Free Sample Resumes

If you want to write your own professional resume, look at these free resume examples that show you what your finished product should look like. Below you will find discriptions of the three common resume formats that include links to some free resume examples. I suggest that you print the example of the format you plan to use and keep it next to your computer as a visual guide while you write your own.

How do you know which format to use? Well, this isn’t an arbitrary decision because different formats work best in different situations and you should select the format that works best for you given your work experience and career objective. The information below should help decide which format, or formats, will work best for you.

The three resume formats are the Functional Resume, the Chronological Resume, and the Combination Resume.

The Functional Resume

This format focuses on your skills and abilities rather than your work history, dates of employment, job titles or employers. This format can be used in any situation where you want to emphasize your skill set and deemphasize your work history. This format is particularly effective if you are changing careers and want the reader to recognize your transferrable skills because your job history might not relate to the job you’re applying for. This format is effective for anyone changing careers or making a lateral career move.

Click here to see more information about the Functional Resume that includes a sample of a resume

The Chronological Resume

This format is the one that most people are familiar with and is the one most commonly used. The obvious feature of this format is the list of jobs in reverse chronological order. Each job includes a detailed description of the responsibilities and should also include some important accomplishments. This format is effective for the job candidate applying for a position that naturally follows from the most recent position mentioned in their resume. It is also effective in cases when it’s important to emphasize the organizations you’ve worked for, your job titles, or your education.

Click here to see more information about the Chronological Resume that includes a sample of a resume.

The Combination Resume

As its name implies, this format combines elements of both the Functional and the Chronological Resume. This format helps to call attention to your skills and accomplishments while keeping important information visible in your job history. This is a kind of “all purpose” resume that can be used in any situation. It works for the person changing careers because it highlights transferrable skills like the Functional Resume but it also includes details related to specific jobs like the Chronological Resume so it can also work well for the person not changing careers.

Should you have only one type of resume? Well, that depends. You might use only one format if you’re looking for only one particular job but you might use different formats because you’re looking for different jobs. Use the resume format that will be the most effective and best showcase your skills and experience as they relate to the job you’re targeting. You will find more resume styles and tips on designing professional resumes throughout this site.

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