Best Examples of Combination Resume Format Examples for 2024–2025

Real-world inspired examples of combination resume format examples

Let’s start where most people actually need help: seeing how this thing looks in real life. Below are several realistic examples of combination resume format examples, each tailored to a different type of job seeker. You’ll see how the skills section and work history section work together instead of fighting for space.

Example of a combination resume for a mid-level professional

Imagine Jordan, a marketing specialist with 6 years of experience. Jordan has solid results but also wants to highlight digital skills that don’t fully show up in job titles.

A strong example of a combination resume format here might open with a short summary, followed by a Key Skills & Achievements section, then a reverse-chronological work history.

Sample layout in prose:

Jordan’s resume starts with a 3–4 line professional summary:

“Digital marketing specialist with 6+ years of experience driving paid and organic campaigns for B2B SaaS companies. Known for improving lead quality, optimizing ad spend, and collaborating with sales to shorten the sales cycle.”

Next comes a Key Skills & Achievements section, grouped into themes:

• Campaign Strategy & Execution – Led multi-channel campaigns (email, paid social, search) that increased qualified leads by 32% in 12 months.
• Analytics & Optimization – Used Google Analytics, Looker Studio, and HubSpot to track performance; cut cost-per-lead by 18% while maintaining lead quality.
• Collaboration & Leadership – Partnered with sales to refine lead scoring; mentored 2 junior marketers.

Only after these skills and results does Jordan list work history:

Professional Experience
Marketing Specialist, BrightPath Software — 2021–Present
Marketing Coordinator, GreenLeaf Analytics — 2019–2021

Each role has 3–5 bullets that echo the skills above, with metrics where possible. This is one of the best examples of combination resume format examples for someone who wants to showcase both depth of skills and a clear career progression.

Example of a combination resume for a career changer

Now picture Sam, a former teacher moving into instructional design. A purely chronological resume would just scream “teacher” and not “learning designer.” A purely functional resume might feel vague. A combination format lets Sam bridge that gap.

Sam’s Professional Summary might say:

“Former high school English teacher transitioning into instructional design, with 7+ years designing curriculum, e-learning modules, and assessments aligned to learning objectives. Experienced in Canvas, Google Classroom, and Articulate 360.”

Instead of jumping straight to work history, Sam uses a Relevant Skills & Projects section:

• Instructional Design & Curriculum Development – Designed 30+ standards-aligned units incorporating multimedia, formative assessments, and differentiated materials.
• E-Learning & Technology – Created interactive lessons using Google Slides, Edpuzzle, and early prototypes in Articulate Rise.
• Assessment & Data Use – Analyzed assessment data to adjust instruction, improving average reading scores by 15% over two years.

Only then does Sam list:

Professional Experience
English Teacher, Lincoln High School — 2017–2024

Within that role, bullets are re-framed to sound more like instructional design work:

• Designed project-based learning units that integrated video, discussion forums, and peer feedback.
• Built self-paced modules for students using learning objectives, checkpoints, and mastery-based assessments.

This is a powerful example of combination resume format examples showing how to pivot industries without hiding your past.

Example of a combination resume for a recent graduate

For recent grads, the challenge is usually: “I don’t have much experience, but I do have skills.” A combination resume lets you lean into projects, internships, and campus leadership.

Take Taylor, a recent computer science graduate.

Taylor’s resume opens with a short summary, then a Technical Skills & Projects section before work history:

• Languages & Tools – Python, JavaScript, React, SQL, Git, AWS (basic).
• Highlighted Project: TaskFlow Web App – Built a full-stack task management app with React and Node.js for a class project. Implemented user authentication, search, and mobile-responsive design.
• Highlighted Project: Data Dashboard – Created an interactive dashboard in Python (Pandas, Plotly) to visualize campus energy usage trends.

Then comes Experience:

Undergraduate Research Assistant, State University — 2023–2024
IT Help Desk Intern, City Hospital — Summer 2023

Each role reinforces the skills listed above. This type of layout stands out among the best examples of combination resume format examples for early-career candidates who want to show they can actually do the work, even if their job titles are limited.

