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What Is A Functional Resume Sample

Tips For Writing A Functional Resume

FUNCTIONAL RESUME VS. CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME | WHATS THE BEST RESUME FORMAT?

At the top of your resume focusing mainly on relevant skills. This acts as a pitch for how the employer sees you at first glance.

When writing within a functional resume template, organize your sections into categories of similar skills and experiences. Do not simply list your jobs as is prevalent in reverse chronological order.

These sections can also include your qualifications . Grouping your skills allows the employer to easily assess whether you have the required skills for the job despite an unqualified work history.

Check out our resume template examples to find how to organize your sections in a functional resume.

Canada Resume Format: Best Tips And Examples

Caitlin Proctor, CPRW

5 min read

If youâre looking to find a job in Canada, you need to have a resume–not a CV–to begin your job search. This is easy for job seekers who already use a USA resume, but will require more adjustments for job seekers with a more comprehensive CV. In this article, we will go over some essential tips for creating a Canadian resume. At the end of the article, weâve included a sample resume you can use to increase your chances of getting a new job in Canada.

ZipJob has a wide network of career experts and hiring managers, so the information on our blog is based on real experience from people who know how to land a job in the US and Canada. Spoiler alert: they’re pretty similar systems!

What Are Functional Job Skills

Functional job skills is just a different way of talking about how you would describe your skills & abilities through the categories on a functional resume.

Since a functional resume generally does not include job descriptions, your functional job skills can be anything from a short phrase that quickly communicates your competency to multiple sentences that describe your skills in terms of your achievements.

It may or may not make sense to include a dedicated skills section on a functional resume, so think about what is right for you and the jobs youre applying to. But if you do, the skills you list should be short phrases of 2-3 words at most and should be focused on specific tools, processes, or certifications.

To learn more about adding skills to your resume and for skills based resume templates, .

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Why Are These The Best Resume Formats

These three resume formats are some of the best options because theyre easy to read and the most likely to be processed through an ATS without critical errors.

Recruiters often have to review many resumes for a single open role. They can read a resume in a standard format more easily and thoroughly because they know where to find the information theyre looking for. For example, if a role requires a specific skill, a recruiter will look for it in your skills section included either above or below your work experience. They have a limited amount of time to spend reviewing each resume, so they may move on and assume you dont possess the qualification if it takes too long to find the right information.

Also, most applicant tracking systems will perform a more accurate review of your resume if the format is simple, straightforward and follows a few basic rules. The three resume formats discussed in this article mostly adhere to these best practices, though some ATS may have difficulties scanning a functional resume, and can help ensure that your resume is successfully processed through an ATS review.

Related:13 Best Practices for Beating an Applicant Tracking System

If You Have A Spotty Work History Or Are Trying To Switch Careers This Resume Format May Do The Trick

Functional Resume Template

Traditions can be wonderful, but sometimes there are good reasons to break them. If you’re a vegetarian, for example, serving the customary Thanksgiving turkey just won’t work. And if football isn’t your thing, you won’t be glued to the TV during the big game, no matter how many millions of other folks are. It’s the same with resumes.

The vast majority of job seekers use the familiar chronological resume , and with good reason. It’s the tried-and-tested format most preferred by HR professionals and hiring managers nationwide.;

But just like turkeys and touchdowns, the chronological resume isn’t a perfect fit for everyone. It’s up to you to decide if it’s appropriate for your current professional situation and the circumstances surrounding your job search.;

Recommended Reading: Where Should Skills Go On A Resume

How To Format A Functional Resume

In functional resumes you require to strategically group key skills into different categories. Doing this shall determine a candidate’s qualifications for a particular job. This is a skills-based focus which allows you to emphasize your strengths and digress from an absent employment record.

Some sample functional resume on the website showcase that in case you are applying for a sales management position, you might choose categories such as “Sales and Marketing Experience””Foreign Language Fluency” and “Team Building and Leadership Expertise” for your headings, listing appropriate skills and accomplishments beneath each one.

The employment section of functional resumes is typically brief. It simply lists the positions held along with company names and employment dates at the bottom of page. Occasionally selective information is intentionally deleted due to non-compliance with the target job profile.

Who Uses A Functional Resume

A functional resume is commonly used be a person changing careers, where the employment history may not be as important as the skills and accomplishments that will qualify the individual for the new career.

Functional resumes may also be useful for a person entering the workforce after a long absence, students, military officers, or someone with a spotty career .

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Production Management Functional Resume Example

In this example, we look at a functional resume for a production manager. This example does not include dates in the experience section but does note them in the education section.

Long Island, NY

SummaryQuality-driven and industrious production manager with over three years of experience streamlining operations to create competitive production volume, schedules and standards. Identifies waste and inefficiencies to implement targeted improvement strategies.

Skills and AbilitiesCreating Efficiency

ManagementManaged 30+ warehouse employees including machine operators, logisticians and transportation workers. Conducted monthly safety meetings to ensure the work environment operates efficiently and without hazards.

