Do you need a resume that highlights what you can do and not when you did it? A functional resume template can help you put that together quickly.
A functional resume, often called a skills-based resume, focuses on your skills and what you’re an expert in. In contrast, a traditional resume focuses on your work history.
Traditionally, you'd list recent jobs and a list of duties. With a functional resume format, you choose skills and expertise that are important to the job you’re applying to. This gives a skills focused resume a different advantage.
The functional resume format allows you to tailor your resume to the job you're applying to without adding extra details. Functional resumes should still include:
- contact information
- education
- work or volunteer experience
- technical skills
In this article, I’ll go over how to make a functional resume and some premium best functional resume samples from Envato Elements.
Best Premium Functional Skills Resume Templates on Envato Elements (With Unlimited Use)
Here are some skills based resume examples from Envato Elements. Consider downloading the perfect skills based resume template for your professional brand today:
1. Skills Focused Resume
This skills resume has a skills section at the bottom of the resume page. There's color blocking to make your skills section stand out. Everything in this template is easily customizable. You can edit the Skills Resume in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
2. Skills Based Resume Template (Functional Resume)
This template has a simple, functional resume format. The functional resume has nice sections in the design. Some of the sections are skills and experience. These sections allow you to showcase your skills.
3. Skill Based Resume CV
The modern skills based CV template has a functional resume format with color blocking to highlight skills. Plus, this template comes with a matching cover letter. You can edit this template in Adobe Illustrator.
4. Skills Based Resume Template Word & Illustrator
This premium template is a creative, functional resume format template. If you've got a lot of skills, this is the best functional resume template for you. And this template has a matching cover letter, so you can keep your presentation consistent.
5. Modern Skills Based CV Template for Social Media
Is your resume focused on social media metrics and sponsors? A functional resume could be a great fit for you too. You could use this one as a minimal one-page functional resume template or use the second page. If you want a minimal functional resume template, this is could be a great option.
Best Premium Functional Resume Template on Envato Elements (With Unlimited Use)
If you're looking for a skills based resume template, free might sound like the perfect price. Keep in mind, however, that free functional resume templates will lack some of the polish of a premium product.
Envato Elements is a premium subscription service where you can get unlimited access to the best digital design assets. Just pay a low monthly fee, and you’ll become a subscriber. You’ll get professionally made and high-quality digital assets including:
- resume templates
- stock photos
- royalty-free music
- fonts
- and much more
Envato Elements gives you a great base to start with that you can't get from a free template. With free templates, you may have to do a lot of editing to make the template look good. That can take a lot of time. But with a good base, just add your text, photos, and any customizations you want, and you're done.
Professionals make every template on Envato Elements look stylish and result in providing good impressions. Create a lasting impression by using a professional template for your next project.
20 Top Free Functional Skills-Based Resume Template Examples to Download (2023)
Here's the deal:
- Every month Envato Elements offers 12 different hand-selected files, (fonts, presentations, videos, and more). Create a free account to download this month's free premium files now.
1. Functional Resume
This functional resume template is from Microsoft Word. It's got a simple resume layout that's focused on skills education.
2. Functional Resume (Simple Design)
The Functional Resume (Simple Design) has a nice pop of color in the otherwise minimal design of this template. The layout has four sections: objective, professional achievements, skills, and work history.
3. Skills Based College Education Google Docs Resume Template
If you're right out of college and looking for simple skills resume template. There's a skills section, but the main focus is the education section.
4. Free Functional Resume Template
This free resume has a retro theme, and the layout has nice sections. There's a big skills section, language section and hobbies section.
5. Free Resume Template
The Free Resume Template comes with infographics that you can use in the skills section of the template. This is simple and clean resume that can be used to apply for any position.
6. Ober CV (Free Functional Resume Template)
Ober CV Resume has a creative theme and has a nice pop of color to the resume design. Also, this template comes with both a dark and a light theme. You can easily edit the Ober CV Resume in Adobe Illustrator.
7. Skills Based Resume Template Word Doc
This Word template has a simple, functional resume format to highlight your career history and career achievements. At the top of this template is a section that you can use to write a summary of why you should be hired.
8. Functional Resume Style
This functional resume format is focused more on skills letting you bullet point your skills. There's also a section where you can add your qualifications for the job you’re applying to.
9. Functional CV Template
The skills resume template can be edited in Microsoft Word. A light grey bar separates the sections, making it easier for the hiring manager to read.
10. Simple Resume
The Simple Resume can be used to apply to any job in any field. This resume features blue text to draw attention to each section.
