Combination Resume Template
A free, skill-focused combination resume template that highlights both your skills and experience. Included is a detailed guide on how to structure a combination resume and when you should use one.
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Free combination resume template and sample
A sleek, professional, and results-driven combination resume designed to showcase both skills and experience effectively. This combination resume example blends structured design with powerful content, making it a high-impact document for professionals looking to advance their careers.
Key features and highlights
- Professional, modern layout – Clean and structured design with clear sections for readability.
- Compelling summary – A strong introduction highlighting 8+ years of experience in project management and operations.
- Key skills and achievements section – Categorized skills with quantifiable results to demonstrate real-world impact.
- Work experience in reverse chronological order – Clearly structured roles with data-driven accomplishments.
This combination resume supports
- Professional fonts – Lato, Raleway, Rubik, and Volkhov.
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) – Our PDF file is optimized for ATS readability and format preservation.
- Resume best practices – Font size, page margins, section naming, and even color contrast ratio adhere to industry standards.
A skills-focused resume should highlight what you do best right away, but a strong work history adds credibility. That’s where a combination resume comes in. It blends the structure of a chronological resume with the flexibility of a functional resume, allowing you to showcase your top skills while still providing a clear job history.
The combination resume format works well if you’re changing careers, juggling different types of experience, or want to make a strong first impression. By placing your key skills upfront, you grab attention quickly, but the detailed work experience keeps things grounded. Hiring managers get the best of both worlds—proof of your abilities without having to dig through a long job history.
While a combination resume isn’t ideal for everyone, it can be a game-changer when used correctly. In this guide, you’ll learn when it’s the right choice, how to structure it, and common mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll have a clear strategy for creating a resume that gets noticed.
What you need to know about combination resumes
- A combination resume balances skills and experience, making it ideal for professionals with diverse backgrounds.
- It works best for career changers, freelancers, technical professionals, and those with employment gaps.
- The structure includes: a strong summary, key skills section, work experience, and education.
- To pass ATS filters, use relevant keywords, clear formatting, and tailored achievements.
- Avoid common mistakes, such as adding too much detail, listing unrelated skills, and failing to quantify results.
- Always customize your resume for each job application to match the employer’s needs.
- A well-crafted combination resume can set you apart. Keep it concise, relevant, and results-driven, and you’ll be on your way to landing your next job.
What is a combination resume
A combination resume is a hybrid format that highlights both your skills and work experience. It takes the best parts of two common resume styles—the functional resume, which focuses on skills, and the chronological resume, which lists your work history in order. This format lets you showcase your strengths first while still giving hiring managers a clear view of your career path.
At the top, you’ll highlight your key skills and achievements, giving employers a quick snapshot of what you bring to the table. Then, your work history follows, showing exactly where and how you’ve applied those skills. This structure makes it easier for hiring managers to connect your strengths with real experience, giving them a full picture of your qualifications.
Because it blends two formats, it’s often called a hybrid resume. The key advantage is that it doesn’t force you to choose between emphasizing skills or listing past roles—you get to do both. That’s why it’s especially useful if you’re switching careers, have a varied work background, or want to make an impact with a strong skills section before diving into job history.
Advantages and disadvantages of a combination resume
A combination resume offers a balanced way to showcase your skills and experience, but it’s not the right choice for everyone. Below are the key advantages and disadvantages to consider before using this format.
- Best of both worlds – Highlights both your skills and work history, giving hiring managers a full picture of your qualifications.
- Great for career transitions – Puts transferable skills upfront, making it easier to connect past experience to a new industry.
- Ideal for senior professionals – Works well for those with a broad skill set, leadership roles, and a strong work history.
- More ATS-friendly than a functional resume – Since it includes job history, applicant tracking systems (ATS) can properly scan and categorize your experience.
❌ Disadvantages
- Can be longer than necessary – Balancing both skills and experience may lead to a cluttered or overly detailed resume.
- Might be overwhelming – Too much information in two sections can make it harder for hiring managers to skim quickly.
- Not ideal for entry-level applicants – Without enough experience to support the skills section, a simpler format may be a better fit.
Should you use a combination resume
A combination resume is the perfect choice when you need to highlight both your skills and work experience in a way that tells a clear, compelling story.
It’s especially useful if your career path doesn’t follow a straight line, allowing you to focus on what you bring to the table rather than just listing past jobs.
For mid-career professionals, this format helps showcase the specialized skills you’ve developed while still giving weight to your work history. If you’re a career changer, it bridges the gap between where you’ve been and where you’re going, emphasizing transferable skills while proving you have relevant experience.
This same flexibility benefits freelancers and consultants, whose work often spans multiple industries or short-term projects. Instead of listing each contract separately, a combination resume allows you to group similar experiences together, making it easier for employers to see the big picture.
