Best Resume format (2026)

The resume format is the framework that organizes your work history, skills, and accomplishments so a recruiter can read them quickly.
A clear format highlights what matters most for the role you want and reduces the risk your best qualifications are missed.

Choosing the right format also affects how applicant tracking systems read your file.
If you pick a layout that hides dates or mixes sections in an odd order, automated parsing can drop important details and hurt your chances of being selected for review.

Chronological format lists jobs from most recent to oldest and is the most familiar layout for hiring managers.
Use it when you have steady experience in the same career path because it makes promotions and progression easy to see.

Functional format organizes the resume by skill areas rather than by dates and can work if you have gaps in employment or are changing careers.
This format puts your strengths front and center, but some employers prefer to see clear timelines and may request more detail about roles.

Combination format blends chronological and functional elements by highlighting skills at the top and then providing a reverse-chronological work history.
It is useful when you want to show strong transferable skills while still giving a clear employment timeline.

Start by matching the format to your experience and the job description for the role you want.
If the job asks for specific years of experience and steady progression, use chronological; if you are switching fields, consider combination or functional formats.

Also consider industry norms and recruiter expectations for your field.
Creative roles may allow more visual layouts while finance and law favor conservative, chronological resumes that are easy to scan.

A typical resume includes a header, summary or objective, skills, professional experience, education, and optional sections such as certifications or projects.
Keep the most relevant sections near the top so a reader sees them within the first 10 seconds of scanning your resume.

Aim for one page if you have less than 10 years of experience, and up to two pages if you have extensive relevant experience.
Be selective about what you include and remove older or unrelated roles that do not support your current job target.

Use consistent spacing, clear section headings, and enough white space to make the document easy to scan visually.
Stick to one or two professional fonts and avoid heavy graphics that can confuse parsing software and distract human readers.

Set left-aligned text for body copy and use bold or small caps sparingly for section titles.
Keep margins around 0.

5 to 1 inch to maximize readable space while preserving a clean frame for the content.

Use a 10 to 12 point font for body text and 12 to 16 point for headers so the hierarchy is clear without taking up excess space.
Use bullet points for achievements under each role, and limit bullets to three to six per job to keep focus on your top results.

Format dates consistently and place them where they are easy to scan, typically at the right margin or directly under the job title.
Use simple date formats such as "Jan 2020 6 May 2023" or "202062023" and be consistent across entries.

Start bullets with strong action verbs and quantify results when possible to show impact rather than listing tasks.
For example, you can say you increased a metric by a percentage or reduced time or cost by a measurable amount to give concrete evidence of contribution.

Structure bullets so the most important result comes first and the method or context follows.
Focus each bullet on one achievement and avoid vague phrases that do not clarify what you actually accomplished.

Use a clean file type such as a Word document or a properly generated PDF so applicant tracking systems can parse your resume reliably.
Avoid complex tables, text boxes, and images for critical information because they may not be read correctly by automated systems.

Include relevant keywords from the job description naturally in your experience and skills sections so the resume aligns with the role.
Do not stuff keywords, and keep language natural so a human reviewer can understand your story when the resume reaches their desk.

Before applying, review the job posting and adjust your resume so the top sections reflect the employer's priorities.
You can reorder bullet points, move a key skills section above experience, or emphasize a particular project to make the match clearer.

Keep a master resume with full detail and create tailored versions for specific roles by trimming or highlighting relevant content.
This approach saves time and helps you match each application with precise proof that you have the required skills.

For a standard chronological resume use this order: header, professional summary, core skills, professional experience, education, certifications.
For a combination resume place a short skills summary beneath the header followed by a concise reverse-chronological experience section to show both capability and history.

If you choose a functional resume start with a qualifications summary that groups accomplishments by skill area, then follow with a brief work history section.
Save examples that match your target role so you can reuse structure and phrasing that work.

Proofread carefully for spelling and formatting consistency and test your resume by converting it to PDF to confirm layout stays intact.
Ask a friend or mentor to scan your resume for clarity and to verify that your top qualifications are obvious within the first few lines.

Check that contact details are current and that your LinkedIn URL or portfolio links work.
Make sure the file name is professional and clear, for example "Jane-Doe-Resume-Product-Manager.

pdf" so a recruiter can save and find it easily.