What is a functional resume?

A functional resume focuses on a candidate’s skills and abilities, rather than on the more traditional reverse-chronological list of positions and experiences.

The industry-standard resume format focuses on the where, when, and what of a candidate’s employment history. It lists where they worked, when they worked there, and what they did. A functional resume instead abstracts the skills and experiences from the job roles and lists them. For example, a functional resume for a senior executive might focus on their leadership ability, their interpersonal and decision-making skills, and their strategic planning ability.

Typically, recruiters prefer reverse-chronological lists because they allow them to see at a glance the candidate’s full work history.

A candidate might prefer a functional resume if they are attempting to switch careers or because they have gaps in their employment history. They believe that focusing on their skills and abilities is more likely to attract a recruiter’s interest than their employment history.

How do functional resumes affect businesses?

Businesses and recruiters tend to dislike functional resumes because they are often used to obscure employment history or the lack of it. The best recruiters understand that candidates may have gaps in their employment history and that some of their previous experience may not be directly relevant.

Recruiters will not necessarily form a negative impression of a candidate just because there are gaps, but they do prefer to know about them.

‌Tips for dealing with functional resumes

If your company receives a functional resume, it shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand. If the skills and capabilities it includes fit the job role, then it may be worth offering an interview to explore the candidate’s potential in greater depth. However, if a company prefers reverse-chronological resumes, they are free to say so on their job listing and other recruitment material.