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What is a Functional Resume? Writing Guide & Tips

What is a Functional Resume?

Despite what those around you may tell you, there is more than one way to write a resume.  There are quite a few options out there for resume format and the one that you choose doesn’t necessarily have to be the same as the person beside you.  What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for all. Interested in making a functional resume work for you? Here are some tips to do just that.

Why a functional resume is used:

To determine if this is, in fact, the right resume format for you, let’s take a look at why it’s used in the first place.  This appropriately named resume is for when you are someone who wants to show off their function (or, importance) as a candidate.  You craft a resume that shows off all of your job-specific perks and gives the reader a sense of who you are a professional person.

The focus of the functional resume is on qualifications, skills, experience, and accomplishments.  The experience section (normally the work experience area that has dates and descriptions on a traditional chronological resume) is still taking into consideration the experience that you do have, but it’s not as focused on timing or amount of time spent in the job itself.  It’s more the role and its relevance to the job that you’re applying for now.

This kind of resume is going to be really effective if you have gaps in your education or work experience, regardless of the reason.  It forces the employer to see you as a qualified individual and reminds them that timing isn’t everything.

How to make the most out of your functional resume

Now that you’ve decided that this is the kind of resume you want to use, it’s important that you take the time to make the most out of this format for yourself as an individual. Here are some tips for guiding points to show you how it’s done.

• Focus on suiting it to the job description: When you write a resume, you’ll want to take the time to really know what you’re applying for and get a feel for the company as a whole as well.  If the company likes short sentences with short paragraphs, match that with short bullet points and to-the-point explanations. If they use flowery language, do the same with your resume.  The format is still the same, the technique just changes.

• Make sure you match it with a strong cover letter: Even if a cover letter is not specifically asked for, create a cover letter to go with the resume. It should highlight the same details that are emphasized on the resume and it should also match in tone, style of writing and word use.  The only time NOT to include a cover letter is if the application instructions state that cover letters are not accepted. 

• Don’t go after this format to hide anything: The last guide to help you make the most out of your resume is to remember that this format is not used to hide anything.  You aren’t hiding the fact that you only worked in one position for 6 months, or you took a 4-year break from work to go to school.  If that is your main motivation for using this resume, it’s important to take a look at why. This is simply another way of stating the same things with more of a focus on the skills.  All details will still be there for them to see, as they should be. They’re just less of a focus.

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Tips for writing a functional resume:

When you’re ready to sit down with the format and plug your information in, here are some tips to make it as effective as possible.

1.  Use a template: there are all sorts of templates online that you can read through and download to put your own information. Don’t go about it on your own if you have the help freely available to you, ready to go.

2.  Choose a template that resonates with who you are as a candidate: When it comes to choosing the right template (color use, justifications, amount of space per section, etc), you’ll want to make sure that you have a template that represents who you are, too.  Even though the resume should be tailored to the job you’re applying for, not at the expense of who you are as a person. It will be a reflector of you, after all. Make sure it’s an accurate one!

3. Use keywords wisely: Within each section, go back to the position information and pull keywords to use.  They’ll appreciate the time it takes and it will make your resume stronger because you’ll be explaining clearly that you are qualified for the job itself.

4. Categorize it by theme: When creating the resume and listing your skills (this is often the biggest part of the resume itself), you’ll want to categorize it by theme and then elaborate in bullet points.  Don’t have 40 unique skills listed. Use headings to group them together. They’ll be easy to scan and will still give out the right information to the potential employer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The moment that you decide to apply for a job that is right up in your area of expertise, a functional resume could be just what gets you there.  It accentuates the details that make you a good candidate, it highlights that you have experience in the industry, and it lessens the importance that you haven’t worked a job for a few months.  The focus is on how professional land right you are or the job that you’re applying for.

Is a functional resume right for every single job application and/or applicant?  No, definitely not. But knowing when to use it and how to use it best will give you the power to make sure that you put it to use when and where applicable.  The right resume can win you the job of your dreams if you know when to use it and what kind of information to put on it.

Top 20 Phone Interview Tips to Land a Dream Job in 2025

Top 20 Phone Interviews

It’s so exciting to think that you could have a simple phone interview with all of the standard interview questions that you’re used to, and then get the job.  That’s the magic of modern technology. However, the seemingly “casual” way of having an interview does have its tricks and tips to know about.