Example of a combination resume for management or leadership roles

For managers and team leads, hiring managers want proof you can both perform and lead. A combination resume makes that balance easier.

Consider Priya, an operations manager aiming for a senior operations role.

After a summary, Priya uses a Leadership Highlights & Core Competencies section:

• Team Leadership – Managed cross-functional teams of 12–18 employees; reduced turnover by 10% through coaching and clearer processes.
• Process Improvement – Led a warehouse workflow redesign that increased order accuracy from 94% to 99.2%.
• Budget & Vendor Management – Oversaw a $3.2M annual budget; renegotiated vendor contracts, cutting costs by 8%.

Then, the Professional Experience section lists roles in reverse order:

Operations Manager, NorthStar Logistics — 2020–Present
Assistant Operations Manager, NorthStar Logistics — 2017–2020
Operations Coordinator, MetroShip — 2014–2017

Each job’s bullets are short, results-focused, and closely tied to the leadership themes above. This is another strong example of a combination resume format example for people moving up the ladder, not just sideways.

Example of a combination resume for tech and IT professionals

Tech hiring in 2024–2025 still moves fast, and applicant tracking systems (ATS) are everywhere. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developer roles are projected to grow much faster than average through 2032, which means more competition and more resumes flying through ATS filters (BLS Software Developers Outlook).

For someone like Alex, a mid-level software engineer, a combination resume can highlight both tech stack and business impact.

Alex’s resume might feature:

• Tech Stack & Tools – Go, Python, React, PostgreSQL, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, GitHub Actions.
• System Design & Scalability – Helped design microservices architecture that supported a 3x user increase without downtime.
• Business Impact – Built an internal tool that cut customer support ticket resolution time by 22%.

Then, under Professional Experience, Alex lists:

Software Engineer, CloudBridge — 2021–Present
Junior Software Engineer, CloudBridge — 2019–2021

The bullets echo the skills section, with concrete metrics and impact. This is one of the best examples of combination resume format examples for tech: skills are upfront for ATS and recruiters, while the work history backs everything up.

Example of a combination resume for healthcare or nursing

Healthcare resumes often need to show both certifications and hands-on patient care. A nurse like Maria, moving from bedside nursing into a charge nurse or nurse educator role, can benefit from a combination layout.

Maria’s Core Skills & Certifications section might include:

• Licensure & Certifications – Registered Nurse (RN), BLS, ACLS, PALS.
• Clinical Skills – Acute care, medication administration, wound care, patient education.
• Leadership & Training – Precepted 10+ new nurses; led weekly in-service training on infection control.

Then comes Professional Experience:

Charge Nurse, City Medical Center — 2021–Present
Staff Nurse, City Medical Center — 2017–2021

Each role emphasizes outcomes like reduced readmission rates, improved patient satisfaction scores, and successful audits. For up-to-date details on certifications and continuing education, nurses can reference organizations like the American Nurses Association (nursingworld.org).

This healthcare-focused layout is a practical example of combination resume format examples that balances licenses, clinical skills, and leadership.

Example of a combination resume for freelancers and consultants

Freelancers and consultants often have dozens of short projects and clients. Listing every single engagement chronologically can look messy. A combination resume lets you group your best work.

Take Dana, a freelance graphic designer.

Dana’s Summary is followed by a Selected Skills & Client Results section:

• Brand Identity & Visual Systems – Developed brand identities for 15+ small businesses, including logos, color palettes, and typography guides.
• Marketing Collateral – Designed print and digital materials that helped a local café increase foot traffic by 20% after a rebrand.
• Tools – Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), Figma, Canva.

Then, instead of traditional jobs, Dana lists:

Selected Freelance Experience
Freelance Graphic Designer — 2018–Present

Under that single header, bullets highlight 4–5 standout clients or projects with measurable outcomes. This is a flexible example of a combination resume format example that works well for self-employed professionals.

