Functional Resume Templates and Examples for 2025
Chronological Resume Templates and Examples for 2025
By Andrew Stoner
, Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner
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Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Last Updated:
June 12, 2025
Modern Resume Template
Reverse Chronological Resume Template
Modern Resume Template
Contemporary Resume Template
Stylish Resume Template
Bold Resume Template
Elegant Resume Template
Double Column Resume Template
Simple Resume Template
Nurse Manager
Modern Resume Template
This resume template combines bold pink tones with rounded headers and a clean layout to create a friendly, confident design. The initials badge and icon-based sidebar give it personality, while the structure keeps the focus on achievements and qualifications. It’s ideal for professionals within the health care and technology fields.
Best suited for roles like:
- Emergency Room Nurse Resume Examples
- Information Technology Resume Examples
- User Experience Designer Resume Examples
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with a vibrant sidebar for quick access to key skills and contact info
- Large initials badge adds visual branding in place of a photo
- Rounded section headers in magenta create a modern, approachable tone
- Left-hand icon set improves navigation and adds polish
- Great for leadership roles in care-based or team-centered environments
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Nurse Manager
Senior-Level Social Worker
Reverse Chronological Resume Template
This resume template uses bold color banners and grid-style formatting to present credentials with impact and clarity. The green accents and visual icons provide a polished, accessible look, that’s suitable for professionals in every industry. .
Best suited for roles like:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with top banner and color-blocked section headers
- Bright green banner accents and icons add a polished, visually guided experience
- Left column highlights education and skills for quick scanning
- Right column emphasizes experience and certifications in detail
- Strong structure supports career narratives in complex, service-based roles
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Senior-Level Social Worker
Trauma ICU Nurse
Modern Resume Template
This bold, eye-catching resume template features a strong red banner with angled cut and a profile photo to immediately personalize the content. Its modern layout and well-spaced sections balance style and structure, making it ideal for clinical professionals, public health workers, or anyone in high-intensity care environments.
Best suited for roles like:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with angled red banner that draws attention to name and role
- Profile photo and contact icons add personality and accessibility
- Sidebar for skills, contact, and certifications provides quick-reference utility
- Clean, bold headers and ample white space keep the main content readable
- Excellent for medical and emergency roles requiring clarity and professionalism
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Trauma ICU Nurse
Military Social Worker
Contemporary Resume Template
This template uses warm gold tones and structured blocks to create a confident, respectful design. Its organized layout and muted color palette are ideal for health care, public service, and education professionals.
Best suited for roles like:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with bold gold banner and clean sidebar design
- Dark gold accents frame section titles, giving the layout a stable, uniform feel
- Left-hand sidebar with icons keeps contact and education easily accessible
- Generous spacing and soft gray highlight bars improve visual flow
- Ideal for candidates in structured, service-focused fields
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Military Social Worker
Expert IT Project Manager
Stylish Resume Template
This resume template pairs deep charcoal headers with purple section blocks and icon accents to deliver a bold, tech-forward style. It’s ideal for IT, UX, and development professionals looking to highlight leadership, innovation, and impact. The dual-column structure balances personality with polished detail.
Best suited for roles like:
- Graphic Design Resume Examples
- Software Engineer Resume Examples
- User Experience Designer Resume Examples
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with dark top banner and left-hand sidebar for structured navigation
- Purple section headers and white-on-black header text create a dramatic contrast
- Icons enhance section recognition and keep the design visually engaging
- Clear bullet formatting supports dense technical content without overwhelming the page
- Ideal for tech and creative professionals seeking a modern yet professional design
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Expert IT Project Manager
Enterprise Product Owner
Bold Resume Template
This resume template blends soft mauve tones with structured layout elements for a calm, professional look. With its initials badge, icon-based contact section, and subtle rounded headers, it’s perfect for experienced professionals in business, tech, or enterprise roles who want to project both authority and approachability.
Best suited for roles like:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with a muted purple sidebar and matching section accents
- Initials monogram adds a personal touch without the need for a photo
- Rounded section headers create a clean, professional tone
- Left-aligned contact info and key skills for quick visual reference
- Works well for technical leaders who balance strategic planning with team management
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Enterprise Product Owner
Special Education Substitute Teacher
Elegant Resume Template
This resume template pairs soft blue accents with bold dark headers to create a professional, approachable design. The organized two-column layout makes it easy to showcase both credentials and accomplishments, making it a great choice for education, social services, and support roles.
Best suited for roles like:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with slate-colored top banner and light blue section dividers
- Left sidebar includes icons for quick contact and location reference
- Light blue subheaders give structure while maintaining a soft tone
- Clean bullet points and section spacing support strong readability
- Ideal for education and care roles that blend instruction with behavioral support
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Special Education Substitute Teacher
Social Media Marketing Manager Resume Example
Double Column Resume Template
This resume template uses a bold angled sidebar with neutral earth tones and a monogram badge to create a modern, stylish look. Its layout is perfect for marketing and creative professionals who want to show both analytical impact and visual polish.
