The functional resumé organizes your experience by areas of skills, avoiding a strict reliance on chronology. In other words, it focuses on what you can do, not where and when you did it.

Functional titles or skill clusters are used to organize your skills from various places of employment, volunteer activities, or educational experiences. The functional resumé is an excellent tool for career changers, job seekers re-entering the job market after a period of not working, and for students finishing a degree or program area that qualifies them for work differing from their previous employment.

• Determine the functional titles that best describe your skill area(s) and are most closely related to your job target.

• Within each functional area stress your accomplishments, results, or abilities.

• Include all relevant accomplishments without identifying the place of employment or voluntary situation in which it took place.

• Use bulleted lists for easier reading.

• List your education, relevant courses, or degree at the top of the resumé if completed within the last five years; otherwise, education and training information should appear at the bottom.

• List work experience at the bottom, giving dates, company name, and job title.

• Keep the length of the resumé to one page, two at the most. If using a second page, include your name at the top of page 2.

Functional Format:

Name - State full name, type in bold and use a large type

STREET ADDRESS

CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE

(AREA CODE) TELEPHONE NUMBER

EMAIL Address (If you have one)

OBJECTIVE - Although optional, either an objective or summary statement will communicate your career goals and your focus.

EDUCATION - If you are a recent graduate, place your education here; otherwise, list it after work experience. List your diploma, degree, certificate, name of school and location, relevant courses, and GPA (optional). Do not include dates unless you are a very recent graduate.

FUNCTIONAL TITLE (S) - Select two or three skill areas in which you are interested and that are relevant for the job you are seeking. List them in order of your interest and skill level. State accomplishments or qualifications you have under each title.

Example Titles: Customer Service, Sales & Marketing, Office Technology, Graphics & Design, Medical Services, Food Service, Hospitality, Horticulture, etc.

WORK EXPERIENCE  - List dates, job title, company name, city, state for each position.
 

Sample Functional Resumé