How to structure your own combination resume using these examples

Reading examples of combination resume format examples is helpful, but you still need a structure you can copy and adapt. Think of your resume in three main blocks:

First block: Summary
A short 3–4 line paragraph that answers: Who are you professionally? What roles are you targeting? What kind of impact do you have? Keep it focused on the role you want, not every job you’ve ever had.

Second block: Skills + Achievements
This is what makes the combination format different from a plain chronological resume. You create a section just under your summary that:

• Groups skills into themes (for example, “Technical Skills,” “Leadership & Management,” “Customer Experience").
• Supports each theme with a short bullet or phrase that shows impact, not just a buzzword.

Borrow from the real examples above. If you’re a career changer like Sam, lean into transferable skills. If you’re a manager like Priya, lean into leadership and metrics.

Third block: Experience
Now list roles in reverse-chronological order. Under each job, use 3–6 bullets that:

• Reuse the same language and themes from your skills section.
• Include numbers when possible: percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, error rates improved.

This back-and-forth echo between skills and experience is what separates the best examples of combination resume format examples from a random list of tasks.

2024–2025 trends that affect combination resumes

A few current trends should influence how you apply these examples of combination resume format examples:

ATS and keyword matching
Most mid-sized and large employers use applicant tracking systems. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission notes that automated tools are now common in hiring and can affect how resumes are screened (EEOC AI in Employment).

That means your skills section is prime real estate for keywords pulled directly from the job description. Use the exact phrases where they honestly apply to you.

Skills-based hiring
More employers are shifting from degree-only requirements to skills-based hiring, especially in tech and operations. Combination resumes fit nicely with this trend because they spotlight skills without hiding your work history.

Remote and hybrid work
If you’ve led remote teams, supported distributed customers, or used collaboration tools like Slack, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams, weave that into your skills and experience. Employers still care about remote-readiness.

Common mistakes to avoid when copying these examples

Even the best examples of combination resume format examples can mislead you if you copy them blindly. Watch out for a few traps:

• Turning the skills section into a buzzword cloud. Every skill you list should be backed up somewhere in your experience.
• Writing mini-essays. Each bullet should be one or two lines, focused on a result.
• Ignoring the job posting. Your resume should be tailored. Use these examples as templates, but adjust the wording to mirror each job ad.
• Forgetting readability. Use clear headings, consistent formatting, and enough white space. A hiring manager should be able to skim your resume in 10–15 seconds and understand your value.

If you want extra guidance on tailoring your resume and matching it to job descriptions, many university career centers post free templates and advice; for instance, Harvard’s Office of Career Services provides helpful resume resources (Harvard OCS Resumes & Cover Letters).

FAQ: Examples of combination resume format examples

What are some good examples of combination resume format examples for a career changer?
Good examples include resumes where the top half focuses on transferable skills and projects, like curriculum design for a teacher moving into instructional design, or customer-facing problem-solving for a retail worker moving into customer success. The key is to name the target role in your summary and shape your skills section around that role.

Can you give an example of a combination resume for someone with gaps in employment?
Yes. Someone who took time off for caregiving might use a combination format that highlights skills like project management, budgeting, or community organizing at the top, then lists paid roles, volunteer work, and part-time gigs together in the experience section. The skills section keeps the focus on what you can do, while the work history stays honest but less dominant.

Are combination resumes ATS-friendly?
They can be, if you keep the layout simple. Use standard headings like “Professional Summary,” “Skills,” and “Experience.” Avoid putting important keywords only in text boxes or graphics. Plain text, clear headings, and keywords that match the job posting will help your combination resume pass through most ATS systems.

Who should avoid a combination resume format?
If you have a very straightforward career path with strong, relevant job titles in the same field (for example, Staff Accountant → Senior Accountant → Accounting Manager) and you’re not changing directions, a standard chronological resume might be enough. In that case, you don’t need the extra skills section to explain your story.

How long should a combination resume be?
For most people in the U.S., one page is still a safe target early in your career. If you have 10+ years of relevant experience, two pages is fine. Focus on your most recent 10–15 years and your most relevant roles. Even the best examples of combination resume format examples become less effective if they are bloated with outdated or unrelated details.