1. What’s a chronological resume?

A chronological resume is a resume format that lists your work historical past so as of if you held every place, together with your most up-to-date job listed on the prime of the part (i.e. reverse-chronological order).

The chronological resume is essentially the most generally used resume format in 2021, and is good for many job seekers as a result of it presents {qualifications} in a logical approach and accommodates individuals with all ranges of expertise.

The one time it’s possible you’ll need to keep away from utilizing a chronological resume is you probably have gaps in your work historical past or steadily change jobs. In these instances, think about using a skills-based functional resume or the hybrid combination format.

Right here’s what an ordinary chronological resume seems like:

Construction of a chronological resume

Chronological resume template & instance

Ordering your sections correctly is essential when writing a chronological resume.

To make it simple, right here’s a reverse chronological resume template you possibly can copy and paste and fill in with your individual info:

Chronological resume template

Need to see this format in motion? Right here’s an instance of a chronological resume which you can obtain and use as for reference:

Chronological resume instance

Download This Free Sample

2. How you can order a chronological resume

Unsure how to write your resume? Listed here are 5 steps to comply with when ordering your resume within the chronological format:

1. Put your contact info on the prime

Listing the next info on the prime of the web page in your resume header:

• First and final identify
• E-mail deal with
• Telephone quantity

Moreover, embody a hyperlink to your private web site (however provided that it’s skilled) or your LinkedIn profile.

Additionally notice that whereas including a mailing deal with to your resume was once commonplace observe, it’s not obligatory as a result of most employers will contact you through e mail.

2. Open with a powerful resume introduction

Probably the greatest methods to get employers to learn your resume is by beginning it off with a convincing resume summary.

A resume abstract acts as a spotlight reel to your resume. In just a few sentences it supplies a fast overview of your related {qualifications}, targets, and most dear abilities.

Right here’s an instance of a terrific resume abstract on a chronological resume:

Administrative Assistant with 2+ years of expertise making ready flawless displays, assembling facility experiences, and sustaining the utmost confidentiality. Possesses a B.A. in Historical past and experience in Microsoft Excel. Trying to leverage my data and expertise into a task as Mission Supervisor.

3. Write your work expertise in reverse chronological order

Your resume’s work experience section is the core of a chronological resume.

Listing every related job you’ve held within the order you held it, with the latest place on the prime. Beneath every place, present three to 5 bullet factors outlining your major accomplishments and tasks.

Remember the fact that the aim of your expertise part isn’t essentially to offer a listing of duties you carried out at your previous jobs, however to showcase your achievements and the way you excelled in every function. One of the best ways to do this is so as to add measurable accomplishments, with numbers, to your bullet factors.

Numbers illustrate your accomplishments and supply the employer with a greater understanding of your talents.

One other technique to make this part more practical is to start out every bullet level with an action verb. Motion verbs allow you to body your tasks in a clearer, extra dynamic approach, making it simpler for the HR supervisor to grasp precisely what you’re able to attaining.

Right here’s an instance of an action-oriented expertise part on a chronological resume. Word using greenback quantities, percentages, and different particular numbers that illustrate the scope of the job seeker’s accomplishments:

4. Embrace a quick schooling part

Until you’re a pupil or a recent college graduate, your resume’s schooling part must be quick and easy.

Simply embody the next info:

• Title of your faculty
• Town and state it’s positioned in
• The diploma or certification you obtained
• Whenever you graduated
• Your GPA (if it’s 3.5 or greater).

Right here’s what an schooling part seems like in observe:

Nonetheless, in case you’re nonetheless at school or simply graduated, the education section of your resume might be a bit totally different. For instance, instructional expertise must be listed earlier than skilled expertise on a student resume.

5. Listing your related abilities

Embrace a skills section on your resume and checklist out any hard or soft skills you didn’t have a chance to specify in your expertise part.

Your abilities part must be concise, and solely embody resume skills which are straight related to the job you need.

In case you’re unsure what abilities to incorporate, first check out the job description for the place. Often, employers spell out the precise {qualifications} they’re on the lookout for within the “Obligations” part of their itemizing.

For reference, right here’s an instance of what a powerful abilities part seems like: