Best Examples of Combination Resume Layout Examples for 2024–2025

Let’s start with what you came for: actual layout patterns you can steal. Below are several real-world style examples of combination resume layout examples that work well in 2024–2025:

• A Skills-First Professional Layout for mid-career candidates
• A Career Changer Layout that connects old experience to a new field
• A Tech & Project-Focused Layout for IT, engineering, and digital roles
• A Leadership & Impact Layout for managers and executives
• A Gap-Friendly Layout that softens employment breaks
• A Student / Early Career Layout that leans on projects and activities
• A Freelancer / Consultant Layout that tames a messy client list

We’ll walk through each example of combination resume layout step by step so you can see exactly how to structure your own.

1. Skills-First Professional: A Classic Example of Combination Resume Layout

This is one of the best examples of combination resume layout examples for someone with 5–10 years of experience in the same general field.

Top section: Contact + Targeted Headline
Instead of just a name and job title, use a short, targeted headline and a one-line summary.

• Name, city/state, phone, email, LinkedIn URL
• Targeted headline: Marketing Specialist | Email & Content Strategy
• One-line summary: Data-driven marketer with 7+ years improving email engagement and content performance for B2B SaaS brands.

Next: Key Skills & Strengths (2–3 short columns)
This is where the combination format starts to shine. Examples include:

• Email Campaign Strategy | A/B Testing | List Segmentation
• HubSpot | Mailchimp | Google Analytics
• Content Calendars | Copywriting | Cross-Functional Collaboration

You’re front-loading skills but keeping them tied to real tools and outcomes.

Then: Selected Achievements Section
Right below skills, add 3–5 bullet points that feel like mini case studies. For example:

• Increased email click-through rates from 3.1% to 5.8% in 9 months by redesigning templates and testing subject lines.
• Grew newsletter subscribers by 42% year-over-year through optimized lead magnets and landing pages.

This section is what makes this one of the best examples of combination resume layout examples: skills plus proof before you even get to job titles.

Finally: Reverse-Chronological Work History
Now you list roles in order, but you can keep bullets tighter because you already showcased your best wins above.

• Job Title – Company, City, State | Dates
  Short 2–4 bullets reinforcing responsibilities and metrics.

This layout works especially well in fields where hiring managers skim for tools and outcomes, like marketing, HR, operations, and customer success.

2. Career Changer: Best Examples of Combination Resume Layout Examples for Pivoting

If you’re switching careers, you want a layout that says, “I have the right skills, even if my job titles don’t show it yet.” Among the best examples of combination resume layout examples for career changers is the transferable skills–driven approach.

Top: New-Field Headline + Short Summary

• Headline: Aspiring Data Analyst | Excel, SQL, Tableau
• Summary: Former operations coordinator transitioning into data analytics, with hands-on experience in Excel dashboards, SQL queries, and KPI reporting.

Big Skills & Competencies Block (Your New Field First)
Group your skills in categories aligned with job postings. For a data analyst pivot, examples include:

• Technical: Excel (VLOOKUP, PivotTables), SQL (PostgreSQL), Tableau
• Analytics: Data Cleaning, KPI Tracking, A/B Testing
• Business: Stakeholder Communication, Process Improvement

Projects & Relevant Experience (Before Work History)
This is where this example of combination resume layout really earns its keep. You create a section like:

Selected Analytics Projects

• Sales Dashboard, Personal Project (2024) – Built an interactive Tableau dashboard using sample sales data; tracked revenue by region, product, and channel.
• Customer Churn Analysis, Online Course Capstone – Used SQL to query customer data and built a churn prediction model with basic logistic regression.

You can reference reputable free or low-cost learning platforms here, like:

• Harvard Online Learning for analytics and data courses
• Data.gov for public data sets you can analyze

Then: Work History (Condensed)
You still list your actual jobs, but you highlight analytical tasks:

• Tracked weekly inventory variance and reduced stockouts by 18%.
• Built Excel reports for leadership to compare vendor performance.

This layout is one of the best examples of combination resume layout examples for career changers because it lets your projects and skills lead, while still giving a solid, honest work history.

3. Tech & Project-Focused: Examples Include Portfolios and GitHub

For software engineers, IT professionals, UX designers, and other tech roles, strong examples of combination resume layout examples lean heavily on projects and tech stacks.

