Created by CakeAlthough it isn’t as common as traditional
resume format like a reverse chronological
resume, a combination
resume can be of great value for job applicants as it underscores the job seeker’s professional experience and skill sets.
Job seekers who are in the middle of a career change or skilled in a wide range of areas can reap the most benefits of a combination
resume. In this article, we will answer the questions of what a combination
resume is and how to write one, as well as share with you some combination
resume examples and templates at the end.Let's jump right in!
TABLEOFCONTENT
What Is a Combination
Resume?How to Write a Combination
ResumeTips on How to Write a Combination
ResumeCombination
Resume ExamplesCombination
Resume Templates Examples
What Is a Combination
Resume?A combination
resume, also known as a hybrid
resume, mixes the formats of a reverse chronological and a functional
resume. It provides you with the flexibility to tailor your
resume content for a particular position.
With this type of
resume format, you can skip irrelevant work experience and gaps in your
resume that would otherwise be obvious in a reverse chronological
resume. You can also showcase your top skills, certifications, and qualifications in detail with this type!
When to Use a Combination
Resume
Since its format is quite special, the combination
resume is not always the best format choice. But it can greatly enhance the quality of your
resume if:
You are changing careers.You have limited work experience.You have gaps in your employment history.You have a wide range of skills and experience.
If you find yourself in the abovementioned situation, the combination
resume can help emphasize the strong suit and relevant information while avoiding showing the weakness.
When changing careers, the combination
resume can help you showcase your relevant work experience and transferable skills that can benefit your new job. And if you’re a recent high school or college graduate, the combination
resume is a great way to emphasize your skills rather than your limited work experience.ProsIt allows you to list a wide variety of skills.It allows you to leave unrelated job experience off.It allows you to avoid including gaps between jobs.ConsIt doesn’t showcase your career growth.It can hinder your chance of getting an interview for a leadership job.It can raise concerns.
Other Types of
Resume Format
Of course, apart from it, there are other
resume formats for you to consider, and each of them has its own pros and cons. Let’s have a look!Functional (Skill-based)
Resume Format
Similar to the combination
resume, a functional
resume highlights an applicant’s skills, which is why they are both most commonly used by teenagers or those with limited work experience.
Reverse chronological
resumeThe reverse-chronological
resume is considered a standard
resume format and is the most common among job applicants. Unlike a combination
resume, it details the employment history and shows the job applicant’s career development.
Pros:It highlights your consistency and makes your career development easy to understand.It is what the hiring manager expects to see. It meets the expectation.It makes the hiring team’s job easier if the company uses ATS (Applicant Tracking System).Cons:It includes irrelevant work experience.It can also show your inconsistency if you have done many jobs in varying fields.The gaps between jobs are obvious in a reverse-chronological
resume.If you’re a fresh graduate, read this blog to learn how to choose an effective
resume format for freshers.How to Write a Combination
Resume
When writing your
resume, it's important to customize it to fit the job requirements you're applying for. A combination
resume format emphasizes showcasing your skill first, followed by your work history. This is our tutorial on how to write a combination
resume for each section:Name and Contact Information
No matter what type of
resume you're choosing, always start your
resume with your name and contact details. Use the most up-to-date and accurate information, including your current phone number and email address.
Depending on the industry you're in, mention your mailing address and links to your online portfolio, though this is an option. We thought it'd be good to mention.
Resume Summary
When writing a combination
resume, include a short summary highlighting your relevant skills and experiences. This summary will help hiring managers quickly assess your suitability for the job.
If you are new to the workforce and still need more work experience, consider including a
resume objective that outlines your short-term and long-term career goals clearly and concisely.
Skills and Abilities
Following the summary is your Skills and Abilities section. Before writing your skills section, review the job posting and look for the keywords that may help grab the employer's attention and get your
resume past the ATS
resume checker.
Pros:It helps set you apart from other applicants if you are a recent graduate with little work experience.It helps you avoid putting emphasis on gaps between jobs.It helps you focus on relevant work experience when switching jobs.Cons:Since a functional
resume is not as popular as a traditional one, some recruiters are not familiar with this format.A functional
resume might raise concerns or suspicion on the recruiter’s end.The job seeker might be deemed not trustworthy.
Professional Experience
If you use a combination
resume, your professional experience should help support your skill section rather than acting as the main one.
