Chronological vs functional resume
The two most common resume formats organize your experience very differently.
Chronological (reverse-chronological)
Lists your jobs from most recent to oldest. It is the default most recruiters expect and works best when you have a steady, relevant work history.
Functional (skills-based)
Groups your experience by skill rather than by job. It can help career changers, people returning to work, or those with gaps — but some recruiters are wary of it because it can obscure timeline.
The practical answer
For most people, a reverse-chronological resume is safest. If you are pivoting, a combination format — a short skills summary on top of a chronological history — gives you the best of both. ResumeCue’s Pivot Career Change template is built for exactly this.