What Is a Chronological Resume? (With Tips and Examples)
Updated March 15, 2023
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There are several resume formats you can use to present information to employers. The chronological resume format, also known as “reverse-chronological,” lists your professional experience from most to least recent.
Chronological Resume Format
Name and contact information
Summary or objective.
Professional history
Educational history
Skills and abilities
Resume Example Reads:
Janet Chobot
Little Rock, Arkansas - (123) 456-7891
[email protected]
An exceptionally organized and friendly dental assistant with 3+ years of successful experience working with dental offices and clients.
Professional History
Smith Family Dentistry, Dental Assistant
July 2017 - Present
Clean and prepare treatment rooms
Prepare patient to be seen by for dental treatment
Answer common patient questions about dental procedures, treatments, and issues
E&H Dental, Office Assistant
August 2015 - July 2017
Organized client schedules
Received patients upon arrival
Handled client billing and paperwork
By end of work experience, took on key dental assistant roles
Educational History
Little Road Junior College
August 2012 - June 2014
Certified Dental Assistant Program
Dental assistant skills include: DANB certification, X-ray certification, Denture impressions, Calming personality and demeanor, Hygenic, Minor oral surgery experience
What is a chronological resume?
A chronological resume is a resume format that prioritizes relevant professional experience and achievements. Chronological resumes are one of three common resume formats. The three main types of resume formats include:
Chronological resume: For candidates with rich, consistent professional experience.
Functional resume: For candidates with several gaps or changes in their career.
Combination: For candidates with a diverse background of experience or when skills and abilities are more relevant than work experience.
When deciding which format to choose, consider both your background and the job you’re applying for. For example, you may have a rich, consistent professional background typically represented in a chronological format. However, the job you’re applying for might place heavier value on your proven skills and abilities, in which case you might choose a combination format to highlight what’s important to the employer. For clues on which the employer values most, pay attention to the requirements listed in the job description.
You should use a chronological resume if:
You have several years of experience in one career path.
You have worked for several employers or clients in one industry.
You have minimal or no gaps between jobs.
A chronological resume helps employers quickly understand the value of your most recent and relevant work experiences. As employers may only spend a few seconds on each resume, prioritizing the most recent information helps ensures your experience gets seen.
How to write a chronological resume
Your resume should include information relevant to the position for which you’re applying. You can also include achievements and interests, but these should only be included at the end of your resume, and only if they are relevant. If your resume is multiple pages, consider removing optional sections like these to make it as brief, concise, and readable as possible.
The key difference between a chronological resume and other formats is how you structure your experience section. In this format, you will list your most recent experience first. When you are writing the details of each experience, you should reference the job descriptions that interest you to see which keywords employers are using. These terms can be a guide for what phrases to include when you describe your own experiences.
The placement of your professional experience and education sections depends on where you are in your career and the relevance of education to your chosen industry.
For example, if you are writing a resume as a student, you may want to prioritize your education section as it may be more helpful information for potential employers. This is especially true if you have relevant certifications, diplomas, or coursework. If you have been in the workforce for several years, you might consider placing your education after your experience section.
Professional experience
Your professional experience section should include all relevant work experience starting with your current or most recent position, if applicable.
For example, if you’re applying for a dental assistant position, you should list your work history starting from your current employer and going back to the first job you obtained out of high school or college related to the dental or healthcare industries.
When you’re writing this section of your resume, consider which experiences are most relevant to the next step you want to take in your career. For example, if you worked at a fast-food restaurant during college or high school, you may not want to include it on a resume for a position in dental assistance (using our last example).
If you are currently enrolled in or have completed and obtained a post-secondary degree (Associate’s degree or above), you should not list your high school information. However, if you graduated from high school and did not seek a post-secondary degree, you might consider including your high school background with your GPA (if above 3.5) and any other relevant information related to your educational experiences.
Your education section should focus on degree acquisition and coursework but can also include other academic achievements such as certificate programs or awards.
To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.
Chronological resume example
Janet Chobot Little Rock, Arkansas | 123-456-7891 [email protected]
Summary An exceptionally organized and friendly dental assistant with 3+ years of successful experience working with dental offices and clients.
Professional History Smith Family Dentistry, Dental Assistant July 2017–Present
Prepare patient for dental treatment
E&H Dental, Office Assistant August 2015–July 2017
Educational History Little Road Junior College August 2012–June 2014 Certified Dental Assistant Program
Skills Dental assistant skills include: DANB certification • X-ray certification • Denture impressions • Calming personality and demeanor • Hygienic • Minor oral surgery experience
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You Should Probably Be Using a Chronological Resume—Here’s What It Is and How to Make One
Hot jobs on the muse.
If you don’t organize your resume properly, it’s all too easy for it to look like a bunch of mumbo jumbo. And when all those words and numbers blend together into a big mess, you make it that much harder for a recruiter or hiring manager to see the point in bringing you in for an interview.
That’s where the chronological resume format comes in.
What Is a Chronological Resume?
You know what a resume is, right? A one-pager documenting your work experience, education, skills, and extracurriculars that paints a nice clear picture of what makes you a valuable employee or hire?
Well, a chronological resume does that by listing your work and other experiences in reverse chronological order, meaning your most recent jobs are at the top of your resume and your least recent jobs are down below. (This is why it’s sometimes called a reverse chronological resume—because that more accurately explains what’s going on.)