Technical professionals, such as engineers and IT specialists, also gain an advantage with this format. By putting key skills at the top, you ensure hiring managers recognize your expertise before diving into job titles and company names.
Even if you have employment gaps, a combination resume works in your favor by shifting the focus to what you can do rather than when you last worked. By leading with skills and achievements, you create a stronger first impression.
When your background doesn’t fit neatly into a traditional format, a combination resume gives you the structure and flexibility to tell your story in the best way possible.
How to structure a combination resume
As we’ve mentioned a couple of times, a combination resume follows a structured format that balances your skills and work history. Each section plays a key role in showcasing your strengths while keeping your experience clear and easy to follow.
Resume header and contact information
Your resume header and contact information are the first things a hiring manager sees, so keep it clear and professional. Unlike the skills and experience sections, this part is straightforward, but a mistake here can cost you an opportunity (imagine you miss a typo in your email…)
Include the following
- Your full name – Use your preferred professional name.
- Phone number – Make sure it’s correct and checked regularly.
- Professional email address – Avoid casual emails and stick with a professional one that is a combination of your first and last name.
- LinkedIn profile (optional) – If your LinkedIn adds value, include it. Just make sure it’s up to date and matches your resume.
❌ Skip unnecessary details like:
- Your full home address (city and state are enough).
- Multiple phone numbers or emails—keep it simple.
- Social media links unless they’re relevant (like a portfolio for designers).
Since a combination resume emphasizes both skills and experience, a strong first impression matters. Clean, accurate contact details ensure hiring managers can easily reach you after they see how well you fit the role.
Professional resume summary that includes skills and value
Your professional summary is one of the most important sections in a combination resume because it sets the tone for the rest of your application. Since this format blends skills and experience, your summary needs to do the same. It should immediately show what you bring to the table while giving a hint of your career trajectory.
A combination resume summary needs to include
- Who you are professionally (e.g., “Experienced project manager with a background in IT and operations”).
- Your top skills—especially the ones most relevant to the job.
- Years of experience or career highlights.
- A clear value statement—what impact you make in a role.
❌ What to avoid
- Generic statements (“Hardworking professional looking for a job”).
- Too much detail—this isn’t a full cover letter.
- Buzzwords without proof—show impact instead of just saying you’re “dynamic” or “results-oriented.”
A strong summary is especially useful in a combination resume because it connects the skills section (which comes next) with your work experience, helping hiring managers understand your value before they dive into the details.
Key skills and achievements
This section is where the combination resume stands out. Unlike a chronological resume, which jumps straight into work experience, a combination resume puts your most valuable skills first. This helps hiring managers quickly see what you excel at before diving into your job history.
To structure a "Skills and achievements" section
- Group your skills into categories that align with the job.
- List specific skills, not just broad terms (e.g., instead of “Marketing,” use “SEO Strategy & Content Optimization”).
- Pair skills with achievements to show proof of impact.
- •Increased organic traffic by 150% in 12 months.
- •Managed teams across three global markets, launching five successful campaigns.
- •Used Google Analytics and Tableau to improve conversion rates by 20%.
- •Migrated company infrastructure to AWS, reducing server costs by 30%.
- •Mentored junior developers, leading to a 40% improvement in team efficiency.
- •Implemented security protocols that decreased data breaches by 50%.
❌ What to avoid
- Vague skills without proof (e.g., just writing “Leadership” or “Communication” with no details).
- Too many bullet points—keep it focused on 6–10 of the most important skills.
- Listing outdated or irrelevant skills (e.g., if you’re applying for a UX design role, don’t highlight your expertise in outdated software).
This section helps bridge the gap between your professional summary and work history. By showcasing your top skills with real results, you make a strong case for why you’re a great fit before employers even look at your job titles.
Education and certifications
In a combination resume, the education and certifications section supports your expertise without overshadowing your skills and experience. While it’s essential for many professions, it typically comes after your work history since hiring managers are more interested in your practical abilities.
To structure an education section
- List your highest level of education first.
- Include the degree, university name, and graduation year (optional if outdated).
- Add relevant certifications, licenses, or professional training.
- Only include coursework or honors if they strengthen your application.
Invalid Date - Invalid Date Invalid Date - Invalid Date Invalid Date - Invalid Date - •AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (2021)
- •Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer (2020)
❌ What to avoid
- Listing outdated or irrelevant degrees (e.g., an unrelated associate degree when you have a higher qualification).
- Including high school education (unless you have no college experience).
- Adding too many certifications—only list those that strengthen your application.
Since a combination resume already highlights your skills and work history, this section should be concise and relevant. If a certification directly supports the role you’re applying for, it can help set you apart.
Additional resume sections (mostly optional, but can be helpful)
While a combination resume primarily focuses on your skills and experience, additional sections can help strengthen your application—especially if they highlight relevant expertise beyond your traditional job history. If you have volunteer work, personal projects, or a portfolio, this is where you should include them.
