How To Write a Hybrid Resume (With Template and Example)

While the chronological and functional resume formats are commonly used by candidates, another option is to create a hybrid resume. This formatting involves highlighting your skills before other credentials such as your work experience and education. With a hybrid resume, you can show employers you have the appropriate qualifications for the role even if you have employment gaps or a limited work history.

In this article, we define a hybrid resume, discuss who uses them and its benefits, explain how to write a hybrid resume and share a template and an example for reference.

What is a hybrid resume?

A hybrid resume, or a combination resume, is a document that combines the chronological and functional resume formats. It begins by highlighting the candidate's skills and usually excludes the introduction section. The next sections discuss the candidate's work experience and education.

Related: Top Resume Formats: Tips and Examples of 3 Common Resumes

Who uses hybrid resumes?

The hybrid resume format is common among candidates who are new to the workforce. Whether you're a recent college graduate or re-entering the workforce after an employment gap, you can emphasize your skills to compensate for a potential lack of work experience. Career changers also appreciate the versatility of hybrid resumes, as they highlight transferable skills even if the candidates developed them in a different industry or through internships or volunteer work.

Related: Combination Resume Tips and Examples

Benefits of a hybrid resume

Benefits of a hybrid resume are that it:

• Highlights your skills and professional accomplishments above other qualifications

• Reveals your pertinent information to hiring managers immediately

• Makes your employment gaps less obvious to employers

• Uses a neutral format to appeal to traditional and nontraditional hiring managers

• Helps you stand out from other candidates who use chronological or functional resume formats

• Showcases your years of experience in certain industries or roles even if you lack linear career progression

How to write a hybrid resume

Here are some steps to consider when you're writing a hybrid resume:

1. Use proper formatting

You can start your document by selecting the proper formatting. Try to use a standard, legible typeface such as Arial, Calibri, Helvetica or Georgia. As for type size, most employers prefer either 11- or 12-point. Consider limiting your resume to one page and using one-inch margins on all sides of the document.

Related: Best Font for a Resume: How To Choose Type and Size

2. Include your contact information

A professional header at the top of your resume ensures employers can ask you about qualifications or schedule an interview. Consider including essential information such as your full name, phone number, professional email address and location. You might also include a link to your portfolio, website or profile on a professional networking site.

Related: How To Write a Resume Header (With Examples and Tips)

3. Highlight your skills

You can optimize the skills section of your hybrid resume by reflecting on your top professional attributes. You can also ask your colleagues for insight and review the job description to understand the type of candidates the employers prefer. The next step is to turn each skill into a heading and add bullet points that describe professional experiences that validate the skill.

Related: 10 Best Skills To Put on Your Resume (With Examples and FAQ)

4. Include work experience

Under the skills section, consider including your work experience. You can use the reverse chronological resume format by starting with your most recent job. Under each position, try using two to three bullet points to illustrate your achievements and responsibilities. You can focus on not only your duties but also how you used your skills to achieve positive results for your employer.

For example, one bullet might indicate that you averaged 120 outbound cold calls per day, which was 30 calls above the required quota. You might also indicate that your efforts resulted in 30% more closed deals than the next highest-performing sales associate.

Related: How To Highlight Work Experience on Your Resume

5. List your education

A hybrid resume usually lists your education near the end of the document. Consider listing your highest degree and including the following information:

• The type of degree

• The name and location of your school

• Your graduation date (if you graduated within the last three years)

Related: How To List Education on a Resume (With Examples)

Template for a hybrid resume

Here's a template for a hybrid resume:

[Full Name]

[Phone number] | [Professional email address] | [City, State] | [Professional website]

Skills Summary

[Skill]

• [Description of duty or accomplishment that validates skill]

• [Description of duty or accomplishment that validates skill]

[Skill]

• [Description of duty or accomplishment that validates skill]

• [Description of duty or accomplishment that validates skill]

[Skill]

• [Description of duty or accomplishment that validates skill]

• [Description of duty or accomplishment that validates skill]

Experience

[Job Title], [Start date–End date]
[Company Name], [Location]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

[Job Title], [Start date–End date]
[Company Name], [Location]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

• [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

Education

[Degree earned]
[Institution name], [Graduation year if you graduated within the past three years]

To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.

Example of a hybrid resume

Here's an example of a hybrid resume:

Aaron Cassidy

555-555-9457 | aaron.cassidy@email.com | St. Petersburg, Florida | aaroncassidyportfolio.com

Skills Summary

Web Design

• Designs, develops and maintains an e-commerce website for a local retailer

• Designs an average of four minor websites or one major website per month

• Collaborates with the marketing team to develop concepts and mockups on 50+ pages

User Experience

• Raises UX scores by over 35% for a client website

• Works closely with the ten-person web design team to build responsive web themes

• Develops custom UX experience strategies for a high-end design firm with annual revenue of $10 million

Graphic Design

• Creates custom infographics and design elements for websites with 99% client satisfaction scores

• Develops templates for newsletters, presentations and reports to ensure brand consistency

• Creates 4+ design presentations per month for clients and account managers

Experience

Lead UX Designer, August 2020–Current
Goddard Marketing Firm, St. Petersburg, Florida

• Supervise a five-person web design team to optimize user experience for 20 client websites

• Research new interface paradigms and develop style guidelines

Web Designer, August 2018–August 2019
Ocean Drive Agency, St. Petersburg, Florida

• Completed projects from conception to development, including graphic design, web design and branding

• Proposed comprehensive web development plans to clients ranging from small businesses to individual entrepreneurs and artists

Junior Web Designer, July 2017–August 2018
Ocean Drive Agency, St. Petersburg, Florida

• Developed and maintained the company's website consisting of 10 main pages

• Designed and created marketing materials for over 30 clients

Education

Master of Arts in Graphic Design
St. Pete University