There are many different types of resumes and ways to format them. One of the resume types focuses mainly on your professional skills and how you can apply them to a new position. Learning more about skills-based resumes can help you determine if they’re the right fit for your work history and educational background. In this article, we explain what a skills-based resume is, how to create one and provide a template and example.
What is a skills-based resume?
A skills-based resume, also known as a functional-based resume, focuses on specific skills a candidate possesses over other qualifications like education. You may also highlight specific aspects of your work experience, but only if they are relevant to the position you are seeking. This approach makes skills-based resumes different from chronological or reverse-chronological resumes, in which the emphasis is on your work history.Most skills-based resumes include a summary of the candidate’s qualifications, achievements and work history with details such as job descriptions and achievements not covered in the initial summary. You should use a skills-based resume in the following scenarios:
- Your work history consists of several short-term positions, temporary assignments or internships rather than a lengthy work history.
- You have long gaps in your employment history.
- You are interested in a career change and you don’t have a lot of relevant experience.
- You are interested in making a career out of a hobby or personal passion.
- Most of your relevant experience involves volunteer or unpaid work.
- You are a recent graduate with little or no work experience.
- You’ve worked several similar positions and want to avoid redundancy in your resume.