Header + Short Tech Summary

• Headline: Full-Stack Developer | React, Node.js, AWS
• Summary: Developer with 6+ years building scalable web apps, specializing in React front ends and Node.js APIs deployed on AWS.

Core Skills & Tools Section
Instead of a generic skills list, break it down:

• Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python
• Frameworks: React, Node.js, Express
• Cloud & DevOps: AWS (Lambda, S3), Docker, GitHub Actions

Key Projects (With Links)
This is where you fold in real examples:

• Inventory Management Web App – Built a full-stack app for a small retailer; reduced manual data entry by ~60%. Stack: React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, AWS.
• Personal Finance Tracker – Created a responsive SPA with charts using React and D3.js; integrated OAuth login.

You can safely link to your GitHub, portfolio, or even a personal site. For staying current on tech skills, you might reference:

• NIST Cybersecurity Framework for security-aware roles

Work History with Targeted Bullets
Now, under each job, you briefly show how you used those skills:

• Designed and implemented REST APIs used by 5+ internal teams.
• Cut page load times by 40% by optimizing React components.

This is a strong example of combination resume layout because it combines skills, stack, and project outcomes before listing job titles.

4. Leadership & Impact: Executive-Level Combination Layout Example

Senior managers and executives often need a layout that shows scope and impact at a glance. This is another best example of combination resume layout examples, tailored to leadership.

Header + Branded Executive Summary

• Headline: Operations Director | Process Optimization & Team Leadership
• Summary: Operations leader with 15+ years managing cross-functional teams of up to 80 employees, improving efficiency, cost, and customer satisfaction across multi-site operations.

Core Competencies / Areas of Expertise
Instead of just tools, you highlight leadership themes:

• Strategic Planning | Budget Management | P&L Ownership
• Process Improvement | Lean / Six Sigma
• Team Development | Change Management | Stakeholder Alignment

Selected Career Highlights (3–6 bullets)
This section works like an executive snapshot:

• Reduced operating costs by 22% over three years while improving on-time delivery from 91% to 98%.
• Led a 60-person team through a warehouse consolidation, maintaining 95% employee retention.

Professional Experience (Reverse Chronological)
Here you give context: company size, team size, budget responsibility, key initiatives.

If you want a framework for describing leadership achievements, you can look at resources from:

• U.S. Office of Personnel Management on Executive Core Qualifications

This structure is a powerful example of combination resume layout for executives because it balances high-level impact with a clear career timeline.

5. Gap-Friendly: Example of Combination Resume Layout That Softens Breaks

If you have employment gaps, a pure chronological resume can feel unforgiving. A gap-friendly format is one of the most practical examples of combination resume layout examples for real life.

Top: Skills & Achievements First
You start with a strong skills and achievements section so the first impression is about value, not dates.

Then: “Relevant Experience” Instead of Strict Job Titles
You can group experience into a section like:

Relevant Experience

• Freelance Marketing Support, 2022–2023 – Managed social media for two local nonprofits; increased Instagram engagement by 35%.
• Volunteer Event Coordinator, 2021–2022 – Organized fundraising events for a community center; coordinated 20+ volunteers.

Only after this do you move into a condensed work history.

Condensed Work History

• Marketing Coordinator – Company A | 2018–2020
• Administrative Assistant – Company B | 2015–2018

You can also briefly address long gaps in a cover letter, using guidance from career resources like:

• U.S. Department of Labor CareerOneStop for job search and resume advice

This example of combination resume layout works because it reframes your story—your skills and contributions lead, while the timeline is still honest but less intimidating.

6. Student / Early Career: Examples Include Projects, Campus Roles, and Part-Time Work

Students and recent grads often think they don’t have enough to put on a resume. In reality, some of the best examples of combination resume layout examples for early career candidates lean heavily on projects, coursework, and campus involvement.

Header + Clear Target Role

• Headline: Entry-Level HR Assistant | Recruiting & Employee Support
• Summary: Recent psychology graduate with internship experience in recruiting, onboarding, and HR administration.

Skills & Tools Section
Examples include:

• HR & Admin: Scheduling, Onboarding Support, Records Management
• Tools: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
• People Skills: Communication, Conflict Resolution, Customer Service

Projects, Internships, and Campus Experience
You can combine these into one section:

Relevant Experience

• HR Intern, Local Hospital, Spring 2024 – Supported onboarding for 25+ new hires; helped update orientation materials.
• Peer Mentor, University Program – Coached 15 first-year students on time management and study strategies.

