The right resume format is the one that lets a busy reader find your most recent job, your title and your results in a few seconds. For most people that means a reverse-chronological layout in a single column with standard headings. This guide covers the three kinds of resume, which one fits your situation, how to lay out the header and headings, whether to add a picture, and how to format it in Word or Google Docs.
If you have just lost your job and are rebuilding your resume from scratch, start with our guide on what to do when you get laid off, then come back here.
What are the main kinds of resume format?
There are three: reverse-chronological, functional (skills-based) and combination (hybrid). They differ in what comes first: your job history or your skills.
| Format | What comes first | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse-chronological | Work history, newest job first | Most people with a steady record in one field | Gaps show clearly, so explain them briefly |
| Functional (skills-based) | Skill groups, with a short job list at the end | Very rarely: long gaps where dates hurt more than help | Hiring managers often read it as hiding something, and it is harder to match skills to jobs |
| Combination (hybrid) | A skills summary, then full work history | Career changers, people returning after a gap, people with varied freelance work | Can run long; keep the skills block to 4 to 6 lines |
Our recommendation: use reverse-chronological unless you have a clear reason not to. If you are changing field, use a combination format so your transferable skills sit at the top. Our guide on how to change careers shows how to choose which skills to lead with.
Which resume format is best for your situation?
Match the format to your story. Here are the common cases.
| Your situation | Format | What to lead with |
|---|---|---|
| Same field, steady progression | Reverse-chronological | Most recent role and two or three results |
| Recent graduate or school leaver | Reverse-chronological, education first | Degree or course, projects, internships, part-time work |
| Changing careers | Combination | A summary naming your target role, then transferable skills |
| Returning after a gap or layoff | Reverse-chronological or combination | Recent learning or projects, with a one-line note on the gap |
| Senior or executive | Reverse-chronological, two pages | A summary of scope (team, budget, markets) and outcomes |
| Freelance or contract work | Combination | Group clients under one "Freelance" entry with dates |
If you have a gap, don't build the whole document around hiding it. A short, honest line works better. Our employment gap guide has wording examples.
A clean resume gets you read. Proof of skill gets you hired
Practise on job simulations of the real work in your target role, see where you lost marks, and add a skills profile to your applications. Free to start, no card.
What should a resume header include?
Your header is the top two or three lines. Keep it to the details a recruiter needs to contact you and check your background.
- Name, slightly larger than the body text
- Target title (optional), such as "Data Analyst" or "Operations Manager"
- Phone number and a professional email address
- City and region or country. A full street address is no longer needed
- LinkedIn URL, and a portfolio or GitHub link if it is relevant to the role
The UK's National Careers Service suggests your contact details include a work network profile link, such as LinkedIn, if you have one, and that you leave out age, date of birth, marital status and nationality (National Careers Service). That advice is a good default in most English-speaking markets.
Example header (illustrative):
Priya Shah · Customer Success Manager · London, UK · 07700 900000 · priya.shah@email.com · linkedin.com/in/priyashah
Put the header in the main body of the document and keep Word's header area empty. Some applicant tracking systems skip that area when they read your file.
How do you put LinkedIn on a resume?
Add your LinkedIn profile URL to the header, next to your email and phone number. Shorten it first.
- On LinkedIn, open your profile and edit your public profile URL so it reads linkedin.com/in/yourname instead of a string of numbers.
- Paste it into your header without "https://www." so it stays short.
- In a PDF, make it a live link. In a printed copy, the short form is easy to type.
- Make sure your profile matches your resume: the same job titles and dates. Recruiters do check.
If you are deciding whether to switch on the green banner, our guide to LinkedIn Open to Work covers the trade-offs.
What headings should a resume have?
Use plain, standard headings in this order. Creative labels like "My Journey" make it harder for both people and software to find things.
| Heading | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Summary (or Profile) | Two to four lines: who you are, the role you want, and your strongest evidence |
| Experience (or Work Experience) | Job title, employer, location, dates, then three to six bullet points of results |
| Skills | Hard skills and tools that match the job advert; skip vague words like "hard-working" |
| Education | Degree or qualification, institution, year. Add relevant coursework only if you are early in your career |
| Certifications | Optional, and only if they matter for the role |
| Projects or Volunteering | Optional; useful for graduates, career changers and anyone returning after a gap |
The National Careers Service suggests putting education early if you are new to work, and work history first if you have substantial experience, with the most recent role first.
What does good resume design look like?