Volunteer experience
If you’ve done volunteer work that relates to your field, include it to showcase additional skills, leadership, or industry involvement. This is especially useful if:
- You’re transitioning into a new industry and have volunteer experience that demonstrates transferable skills.
- You have employment gaps and want to show you stayed engaged in meaningful work.
Invalid Date - Present - •Developed blog content and social media strategy, increasing engagement by 40%.
- •Led a team of three volunteers to optimize website SEO, improving search rankings.
Projects or portfolio
For freelancers, creatives, and technical professionals, a projects or portfolio section can showcase your best work. If you’ve worked on independent projects, open-source contributions, or personal initiatives that prove your expertise, list them here.
- •Developed and launched a mobile-friendly e-commerce site for a local business, increasing sales by 30%.
- •Created a React-based web application that streamlines inventory management for small businesses.
Certifications
(If not listed in the education section, you can use a separate component)
If you have multiple certifications, you can add them here instead of including them in the education section. This is useful if you’re in a highly technical field where certifications are just as valuable as degrees.
While this section is optional, it can help fill gaps, reinforce skills, or showcase work that doesn’t fit neatly into your job history. Use it strategically to add value, not clutter.
❌ Overall things to avoid when including additional sections
- Unrelated volunteer work—only include experience that strengthens your application.
- Too many personal projects—focus on those that demonstrate valuable skills for the job.
- Redundant information—don’t repeat certifications or experience already covered in other sections.
Combination resume sample
- •Led multiple company-wide projects, reducing operational inefficiencies by 30% through process automation.
- •Managed cross-functional teams of 10+ members across engineering, marketing, and finance.
- •Implemented new workflow tracking systems, increasing project completion rates by 20%.
- •Developed long-term business strategies that contributed to a 15% increase in revenue over two years.
- •Mentored and trained junior project managers, improving team performance by 25%.
- •Created scalable operational frameworks that allowed the company to expand into three new markets.
- •Used Google Analytics and Tableau to track business performance and optimize decision-making.
- •Analyzed workflow bottlenecks, leading to a 12% decrease in project turnaround time.
- •Developed key performance indicators (KPIs) that improved reporting accuracy by 40%.
- •Spearheaded process improvement initiatives that reduced project costs by $200K annually.
- •Led cross-functional teams across IT, operations, and finance, ensuring seamless project execution.
- •Implemented Agile methodologies, improving project delivery speed by 30%.
- •Designed new operational strategies that increased efficiency by 25% while reducing overhead costs.
- •Managed vendor negotiations, saving the company over $150K per year.
- •Developed staff training programs that improved productivity and employee retention rates.
- •Conducted market research and performance analysis, leading to data-driven business recommendations.
- •Created financial models that optimized budget allocation, saving $100K annually.
- •Assisted in restructuring internal workflows, leading to a 10% reduction in processing time.
How to tailor a combination resume for ATS and hiring managers
A combination resume gives you the flexibility to highlight both your skills and experience, but to make it truly effective, you need to tailor it for each job. Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sort resumes, but they never filter them before a hiring manager sees them. If your resume isn’t optimized for both, it could be overlooked as it wasn’t sorted properly in the first place.
Use keywords from the job description
Hiring managers and ATS systems look for specific skills and qualifications, not just general experience. The best way to pass this test is to mirror the language in the job posting. If a job ad emphasizes “budget forecasting” or “content strategy,” include those exact phrases in your skills and achievements section. But don’t just drop keywords in randomly—make sure they fit naturally into your descriptions.
Keep the formatting simple
Even the strongest resume can fail if an ATS (or a hiring manager) can’t read it. Fancy designs, tables, and images can break the formatting if not saved as PDFs and cause important details to be missed. Instead, stick to a clean, professional layout with readable fonts and clear headings. This makes it easier for both the ATS and hiring managers to quickly find the information they need.
Customize your skills and achievements for each job
A combination resume gives you the flexibility to lead with your strongest skills, but not all of them will be relevant to every job. Before you apply, tweak your Key Skills & Achievements section to highlight the ones that matter most. If you’re applying for a marketing role, emphasize SEO and campaign management instead of broad business skills. For a technical position, focus on coding languages, cloud platforms, or cybersecurity expertise.
Make every bullet point count
Hiring managers don’t have time to read every word—they scan for impact. Instead of listing duties, focus on results. Use numbers to show measurable success, like “Increased sales by 30%” or “Reduced project delivery time by 25%.” This approach keeps your resume concise, engaging, and memorable.
By combining strategic keyword use, clean formatting, tailored skills, and measurable impact, you’ll create a resume that stands out to both ATS systems and hiring managers. Next, we’ll cover common mistakes to avoid so you don’t miss out on great opportunities.
