Creating a resumé when you have limited work history, gaps due to recovery or other life events, or a record can feel daunting. Focus on what you do have—skills, accomplishments, volunteer work and training. Consider using a functional or combination resumé to highlight your strengths:

• Choose the right format: A functional resumé is a skills-based resumé. It allows you to downplay gaps in your employment history and emphasises abilities and accomplishments without providing detailed background information on where and when you acquired these skills. A combination resumé blends the functional format with a brief chronological work history.
• Write a concise summary: Start with a 2–3 sentence summary describing your top skills, core values and career goals.
• Group your skills and achievements: Use bullet points to describe skills (e.g., communication, leadership, safety compliance) and quantify achievements whenever possible.
• Address employment gaps: If you have gaps, list years rather than months and briefly mention activities such as caregiving, training or volunteering. A functional resumé is often used by people with gaps, those changing careers or individuals with limited work experience.
• Include volunteer or recovery activities: Recovery meetings, community service, peer mentoring and other volunteer work count as valuable experience.
• List education and training: GEDs, certificates, online courses and workshops show that you’re committed to learning.
• Edit for clarity: Keep the design clean with consistent fonts and spacing. Proofread for spelling and grammar.

The California Department of Human Resources notes that functional resumés are particularly helpful for recent graduates, people returning to work, or those changing careers. Choose the format that best highlights your qualifications.

Select a template to get started. Download the file and edit it in your preferred word processor.

These templates are provided by Foundation Staffing Solutions to help you start building your professional resumé. Download and personalize them with your own experience.

Use action verbs and measurable results to make your resumé stronger. Compare these examples:

• Weak: “Responsible for answering phones.”
  Strong: “Answered and resolved customer calls, achieving 95% satisfaction.”
• Weak: “Worked at restaurant.”
  Strong: “Served 50–60 guests per shift; trained two new employees; maintained safety and sanitation standards.”
• Weak: “Helped with inventory.”
  Strong: “Implemented barcoding system, reducing restock time by 30% and preventing stockouts.”

• Mirror keywords: Study the job posting and mirror important phrases and skills to show you’re a great match.
• Highlight transferable skills: Skills like reliability, teamwork, customer service and safety apply across many jobs.
• Use a cover letter: A short cover letter can explain gaps, recovery and your motivation. Emphasize growth and future goals.

Preparation builds confidence. Practice answering these questions aloud:

• Tell me about yourself. Summarize who you are, your key skills and why you’re excited about the job. For example: “I coordinate 30 volunteers at a food pantry serving 200 households per week and recently completed a logistics certificate. I’m excited about your warehouse role because it combines organization and safety.”
• Can you explain this gap? Answer honestly and briefly (e.g., “I cared for a family member and completed a customer-service course. I’m ready to re-enter the workforce.”) then focus on your skills.
• Why should we hire you? Mention your experience (e.g., three years of customer service, reduced inventory errors by 30%), your work ethic and alignment with the company’s mission.

The STAR method helps structure your answers to behavioral interview questions:

• Situation: Describe the situation or problem.
• Task: Explain your responsibility.
• Action: Describe what you did, focusing on the steps you took.
• Result: Share the outcome, ideally with numbers or positive feedback.

Prepare three STAR stories (e.g., resolving a conflict, overcoming a setback, going above and beyond) to demonstrate your reliability and problem-solving skills.

• Be honest and brief: Acknowledge the past without dwelling on it. For example, “I made mistakes, but I completed rehabilitation and have been sober for three years.”
• Emphasize growth: Mention recovery milestones, training, community service and references from mentors or supervisors.
• Focus on the future: Explain how you’re ready to contribute and why you value the opportunity. Recovery-ready workplaces recognize that substance use disorder is treatable and support employees through reasonable accommodations.

A functional or combination resumé lets you emphasize skills and achievements instead of dates. The California Department of Human Resources notes that a functional résumé downplays gaps by highlighting your skills and abilities. Keep the explanation brief and focus on skills gained (volunteering, caregiving, recovery work, or training). In your cover letter or interview, mention what you learned and how you’re ready now.

You do not need to list your record on your résumé. If asked in an interview, answer truthfully and concisely, then redirect the conversation to your strengths, training and references. Employers can take advantage of the Federal Bonding Program and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to mitigate risk and offset payroll costs when hiring job seekers with barriers. The federal bonding program provides free fidelity bonds for the first six months of employment, reimbursing employers for losses due to employee theft or dishonesty. The WOTC offers a tax credit worth up to 40% of $6,000 in wages (up to $2,400) for eligible individuals.

Dress neatly and conservatively. Choose a collared shirt or blouse, slacks or a knee-length skirt and closed-toe shoes. Make sure clothes are clean and wrinkle-free. If you’re unsure, dress slightly more formal than the everyday attire for that workplace.

Many employers participate in second-chance hiring initiatives. Here are ways to find them:

• Use the ReEntry Program Finder to locate programs that help people with criminal records find jobs.
• Contact your local American Job Center or CareerOneStop office for job search workshops, résumé assistance and free computer access.
• Ask peers, counselors or local reentry organizations for recommendations.
• Look for employers advertising “recovery-friendly,” “second-chance” or “fair chance” hiring policies.

You can start or build a career in many fields that don’t require a diploma. Examples include customer service, food service, construction, warehouse operations, delivery driving, caregiver or entry-level healthcare support roles. Training, reliability and a strong work ethic can lead to promotions and better pay.

Visit a nearby American Job Center or public library to use computers and internet access. American Job Centers offer job search workshops, free computer access and other employment services.