Quality AssuranceOversaw production, performing random quality checks and ensuring best practices were followed. Created fast-paced operations schedules to encourage high-volume production and reliable shipment times.

ExperienceOversaw all safety and quality assurance processes for reliable shipment times and increased customer satisfaction.

River Tech, Production SupervisorManaged warehouse employees and production performance to ensure efficient logistics from end to end.

EducationGreen Valley State, 20082012Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain ManagementForklift Certified

Writing A Functional Resume

Functional Resume Samples | Quick Study

The plan of attack for writing a functional resume varies person by person. If you focus the resume on your skills and examples of how you’ve demonstrated those skills, the resume should have its desired effect.

“It’s a different way of thinking, so take your time and be thoughtful,” said Bushera. “I recommend starting by identifying the skills you want to highlight and then statements that describe your experience with each skill.”

Hiring managers love examples and data. If you list leadership as a quality, be sure to include examples and data that back that up. For example, saying you helped implement new training procedures for new hires at your previous organization, that shows that you’re able to take initiative and help lead new endeavors within an organization. Examples and statistics boost your resume and make it more meaningful in the eyes of hiring managers.

Regardless of how you choose to write a resume, there are two key questions it should answer: Can you do the job, and can the hiring manager work with you?

There are many ways you can show this when writing a skills-based resume. Arthur Jordan, vice president of engineering at education technology company;2U, advised finding a way to discuss successful work and personal projects that could show off your unique abilities to an employer. For instance, you could mention your contributions to an open-source project, or that you wrote a blog post about a work problem you solved.

Read Also: Where To Put Relevant Coursework On A Resume

Functional Resume Writing Your Objective Or Career Profile

There are many options for the beginning of a resume. It may include:

  • Objective
  • Professional profile or career summary
  • Keyword or core competencies section
  • Technical summary or technical skills list
  • Career highlights
  • Or some combination thereof

As a rule of thumb, the opening portion of the resume should not exceed 1/3 of the page . Limit your opening to no more than 2 of these opening sections.

The most important functions of the opening section are to provide focus by specifying the area or position of interest and providing targeted skills, attributes or qualifications.

Any highlights or key qualifications listed in the opening section must be fully supported by your resume content.

Think of this section like a sign in a store window meant to draw in customersâit is easy to read at a glance and offers a few quick highlights of what is inside. Provide quickly relatable information to draw the reader into your document.

TIPS for the opening portion of your resume:

As a rule of thumb the opening portion of the resume should not exceed 1/3 if the page

Limit your opening to no more than 2 sections. For example an objective and skills summary, a professional summary and core competency list, an objective and a key word list.

Any highlights or key qualifications listed in the opening section must be fully supported by your resume content.

Content In A Functional Resume:

  • Contact Information: Name, address, phone, email
  • Career Objective: Must be clear and concise, or use a Functional Summary to summarize experience and skills in a few sentences
  • Functional Headings:
  • Four or five separate paragraphs
  • List in order of importance relative to objective
  • Stress your most significant abilities, skills, and accomplishments;
  • Use past-tense, action-oriented verbs
  • Employment History:
  • Brief synopsis of actual work experiences including employers, titles, and dates
  • If no or spotty work experience, leave this section out, but be ready to discuss it in the interview
  • Education:
  • If date of last attendance is three years or less, move this section to after the Contact Information
  • If more than three years, or unrelated field, include education after work experience
  • Indicate degree received, date, institution
  • Grade point average can be included if it is above a 3.0
  • References:Use Chronological Resume format guidelines
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    Group Your Skills By Type

    If you use a functional resume format, the skills on your resume are more emphasized than your work history.

    What this means is that typically the skills section of a functional resume is about the same size as the work experience section of a chronological resume.

    When writing the resume skills section on your functional resume, choose at least three skills that are applicable to the job youre applying for. For each skill, add 34 bullet points that prove that skill.

    Additionally, adding numbers to those bullet points gives employers confidence that you can fulfill the job requirements. Include at least one bullet point with numbers for each skill to catch the hiring managers attention.

    Heres an example of what a functional resume skills section looks like:

    Skills on a Functional Resume

    CUSTOMER SERVICE

    • Receive a +95% on customer service feedback surveys on a consistent basis by providing a friendly in-store environment
    • Enhance the customer experience by providing quality assistance and in-depth product knowledge
    • Educate customers on up-and-coming brands and the latest fashion trends

    SALES

    • Exceeded sales goals an average of 10% for 5 straight months
    • Upsell customers through the recommendation of products that meet their specific needs
    • Process 30+ customer transactions a day and factored sales, discounts, and promotions into the final price

    MERCHANDISING

    Functional Resume Example & Template

    What is a Functional Resume?

    Read below for an example of a functional resume. This example includes a resume summary statement, which is a great way to quickly demonstrate your skills and abilities. It also includes a concise list of experience and a detailed list of skills.

    While this resume includes a work history section , it provides only brief details about the jobs held. It also includes this information near the bottom of the resume, to avoid highlighting it.

    Download the functional resume template or see below for more examples.

