Though most candidates prefer a reverse-chronological resume format, a combination resume is no worse. If your skill list goes further than a few lines, this guide is for you.
Whether during a career switch or planning to start a new professional chapter, you need a compelling resume that works like a magnet. You’ll often hear about a reverse-chronological resume format as the one to go for, but be sure it’s not the only efficacious way to impress a recruiter.
What if we told you that a carefully prepared combination resume (also known as a hybrid resume) can go a long way, too? We’ll cover all its elements, so you don’t lag behind.
In this guide:
Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder with 20+ resume templates and create your resume now.
What users say about ResumeLab:
I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.”
Patrick
I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!
Dylan
My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
George
How else can you improve your resume? Check the articles below:
Nicole J. Owens
nicole.owens@mail.com
507-416-6646
linkedin.com/nicoleowens
Professional Profile
Audience-oriented social media specialist with 3+ years of experience creating engaging content for dedicated audiences. Skilled in effective social media planning and in-depth performance analysis. Created an awareness campaign on Facebook that reached 85,000+ unique users during 2 weeks. Built Creatimic’s social media profile from scratch, gaining 8,000+ followers after 3 months. Seeking to join MediaPilot to drive outstanding social media results, including growing follower base and boosting engagement.
Skills Summary
Social media management
Strategy planning
Copywriting and content marketing
Additional Skills
Work Experience
Social Media Specialist
Mediamind
May 2021–June 2023
Social Media Copywriter
Creatimic
October 2019–April 2021
Education
Bachelor Digital Media Studies
University of Minnesota
September 2015–July 2019
GPA: 3.87
Now, let’s dig deeper into what a combination resume is and how to make a remarkable one:
A combination resume puts equal emphasis on professional skills and work experience. It gains from two resume formats: functional, which highlights skills, and chronological, which focuses on work experience. In this resume format, you can pin one distinctive skill to every job entry you include.
If you choose a hybrid resume, you display your resume profile first, followed by your most valuable skills that match the job description. If skills are your most significant assets, this is the best way to direct attention to them.
Yes, both combination resume and hybrid resume terms can be used interchangeably. Whether it’s a word combination or a hybrid, it relates to the fact that this resume type blend elements of the chronological and functional resume formats.
A resume aims to present you in the best possible light and secure your desired interview. Consider the strong points that will empower your application when picking a suitable resume format.
A combination resume (or, call it a hybrid resume), is best suited for candidates who aim to highlight their skills and qualifications while also demonstrating their work history in a chronological order.
To make it clearer, see examples of when you should opt for a combination resume:
If your work experience is short or deficient, a combination resume can compensate for such shortages. Use it to highlight your key strengths and make your hybrid resume speak for you.
A combination resume aims to show employers how your professional experience and skills influence each other and make a strong candidate’s profile.
Here are some pros of using a hybrid resume:
While a hybrid resume format offers numerous benefits, it also has some potential drawbacks:
To decide if the combination resume format suits you, consider your circumstances, job history, and the employer’s expectations. While in some cases, a hybrid resume can upgrade your application, there are situations in which it may work to your disadvantage.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.
You’ve decided to create a combination resume so no one doubts your talents. You just can’t wait to fill in the space with your flairs. You’ve got a lot of those.
But how do you create a combination resume that is not over-combined? Which resume sections should you use, and in what order?
Follow these steps to create a flawless combination resume template:
A resume imparts much more information than you think. A resume's layout, structure, colors, and way of writing can say a lot about you as a candidate and a person. Jumbled resumes aren’t likely to be associated with well-organized professionals.
That’s why you must be serious about your resume layout and resume formatting.
Here are some iron rules to follow when formatting your resume:
Once done with your writing, pass your resume through a grammar checker. Clear structure and formatting go hand in hand with pure grammar and spelling.
Your resume might look like taken from TheBest Resume Practices handbook, but if it exposes an incorrect header, it all goes for nothing. Resume headers are used for reference, so they must be human-readable. And apparently, ATS-scannable, too (in fact, your whole hybrid resume template must be ATS-friendly to pass through the initial qualifications).
The resume header placement is universal to all resume formats. It always takes the primary place to provide critical information first. Ensure it contains everything from your name to a phone number, so a recruiter doesn’t have to comb through the document to find them.
Here’s what the header should look like:
See an example of a perfectly-formatted resume header:
Nicole J. Owens
nicole.owens@mail.com
507-416-6646
linkedin.com/nicoleowens
Hiring managers disregard candidates who send resumes with messy headers or improper heading formatting. Sounds obvious? That’s cool if you know how to work it out.
So, you’re almost sure about your resume's success, knowing it will include all the information the hiring manager desires there. But how can you be confident they will read it?
Starting your resume the right way determines its positive reception. Would you read a book that has a bland blurb? Or watch a movie after a completely uninteresting trailer? Your resume profile should arouse the greatest interest and make a recruiter read it with a twinkle in their eyes.
When preparing a resume profile, consider a career objective dedicated to beginning candidates or a resume summary suited for experienced professionals.