Common mistakes to avoid
A combination resume can be a powerful tool, but only if it’s structured correctly. The biggest mistakes often come from trying to do too much—adding too much detail, listing irrelevant skills, or failing to show real impact. To keep your resume focused and effective, watch out for these common pitfalls.
Overloading with information
Because a combination resume highlights both skills and work history, it’s easy to go overboard. Long paragraphs and excessive bullet points can make it hard for hiring managers to skim quickly. Instead of listing everything you’ve ever done, focus on the most relevant skills and achievements. The goal is to create a clear, easy-to-read snapshot of your qualifications, not an overwhelming data dump.
Not aligning with the job
Your resume isn’t just about showcasing what you can do—it needs to show why you’re the right fit for a specific role. Listing every skill you have without considering the job posting can make your resume feel scattered. Before you apply, review the job description and adjust your skills and achievements to highlight what matters most for that position. The more tailored your resume, the stronger your chances.
Missing measurable results
Hiring managers don’t just want to know what you did—they want to know how well you did it. Vague descriptions like “Managed projects” or “Led a team” don’t stand out. Instead, add measurable results to show impact, like “Increased customer retention by 30%” or “Cut production time by 25%.” Numbers make your achievements more concrete, memorable, and credible.
A well-crafted combination resume strikes the right balance between skills and experience while staying clear and focused. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll create a resume that grabs attention for all the right reasons.
In conclusion
A combination resume is the perfect blend of skills and experience, giving you the flexibility to showcase your strengths while maintaining a structured job history. It works best for mid-career professionals, career changers, and those with a diverse background who need to highlight transferable skills. When done right, it helps hiring managers quickly see your value and increases your chances of landing an interview.
To make your resume stand out, focus on relevant skills, measurable achievements, and clear formatting that works for both ATS systems and human readers. Tailor your content for each job application by using keywords from the job description and aligning your experience with the employer’s needs.
Avoid common mistakes like overloading with information, listing irrelevant skills, or failing to quantify your results. A strong combination resume isn’t just about what you’ve done—it’s about how well you can communicate your impact.
By following these strategies, you’ll create a resume that not only passes ATS filters but also grabs the attention of hiring managers. The right format, clear structure, and strategic wording will help you land more interviews and move forward in your career.
Extra knowledge about combination resume
How does a combination resume differ from a hybrid resume?
Can a combination resume work for entry-level job seekers?
How do you make a combination resume stand out to hiring managers?
- Use quantifiable achievements (e.g., “Increased engagement by 40% through content strategy”).
- Tailor skills to the job description by using relevant keywords.
- Keep it concise and skimmable, using bullet points and clear formatting.
- Ensure the design is ATS-friendly, avoiding tables, images, or excessive formatting that might confuse an applicant tracking system.
What industries benefit the most from a combination resume?
- Marketing & Content Strategy (highlighting digital skills and campaign results).
- Project Management (demonstrating leadership skills alongside past experience).
- IT & Software Development (emphasizing technical proficiencies with real-world applications).
- Freelancing & Consulting (grouping similar skills and projects together).
- Healthcare & Research (balancing certifications with experience).
How do you handle employment gaps in a combination resume?
A combination resume is particularly useful for job seekers with employment gaps because it shifts the focus toward skills and accomplishments rather than strict timelines. To manage gaps effectively:
- Emphasize relevant skills at the top of the resume.
- Include freelance, contract work, or volunteer experience to bridge the gap.
- Mention professional development courses or certifications taken during the gap period.
What’s the biggest mistake job seekers make with combination resumes?
One of the most common mistakes is overloading the resume with too much information. Because this format highlights both skills and experience, it can easily become too long or cluttered. Job seekers should:
- Keep bullet points concise and focus on impact.
- Avoid listing every skill they have—instead, prioritize the most relevant ones.
- Use a professional summary to connect skills with experience, ensuring a smooth flow.
When should you not use a combination resume?
A combination resume may not be the best choice if:
- You have little to no experience (a skills-based functional resume may work better).
- Your work history is highly linear and strong (a chronological resume would be more straightforward).
- You’re applying for a very traditional or corporate job (some industries prefer chronological resumes to easily assess experience timelines).
How do you make a combination resume ATS-friendly?
To ensure your combination resume passes ATS filters, follow these guidelines:
- Use standard section headings (e.g., “Work Experience” instead of “Professional Journey”).
- Avoid tables, graphics, and columns—ATS systems may misread them.
- Use job description keywords naturally throughout the resume.
- Save and submit as a Word document or a plain PDF, as some ATS systems struggle with overly formatted PDFs.
Can you use a combination resume for government jobs?
Government jobs often require a very structured and detailed resume format, typically a chronological resume with strict guidelines. While a combination resume may work for certain roles, applicants should check the job listing and follow the chronological format or equivalent formatting requirements to ensure compliance.
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