills
Software skills (proficiency with AutoCAD)
Planning and management skills (Expert in SAP SCS planning)
Predictive Analytics (Implementing customer lifecycle analytics using Tableau)
Market research (Identifying the right, most profitable customers)
Inventory management (keeping record of SKUs and managing demand supply pipeline)
MS Word and Google docs
Your typing speed (unless you are applying to be a typist)
Anything that’s not relevant to the role you are applying for

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4. Your Experience

Underestimating work experience is something that’s common across most fresher resumes. A lot of companies that hire freshers usually look for relevant projects or coursework. A relevant example of experience could be something that you did in your coursework, lab, projects or during your internship and can count as a professional grade working experience.

5. Education

A lot of job requirements clearly demand a level of education (undergraduate, post graduate, PhD). Clearly listing them out in a way a recruiter can quickly understand helps your job application in getting closer to being shortlisted. When you add your education to your resume, make sure to mention the important and relevant coursework in it. For example, if you are a mechanical engineering student, highlighting that you’ve gone through Production Planning helps you to be seen as a more relevant candidate for an Automotive Engineering role.

6. Languages

English : IELTS CEFR B2
Tamil : Native Language
Hindi : Fluent in reading, writing and speaking
German : Full professional proficiency (ILR scale)

7. Most Proud Of

Did you do something in your college life that you’re incredibly proud of? Adding this section helps you standout from other applicants. After testing it with 100,000+ resume applications, it has proven to be very effective. Freshers can usually add things like a college project, an open source contribution, an achievement in sports, a fellowship, published research papers, etc to name a few.

8. Life Philosophy

So far, most of the sections we’ve gone through were more focused on your work-related skills. But, hiring is also about cultural fit. Take this chance to be more impactful with your resume format. Fortunately, showcasing your life philosophy doesn’t take much. You can simply reflect it by including a quote from a significant figure or a quote that you live by.

9. Certificates and Courses

Often, freshers undergo a number of certification and other courses during college. These courses and certificates can often help you gain first hand experience and prepare you well for your professional career. They are often critical in crafting a winning fresher resume format.

10. References

We spoke about using references and how including them is a part of the best fresher resume format. When you write your references section, ensure to add their name, designation, a contact number and email information.

How to get a referral for the role you want after graduating

As a fresher, you should try to leverage your existing networks to gain job referrals. A job referral is an incredibly powerful way to land a job as referrals often standout from the rest of job applications. If you are unsure on where to get started, your college alumni, your professors and your social network (Linkedin, Facebook, etc) could be the first place. Here’s a detailed guide to getting job referrals (email outreach template included!) that just might come in handy to get job referrals.

Check out our guide on getting referrals for any job you’re applying for.

Trying to land an interview? Check out more winning resume examples for inspiration

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Chronological, Functional or Combination Resume Format: Pick the Best One (with examples)

Probably writing a resume is not the best thing you used to do. It takes a lot of forces and strengths to make a really good one that catches the recruiter’s attention and emphasizes all your skills. However, the mission is possible if you’re familiar with the different types of resumes. Resume format may differ due to your working background, proficiency, type of work and skills. Make resume formatting isn’t that hard and we prepared a list of 3 types of resumes, so you may take the one that would present your strongest sides to the hiring manager.

1. Chronological resume

What is a chronological resume.

This is the most common and standard resume format and telling the truth, many employers typically prefer this type to others as it's easy to see what jobs you have held and when you have worked at them. A chronological resume focuses on your work history first as the most relevant point for hiring managers. Obviously, your jobs are listed in reverse chronological order with your current or most recent job with brief explanations of each job.

When should you use a chronological resume?

A chronological resume format is the most common resume type, which suits those people who have an extensive work history that is in the same line of work as the job for which they are applying. It’s a safe choice for virtually all job seekers.

When should you avoid using a chronological resume?

The chronological resume does not work well for career changers. You might have a lot of work experience in different industries but a chronological format demands related and smooth working history. As well as career changes, chronological resume doesn’t like gaps in employment and will only emphasize these issues.

Chronological resume structure

A chronological resume often includes an eye-catching career summary at the top. Then you should define chronology of your previous work experience and make it as clear as possible - it’s the main part of such resumes. Education, certifications, and special skills are also included in this type of resume but are listed after your work experience section.

Have a look at a chronological resume example to get a clearer visual understanding.