Here’s how to craft a resume profile that grabs the attention:
Now, let’s put it into practice:
Professional Profile
Audience-oriented social media specialist with 3+ years of experience creating engaging content for dedicated audiences. Skilled in effective social media planning and in-depth performance analysis. Created an awareness campaign on Facebook that reached 85,000+ unique users during 2 weeks. Built Creatimic’s social media profile from scratch, gaining 8,000+ followers after 3 months. Seeking to join MediaPilot to drive outstanding social media results, including growing follower base and boosting engagement.
You see? It’s succinct and catchy. 3 to 4 sentences are enough to cover your resume highlights, so don’t talk over your resume. Instead of stuffing your resume profile, give a semblance of what a hiring manager will learn further.
Expert Hint: Though a professional profile introduces a reader to your resume, it’s easier to prepare it once your document is almost finished. Condensing all essential information into a few opening lines should go smoother at the end.
Skills are what you’ve come here for. Shock a recruiter with a diversity of abilities you possess and can utilize in your future job. When writing a hybrid resume, don’t spare skills that might be decisive for your employment. Recruiters seek talents, not necessarily practiced hands.
When crafting a skills list, think of those that best align with the job profile. If you apply for a social media manager position, mention excellent writing skills or strategy planning instead of dexterity or physical fitness. Here’s an example:
Skills Summary
Social media management
Strategy planning
Copywriting and content marketing
Additional Skills
How to format skills on a combination resume? There are two common ways to do so:
If you’re writing a career change resume and still opt for a combination resume, think of transferable skills you can weave in. Examples of traits that can transfer from one job to another are communication skills, problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork.
Imagine walking into a huge house and strolling through many rooms arranged individually. Each room has its theme and tells a different story, but they create a whole together.
A resume and its various sections follow a very similar scheme. Each part of your resume informs about crucial areas of your professional development, and they all correspond with each other.
While skills are the focal point of your combination resume, still, your work experience section should be no less than appealing and attention-grabbing. Use it to target your resume to the specific job that you want.
How? Just add the job titles, names of companies, and work dates. Then, list your key accomplishments and make sure they match the phrases used in the job advertisement. This is how you make an ATS-friendly resume, and how you and increases your chances of being qualified for the next recruitment stages.
This simple example shows how:
Work Experience
Social Media Specialist
Mediamind
May 2021–June 2023
Social Media Copywriter
Creatimic
October 2019–April 2021
Note that you’re more persuasive when discussing actual actions and backing them up with numbers rather than just mentioning your regular duties. It’s tangible proof of your expertise and commitment.
A recruiter has likely decided to contact you after learning about your skills and work experience. But with many candidates, you must do your best to convince them you’re the jewel in the crown. In that case, relevant education might be of added benefit.
Mention your college or university degree, the institution's name, and study dates. Additionally, you can provide information such as GPA, academic honors, relevant coursework, projects, etc.
Here’s how it should look:
Education
Bachelor Digital Media Studies
University of Minnesota
September 2016–July 2020
GPA: 3.87
The education section is worth expanding, especially if you’re writing a resume with little work experience. In this case, focus on what you’ve learned during your studies and how it prepared you for the first job. Starting your very first job search requires some strategic approach.
Have you ever heard a weird question during a job interview? Like, what biscuit would you be if you were a biscuit? Or, what would I find in your fridge right now?
You don’t want a recruiter to make you confused. To increase the likelihood of getting more obvious questions, include additional sections that are often a subject of interest.
See below the example sections you can use:
You never know what a recruiter may ask, but if you bring up things you’re confident about, it shouldn’t cause you any disorientation. Ensure they correlate with your overall profile and the job you apply for.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s what to remember when creating your hybrid resume for the first time:
Not sure whether a combination resume is the proper one for you? Questions on how to create one that wins interviews? Let us know in the comments!
At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.
Marta Bongilaj is a career expert and a Certified Professional Résumé Writer. She's a member of the National Career Development Association and the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. She has a vast marketing background, which helps her give relevant advice on bringing out candidates’ strongest points and making their resumes a compelling read. In her articles, she underlines the importance of showcasing the most prominent skills, experiences, and qualifications in a resume to stand out in increasingly competitive job markets. Marta provides on-point tips on how to promote one’s candidature efficaciously at every career stage. Holding a philology degree, she believes that concise, persuasive language lies at the core of a successful resume. If you seek advice on marketing yourself to employers, no matter your recruitment stage, you’ve come to the right place.
A carefully crafted reference page can give you a competitive edge over other job candidates. But do you know how to list references on a resume? You’re about to find out.
Olga Ber
Career Expert
How to show a promotion on a resume? What should a resume with multiple positions at the same company look like? Find answers, best examples and tips here.
Maciej Duszynski, CPRW
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert
![Current Resume Styles—Find the Best One [Gallery & Tips]](https://cdn-images.resumelab.com/pages/style_listing.jpg)
What’s the best resume style—chronological, functional, combination? Maybe infographic or portfolio? Learn everything about resume styles to pick the right one for your situation.
Maciej Duszynski, CPRW
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert