Writing a Functional Resume for a Career Change (+Templates)

If you’re moving into a different field, you might worry that hiring managers will only see what you haven’t done instead of what you can do. This is where a functional resume for a career change can help.

Unlike the traditional resume format, a functional resume focuses on your skills, not your past job titles. It’s designed to show that you already have what it takes to succeed—even if you’ve never held that exact role before. In this article, we’ll walk through how to write a strong, clear functional resume that helps you get noticed and gives you a better shot at landing an interview.

Understand the difference: Functional vs. chronological resumes

Before you start writing, it’s important to know the difference between a functional resume and a chronological one. A chronological resume lists your work history in order, usually starting with the most recent job. This format works well if your past roles line up with the job you’re applying for.

A functional resume, on the other hand, focuses on what you can do rather than where you’ve worked. It highlights your skills and accomplishments at the top, with only a brief mention of job titles or companies near the bottom. This setup is especially helpful if you’re changing industries or have gaps in your work history.

When you’re writing a functional resume for a career change, you’re putting your strengths front and center. Instead of worrying about whether your old job titles match the new one, you’re showing how your experience can transfer across fields.

Know what to include in a functional resume for a career change

A functional resume for a career change includes several key parts that work together to highlight your value. While it may leave out a full work history, it still needs to tell a strong, clear story.

Here’s what to include:

Skills summary: Start with a section that lists your top skills, especially ones that match the job you want.
Professional accomplishments: Use examples to show how you’ve used those skills to get results. Focus on achievements, not just job duties.
Relevant experience: Even if your past roles aren’t in the same field, include tasks or projects that relate to your new goal.
Education and certifications: List any degrees, courses, or licenses that support your career move.
Optional extras: You can also include volunteer work or short-term projects that show your readiness for the new role.

Each of these parts should support your overall goal—proving that you’re ready to succeed in a different kind of job.

Step-by-step guide to writing your functional resume

A strong functional resume for a career change helps you shift the focus from job titles to what you can actually do. Follow these clear steps to build a resume that highlights your value, even if you’re heading into a brand-new field.

Step 1: Start with a clear, targeted headline or summary

Begin your resume with a short summary at the top. This should explain who you are, what you’re looking for, and what makes you a good fit. Keep it focused on your skills and strengths that relate to the new career.

For example:
Motivated customer service professional with strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Eager to transition into a project coordinator role where attention to detail and team support are key.

Step 2: List top transferable skills in a bulleted section

Now highlight your main skills that will help you succeed in your new role. These should be transferable—meaning they apply across industries. Keep each skill clear and to the point.

Some examples might include:

Team leadership
Conflict resolution
Data analysis
Time management
Written communication

Step 3: Add examples that show how you’ve used those skills

Under each skill, include 1–2 short examples that show how you’ve applied it in real situations. Use action words and, when possible, results. You can use bullet points or short paragraphs here.

For example, under “Team leadership”:

Led a team of 6 during a store remodel project, staying on schedule and under budget
Trained new hires and improved team productivity by 20% in 3 months

These kinds of examples help hiring managers see how your experience connects to the new role—even if it comes from a different industry.

Step 4: Include a short work history section (optional)

A functional resume for a career change doesn’t need a full job history, but it helps to include a brief list of your recent positions. This shows that you’ve been active in the workforce and gives context.

Keep it simple:

Sales Associate, Big Box Retail – 20XX to 20XX
Customer Support Rep, Tech Solutions – 20XX to 20XX

Skip job duties here. The focus is on skills, not titles.

Step 5: Add education, training, or certifications

List any schooling or training that supports your career move. If you’ve taken courses or earned certifications that relate to the new job, include them here.

Examples:

Certificate in Project Management – Coursera, 20XX
B.A. in Communications – State University, 20XX

Even if your degree isn’t directly related, it still shows commitment and learning ability.

Step 6: Finish with clean formatting and proofreading

Make sure your resume is easy to read. Use clear headings, enough white space, and a simple font. Avoid long blocks of text and double-check for spelling or grammar mistakes. A polished resume shows that you’re serious and professional, no matter what field you’re coming from.

Resume for career change

Career change resume

Career change resume template

Common mistakes to avoid

Writing a functional resume for a career change is a smart move, but it’s easy to make small mistakes that can hurt your chances. Many job seekers try to cram in too much or use vague language that doesn’t say much about what they can actually do. To make your resume work for you, watch out for a few common errors.

One of the biggest mistakes is listing job titles that don’t match your target role. If you used to work in retail but now want to move into human resources, focusing too much on your old title can pull attention away from your skills. The goal of a functional resume for a career change is to shift the spotlight to what you can do, not just what you’ve done.

Another common error is forgetting to include measurable results. It’s not enough to say that you “helped customers” or “led projects.” You need to show what happened as a result. For example, did you increase sales, reduce wait times, or improve team performance? Numbers and outcomes help bring your skills to life and make your examples stronger.

Also, avoid making your career change resume too long or cluttered. A long list of every skill you’ve ever used can be overwhelming. Instead, focus on a few key areas that matter most to the job you’re applying for. Stick to clear, simple language that hiring managers can read quickly.

Finally, steer clear of vague or generic skill labels like “hard worker” or “team player” unless you can back them up with proof. Hiring teams see these phrases all the time, and without examples, they don’t mean much.

Final thoughts: You’re more qualified than you think

Changing careers can feel risky, but it’s also a chance to grow and use your talents in a new way. You might not have direct experience in the field you’re aiming for, but that doesn’t mean you’re starting from zero. A functional resume for a career change helps you take what you already know and present it in a way that makes sense to employers.

You’ve likely gained plenty of transferable skills—things like communication, problem-solving, leadership, or organization—that apply across many different jobs. When you focus on those strengths and connect them to your target role, you give hiring managers a reason to look past your old job titles and imagine you in the new role.

So, don’t wait until everything feels perfect. You don’t need more experience to get started—you just need the right way to tell your story. A strong functional resume for a career change does exactly that. Start writing yours today, and take the first real step toward your next opportunity.

Sara Duerr

Sara has been in the career development field for over 10 years and has a wealth of knowledge to share. She covers topics such as resume writing, job search strategies, interview techniques, career planning, and more. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Medium. She has curated our free downloadable resume templates for Word and resume templates for Google Docs.