A proper reverse chronological resume order should be as follows:

Contact information
Resume summary or resume objective
Work experience
Additional Sections

2. Functional resume

What is a functional resume.

The functional resume format allows you to take the pressure off your work history and focus more on your skills and abilities. That’s why it’s also called the skills-based resume format. The focus is shifted from job titles and dates to your actual relevant skill set.

When should you use a functional resume?

It is typically used by job seekers who are changing careers, who have gaps in their employment history , students with less working experience or people, whose work history is not directly related to the job. If you are looking for a job in creative industries, where your portfolio matters more than your resume, go ahead and use creative functional resumes.

When should you avoid using a functional resume?

Through, it’s a great one for teens, students, and graduates, who lack work experience, but have their education, internships, projects, volunteering or campus work on their back, it’s still the most tricky resume type. The functional format might not work as it just throws your job history out. If you’re a fresher looking for a summer or entry-level job – it’s your choice to show up. But if you already have some achievements under your belt, your experience section would be presented only by a tiny list of your past employers at the bottom of the resume, and that’s not what you need.

Functional resume structure

No worry, if you don’t have a perfect work experience with a treasure trove of relevant skills and competencies. You’re not the only one and there are numbers of strategies you can employ to cover up gaps on your resume. To get an idea of how a functional resume can conceal your work gaps, you must understand the structure of current resume format.

Take a look at the functional resume example and let it become clear to you.

Keep in mind the correct functional resume order:

Resume objective
Skills Summary
Additional Skills
Work Experience

Remember, even if you don’t have much work experience, you should still link your skills with either your academic achievements or part-time jobs and volunteer experience. The functional resume can be an ideal resume format for freshers as its ultimate goal is to make the hiring manager see your potential and desire to work.

3. Combination resume

What is a combination resume.

The combination resume format (or hybrid resume) is a middle ground between the reverse chronological resume and functional one. As the name suggests, it combines the aspects of the other two resume types. The combination style focuses more on skills but leaves plenty of room to provide details on your past work. Shortly, it focuses on skills without throwing off the work experience section. The more transferable skills you include, the easier it will be to make a successful resume.

When should you use a combination resume?

Combination resumes were designed for job seekers who already have a relevant work experience or even looking to jump into a new industry. Moreover, if you’re applying for a position that requires a lot of technical skills and expertise, using a combination format is the best way to showcase these abilities to the hiring manager. If you had an impressive set of accomplishments and job duties in previous positions and want to highlight the skills you’ve developed over the years this style is perfect to help you succeed in a career path.

When should you avoid using combination resume?

Combination resumes don’t work well when you don’t have much work experience or your duties weren’t specified. Also, if you didn’t get any promotions, awards or achievements over the course of your career don’t go for the hybrid resume. You should better use a chronological resume structure. However, if you eventually got one, do not forget explain and emphasize each of them.

Combination resume structure

Formatting a resume demands your skills and qualifications first. Those skills that are most relevant to a particular job opening must be on the top. Underneath each skill, you make a bulleted list of professional achievements that highlight the skill. Your employment history is listed next, in reverse chronological order. It would be perfect to divide the descriptions of your work experience into “Related Work Experience” and “Additional Professional Experience” sections. This allows you to focus recruiter’s attention on your most relevant experience while at the same time providing a complete work history.

Let’s have a look at combination resume sample.

A proper combination resume order should be as follows:

If you are still unsure of your ability to create a good resume format on your own, don’t hesitate to use our professional resume writing help and get your documents done on a higher level! ---

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How to write an MBA resume and make sure it stands out in the stack

Applying to business school, or an MBA program, can be nerve-racking. You’ll need to lasso together transcripts and test scores, fill out an application, and likely ace an interview—but perhaps the most critical piece of it all is an MBA resume. This important document will list out many of the same elements as a traditional resume, such as your educational background and work experience.

But an MBA resume also has a different primary function than the typical resume you might submit to try and land a job: It’s designed to land you a spot in an MBA program. If writing an MBA resume feels intimidating, knowing what to put on it, and some other framing tactics, may help calm your nerves.

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Mba resume vs. a job resume .

As noted, an MBA resume should feel familiar to many prospective business school students.

“An MBA resume is very similar to a job resume,” says Kaneisha Grayson, the founder and CEO of The Art of Applying , an MBA admissions consultancy. She adds that both types of resumes will, or should, comprise a single page, incorporate clear, professional formatting, and lay out an applicant’s educational and career accomplishments.