For up-to-date career support, many universities offer free resources similar to:

• Harvard Office of Career Services (even if you’re not a Harvard student, their public guides are helpful)

Education Section
List degree, expected or actual graduation date, GPA if strong, and relevant coursework.

This layout is a great example of combination resume layout for students because it elevates non-traditional experience to the same level as formal jobs.

7. Freelancer / Consultant: Real Examples of Combination Resume Layout Examples for Portfolio Careers

If you’ve done lots of short-term gigs, you need a layout that doesn’t look chaotic. Some of the best examples of combination resume layout examples for freelancers group experience by service type or industry.

Header + Service-Focused Summary

• Headline: Freelance Graphic Designer | Branding & Web Design
• Summary: Designer with 6+ years creating brand identities, websites, and marketing collateral for small businesses and nonprofits.

Core Services & Skills

• Branding: Logos, Color Palettes, Brand Guidelines
• Web: WordPress, Webflow, Responsive Design
• Marketing: Social Media Graphics, Email Templates, Print Collateral

Selected Client Projects (Grouped by Type)
Instead of listing every client, you highlight representative work:

• Brand Identity for Local Bakery – Created logo, packaging, and storefront signage; contributed to a 15% increase in foot traffic.
• Website Redesign for Nonprofit – Redesigned site architecture and visuals to improve clarity; donations increased by 10% within six months.

Condensed Work History / Client List
You can add a short section like:

• Freelance Designer, 2018–Present – Clients include: ABC Bakery, XYZ Nonprofit, LMN Fitness Studio.

This is a very practical example of combination resume layout because it blends portfolio-style storytelling with a traditional resume structure.

How to Choose Among These Examples of Combination Resume Layout Examples

Looking at all these real examples of combination resume layout examples, the question becomes: which layout fits your story?

A simple way to decide:

• If your job titles already match your target roles, lean toward the Skills-First Professional layout.
• If you’re pivoting, the Career Changer or Tech & Project-Focused examples of combination resume layout examples will serve you better.
• If you have leadership experience, use the Leadership & Impact layout to spotlight scope and strategy.
• If you have gaps or a patchwork history, the Gap-Friendly or Freelancer / Consultant examples include flexible ways to group your experience.
• If you’re early in your career, the Student / Early Career layout helps you turn projects into convincing experience.

Whichever example of combination resume layout you choose, keep it to one page if you’re under 10 years of experience, and two pages only if you truly need the space.

FAQ: Common Questions About Combination Resume Layouts

What are some good examples of combination resume layout examples for 2024–2025?

Good examples include layouts that put skills and achievements at the top, followed by a concise work history. The Skills-First Professional, Career Changer, and Tech & Project-Focused layouts described above are some of the best examples because they match how recruiters actually scan resumes today: they look for tools, outcomes, and then dates.

Can you give an example of a combination resume for someone with an employment gap?

Yes. A gap-friendly example of combination resume layout starts with a strong skills section, followed by a Relevant Experience section that includes freelance work, part-time roles, and volunteering. Only after that do you list formal job titles and dates. This way, your first impression is about what you can contribute, not the gap itself.

Are combination resumes ATS-friendly?

They can be. The key is to avoid fancy formatting and make sure your headings are clear: “Skills,” “Professional Experience,” “Projects,” and so on. Use standard fonts, simple bullet points, and job titles that match the language in the job posting. Many public resources, like CareerOneStop, offer guidance on ATS-friendly formatting.

When should I not use a combination resume layout?

If you have a very linear, traditional career path that aligns perfectly with the jobs you’re applying for, a straightforward chronological resume might be simpler. Also, if you have extremely limited experience (for example, no projects, no internships, and no work history at all), a very short chronological or functional style could be easier to maintain until you build more content.

Do employers actually like combination resumes?

Many do, especially when they are clean and focused. Hiring managers often appreciate seeing top skills and achievements summarized at the top, as long as they can still find a clear work history underneath. The real test is whether your layout makes it easy to answer three questions quickly: What can you do? Where did you do it? What results did you get?

Using these real examples of combination resume layout examples as templates, you can mix and match elements—skills blocks, project sections, leadership highlights—until your resume tells the clearest, strongest version of your story for 2024–2025.