Best suited for roles like:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with angular, taupe-colored sidebar for strong visual distinction
- White monogram square gives a bold identity mark without using a photo
- Left sidebar features stylized contact info, skills, and education
- Main column presents experience and certifications with clean spacing
- Ideal for marketing and digital professionals balancing strategy and creativity
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Social Media Marketing Manager Resume Example
Cost Analyst
Simple Resume Template
This resume template uses bold emerald tones and a portrait sidebar layout to project clarity, confidence, and approachability. With a photo-forward design and well-defined content sections, it’s ideal for professionals in operations, finance, or supply chain who want to highlight analytical skills with a human touch.
Best suited for roles like:
Format and styling details:
- Two-column layout with deep green sidebar for photo, contact info, and key skills
- Matching green headers and section bars provide visual consistency
- Profile photo offers an approachable introduction without overpowering the layout
- White background on main column enhances readability and focus
- Great for mid-level finance and logistics roles requiring structure and professionalism
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Cost Analyst
What Is the Chronological Resume Format?
The chronological resume format is a standard resume format that lists your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job listed at the top and each previous position in descending order. This is the most popular format in 2025 because it accommodates people with any experience level and presents your qualifications in a logical, time-ordered fashion which is easy for a hiring manager to read.
Use the chronological resume format if you have:
- Several years of experience in one career path
- Worked for several employers or clients in one industry
- Minimal or no gaps between jobs
For a comprehensive guide on building your document, check out our resource on How to Make a Resume. This guide offers tips for crafting effective chronological resume templates that clearly showcase your career history.
How Do I Format My Professional Experience Chronologically?
To start, make a list of the previous job titles you’ve held, starting with your current job. Follow that with the company you worked for and the job location. Underneath each job, signify the amount of time you worked at each job. Typically, just a month and a year is fine.
Template:
[Job Title] | [Organization Name, City, State] | [Month Year – Month Year]
Example:
Senior Marketing Manager | ABC Broadcasting Network, New York, NY | June 2018 — present
Marketing Manager | Macy’s Corporate, New York, NY | January 2014 — May 2018
Marketing Coordinator | Kline’s Retail, New York, NY | June 2011 — December 2013
Once you’ve listed the roles you intend to include on your resume, create bullet points under each position which include details about each job you’ve had and your duties or accomplishments in those roles. Use quantifiable ways you’ve contributed to each company, using hard numbers if possible. Highlight accomplishments that will show experience in the position you’re applying for or have a significant amount of overlap.
To ensure your work history is presented effectively, refer to our tips on How Far Should a Resume Go. This helps you create a concise chronological resume that highlights key achievements.
Example
Marketing Manager | ABC Broadcasting Network, New York, NY | June 2018 — present
- Develop and execute marketing strategies to increase brand awareness and drive sales growth by 10%
- Manage a team of five marketing professionals and oversee all aspects of marketing campaigns
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of marketing initiatives with business goals
- Analyze market trends and customer insights to identify new opportunities for growth
- Successfully launched a new product line that generated $1 million in revenue within the first year
Marketing Manager | Macy’s Corporate, New York, NY | January 2014 — May 2018
- Managed a team of three marketing professionals and provided guidance on campaign strategy and execution
- Increased website traffic by 50% through the implementation of search engine optimization (SEO) best practices
- Successfully launched a new product line that generated $500,000 in revenue within the first year
Marketing Coordinator | Kline’s Retail, New York, NY | June 2011 — December 2013
- Assisted in the development and execution of marketing campaigns across multiple channels, including email, social media, and events
- Coordinated logistics for events and trade shows, including vendor management and budget tracking
- Increased social media engagement by 25% through the implementation of a new content strategy
If you need help figuring out how best to describe your previous work, use key skills and action verbs that relate to the position you’re applying for. While these should also be listed in the key skills section of your resume, it’s always a good idea to incorporate the kinds of words the hiring manager is looking for through the body of your resume.
If you’re exploring different layouts, our article on Best Resume Formats provides examples of professional resume templates that include traditional chronological resume designs.
What are the benefits of using chronological resume templates?
Chronological resume templates are popular because they clearly display your work history in reverse order, making it easy for hiring managers to see your most recent roles first. This format is ideal for candidates with steady employment and a clear career progression. Many professional resume templates use this layout to highlight achievements and responsibilities effectively. You can also find free resume templates online that offer clean, modern designs tailored to various industries. However, if your history includes gaps or frequent changes, you might consider a different format.
Are There Cases When I Shouldn’t Use the Chronological Format?
Yes, there are absolutely cases when the chronological format isn’t your best option. Here are some examples:
- If you have large gaps in your employment history
- If you want to emphasize a particular skill set
- If you are changing careers and have little work experience in the new career field
- If you have frequently changed jobs
- If you’ve recently re-entered the workforce
In these situations, you might consider using a non-chronological resume format, such as functional or hybrid. This is an alternative to the more traditional reverse-chronological resume formats. It is used frequently by individuals who want to highlight their accomplishments and skills rather than their work experience. This type of resume is ideal for those who are new to the workforce or who are changing careers.
When should I opt for a functional resume over chronological resume templates?
A functional resume is best if your work history has gaps, frequent changes, or if you’re changing careers. Unlike chronological resume templates that list jobs by date, a functional resume focuses on relevant skills and accomplishments, making it easier to highlight transferable skills. This format lets you showcase your strengths without drawing attention to employment gaps. Many professional resume templates now offer hybrid options, and free resume templates are available to experiment with both functional and chronological layouts to see which best represents your experience.
Check out Related Examples
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