Combination Resume Guide for 2025 [Templates + Examples]
A combination resume, also called the hybrid resume, gives equal emphasis to your skills and experience. This approach makes it the perfect choice for job seekers with three to nine years of experience looking to advance their careers. Find advice, examples and templates to make the most of the combination resume.
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1
What is a Combination Resume?
Most resume formats include the same standard resume sections — how these sections are organized distinguishes the three resume formats. Think of the combination resume as a modern, remixed version of the traditional chronological resume.
The combination, or hybrid resume, swaps the placement of the skills and work history sections to highlight your job-relevant skills first. They follow this order:
- Contact information
- Resume summary
- Skills section
- Work history
- Education
However, the combination resume retains a timeline-based work history section to help hiring managers easily trace your career development. This strategy borrows the best of the chronological and functional resumes to help you highlight your technical and practical knowledge.
2
How to Format a Combination Resume?
The combination resume format is very similar to a chronological resume — this format always has five standard resume sections in the following order:
1Contact information
This mandatory section includes your name, email, phone number and regional location.
2Resume summary
A formal introduction to promote three job-relevant skills or accomplishments.
3Professional skills
A bulleted list of six to eight skills not mentioned elsewhere on your resume.
4Work experience
A detailed timeline of your previous jobs and related responsibilities.
5Education
A formal list of your degrees and professional certifications.
3
Who Should Use a Combination Resume
Do use a combination resume if these scenarios apply to you:
- You have between three to nine years of experience.
- You’re seeking a promotion or career growth opportunity.
- You’re changing industries or careers.
- You’re transitioning from military to civilian jobs.
- You’re a recent graduate with at least three years of experience.
Don’t use a combination resume format:
- If you have less than three years of experience.
- If you have over 10 years of experience.
- If you have frequent gaps between jobs.
- If you spent less than a year at multiple jobs.
- If you recently graduated with little to no formal experience.
- If you took a recent work break for personal or academic reasons.
Try a different resume format
If your work history doesn’t meet the needs for a combination resume, try a different resume format to highlight your professional strengths.
A chronological resume is the most traditional and well-known resume. This format uses a timeline-based description of your work history near the top of your document to highlight your seniority and leadership potential. It’s best for skilled professionals looking for mid-level or managerial positions.
A functional resume, or skills-based resume, strips the work history section to a generalized timeline and creates multiple detailed skills sections to highlight your training and qualifications. This highly customizable format is best for freelancers, job seekers with little experience, job hoppers or people re-entering the workforce.
You can also visit our resume layout article to learn how to format your resume margins, sections, and headings to impress hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS).
4
How to Write a Combination Resume
Share your contact information
Including updated contact information is crucial when writing your resume. Your contact information should include your full name, phone number, email and general location.
Sample contact information:
Sophie Anne Tremaine
555-111-1111
sophie.tremaine@email.com
New Orleans, LA
Introduce yourself with a resume summary
Your resume introduction sits just beneath your contact information and can be a summary statement or resume objective. This introduction pitches your best skills or accomplishments as a way to impress hiring managers and encourage them to read the rest of your resume.
Combination resume summary example:
“Extensive experience in advertising and marketing, focusing on travel campaigns and lifestyle brands. Proven track record of successful client management and relationship building. Proficient in developing and implementing social media marketing strategies. Strong analytical skills, data-driven decision-making and campaign optimization.”
Add relevant job skills
The combination resume format borrows from skills-based resumes by placing a simplified list of skills near the top of the resume. You can impact this section by focusing on resume keywords and specific skills in the open job advertisement. Use a bulleted format like the example below.
Sample skills section:
- Marketing Strategy
- Social Media Marketing
- Client Management
- Data Analysis
- Content Creation
- Project Management
- Communication
Support your knowledge with your work history
Although the work history section sits below the skills section, a combination resume still relies on a detailed timeline to help hiring managers trace your previous experience and career growth. This section describes your previous responsibilities, accomplishments and steady employment while pitching your qualifications.
Sample combination resume work history section:
Marketing Associate | 2nd Line Marketing Agency
New Orleans | July 2018 – April 2023
- Spearheaded marketing campaigns for high-profile travel and lifestyle brand clients, resulting in a 20% increase in revenue.
- Managed client accounts, including budget allocation, project timelines and performance tracking.
- Conducted market research and analysis to identify industry trends and opportunities.
- Developed and executed social media marketing strategies, increasing client engagement by 30%.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of campaigns.