Good resume design is quiet. Everything on the page should make it easier to scan.
- One column. Two-column templates look modern but can scramble the reading order in some applicant tracking systems. Our guide to an ATS-friendly resume explains why.
- A standard font. The National Careers Service suggests a clear font such as Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri at size 11 or larger. Size 10.5 can work for dense sections if it stays readable.
- Consistent styling. One date format, one bullet style, bold for job titles only.
- White space. Margins of about 2 cm (0.75 inch) and a little space between roles.
- Length. One page for early-career roles, two pages for most experienced people. More than that is rarely needed outside academia and some medical or government roles.
- Colour, sparingly. One accent colour for headings is fine. Avoid icons, skill bars and progress circles. "Python: 4 out of 5 dots" tells a reader nothing.
Should you put a picture on your resume?
In the US, UK, Canada and Australia, leave the photo off unless the job is one where appearance is part of the role, such as acting or modelling. Employers in these markets generally don't expect one, and some prefer not to see one so that hiring decisions stay focused on skills.
Norms differ elsewhere. The EU's Europass CV builder, for example, suggests adding a professional photograph (Europass), and resumes with photos are still common in parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. If you apply in those markets, look at a few local job adverts or ask someone who hires there. If you do add one, use a plain, recent head-and-shoulders photo and keep it small.
How do you format a resume in Google Docs or Word?
Both work well. The free templates are fine as long as you choose a simple, single-column one.
Google Docs
- Open Google Docs and choose a resume template from the template gallery, or start with a blank document.
- Delete any table or column layout if the template uses one, so the text runs top to bottom.
- Set margins under File, then Page setup.
- Use Heading styles for your section headings, so spacing stays consistent.
- Download as PDF (File, then Download) and check the result before you send it.
Microsoft Word
- Start blank or with a basic template, and switch off text boxes and tables.
- Use the built-in heading styles and one bullet style.
- Save as PDF, unless the application asks for a .docx file.
If you would rather not design anything, the UK government offers a free CV builder at jobs.service.gov.uk/cv, which the National Careers Service links to.
Resume format example
Here is a reverse-chronological skeleton you can copy. The details are illustrative.
Jordan Lee · Operations Analyst · Manchester, UK · phone · email · linkedin.com/in/jordanlee
Summary: Operations analyst with four years in e-commerce fulfilment. Built the weekly capacity model that cut overtime in two warehouses. Looking for a senior analyst role in logistics.
Experience: Operations Analyst, Northfield Retail, Manchester · 2023 to 2026
- Built a weekly capacity model in Excel and SQL used by three site managers
- Reduced late dispatches by redesigning the pick-wave schedule with the night team
- Ran the monthly KPI review for the regional director
Skills: SQL, Excel (Power Query, pivot tables), Power BI, process mapping, stakeholder reporting
Education: BSc Business Management, University of Leeds, 2022
Notice what it does: titles and dates are easy to find, each bullet starts with a verb, and results come before duties. For the writing itself, section by section, read our guide on how to write a resume.
What formatting mistakes should you avoid?
- Text boxes, tables and columns that confuse parsing
- Contact details placed only in the document header or footer
- Photos, skill bars and graphics in markets that don't expect them
- Mixed date formats ("Jan 2024" next to "03/2022")
- Files named "resume_final_v3.docx". Use "Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf"
- More than two pages for a non-senior role
FAQs
What is the best resume format in 2026?
Reverse-chronological is the best default. It is what recruiters expect, it reads well in applicant tracking systems, and it shows your most recent work first.
Is a functional resume a bad idea?
It is risky. It strips out the dates and job context that hiring managers look for, so many read it as hiding something. A combination format gets you the same skills-first opening without that cost.
Should a resume be one page or two?
One page if you have under about five years of relevant experience, two if you have more. Cut anything that doesn't support the job you are applying for.
Are free resume templates OK to use?
Yes, if they are single-column and use standard headings. Avoid templates built on tables, sidebars or text boxes.
Should I save my resume as PDF or Word?
PDF keeps your layout intact and is the safer choice unless the employer asks for Word.
What next
A clean format gets your resume read. What gets you an interview is evidence that you can do the job. If you want something concrete to point to, you can practise on job simulations of the real work in your target role with Cohesyve and get a scored report and a skills profile you can share. If you are applying widely and hearing nothing back, our guides on job search strategy and what to do when you can't find a job can help you change your approach.
Sources
- National Careers Service (UK): CV sections
- Europass (European Union): Create your Europass CV