Writing a Combination Resume (with Sample)
Use this sample combination resume as template for your formal resume.
There are many types of resume that a person can choose from when beginning their job hunt. Sure, not all resumes are created equal, and picking the right one can mean the difference between getting an interview or not. The combination resume is a bit different than the traditional styles.
The traditional resume will start with a career objective and then have specific skills listed first. This one is kind of backwards. It puts things in a different order to highlight experience verses education.
This type of resume will simply focus on the relevant parts that apply to the job they are applying for. Employers actually prefer the combination order, as it puts skills and work history first. There are certain professionals, like a mechanic, where experience means much more than a college education.
The traditional resume will start with a career objective and then have specific skills listed first. This one is kind of backwards. It puts things in a different order to highlight experience verses education.
This type of resume will simply focus on the relevant parts that apply to the job they are applying for. Employers actually prefer the combination order, as it puts skills and work history first. There are certain professionals, like a mechanic, where experience means much more than a college education.
If a mechanic has all book work but no hands on experience, they won’t be much good to an active garage. This philosophy is used by many employers who need experience over education. It can also be said of careers like the medical profession. These highly desired jobs can go on experience verses education. While the education is required, a nurse who has done rounds for 10 years is more seasoned than one just starting out.
To draft a combination resume, start with the name, address, phone number and email address. Make sure to put home numbers and cellphone numbers at the top. They need to be able to get a hold of the applicant and some don’t like chasing people around.
While there is no career objective per say, there needs to be a short two sentence section that states desire and motive. This is a person’s chance to really play their mindset and skills and to ensure an interview. Employers love to see people who are enthusiastic and ready to get to work. The right words in this section can mean everything to a prospective employer.
The next section of the resume is for experience. If the experience is in computers, then put a header on this section that says “computer experience.” This shows the employer how well qualified this applicant is for the job. It is acceptable to divide this section into sub-categories or to list any and all experience that is relevant in this section.
This experience section has nothing to do with the work history and it shouldn’t be mentioned. It is reserved for highlighting specific programs or types of work that the person is fluent in. If a person used a program one time, it shouldn’t be put under this section. Only put things that one is well versed in.
The work history section is pretty standard. Start with the job that is currently held and work backwards. If there is a great deal of work history, then only go back about ten years. If that history is extensive, don’t list more than five jobs on the resume. Any more than this and the resume can be cluttered and may lose the readers interest.
The goal is to keep the reader intrigued so that they read the whole thing. Be sure to put pertinent information in this section, like the employers name, address and phone number. This not only is beneficial when prospective employers are checking references, but it also is nice when filling out applications. It is better to take a few minutes and do all the research for this area before drafting it.
The last two sections should be education and references. Only put high school and any post-secondary education on the resume. If there are no post-secondary things to report, then career centers or any official training will be acceptable. Try to keep the resume to one page. If there is no room, put references on a second page. Some people just put “References Available upon Request.” While this is acceptable, it is also nice just to have the information already in hand should they want an interview. Here is a sample combination resume.
Sample Combination Resume
Karen Bass
9090 117th Street. N. #15
St. Martins, FL 32715
(767) 972-1098
[email protected]
I am captivated with pursuing a career in software growth. I am a fast learner and always am a team player. The skills and education that I can bring to any company will be a contribution to computers and software development.
Compute/Software Experience:
Machines: Apple and IBM PC
Languages: VBA, and COBOL
Programs: Access, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Crystal Reports
Operating Systems: Windows, DOS
Hardware: Can install mother boards, SIMM chips and SCSI floppy drives
Experience:
1997 to Present Adena Regional Medical Center, Clearwater, FL
Systems Designer
Accountable for immigration of all-encompassing file Pro database to MS. Handled Windows related problems for all office personnel. Was the go to person for all office systems and because this was a hospital, I needed to make sure everything was running.
1993 to 1997 Party Pro. Centers, St. Martins, FL
Support Engineer
Troubleshooting and fixing minor program bugs what the jest of this job. Change current programs with improvements. Resolve problems from Technical Support line. Working a support line can be a challenge, but I was able to handle it calmly.
Education:
St. Martins Jr. College, St. Martins, FL
1986 to 1992
Major: A.S. Computer Programming and Examination
GPA: 3.79
Miami Dade High School, Miami, FL
1972 to 1975
Recipient of Who's Who in American High Schools
References:
Available Upon Request
By Andre Bradley
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