Social Media Marketing Specialist | Rue Royal Advertising
New Orleans | March 2016 – June 2018
- Led social media marketing efforts for a renowned travel company, growing the social media following by 50%.
- Created and curated content for various social media platforms, increasing brand awareness.
- Monitored and analyzed social media metrics, adjusting strategies for optimal performance.
- Collaborated with the marketing team to create integrated marketing campaigns.
Add your education or certifications
Add a detailed education section near the bottom of your document. This evidence of your academic or professional training can assure hiring managers that you have the formal and practical knowledge to complete your job duties.
Education example of a combination resume:
Degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Marketing | Tulane University
New Orleans | Graduated: May 2016
Certifications:
Google Ads Certification – August 2018
HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification – Sept 2016
6 Combination Resume Samples
Aircraft Mechanic
This combination resume sample helps you showcase your repair and maintenance skills and experience overseeing an airline’s fleet.
Event Coordinator
As an event coordinator, your interpersonal, leadership and relationship management skills are as important as the previous events or projects you handled.
Flight Attendant
This sample combination resume highlights this flight attendant’s social skills, formal work experience, and industry training to help them apply for a senior position.
Legal Secretary
This combination resume example highlights the candidate’s legal knowledge and support contributions to legal teams below their office administrative skills.
Maintenance Technician
This job seeker uses the hybrid resume format to highlight their technical maintenance and troubleshooting skills above their impressive work history.
Makeup Artist
As a makeup artist, your knowledge of nuanced skills and application techniques can sit over your experience to let hiring managers know your wide range of industry knowledge.
6
Free Combination Resume Template With Tips
You can use the previous examples and writing advice to personalize the following combination resume template.
Free combination resume template:
[Your Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[City, State]
Professional Summary:
[Customize: Share three career skills, accomplishments or previous projects that bring potential value to the open role.]
Skills:
- [Skill 1]
- [Skill 2]
- [Skill 3]
- [Skill 4]
- [Skill 5]
- [Skill 6]
- [Optional Skill 7]
- [Optional Skill 8]
Professional Experience:
[Job Title] | [Company Name]
[City, State] | [Start Date] – [End Date]
- [Bullet 1: Describe your key responsibilities and achievements in this role.]
- [Bullet 2: Describe your key responsibilities and achievements in this role.]
- [Bullet 3: Describe your key responsibilities and achievements in this role.]
[Job Title] | [Company Name]
[City, State] | [Start Date] – [End Date]
- [Bullet 4: Describe your key responsibilities and achievements in this role.]
- [Bullet 5: Describe your key responsibilities and achievements in this role.]
- [Bullet 6: Describe your key responsibilities and achievements in this role.]
Education:
Degrees
[Degree Earned], [Major]
[University/College Name]
[City, State]
[Graduation Date]
Certifications:
[Customize: List any relevant licenses and certifications]
Combination Resume FAQ
What is the best definition of a combination resume?
A combination resume, also known as a hybrid resume, is a resume format that blends the best elements of a chronological and functional resume. It lends equal importance to a candidate’s work history, in reverse-chronological order, and relevant skills and accomplishments, making it a compelling choice for job seekers with years of experience and a hunger for their next career step.
What type of resume is also called a combination resume?
The combination resume is also known as the hybrid resume. The resume format has this name and identification because it borrows the best elements from a chronological and functional resume while using a recruiter and ATS-friendly outline.
Is a combination resume good?
The combination resume is best for entry- and mid-level job seekers with:
- More than three years of experience.
- Steady employment with little to no work gaps.
- More than one year at each job.
- Looking for a promotion.
- Considering a change in the industry.
When should you not use a combination resume?
Do not use the combination resume if:
- You have over 10 years of experience.
- You have less than three years of experience.
- You change jobs frequently.
- You’re a freelance or contract employee.
- You’re re-entering the workforce.
What’s the difference between functional and combination resumes?
The combination resume uses a strict, unchanging layout with the same five resume sections. This makes it highly recognizable and recruiter-friendly. Focusing on a linear timeline and a simplified skills list makes it easy for hiring managers to trace your career growth and accomplishments.
The functional resume is skills-based, with the most customizable features of the three main resume formats. This strategy enables job seekers to highlight more transferable skills and accomplishments while downplaying a lack of extensive work experience. However, the highly customizable nature of the format makes it a risky choice for ATS-dependent job boards. Only use the functional format if you’re applying in person or have a direct lead to a job opening.
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Last edited by: Ami Icanberry, CPRW, Manager, Content Editing, - November 7, 2024
Gabriela Barcenas
CPRW, Content Writer IIGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design and career advice.
