Skills-Based Resume [Template & Examples]

Frustrated with standard resume formats that put all the emphasis on work experience? 

If you have spotty work experience, sometimes the main accomplishment of a conventional resume format is to highlight your lack of relevant experience or gaps in employment. Just what you needed, right?

But wait—why does having a spotless work experience resume section matter so much to recruiters? 

You have all the right skills to thrive at the positions you’re applying for. You just need to communicate that to the hiring manager.

Here comes the skills-based resume to the rescue. It expands your skills section and shifts the spotlight away from your work experience. Whew.

This guide will show you:

• What is a skills-based resume?
• Who the skills-based resume format is best for.
• A skills-based resume template.
• Expert tips on writing an effective skills-based resume.

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Skills-Based Resume Example

Want to skip ahead in this article? Use the table of contents:

1. What is a Skills-Based Resume?
2. Who Should Use the Skills-Based Resume?
3. The Best Skills-Based Resume Template
4. How to Write a Skills-Based Resume

1. What is a Skills-Based Resume?

A skills-based resume, also known as a functional resume, is a resume that focuses more on your most relevant job skills than on your professional experience. Skills-based resumes are recommended for unique career situations, such as changing careers, having significant gaps in employment, and targeting jobs unrelated to your work experience. 

They’re a simple way to gloss over the fact you don’t have much experience in the field you’re applying in. Sounds bulletproof, right? 

Well—not quite. The catch is that you’re hiding exactly what the hiring manager is most interested in. According to hiring statistics, recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds scanning resumes. In those few seconds, they’re mainly looking for your relevant job experience and job titles—not a list of your skills.

And let’s be realistic—the HR manager isn’t going to be so distracted by your skills summary that they forget to check your experience.

But that doesn’t make skills-based resumes pointless. If you don’t have relevant job experience, using the standard resume format (the reverse-chronological resume) only emphasizes your lack of experience.

Skills-based resumes aren’t about hiding your experience, they’re about highlighting your skills. And research shows that employment gaps aren’t a big deal to recruiters if your skills match the job’s requirements. 

Here’s what distinguishes a skills-based resume template from your traditional resume:

• A compelling resume introduction.
• A lengthier, more well-rounded skills section.

And if your resume skill set is in high demand, the skills-based resume can be just what you need to land that interview. 

But how do you know if a skills-based resume is the resume format for you?

2. Who Should Use the Skills-Based Resume?

This resume format isn’t a one-size-fits-all. The chronological resume is better for the average worker. But that doesn’t mean a skills-based resume can’t be perfect for your circumstances.

The skills-based resume is best if you’re in one of the following situations:

• You’re changing careers and your experience isn’t relevant to your target position.
• You’re trying to emphasize a skill set needed for a skills-based job.
• You’re lacking relevant experience for the positions you’re targeting.
• You have significant gaps in your work history, including recent gaps.

Let’s provide some examples to get more specific.

A skills-based resume the best resume type for:

• Creatives—your skills are most important and you have a portfolio to back them up. Where and how you developed your skills is of lesser importance.
• Overqualified applicants—obscure lengthy experience and job titles that might otherwise disqualify you.
• Military or veteran resumes—army and military experience can be difficult to cover on a resume since many recruiters won’t be able to make heads or tails of it.

Important caveat: A skills-based resume shouldn’t be used if you don’t have any professional work experience. If that sounds like you, check out our guide here: How to Write a Resume to Get Your First Job

The benefit of a skills-based resume is that it emphasizes your skills—and skills matter to employers. 

But that’s not to say it’s the type of resume for every job seeker.

Here are the other two resume types when you’re trying to figure out the best resume style for you:

• The chronological resume format is ideal for candidates that have extensive employment history that is relevant to the jobs they’re applying for. 
• The combination resume format is suited for candidates that have great work experience with highly relevant skills they want to show off. 

Here’s a handy table with the pros and cons of each resume format to help you decide:

Still can’t decide which resume format is best for you? Find out in our complete guide: How to Choose the Best Resume Format [2020 Guide]

3. The Best Skills-Based Resume Template

So you know when to use a skill-based resume format, but—

What does a good skill-based resume look like?

Let’s take at a look at another skills-based resume example suited for a creative professional.

Skills-Based Resume Example—Graphic Designer

Holy cow—

Is there anything related to graphic design Tai can’t do?

Her skills became examples of her experience when combined with her portfolio.

The skills-based resume lets recruiters know where her competencies lie and what she can bring to the table. And the bullet points in the skills section make sure it gets to the HR manager can quickly scan her resume.

Ready to get started on your own?

Use the following template as a starting point for your own skill-based resume:

Skills-Based Resume Template

See more professional resume examples: Job Resume Samples for Every Profession

4. How to Write a Skills-Based Resume

Now you know what the layout of a skills-based resume looks like—it’s time to put some meat on those bones.

Let’s breakdown each section in a skills-based resume and give you expert tips to follow when you’re writing your own.

