Best Resume Format in 2025

Updated January 2025 · 7 min read

There are three main resume formats. Choosing the wrong one can hurt your chances even if your experience is strong. Here is a clear breakdown of each format, who it suits, and which one most people should use in 2025.

1. Reverse-Chronological Format

This is the most widely used resume format. It lists your work experience starting with your most recent job and working backwards. Recruiters and ATS systems both prefer it because it is predictable and easy to scan.

Best for:

• Professionals with a consistent work history
• People staying in the same industry
• Anyone applying to companies that use ATS

Not ideal for:

• People with large employment gaps
• Career changers switching to a completely different field

2. Functional Format

A functional resume leads with a skills summary and de-emphasises dates and job titles. It was popular for career changers and people re-entering the workforce, but it has fallen out of favour.

Best for:

• People with very large employment gaps
• Those with no formal work experience (students, volunteers)

Not ideal for:

• Most professionals — recruiters are often suspicious of this format
• ATS submissions — many systems struggle to parse it correctly

3. Combination Format

A combination resume opens with a strong skills or summary section, then follows with reverse-chronological work experience. It gives you the best of both formats.

Best for:

• Senior professionals with 10+ years of experience
• Career changers who have transferable skills to highlight
• People applying for roles where specific skills are the primary requirement

Not ideal for:

• Entry-level candidates — the skills section will look thin
• Roles where a straightforward work history is expected

Which format should you use in 2025?

For 90% of job seekers, reverse-chronological is the right choice. It is what recruiters expect, what ATS systems handle best, and what hiring managers can scan fastest. Only deviate from it if you have a specific reason — a major career change or a significant employment gap you need to address.

Resume length in 2025

One page for under 10 years of experience. Two pages for senior professionals. Never three pages unless you are an academic writing a CV. Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds on an initial resume scan — every extra page reduces the chance your key information gets seen.