11. Modern Skills Based CV Template Design
A balanced Resume is a skills resume template that features a skills section to showcase all your skills. This resume has pops of color added in some of the text so that the template isn’t all black and white.
12. Creative Resume
Creative Resumes has a nicely designed header and blue lines separating the sections. There's a skill, experience, and education section.
13. Bold Infographic Resume
The red font and red infographics make this functional resume template have a bold design that'll stand out. You can edit this template in Microsoft PowerPoint.
14. Basic Modern Resume
The Basic Modern Resume has a nice, neat layout that’s divided into sections. This template has a pop of color with some green added to the design.
15. Resume (Origin Theme)
Resume Origin theme is a skills resume template that's separated into two main sections. Also, there's some blue in the design to add a pop of color to the resume.
16. Tech Infographic Resume
This functional resume format isn't traditional, but creative. This template comes with a section where you can add a scannable QR code.
17. Chronological Resume (Minimalist Design)
This chronological resume can easily have a skills section added to the template. There's no design in this template, so this is an option if you’re looking for a simple template.
18. Resume (Minimalist Design)
In this template, there's a skills and abilities section where you can showcase your skills. This is another template with no design, so it won't be distracting for the reader.
19. Entry-Level Resume
The Entry-Level Resume was designed for people who want an entry-level job. This resume has a nice design that draws attention to important information.
20. Bold Monogram Resume
The bold monogram resume has a red and white color scheme that can easily be changed to a different color. Plus, this template uses color blocking to highlight important sections in your resume template.
How to Make a Great Skill Based Resume Quickly
Whether you've decided to work with premium or free functional resume templates, you might be curious about the next step. Let's take a look at how easy it is to customize a skills based resume template Word document.
We'll use the following modern skills based CV template, in this demonstration:
The great thing about this particular skills based resume template is that it comes in so many file formats! Edit it in Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or another EPS/PDF friendly software environment.
Let's get started:
1. How to View Your Resume Template
After opening your resume template in Microsoft Word, look at the bottom right of the screen. It's highlighted in the screenshot below. Using this slider, we can easily zoom in and out of our document.
The percentage shown is the percentage the document is currently zoomed. If you click on that percentage, you can customize it. You can also choose Page Width to zoom to fit the width or the page or Whole Page to view your entire document at once.
2. How to Edit Text in Microsoft Word
Editing the text is one of the largest parts of editing your resume template. Thankfully, Microsoft Word makes that easy for us!
All you've got to do is double-click to start editing any of the existing text boxes in your template. In the example below, this text box is active. Notice how it is surrounded in a box and has anchor points along each side. This is how we know that this is the box we're currently editing.
3. Adding Images to Placeholders in Microsoft Word
Many skills based resume examples contain images but won't include them in the template itself. You'll want to add your own images.
In this case, we can just click to select the placeholder. Then, right click on PC or control click on Mac, and then select Format Picture.
This brings up the Format Picture panel, as shown in the example below. Try the following:
- For the Fill select Picture or Texture Fill.
- Under Picture Source, click Insert. Then you can select an image from your computer.
- Experiment with the Offset X and Offset Y to position your image.
- Use Scale X and Scale Y to resize your image.
4. Customizing Font Color in Microsoft Word
Looking at our design, the text on the photo isn't very easy to read. So, let's change up the font color.
Double-click to select the text box, just like we did earlier. Then, you can select the text. With the Home tab selected, you can click on the "A" icon to choose a new color for your text, as shown in the example, below.
5. Save Your Microsoft Word Resume as a PDF
There are many ways you could save your skills based resume template Word document. However, PDF files are often preferable to sending a Word doc. Thankfully, this is easy to do!
Simply go to File > Save As.
Then, under File Format, choose PDF. If you plan to share your work online, like via email or upload, choose Best for Electronic Distribution. Then, click Export.
5 Quick Tips to Make Great Functional Skills-Based Resumes in 2023
Once you’ve chosen your functional resume template, you’ll want to start adding your information. When customizing your skills based resume template, free or premium, consider these tips:
1. Choose Your Skills
A functional resume always includes skills. But you shouldn’t just add all your skills to your functional resume template. Instead, you should only include the skills that would be relevant to the job.
For example, if you’re applying to be an HR manager but you've got forklift driving skills, you won’t need those skills, so leave them off the resume.
2. Include Your Achievements
Not sure what to include on your skills resume template? Make sure to include any previous job achievements that have to do with the job you’re applying for.
Achievements show your future employer that others are recognizing the skills that you've got. They also show how well you performed at your previous job.
3. Keep Your Skill Based Resume to One Page
There are many one-page functional resume format templates. One page forces you to be concise and only include essential information on your resume. Most hiring managers won’t even look at a resume if it's more than one page long.