“I’d say one difference between the two is that I advise our clients to put their education at the top—whereas with a job resume, you’d see education at the bottom,” Grayson says. She recommends this variation because an MBA resume’s specific aim of landing an applicant at an educational institution.

So, in that sense, there may not be a whole lot of differences between an MBA resume and a job resume, but there will be some additional focus on specific aspects of your background, all in an effort to win over an MBA program’s selection or admissions committee.

How to write an MBA resume

Again, writing an MBA resume shouldn’t differ a whole lot from writing a traditional resume, but you’ll want to try and keep your end goal in mind, which is landing a spot in an MBA program. As you write your MBA resume, keeping that goal in mind should prove helpful, because it can help you parse out the information you’ll want to include, and the things you won’t.

“An MBA resume is very specialized toward the application cycle,” says Ellin Lolis, President and Founder of Ellin Lolis MBA Consulting . So, again, keep the end goal in mind. “Your education section is going to be important,” Lolis says, “but we mostly want to see your career focus.”

As for the nuts and bolts of writing an MBA resume? Keep it simple by deciding what to rope in, what to leave out, and how to structure it all so that it’s easy to read.

What to include in your MBA resume

The main elements that your MBA resume should include are an education section, a job experience or professional experience section, and a portion that details a bit more about you, personally, such as your hobbies and interests.

You can leave out photographs, information related to your high school, and even most of your contact information—that’ll be included on your program application, the experts say.

Again, do your best to keep what you include to one page. The only time you could probably get a pass for using more than one page is if you have extensive professional experience, and are applying to an executive MBA program. A good rule of thumb? “When you have more than seven years of full-time, post-college work experience,” says Grayson.

How to structure an MBA resume

As for structuring an MBA resume, do your best to contain most elements to the aforementioned sections: Education, professional background and experience, and a section dedicated to your personal hobbies, interests, skills and certifications, and community service work.

List the schools you attended and the degrees you earned, perhaps with any relevant coursework and GPAs in the education section. Your professional section may differ depending on your specific experiences and industries you’ve worked in, but try to frame it as a sort of professional “story,” which can showcase how an MBA can help you take the next step.

Professional background

“Generally speaking, the MBA is not a purely academic degree, as a majority of people are going to earn one to get a better job,” says Lolis. “They’re doing it to boost their career—and at that point, the most relevant thing is your recent job and your professional track record,” she says.

Get into the weeds, too, about your accomplishments. “Don’t just reiterate your job responsibilities,” says Grayson. “Communicate the results of your efforts. Quantifying the results is much more significant and meaningful—describe the impact,” she says.

Hobbies, interests, and more

As for the more personal portion? “One of the main things that’s different from a job resume is that they want you to share some of your hobbies and interests,” Lolis says. “Be very specific,” adds Grayson, “because 90% of people will list ‘travel’ as a hobby. “But that’s not interesting—maybe something like ‘slow traveling to find the best street food.’ That’s interesting.” This, she says, can help spark a conversation, or help your resume stand out from the pile.

In addition to specific hobbies or interests, you might include, add volunteer or community work as well, and perhaps relevant technical or language skills. Again, this may help tip the scales in your favor by showing you have specific know-how related to a given industry or task. Any applicable awards you’ve earned may be good to include, too, as they showcase that you’re capable of excelling in a given area.

Should you customize your resume for each business school?

Experts generally don’t recommend changing up your MBA resume when applying to different schools. Instead, look for specific instructions relayed by the school, if there are any, and make any needed changes accordingly. So, unless you have a really compelling reason, you can probably use the same resume for a number of applications.

Also, don’t go overboard in terms of design to make your resume stand out. “Just stick to traditional formatting,” says Lolis, since that’s what most admissions teams are used to seeing, and are generally looking for. Let the contents of the resume speak for you—not the design.

Where to go if you need help

For many prospective MBA students, piecing together a resume shouldn’t be terribly difficult, given that it’s mostly the same process as writing a traditional resume. However, if you need help, you can reach out to consultants, or even check out some of the resources schools make available to help you along the process.

Consultants : There are many MBA consultancies out there, including the firms that Lolis and Grayson founded. They can help create, review, and critique an MBA resume and get it into shape.
Examples and templates : Some schools even make templates available , and example resumes to help students create their own.