Here are the main sections to put on a skills-based resume:

• Name and Job Title
• Contact Information—address, phone number, email, website (if you have one) and social media accounts(if applicable)
• Resume Objective—highlight skills and achievements
• Skills Summary—emphasize your core competencies (especially those applicable for the position you’re applying for)
• Work Experience—a brief history of employment (not necessary if you don’t have any)
• Education—highest degree received and any relevant certificates
• Additional Skills—skills specifically tailored to the position

Let’s go into more detail on how to write each section of skills-based resume:

Put Your Name and Job Title at the Top

Sounds like something you can do in two seconds, right?

Not always. What if you’re in a creative field and you’ve been working freelance for some time.

Should you list your last professional job title? Or should you put down the job title of the position you’re gunning for?

If your duties and responsibilities match the role you’re applying for, go with that job title.

But if you’re switching careers, don’t add a job title as you’re more likely to make the recruiter scratch their head in confusion. 

Looking for some additional help with figuring out your job title? Check out our guide: Job Titles on a Resume [Job Title Meaning for Different Job Positions]

Include Your Contact Information

Contact information also seems simple—and it is—but you don’t want to make any mistakes. The last thing you need is the recruiter’s email asking for an interview to bounce because of a typo or old email address.

List your phone number, email and an optimized LinkedIn profile on your resume.

Note: Avoid using unprofessional email. HR managers will think twice about emailing Number1KanyeFan@gmail.com.

Read more: Contact Information: How to List a Phone Number and Address on a Resume

Write a Resume Objective

Put our best foot forward and use a resume objective to gloss over gaps in your work history or a lack of relevant experience.

Instead, you can use your professional profile to show off your skills and talents to impress the hiring manager. 

To write a compelling resume introduction, include 2-3 examples of your biggest work-related achievements that have been tailored to the job you’re applying for.

This short blurb will be the elevator speech you use to win over the hiring manager.

Need help writing your resume profile? Check out our in-depth guides: 20 Resume Objective Examples: Career Objectives for Any Jobs

Craft an Impressive Skills Summary Section

Now here comes the main course of your skills-based resume. 

It’s time to knock the HR manager’s socks off with impressive skills perfect to get the job done.

The best way to do that? By tailoring your resume to the job.

Use these tips to craft the perfect skills summary section:

• Create a master list of all the most important job skills you have. Don’t forget to include soft skills, hard skills, and technical skills.
• Comb through the job description and write down all the skills required or preferred for the position. 
• Cross-reference your skills to the skills you pulled from the job posting. Highlight the ones that overlap. 
• Pick 3 or 4 of the most important skills that overlap and create subsections around them. 
• Write 3-4 bullet points for each subsection, providing evidence and more detail for each. 

Could you use some more advice on which skills look best on a resume? Check out:Wondering Which Skills to Put on a Resume? Here's 99 Key Skills for Any Skill Set

Add Your Work Experience

It’s now time for the session that might be the most stressful if you have gaps in employment.

But don’t worry, the skill-based resume has your back. Using this format, you can put years of employment rather than months to cover up gaps. 

And even if you have long gaps in employment, you can create a job on your resume as a freelancer or consultant with a bullet point along the lines of “Personal matters arose that required the flexibility of consulting/part-time work”.

As big of a deal as hiring managers make of employment gaps, they’ll understand life happens and generally won’t press you on explaining personal matters.

When you do add work experience on a resume, remember to include the time of employment, job title, and the name and location of the company for each job. 

Show Off Your Education

Your education section can either be a check mark on the recruiters list of requirements, or it can truly impress them and set you apart from the other applicants. Let’s aim for the latter.

If you’ve been out of school for some time, add your degree, graduation date, and school name.

If you’re fresh out of college or lacking professional experience, you can beef it up with the following:

• GPA
• Relevant coursework
• Minor or Major
• Dean’s List
• Honors
• Study abroad

Got any additional questions related to putting a high school or college degree on a skills-based resume? Read up here: How to Write a Resume Education Section [With Examples]

Highlight Any Relevant Additional Skills

Depending on the job, many job descriptions will include special software skills or other skills that will be required. Use this section to show the hiring manager you will need minimal on-the-job training. 

Just add skills that could be relevant to the position you’re applying for, such as:

• Languages
• Software skills
• Certificates
• Volunteer Work

Key Takeaway

Good work! You’re ready to write your own skills-based resume. 

Having employment gaps can be tough when it seems like a big red flag for recruiters. 

Now you know how to use a skills-based resume to flip the table by presenting your skills in the best light possible.

Here’s a recap of things to keep in mind for skills-based resumes:

• A skills-based resume is centered around your skills, and is especially suitable for skills-based jobs, like those for creative types.
• Skills-based resume templates are also suited for overqualified job seekers who want to minimize their experience and military-to-civilian applicants who have experience that is difficult to explain. 
• Skills-based resumes need to be tailored to the position you’re applying for.

Do you have any questions about writing a skills-based resume? Have you had any luck with one already? Comment below! We’d be happy to help with any questions!