Career Planning Finding a Job Resumes How to Write a Combination Resume (With Examples) By Alison Doyle Alison Doyle Alison Doyle is one of the nation’s foremost career experts. learn about our editorial policies Updated on September 9, 2021 In This Article View All In This Article What Is a Combination Resume? What to Include in a Combination Resume How to Write a Combination Resume Combination Resume Example More Resume Examples Photo: Soren Hald / Getty Images Your resume is an important sales tool. Used the right way, a resume can show a prospective employer your most relevant skills, experience, and qualifications. The first step is to choose the best resume format for the situation. For many people, a chronological resume will not be the best choice. Perhaps your career path has taken a few zigs and zags. Maybe your most impressive skills would wind up buried toward the bottom of the page where busy hiring managers might not see them. A functional resume format would be a better choice in this case—unless employers request a work history as well. A combination resume lets you highlight the qualifications that will make the best impression on recruiters and employers, while still including your work history. Here’s how. What Is a Combination Resume? A combination resume lists your skills and experience first and your chronological work history next. A combination resume is ideal for people who want to emphasize their skills, but also include their work history, which many employers want to see. This resume format also gives you some flexibility. You can include an objective or resume summary, which will give you an opportunity to make your pitch, as well as a list of skills and qualifications that will show you’re qualified for the job. Note Combination resumes are particularly useful for candidates who are hoping to change careers or those who have gaps in their work history. What to Include in a Combination Resume A combination resume typically has two sections: A list of skills, qualifications, certifications, etc.A work history, most often in reverse chronological format with the most recent experience first. How to Write a Combination Resume To use this resume format to best advantage, keep the following in mind: Match your qualifications to the job posting. Pay special attention to resume keywords that the employer uses in the job description. You should include as many of these skills and qualifications as possible in your resume and cover letter. This will help ensure that your resume makes it past the applicant tracking system, which will filter out resumes that appear to be from unqualified candidates. Highlight transferable skills. If you’re changing careers, it’s especially important to call attention to any transferable skills that will help you succeed in this new role. Keep in mind that employers seek soft skills such as creative thinking and time management, as well as hard skills related to the requirements of the job. Begin with sample resumes. Resume examples and templates can help you organize your experience and ensure that your document is formatted professionally. Just remember to customize your resume for each role. Hiring managers want to see that you’re a good fit for this specific job, not just for any job in your field. Proofread your resume and other documents before sending. Edit, proofread, and review your resume and other application materials. Make sure everything is perfect before sending your application to the hiring manager. Combination Resume Example This is an example of a combination resume. Download the combination resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples. Download the Word Template Combination Resume Example (Text Version) Jose Applicant5555 Jackson StreetOakland, CA 94603(555) 123-4567jose.applicant@email.comCAREER OBJECTIVEResults-oriented, high-energy, hands-on professional, with a successful record of accomplishments in the blood banking, training, and communication transmission industries. Seeks position in phlebotomy related to training, quality assurance, or customer service.PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTSNCTI and ABM certifications.Facilitated educational projects over the past two years for Northern California blood centers, an FDA-regulated manufacturing environment, as pertaining to cGMP, CFR's, CA state and American Association of Blood Bank (AABB) regulations.Provided daily operational review/quality control of education accountability as it relates to imposed government regulatory requirements in a medical environment.Assisted other team members in venipunctures, donor reaction care, and providing licensed staffing an extension in their duties by managing the blood services regulations documentation (BSDs) while assigned to the self-contained bloodmobile unit (SCU).Successfully supervised contract support for six AT&T Broadband systems located in the Bay Area. Provided customer intervention/resolution, training in telephony and customer care, manpower scheduling, quality control, payroll, and special projects/plant extensions and evaluations to ensure proper end-of-line and demarcation signal.PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEActing Education Manager, American Red Cross, Oakland, CA: 2020-presentEducation Coordinator, American Red Cross, Oakland, CA: 2017-2020Phlebotomist, American Red Cross, Oakland, CA: 2014-2017Cable Television CATV Supervisor, Core Communication Inc, Sunnyvale, CA: 2010-2014CATV System Technician, TCI Cablevision Inc, Fremont, CA: 2008-2010EDUCATIONAssociate of Arts in Administration of JusticeSan Jose State University, San Jose, CA More Resume Examples Review another combination resume sample and more professionally written resume examples with templates you can download. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. CareerOneStop. “Different Formats Can Highlight Either Your Work History or Your Skills.” Accessed Sept. 8, 2021.