For example, suppose you're currently working in an entry-level position in
sales. In that case, your skills section might include soft skills like "collaboration" and "communication skills," while hard skills can be "
SalesForce" and "data analytics tools." Your professional experience can elaborate on how these skills were learned and used to help recruiters better understand your work habits and strengths.Education
The significance of educational background and experience depends on your professional background. Including this section may enrich
resumes with minimal work experience. For individuals who are recent college or high school graduates or have limited work experience for other reasons, it may be beneficial to add relevant coursework, high-grade point averages (usually 3.5 GPA or higher), and extracurricular activities like leadership roles, volunteering, or club participation.Tips on How to Write a Combination
Resume
Now that you know the essentials of a combination
resume, you can start working on yours. Below we have gathered some tips that you can follow to take your combination
resume quality to the next level.💡 Tailor
resume writing according to the job description.
First of all, make sure you read the job description carefully and learn the skills and qualifications the hiring manager is looking for. Pick out keywords from the job description and include them in your combination
resume.
💡 Highlight skills relevant to the job description.
Once you know the skills the hiring manager is seeking in a candidate, you can include them in your combination
resume and make sure they are the first thing the recruiter would see when they review your
resume.
Use action verbs and adjectives to describe your skills and leave a strong impression on the recruiter.
💡 Include transferable skills.
Transferable skills are skills that you can use in many different jobs, no matter what fields the jobs are in. As mentioned before, a combination
resume is a great choice for people who are going through a career change. Transferable skills on a combination
resume, thus, can help to show you are an ideal candidate.
You can list them in either the work experience section or the education sections of a
resume with a combinational style.
💡 Group and put related skills together.
For example, if your skills include SEO, digital marketing, Google Analytics, content writing, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, CSS, and HTML, categorize them in a combination
resume as:
Digital Marketing: SEO, content writing, Google AnalyticsGraphic Design: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe IllustratorProgramming: CSS, HTML
💡 Use free combination
resume templates.
This section can include skills recruiters list as required or design. You can mention both hard and soft skills as long as they are relevant.
Making good use of free templates available online help you navigate the complicated, if not confusing, process of
resume writing and save time, especially when you decide to use a combination
resume, a less common format.With Cake’s free
resume builder tool,
resume templates, and
resume examples, you could showcase your best qualifications to land your dream job. Try making a
resume online (free download) now!
Create
Resume
Combination
Resume TemplateNow you know the different types of
resumes; if, after carefully weighing the pros and cons, you decide to use a combination
resume, here’s a template for you.
FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email:[
[email protected]]Phone:[your phone number]Address:[your address]Linkedin:[linkedin.com/in/yourname]
2.
Resume Summary
Like other
resume formats, a hybrid
resume should also include your top achievements, career highlights, and relevant skills in the summary section. It should be 2-3 sentences-long.
[old job title]-turned-[desired job title]. Seeking to leverage my skills in[relevant skills]. A self-motivated and detail-oriented worker aiming to help[company’s Name] with your future challenges and achieve your vision.
3. Skill Summary
Skills are the main focus of a combination
resume. In this section, you should list skills that are required for the job you are applying for in bullet points.
First SkillAchievements related to the skillSecond SkillAchievements related to the skillThird SkillAchievements related to the skill
4. Work History
The work experience section in a combination
resume functions as a support to the skill section. So carefully pick relevant work experiences that demonstrate the skills you have listed.
For the achievements and responsibilities listed under each job, you should be specific and provide hard evidence, statistics and data, to demonstrate the changes you’ve made.
Most Recent Job Title | Employer Name / Location / Start Year – End YearAchievementsResponsibilitiesEarlier Job Title | Employer Name / Location / Start Year – End YearAchievementsResponsibilities
5. Education
Nowadays, there are many combination
resume templates provided by online
resume builders, such as Cake, or downloadable hybrid
resume templates and edit them with word processing software, like MS Word and Google Docs.
The education section can also help to highlight your skills in a combination
resume. The information you need to specify in this section includes:
Also, if a course you took can help to bring out your skills, also include it in bullet points on your combination
resume.
