The Best Resume Format for 2027 (With Examples)
Reverse-chronological, combination or functional? Learn which resume format works best in 2027, how to lay it out for ATS, and which fonts and margins to use.
By Resume Creator Team · Published · 2 min read
The best resume format for 2027 is reverse-chronological for most people, and combination for career changers. Both are easy for ATS to read and quick for recruiters to skim. The functional format is the one to avoid.
The three resume formats compared
| Format | How it is organised | Best for | ATS-friendly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse-chronological | Newest job first | Steady career in one field | Yes |
| Combination | Skills summary, then history | Career changers, returners | Yes |
| Functional | Skills only, little history | Rarely a good idea | Often poorly |
Reverse-chronological
Recruiters know where to look: contact details, summary, experience, skills, education. It shows growth clearly and is the default choice.
Combination
You open with a skills or achievements section, then list your work history. It works when your skills matter more than your job titles, for example when you are moving from teaching to training or HR.
Functional
Grouping by skills and hiding dates makes recruiters suspicious and confuses parsing tools. Choose a combination format instead.
An ATS-safe layout
- Single column. Multi-column designs can scramble the reading order.
- Standard headings: Summary, Experience, Skills, Education.
- Plain bullets, not icons, charts or skill bars.
- No text boxes or content in headers and footers.
- Real text, so you can select and copy it from the PDF.
Read how ATS reads your resume to see what happens behind the scenes.
Fonts, size and margins
| Element | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Font | Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Georgia or Cambria |
| Body size | 10 to 12 pt |
| Headings | 13 to 16 pt, bold |
| Margins | 0.7 to 1 inch |
| Length | One page, two for senior roles |
Use one font family and keep spacing consistent.
Which format fits you?
- Fresher: reverse-chronological with a projects section. See resume format for freshers.
- Experienced professional: reverse-chronological, with results in every role.
- Career changer: combination.
- Applying in the UK: check UK CV vs US resume for local conventions.
File format
Send a PDF unless the employer asks for DOCX. Name it clearly, such as Meera-Iyer-Resume.pdf.
Frequently asked questions
Is a two-column resume bad?
Not always, but it carries more risk with ATS. A single column is the safest choice.
Should I use a template?
Yes, if it is simple. A clean template saves time, but avoid ones with graphics that hide your text from parsers.
Is the format different in 2027?
The basics are the same. Clean, scannable and honest still wins. See resume trends for 2027.
Final thoughts
Pick a format that makes your strongest points easy to find in the first few seconds. Then follow our guide to creating a resume in 2027 to fill it in.
- resume format
- 2027
- ATS
- resume layout
- fonts