The takeaway

In all, you should write an MBA resume in the same way you’d write a traditional resume, with some slight variations. The resume should focus on your professional background and previous education, while also detailing some of your personal interests, too. Stick to classic resume formatting as well, and keep it to one page, if possible.

It’s also important, experts say, to use some basic formatting and style—use 11 or 12-point font, a normal font style (Arial, Times New Roman, etc.), and overall, keep it professional. And remember: don’t go overboard trying to score style points with the resume’s design or other elements.

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How to Write a Combination Resume (With Example!)
Relevant/key skills: The first half of the main show in a combination resume, this is where you list your key skills that are relevant to the role you're applying for. See below for a few different possible approaches to this section. Work history: The second act in a combination resume is a list of your past roles, with responsibilities and ...
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Here are three expert tips for assembling the perfect job application as a recent college graduate: 1. Highlight your experience as a student. As a fresh graduate, your college education is your biggest asset in entering the job market. Employers understand that earning a degree requires a variety of marketable skills.
The Guide to Combination Resumes (with Examples and Templates)
A combination resume underscores the job seeker's professional experience and skill sets. In this article, we will cover what a combination resume is & its format, how to write a combination resume, tips for writing a combination resume, as well as combination resume samples and templates. ... If you're a fresh graduate, ...
Combination Resume: Free Template & Examples
Combination resume template. To help speed up the resume writing process, here's a combination resume template that you can easily copy-and-paste into Microsoft Word and fill in with your own information: 1. Resume Heading. FIRST AND LAST NAME.
Combination Resume Tips and Examples
Sections in the combination resume format usually follow this order: 1. Name and contact information. Regardless of format, your resume should begin with your name and contact information so employers can easily get in touch. Ensure that you are using recent and accurate information, including your current phone number and email address.
Sample of Combination Resume for Fresh Graduates
A combination resume for fresh graduates must ideally start with a career objective statement. Make sure that the objective is to the point and summarizes your professional goals while also highlighting your most relatable personality traits and skills. A combination resume basically highlights the candidate's skill set. Unlike a functional ...
Combination Resumes: How (and When) to Use Them + Examples
A professional-looking header sets the tone for the rest of the document. Start your combination resume with a professional header. 2. Professional summary. This is where you craft your elevator pitch. The goal is to summarize your career journey and highlight skills that transfer well to the new role.
Best of both worlds: How to write a combination resume
2: Skills. The most important section on your combination resume is your Skills section. This section is located near the top of your resume, and it should demonstrate the depth and breadth of your abilities. You can title it Key Skills, Core Competencies, Qualifications Summary, or whatever best fits your experience and your resume.
Guide to Writing a Combination Resume for 2024
Here are a few things that might indicate that a combination resume is the right one for you: -You don't have a lot of work history. -You have employment gaps of more than six months. -You're trying for a career change. -You're staying in the same industry, but looking for a different job title.
Combination Resume: Definition, Examples, and Writing Tips
It emphasizes your skills, experience, and accomplishments without following the timeline of a chronological resume. The standard combination resume format opens with a larger header area, featuring a skills summary or qualification section. Afterward, it lists a condensed chronological work history and educational credentials.
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Resume Summary Example for Students. "An independent and self-motivated business student with proven and tested business, procurement, sales, and marketing skills.". "An award-winning and confident communication graduate, able to establish rapport quickly and conduct training sessions with clarity and enthusiasm.".
The Combination Resume: Examples and Writing Tips (2024)
2.2 Resume Objective First: The specialty of a combination resume is that it allows you to summarise and strategically display a mix of your skills and experiences. This is why it needs to start with a resume objective that markets your accomplishments. This informs the candidate screener that you are a capable candidate.
How To Write a Fresher Resume (With Example and Template)
If written effectively, your resume should highlight that you possess the same set of core values as your desired employer. Reading each job description before you write your resume can help you choose the proper keywords you should include throughout your resume. 2. Include your contact information.
Combination Resume
The combination resume incorporates the best details from both the chronological and functional resume formats. It typically opens with a description of your skills and qualifications and is followed by a concise reverse-chronological work history. A combination resume offers two primary advantages: It allows you to catch a potential employer ...
How To Write a Recent Graduate Resume
1. Include your educational experience. Format your contact information by including your full name at the top of your resume, followed by your phone number, address and email address. Be sure to use a professional email, such as your first and last name or a variation of your initials. Avoid clever monikers and inappropriate language in your ...
Combination Resume: Definition & Tips
A combination or hybrid resume is designed to showcase your work experience and skills together. This format stands out by featuring a skills summary at the beginning, followed by your work experience and additional skills. By blending the key elements of both the chronological and functional resume formats, a combination resume provides a ...
Best resume format for freshers: optimal layout to land a job
Reverse-chronological vs. combination fresher resumes There are three main ways of formatting a resume. Two are suitable for freshers with limited work experience: reverse chronological and hybrid resumes. There is a third option: the functional resume which focusses primarily on skills, but isn't really a good option for recent grads.
Sample Resume for Entry Level Fresh Graduates (+10 Writing Tips)
Entry Level Fresh Graduate Resume Sample. Sidley Chris 288 Example Street - New York, NY 02258 ... Sample of Combination Resume for Fresh Graduates; Entry-Level Recreation Assistant Resume No Experience: Sample & Tips; Entry-Level Lineman Resume (No Experience) Sample (+Tips)
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January 23, 2020. A resume summary is a short description at the top of your resume that briefly describes your experience, skills and why you're an ideal candidate for a job. Using a resume summary can help recruiters decide whether they want to give your resume more attention or not. In this article, you can review various examples of ...
The best 2022 fresher resume formats and samples
2. Personal Summary. A personal summary and a fresher resume don't exactly match all of the time. Almost 90% of freshers write a summary like this in their resume: "My goal is to grow professionally and contribute to your esteemed organization and learn more". This doesn't work for many reasons.
Chronological, Functional or Combination Resume Format: Pick the Best
The functional resume can be an ideal resume format for freshers as its ultimate goal is to make the hiring manager see your potential and desire to work. 3. Combination resume What is a combination resume? The combination resume format (or hybrid resume) is a middle ground between the reverse chronological resume and functional one.
How to Write a Resume If You Are a Fresh Graduate (2024)
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you write a powerful resume if you have no work experience: 1. Choose an appropriate resume format. Before you write a resume, you must choose an acceptable format. The format should allow you to showcase the qualities that make you an ideal candidate for their role.
Resume With No Work Experience
Functional Resume. A functional resume format is a great option for first-timers like fresh graduates. This format is for people who want to show their achievements and skills to make it appealing and effective for the companies. It highlights skills and achievements that may be relevant to the position that the company is offering. Combination ...
How to write an MBA resume, section by section
The main elements that your MBA resume should include are an education section, a job experience or professional experience section, and a portion that details a bit more about you, personally ...