The type of your degreeThe name of the schoolThe years in which you attended the schoolGPA (if above 3.5)
Degree Name / Major | School, Location | Start Date – End Date
Combination
Resume Templates ExamplesIf you are still not sure how to write a combination
resume, here are some examples you can follow:Combination
Resume Template for Stay-at-Home MomCombination
Resume Template for Project ManagerCombination
Resume Template Example for Teenagers (High School Students)Combination
Resume Template for a Stay-at-Home Mom:
RESUME HEADER
[Name]
[Job title]
[
[email protected]] |[your phone number] |[your address or location] |[linkedin.com/in/yourname]
RESUME SUMMARY
Dedicated and customer-oriented [freelance graphic designer] with [3] years of experience. Seeking to leverage [communication skills and organization skills] as [an English teacher at ABC High School].
SKILLSUMMARY
Communication SkillCommunicated with clients regarding their requests.Negotiated contract details with clients.Networked with other types of designers to bring in 30+ new clients.Volunteered at a local nursery school as a storyteller.Organization skillsManaged 100+ clients’ emails every month.Maintain customer relationships with 10+ clients monthly.Run a Facebook stay-at-home mom group of 45 members and organized meet-ups.Organized arts-teaching workshops for nursery school teachers.Graphic DesignSkilled in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.Designed and created visual materials for story-telling to a group of 15 kids aged 0-4.
WORK HISTORY
Full-time Caretaker of twin babies2019 - Present
Graphic Designer
Freelance | 2014-2019
Created advertising content, including flyers, brochures, posters, and brand logos.Developed key vision for 50+ clients, improving corporate image and increased client website clickthrough rate by 27%.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts |
University of ABC | 2010 – 2014
Combination
Resume Template for Project Manager:
RESUME HEADER
[Name]
[Job title]
[
[email protected]] |[your phone number] |[your address or location] |[linkedin.com/in/yourname]
RESUME SUMMARY
An innovative and customer-oriented project manager with [5] years of experience. Seeking to leverage [leadership skills and problem-solving skills] as a [public relations specialist].
SKILLSUMMARY
Leadership skillsPresentation skillsOral communication skillsExtensive knowledge of MS PowerPoint, Google Slides, and KeynoteProblem-solving skillOrganization skillsResearch and strategy
WORK HISTORY
Project Manager
ABC Corp.|Denver, Colo | 2019 — Present
Lead a team of 7 people, motivating, delegating tasks, giving constructive feedback, and monitoring their overall performance.Quickly built and maintained relationships with customers, possessing a thorough knowledge of customers’ requirements and objectives.Presented 50+ presentations and operational overviews for customers.Designed and implemented solutions for 20+ cross-team collocation projects.
Associate Project Manager
XXX Co. |Aurora, Colo|2017 — 2019
Created and organized project documentation for 100+ projects.Facilitated efficient communications between customers and the project team.Presented findings in
sales numbers and marketing data to upper-level management.Assisted in recruiting 10+ individuals suitable for projects.
EDUCATION
BA in Business Administration
University of ABC | 2012 – 2016
Co-ordinated graduate conference on cross-culture leadership with 150+ attendees.Won the School of Business Student Research Paper Competition awards in 2015.Combination
Resume Template Example for Teenagers (High School Students):
RESUMEHEADER
[Name]
[Job title]
[
[email protected]] |[your phone number] |[your address or location] |[linkedin.com/in/yourname]
RESUME SUMMARY
Empathetic and high-achieving student [(GPA 3.8/4.0)]. Seeking out to apply my [communication skills] as [an
associate customer service representative] to aid [XXX Co.] in meeting its milestones.
SKILL SUMMARY
Microsoft Office SuiteGoogle SuiteCommunication skills
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Volunteer
Animal House Shelter, Asheville, NC | 2019 — 2021
Assisted in creating documentations for animals and potential pet owners.Provided potential pet owners information regarding individual animals and increased adoption rate by 3%.
EDUCATION
High School Diploma | XXX High School, Asheville, NC | Class of 2021
GPA 3.8Relevant CourseworkIntroduction to Business ManagementBasic Information Management 🔑 Key Takeaways:To sum up, a combination
resume highlights both your skills and work experience. Although this combinational
resume format is not as common and popular as other
resume formats, the hybrid
resume comes in handy when:
You have little work experience or gaps between jobs.You are going through a career change.
When writing a combination
resume:
Focus on the relevant information.Include transferable skills that you gained from jobs in different fields or schools.Use free templates of hybrid
resumes online to save time and make sure you’ve included everything.--- Originally written byYin-Hsuan Liang ---