Strategic Storytelling: The Power of a Combination Resume

I used to create reverse-chronological resumes without giving it any thought. But… While this format often steals the spotlight, another player remains underrated. It’s a combination resume, also called the hybrid. If you’re pursuing diverse career paths or seeking to emphasize both your skills and work experience in equal measure, the combination resume might be your cup of joe.

What Is a Combination Resume?

If you’re new to the term, let me simplify. A combination resume is an alternate resume format that strikes a balance between professional skills and work experience. It fuses the best of both worlds: the functional format, which accentuates skills, and the chronological format, which chronicles work history.

Here are a couple of benefits of a combination resume:

• It balances your talents and achievements: The hybrid resume gives equal weight to both abilities and key accomplishments.
• It showcases your skills: With a rich array of talents to display, the combination resume places your skills front and center, emphasizing their importance.
• It is adaptable to any scenario: The combination resume can fit any work circumstances and effectively showcase your versatility. It will suit a corporate position, a creative role, or anything in between.
• It is attention-grabbing: By prioritizing your skills, your resume becomes more engaging and visually appealing. While the work experience section provides detailed information, the skills section grabs attention with its concise and impactful presentation.
• It helps you prepare for interviews: Crafting a combination resume allows you to recognize your strongest traits and abilities, better equipping you to impress during the interview process.

Should You Opt for a Combination Resume?

Now that you're acquainted with the key benefits of the combination resume, it's worth considering how it fits into your unique situation. Selecting the appropriate resume format is always contingent on individual circumstances, regardless of how seemingly perfect a particular format may appear.

If you happen to land in one of the following scenarios, choosing a combination resume might be your game:

• Career Change: Are you transitioning to a new career? A combination resume navigates such transitions pretty well. Its adaptable format allows you to showcase transferable skills and relevant experiences, bridging the gap between your past endeavors and your future aspirations.
• Rich Expertise: If your work experience boasts professional feats and a robust skill set, this format can support your candidacy. With its ability to seamlessly weave together your achievements and skills, this format empowers you to present a compelling case for why you're the ideal candidate for the job.
• Addressing Employment Gaps: The combination resume format addresses pauses in your career journey by strategically showcasing your skills and experiences. Instead of dwelling on the gaps in your employment history, this format shifts the focus to your valuable skill set and the relevant experiences you've gained.

Hiring managers might enquire about the exact dates of employment during an interview and, if learning about an employment gap, treat these applicants more negatively. However, it is also possible that interviewers rely less on stereotypes at this later stage, thus granting applicants a fairer, more merit-based opportunity.

Source: nature.com

If you asked me whether to choose a combination resume or not, I’d say: Make sure it corresponds with your unique circumstances and career goals. It's always essential to weigh this option against your objectives and the expectations of your target employers.

How to Write a Combination Resume in a Few Steps?

With the basic knowledge of the combination resume, it's time to grab a notebook and write a solid document that follows combination resume best practices. Here's how:

1. Format Your Document

The layout of your resume speaks volumes. Choose professional fonts that are easy to read, maintain an organized structure, and ensure there's ample white space between sections to enhance readability.

2. Use a Headline with Impact

Your resume's header is the first thing recruiters notice, so make it count! Ensure it's clear, concise, and ATS-friendly to pass through automated systems seamlessly. Avoid clutter or confusion.

3. Power Up Your Profile

Your professional profile acts as a trailer of your resume. Make it captivating and engaging, providing a snapshot of your career highlights and aspirations.?

4. Showcase Unique Skills

Let your skills take center stage in your resume. Prioritize and enumerate them, providing concrete examples and achievements to demonstrate your expertise and proficiency in each area.

5. Highlight Professional Milestones

Your professional journey is a narrative of your career accomplishments. Detail your work history with specific examples of your achievements and quantifiable wins, showcasing your value to potential employers.

6. Outline Your Education

Don't forget to highlight your academic achievements that are relevant to your career path. Your educational background proves your commitment to excellence beyond the workplace.

7. Add Extra Sections

Go above and beyond by including additional sections that reflect your unique personality and interests. Whether certifications, volunteering experiences, or personal hobbies, these extras add depth and dimension to your resume.

Key Points to Consider

If you've reached this point, likely, you're seriously considering a combination resume as an option. Here are a bunch of tips to look at before you begin:

• Be Precise: Pay attention to formatting and ensure every detail, from the header to the final flourish, reflects your professionalism and attention to detail.
• Start Confidently: Begin your resume with a magnetic personal profile that grabs attention and sets the stage for your career narrative.
• Underline Your Skills: Let your unique talents shine, supported by concrete examples that showcase your expertise and capabilities.
• Present Your Work Experience: Tell your professional story with flair and confidence, demonstrating key achievements that captivate and impress.
• Elevate Your Education: Showcase your academic journey as a testament to your dedication to excellence, adding depth and credibility to your resume.
• Add a Final Touch: Include additional sections highlighting your personality and passions. This may set you apart from other candidates.

Finally, ask a professional or a friend for a sincere opinion on your final document. It's easy to overlook important details after spending hours perfecting that single-page resume. Best of luck!

Did you enjoy this article? If you want to explore more about writing a combination resume, check the full guide I wrote on the ResumeLab blog. And thank you for reading!