    CAREER OBJECTIVE

    Experienced and versatile professional with strong urban planning as well as people, management, and research skills seeks a position in urban planning and environmental impact analysis with a major city or Fortune 500 company.

    CORE QUALIFICATIONS

    • Background managing direct transportation planning and programs
    • ;Adept at managing urban planning programs and people
    • Able to anticipate and project organizational change
    • Background as administrator of office operations

    EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

    • Environmental Impact Mitigation and Research
    • Urban Planning
    • Computer Software Tools
    • Scientific and Business Grant Writing;

    Administrative: Lead coordinator for the daily processing of thousands of checks for payment and the mailing of confidential reports, meeting strict deadlines, and avoiding late fees.

    Management:;Oversaw operations of an expanding research lab, providing expertise, commitment, and quality control during a time of significant transition.

    EDUCATION

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    The Hybrid Resume Format

    Theres a name for this. In the space between the functional resume and the reverse-chronological resume is the hybrid resume, also known as the combination resume.

    Like the functional resume format, the hybrid resume has space at the top of the page for skills and accomplishments. Unlike the functional resume, it leaves the bottom half of the resume for a more traditional approach to the work history, where each position is accompanied by a blurb that outlines responsibilities and accomplishments.

    Here is a hybrid resume example:

    Hybrid Resume Template. Click to Enlarge.

    For job seekers changing careers or industries, the hybrid resume is a safer bet than the functional resume. That said, this versatile format isnt just for applicants with a non-traditional work history. Hybrid resumes seem to be growing in popularity among;applicants of all backgrounds. Most of Jobscans free resume templates are hybrids.

    The dedicated skills sections found on both functional and hybrid resume formats can also be beneficial when it comes to making sure you have the right resume keywords for applicant tracking system searches. Find out whether your resume is optimized for the jobs youre pursuing with one click:

    Functional Resume Sample Format

    Contact info

    OBJECTIVE;

    Seeking an office manager position with ABC company in order to maximize efficiency of employees and stimulate growth of the company through proactive effort, excellent time management, and coordination skills.

    PROFILE

    Accomplished office manager;with a proven ability to develop and implement time-management strategies that support business and financial objectives. Reduced operating budget by $10,000;in most recent job. Recognized as an expert in efficiency and data management.

    Respected team player;focused on achieving company goals. Keep up-to-date with changes in the industry through continuing professional development .

    SKILLS

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    What Is A Combination Resume

    A functional resume is most useful in situations where you need to highlight skills and knowledge that can’t be attributed directly to a previous position. But what about when you do have some experience? That’s when the combination resume can be a great asset.

    The combination resume takes elements of a functional format and adds a shorter work history section similar to the one found on a standard reverse chronological resume. Generally, the skills/experience section that comes from the functional resume will be placed at the top of the page and the employment history will come later.;

    The combination resume is a great choice when you have some work experience to show but not enough to fully switch over to the chronological resume. It can also be a good idea to create a combination format if you work in certain creative fields where your skills are more important than previous employers. Freelancers also find this format useful because it focuses more on the services they offer while letting them highlight just a few impressive clients.

    Who Should Use A Functional Resume

    How to Build a Functional Resume

    This format is not for everyone. You should only use a functional resume if you identify as one of the following job seekers:

    Career-changer: Most hiring managers and recruiters look for candidates in similar job tracts who demonstrate previous experience in their field. They might overlook a candidate who is looking to change careers merely because you dont have formal experience for the job. However, a functional resume can help you contextualize your past experience based on the transferable skills that apply to the needs of an open job and hopefully land you an interview.

    Long gaps between jobs: There are so many valid reasons why you have gaps between jobs; a tough job market, returning to school, or stepping away to care for family. These circumstances are easy enough to explain in a cover letter or interview, but they stick out like alarming red flags on a resume without the right context. Since a functional resume doesnt focus on jobs and dates of employment, its easy for you to put your talented best foot forward.

    Freelance: A freelancer can have multiple, overlapping projects followed by long periods of quiet. These part-time gigs can be hard to feature on a standard resume, especially if theyre short-term projects rather than year-long commitments. A functional resume lets you showcase the skills and achievements you developed over years of collaborating with multiple brands and teams.

    How Recruiters Read A Functional Resume

    The recruiter told us a story from his own job search history, back when he tried using a functional resume to make the jump from sales to the HR industry:

    I actually paid someone to do for me. Whenever I would hand it to someone who was screening at a job fair, I would watch their eyes, and they would skip right past everything at the top of the resume and go straight to my work history and look at the job titles. I would repeatedly watch them do this. Then I finally got myself into the HR industry where I was screening resumes and I do the exact same thing.

    Why do recruiters hate this format?

    Youre taking information out of context, said the recruiter. Its easier to BS your way through to make things sound glamorous. Within the context of where took place, it gives me a better idea of whats going on.

    They hate it because they need to draw their own conclusions. The functional resume format was created to cover up gaps in an applicants experience and recruiters know it. They will skip straight down to the work history to try and figure what youre hiding. Its a dead giveaway.

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