A phone interview is not just another phone call, after all.  It’s a formal interview that must be taken seriously. If you’ve got an important interview coming up, here are some interview tips to help you land that dream job the right way.

1. Charge your phone:

Since most of us have cell phones, a low battery can be a problem.  Make sure your phone is fully charged and ready to go about 15-20 minutes before the scheduled time of the interview.

2.  Do a test call:

To make sure that there are no hiccups, ask a friend to give you a call about 30 minutes before the scheduled interview time.  This will also help you test audio levels on their end as well as your own.

3. Dress for the call:

Even though it’s a phone call, it’s best to dress to impress.  This will make you see that it’s a professional call and you will be in the right state of mind. 

4. Find a quiet space to take the call:

This is especially important if you live with family members or roommates.  Find a space that is quiet and free of interruptions so that you can hear the interviewer easily and they’ll be able to hear from you, too.

5. Answer the call promptly:

When they call, answer quickly so that they know you were waiting for it.  Most people will answer on the second ring. Don’t let it go four or five rings, as it implies you are running late.

6. Know who is calling you:

It’s a good idea to know the name of the person calling you so that you can greet them personally if the situation presents itself.

7. Do your research on the company:

Before the call, just like any other interview, you’ll want to do your research on the company in all ways applicable to what you’re applying for.

8. Make sure you’re familiar with the job description:

Understand the job that you are applying for, including the expected background and education as well as tasks assigned to the position itself.  This will make sure there are no surprises.

9. Try to anticipate questions related to the description:

It’s still a good idea to go over common interview questions in advance so that you know how to answer some of the trickier ones.  Hesitation can often be more palpable on a phone interview.

10. Engage with the speaker:

Make sure to exchange pleasantries and made acknowledgment sounds when they are explaining something to you.  It shows that you are an active listener and engaged with the conversation. They can’t see your body language like in a traditional interview, so audio cues become important.

11. Have a professional tone:

In your speaking, make sure that you keep a professional tone.  Speak at the right volume with the right cadence and use professional language.  A phone call is casual, but an interview is not.

12. Don’t rustle in the background:

From paper to gum wrappers to radio, all background noises will be amplified on a phone call. No rustling to distract from the call itself even if it seems harmless like clicking a pen out of nerves.

13. Don’t be fooling around with something during the phone call:

The moment that you start playing around with something around you, you become distracted.  This distraction will be easily picked up by the interviewer and it will reflect poorly on you.  Focus on your notes and resume (or whatever you have for the interview) and stay focused.

14. Don’t interrupt and smile often:

While interrupting can be easy on the phone, do your best to keep from interrupting.  Allow a gap of a full second before replying to tonsure your speaker has finished. If you do interrupt, stop talking and apologize. Also, smile often.  The speaker will be able to hear it and it will help you seem more professional.

15. Keep your resume and any questions you have ready:

Your resume and notes, as well as questions that you have, should be kept at the ready so that you don’t need to hop off your bed or something in order to grab them.  Again, professionalism and preparedness will be questioned.

16. Speak slowly and calmly:

We all talk fast on the phone.  But, slow down and speak slowly and calming to ensure that the other person isn’t getting the garbled conversation that they can’t understand.  This should be done even if the other person is talking quickly.

17. Don’t get distracted:

Whether it’s a tablet screen, someone moving in the doorway, a pet, keep it all out of your interview space. Keep reminding yourself that this is a formal interview and ignore everything but that person’s voice.

18. Turn off your phone notifications while on the call:

Social media, games, text messages can all interrupt a question or, worse, your reply, easier than you’d imagine. Turn them all off as soon as the phone call starts.

19. Send a follow-up email with thanks:

After the interview, send an email thanking the person for their time and interest. It shows that you saw that phone interview as a professional one and it goes a long way to show how much you love your job.

20. Learn from your performance and tweak it for the next one:

Positive or negative, learn from how the phone call went so that you can adjust your performance and make it even better for the next interview.

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Your dream job is waiting and all that stands between you and it is a phone interview.  Make sure that you are properly prepared by, well, treating it like a formal interview. It will do wonders for their first impression of you and you’ll feel like you’re a true professional as well.  

Frequently Asked Questions

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Related Articles:
How to Write a Resume
What is a Functional Resume?
Best Resume Formats