4. Online Resume
There are many job openings online. When making your resume consider having a link to an online resume along with your resume template. With an online resume, you can add more information than you would include in your resume template.
5. Curate Bullet Points
When you're adding education, and work experiences, consider adding your more recent experience first. This shifts the focus to the important part of your resume, which is your most recent experience. Besides, this makes it easier for the hiring manager to see your most recent experience.
5 Skill Based Resume Trends for 2023
You've got a lot of choices for your skills based resume template (free or premium) or building your own. It can be tough to figure out the perfect design direction.
Check out these popular, skills focused resume design trends for some design inspiration. You may find something in these skills based resume examples that's perfect for your professional brand:
1. Use Infographics to Visually Communicate Your Skills
Infographics can be a great way to communicate a concept both quickly and effectively. Make it easy for the viewer to see your skill set with infographics. For example, bars, charts, and graphics can help make it clear which skills are your focus and which are your supplements.
This resume example makes great use of some graphical elements on the left of the page.
2. Clean, Open Space is Timelessly Professional
If you're not sure which aesthetic is right for you, remember to keep things clear and well organized. When in doubt, an organized layout with plenty of breathing room is a great idea.
Check out this example resume design, below. It's got a rather neutral look, but it's very professional. The design has clear hierarchy. It could work really well for a variety of industries, too. Check out the infographics. They work well here too!
22+ Free Minimalist Resume Templates (Word, InDesign, & More CV Designs)
30+ Modern Resume Templates With Clean (Elegant) CV Designs (+ 2023 Video)
3. Playful Can be Professional, When Done Right
Think about your industry and your professional brand when it comes to your skill based resume. What do you want to visually communicate? Sometimes, being bold is a great way to stand out. More and more, interesting and creative takes on resume design are becoming popular.
For example, check out this awesome resume design. It's colorful, it's energetic, and it makes a big statement!
This could work great for the entertainment industry, but it might not be as appropriate for an industry like medicine or law. Think about what kind of aesthetic would be most appropriate for your goals.
25 Free Creative Resume Templates (Word & PSD Downloads for 2022)
20+ Creative Resume CV Design Tips (With Template Examples for 2022)
4. Make an Impact With Blocks of Color
Blocks of color are a design trend that seems to be here to stay. They're a wonderful way to draw emphasis to key parts of your design. Notice how the black block, in the design below, really commands attention. The high contrast creates a lot of emphasis in the composition.
Consider what colors suit your professional brand. If you've got an existing logo, for example, consider using those colors in your resume design too.
5. Include Engaging Visual Elements
Photographs have definitely continued to grow in popularity, in resume design. A photo can be a great way to introduce yourself without actually being present. This is, after all, an opportunity to make a first impression—put a face to the name!
Consider layouts that make creative use of imagery, like this beautiful resume design template. It can be a great opportunity to showcase creative work as well.
Discover More Top Resume Template Designs
Didn’t see a template for what you need? If you're still hunting for the perfect skills based resume template, check out these collections:
29+ Best Contemporary Resume CV Templates (New Modern Styles for 2022)
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22+ Free Minimalist Resume Templates (Word, InDesign, & More CV Designs)
37+ Best Modern Teacher Resume Templates (Free + Premium Examples 2022)
29 Unique Resume CV Templates With Interesting (Creative) Resume Ideas 2022
20+ Awesome Illustrator AI Resume Templates With Creative CV Designs 2023
Learn More About Making Great Resumes in 2023
If you've got questions more questions about resumes, try reading one of our resume tutorials. If you aren’t sure how to make your resume great, here are some helpful articles:
How to Structure Your Resume to Use in 2021 (Organize it Right)
How to Create an Awesome Digital Resume Online (+5 Top Types for 2021)
How to Effectively List Professional Skills on Your Resume
How to Make Your Resume Stand Out as the Best
How to Make Your Resume the Perfect Length (+To the Point)
Download a Functional Skills-based Resume Template in 2023
There are many different resume formats, and it can be hard to know which one is right for you. For example, if you want to focus on your skills, a functional resume is the best option. But, if you put too much unnecessary information on your resume, it can overwhelm the hiring manager, and they can just reject you.
Now you’ve learned what a functional skills-based resume is, and you’ve seen both free and premium functional resume examples. But, of course, the quickest and most professional option is a premium template that's ready to use. So why not download a premium functional skills-based resume template today?
Editorial Note: This post has been updated with contributions from Daisy Ein. Daisy is a freelance instructor for Envato Tuts+.