Combination Resumes: How (and When) to Use Them + Examples

3 key takeaways

What is a combination resume?

How does a combination resume compare with other formats

How to format a combination resume

Key sections of a combination resume

Combination resumes for recent graduates

Combination resumes for a career pivot

How to write a combination resume

2. Professional summary

3. Skills summary

4. Professional experience

5. Education

6. Additional sections

Writing a combination resume with Teal

Tips for writing compelling resume content

Writing a combination resume for career change

1. Highlight transferable skills

2. Emphasize relevant experience

3. Use the professional summary wisely

4. Include your education and continued learning efforts

5. Include projects or volunteer work

Using Teal’s AI Resume Builder

Combination resume examples

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Best of both worlds: How to write a combination resume

You are changing careers

You have gaps in your work history

You have a history of job-hopping

You have many years of experience

1: Contact information

3: Work History

4: Education

5: Optional Sections

Qualifications Profile

Project Management

Business Analysis

Work experience

Marketing Director

Associate Business Analyst

Bachelor of Science

Combination Resume: Definition, Examples, and Writing Tips

What is a Combination Resume?

Who Should Use a Combination Resume Format?

Sample Combination Resume (Word Version)

Combination Resume Example (Text version)

Combination Resume IT Example

Recommended Combination Resume Templates

How to Make a Combination Resume Step-By-Step

Open with a Compelling Resume Summary Section

Craft a Banging Skills Section

Focus On Transferable Skills

Don’t Forget The Extras

Final Thoughts

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The Combination Resume: Examples and Writing Tips (2024)

Table of Contents

1. What is a Combination Resume?

2. What is the Combination Resume structure?

‍ 2.1 Mention Your Contact Information: