A combination resume, also called a hybrid resume, is a combination of a chronological resume format and a functional resume format.
A hybrid resume highlights the Job Seeker’s Skills and Achievements section first (such as a functional resume) followed by work experience (focus on chronological resume format). While the chronological resume format appears somewhat traditional to some modern day job seekers, the functional resume format is not usually preferred by hiring managers.
Your resume is one of the most important things a potential employer will use to determine whether to move to the next stage of the hiring process. That’s a lot of weight for a single document that should always be one page. So, you want to be certain that your resume perfectly explains why you chose the job so beautifully.
But what if telling your work history doesn’t tell the right story about you as a candidate or any coherent story at all? You are not doomed to failure. You probably just need to consider using a composite resume to ensure you stand out – and skip the first episode of the role interview.
When preparing to write a resume, you have the option to use some of the resume formats, including time, job, and combination formats. A combination resume emphasizes relevant skills and accomplishments at the top of your resume. It also lists your professional history in “Chronological Reversal”, which means your most recent experiences come first.
What is a hybrid resume?
The hybrid resume format is a good choice if you are a beginner or mid-level candidate with important and relevant skills that match the job description. For example, this resume format might come in handy once you have a few years of work experience after college. Using a hybrid resume format will highlight the skills you acquired as an early career professional, and help connect these skills with your professional experience.
This format often offers the best of both worlds to job seekers who may prefer to present their CV in a job format, focusing on their skills and qualifications, but have been instructed by the employer to include the work history. For those who want to avoid a traditional resume – either due to unrelated jobs or employment gaps – this format is a good compromise.
One of the best features of a hybrid resume format is that it puts the top candidates’ skills to the fore. This can capture employers’ attention and provide the keywords that Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) – programs that scan resumes for suitability – are searching. This format allows applicants not only to demonstrate their practical skills, but it also gives them enough space to highlight their interpersonal skills, which 92% of recruiting professionals and hiring managers agree is increasingly relevant.
Advantages of a hybrid resume
- Combination resumes work well for job seekers with a great deal of career history, who also have strong capabilities and accomplishments.
- Recruits are welcome to co-curate a mixed resume for senior executive positions requiring highly specialized skills. These skills are easy to identify with the assurance also that the candidate has the work experience required for the position he is holding.
- This format is suitable for job seekers who want to change jobs and who have worked for well-known companies. It can be used to showcase transferable skills and emphasize an outstanding employment history.
- When a candidate is working with the same employer or holding the same position for an extended period, group coordination will highlight the candidate’s experience and achievements.
Disadvantages of a hybrid resume
- Combination resumes can be longer than other formats. Redundancy may be another problem.
- Occupational changes, job mobility, and employment gaps are noticeable in the work history section.
When should a hybrid resume format be used?
- When you change profession
Combination resume format can be very useful if you want to change careers. It allows you to list your relevant transferable skills at the beginning of your resume rather than listing situations and experiences that have nothing to do with the target position.
In this case, your distinct qualifications will showcase your transferable skills from a previous career path, any new education or training you have to support your current career goals, and other information that supports your reason for being the ideal employee. You need to explain exactly why someone is providing “inappropriate experience” for the job.
- When you are a recent graduate or advanced for beginners
The combination resume format is also a good choice for someone entering the workforce, such as a recent graduate. This resume allows you to focus on skills, school projects, or specific experience relevant to the position you are targeting.
- When you are an expert
A combination resume is also a great format for someone who is an expert in something. A qualification form first allows you to list your most relevant and impressive accomplishments at the top of your resume. Experts may choose to list “awards and honors” as their qualifications, or chosen recognition from others in their field.
ALSO CHECK: JOB POSTINGS
How to write a Combination Resume
- Write your name and contact details first. Always use a professional email address and trusted contact number, and include your LinkedIn profile or any links to websites related to your business.
- Include a job summary or resume goal below your contact details. The job summary may be more suitable for a mixed resume, as this format is for those with extensive experience.
- List your most important skills. Include both soft and hard skills, and limit the section to between 5 and 10 points.
- Include your educational history, starting with the most recent qualifications obtained. Include any degrees, diplomas, or certificates relevant to the position you are applying for. Also provide details of any achievements or contributions you have made while completing your qualifications.
- Finally, include any awards or accomplishments that you would like to be highlighted in a separate section directly below your resume.
- Be more selective when deciding what to include on your combination resume. Don’t be fooled and put all your work experience, qualifications, and skills on one page. Include only aspects of your career that you think the hiring manager would be most interested in.
- Choose a font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica. Use black color and font size from 10 to 12. You can write headings in bold.
- Don’t use colorful or fancy graphics, and be careful to remove them if you are using the resume builder.
- Do not include wrong information in your CV.
- Use Grammarly to catch mistakes, but also have someone else read your final resume before sending it.
- Before sending your resume, read our article on how to email your resume to a hiring manager.
ALSO CHECK:
Do employers actually call references?
Should You Include GPA on Your Resume?
How to Write a Chronological Resume
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