Easy Steps for a Functional Resume-TEMPLATE

To create your resume, download the easy-to-use MS Word template in the attachment box.

Full Name (and Credential, if applicable)

City, State | 123.456.7891 | Email Address | LinkedIn Profile or Custom URL

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

Your qualifications summary is like a billboard for your greatest achievements and most relevant skills. It should be focused on the requirements mentioned in the position you are applying for and should explain with bullet points and phrases what hard skills (specific knowledge or experience) or soft skills (e.g., flexibility, team orientation) you have to offer and how your previous accomplishments make you a good fit for the position. (Other possible titles for this section: PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY, KEY QUALIFICATIONS, CORE QUALIFICATIONS, CAREER PROFILE). 

EDUCATION

School Name, City, State                 Graduated Month and year

Degree Title 

Name of College, University, or Trade School City, State     Month and Year – Month and Year

Complete degree title

• If you had a relevant major or a specific education track, include that here. Other optional information: organizations, honors (for example, Dean’s List), and grade point average if 3.5+.
• Entry-level job seekers and career changers with education relevant to the job they are applying for should list education first. All others should list professional experience first.
• Use a phrase such as the following for a degree that has not been completed: Expected graduation 05/2021.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Company Name City, State                                               Month and Year - Month and Year

Position Title

Use this section to give a summary of what the position looked like day-to-day. Use industry-standard titles: If you were a customer service representative but your company referred to your position as client satisfaction guru, use the industry-standard title. Spell out job titles and add abbreviations if applicable: Customer Service Representative (CSR).

Notable Accomplishments:

• The experience section should demonstrate what you have done at previous organizations. If you listed an achievement in the professional summary, be sure to reference it in the experience section. For instance, if you mentioned selling $X of product, be sure that in your experience section your sales add up to $X.

• Keywords from the job description are important to include in this section. 

• Make sure each bullet point starts with an action verb formatted in the correct tense (present tense verbs for your current job, past tense for previous jobs).

OPTIONAL SECTIONS include the following:

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS 

Basic Life Support (BLS)-American Heart Association    Expires Month/Year

• List licenses or certifications granted by a governing body. For instance, if you are required to be certified in Basic Life Support (BLS), list that certification here​​​

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Blood Services Team Member- American Red Cross    Year – Year    

• This section can be useful for those with little professional experience who have gained transferable job skills.

• Depending on the length of your resume and your goals, the Volunteer Experience section can simply be a list of your titles and the organizations or can include duties/achievements as in the Professional Skills section.

AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS

• List specific additional awards or achievements that could help you attain your career objective. 

RELEVANT COURSEWORK

Introduction to Photoshop   Year     

• This section can include additional coursework required for the position or that the organization would find helpful and is not specifically listed in your education section.

Revised 11 August 2025