That doesn’t mean that everything you’ve ever done gets listed exactly in reverse chronological order, though. If you have jobs that overlap in a certain timeframe, for example, you might choose to list the job that’s most relevant to the role you’re applying for first, regardless of when you started it.
It’s also pretty common to put your education and activities in their own section or sections, rather than mixing them in with your work experience. If you went to graduate school or have multiple education experiences, you’d still list them in reverse chronological order within your education section, for consistency.
Who Should Use a Chronological Resume?
The beauty of this layout is that it works for just about anyone looking for any kind of job. Students and new grads tend to lean on this format because it’s the simplest way to organize their limited work experience. The same goes for professionals at any level with a consistent career history—in other words, those who’ve gone from job to job without gaps (or with very few gaps) between roles.
A chronological format is also the most popular layout hiring managers see. That means if you go with this format, your resume will be easily understood by any type of recruiter out there.
What’s in a Chronological Resume, and How Does It Differ From Other Resume Formats?
A chronological resume includes the following:
- Your name and contact information (at the top of the page as the header)
- Your work experience, including your responsibilities and accomplishments for each job you’ve held (you can include this under one header, “Work Experience,” or divide it into “Relevant Work Experience” and “Additional Work Experience” if you want to really tailor your resume to a specific job)
- Your education and certifications
- Your skills and hobbies
- Other activities or volunteer experiences
- A summary statement (this is optional and usually not needed unless you’re a higher-level executive or career changer)
The way these items are organized is simple: Your work history goes toward the top—because it’s the main focus—with each role listed in reverse chronological order. Your education, skills, and activities fall toward the bottom or off to the side of the page—except if you’re a new grad, in which case you may list education at the top.
Other formats, like a functional resume or combination resume , include these same elements but in a different layout. A functional resume groups your experience and responsibilities not by role but by skill, and lists your jobs and education at the bottom. A combination resume, on the other hand, is a mix between a functional resume and a chronological resume, highlighting both your skills and experience in equal measure. Both of these layouts are less common than a chronological resume and are used most often by career changers, people with unique career paths, and people who have taken long breaks between jobs.
How Do You Write a Chronological Resume?
The best course of action for writing a chronological resume is to start off with a rough outline (or use a template ). In your head or on paper, list out every work-related experience you’ve had. Based on that information, decide how you want to sort that information and how many “sections” of your resume you want to create. You’ll most likely include several or all of the sections listed in bullets above (more or less in that order).
Once you know the layout, start to plug in your information in reverse chronological order, including with each job you’ve had your title, company (and sometimes company location), dates of employment, and three to five bullet points explaining what you achieved and the skills you built in that position.
If you’ve never written a resume before, definitely take a look at this comprehensive guide to making a resume for more thorough advice.
What Does a Chronological Resume Look Like?
OK, so this all sounds good and dandy to you, but you’re still not sure exactly what this looks like in practice. Don’t fret—here’s a sample chronological resume you can use as a reference when you decide to make your own.
Download an Example Chronological Resume
Anything Else I Should Know About a Chronological Resume?
How you format your resume is only half the battle. The other half is about making sure the content itself is in tip top shape—because that’s what recruiters are reading, after all. This means that your bullet points should start off with strong action verbs and showcase your accomplishments rather than just your duties.
Don’t forget to tailor your resume to the role you’re applying for—make sure your bullet points match up with the qualifications and responsibilities in the job description, and that you’re including relevant keywords the company’s applicant tracking system, or ATS , may be scanning for. And of course, check (and double check) your information for spelling and grammar mistakes.
One more note: Try keeping your resume to one page, unless you’re at least a decade into your career. Hiring managers love to skim resumes, and long ones tend to turn them off. Save all the little details you can’t fit into your resume for your cover letter and interviews.
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- Resume Help
- Resume Order of Jobs, Experience & Items of Information
Resume Order of Jobs, Experience & Items of Information
Is your resume sporting an “out of order” sign? Get everything up and running smoother than a Tesla by learning the perfect resume order.
As seen in:
People talk a lot about what a resume should say, but it can get confusing when you need to know what order to put your resume items in. Each section does something different and sometimes you just don’t know what to put your emphasis on. Should it be your skills? Or maybe your work experience is more important? As the saying goes, there’s more than one way to order a resume.
Worry not.
This quick guide will go through how to order your resume, step by step, so you’ll have your resume in running and working order in no time.
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here .
Sample resume made with our builder— See more resume samples here .
Here are some other guides that you can check out about getting your resume in proper, working order:
- The Best Resume Format
- The Best Resume Layouts
- The Essential Parts of a Resume
- The Correct Resume Structure
How to Organize a Resume
Before we begin, let’s do a short recap of what the sections of your resume are before we start to put them in order.
For the majority of candidates, the popular resume items are:
- Contact Information
- Resume Profile (Objective/Summary)
- Work Experience
- Additional Sections
Now it’s time to organize your resume into the correct order.
Let’s start off with making one distinction clear—
There are three different types of ways to order your resume and that, of course, causes lots of candidates to go all Avril Lavigne by shouting “why did you have to go and make things so complicated?”
What order should work experience be listed on a resume?
Work experience should always be listed on a resume in reverse chronological order. Your work history should go back in time from top to bottom: your current or most recent job on top, then the previous one below, all the way to the odest, but still relevant job.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check . Start building a professional resume template here for free .
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Three Ways of Ordering Your Resume
It may sound complicated, but let’s break it down and you’ll see that it’s actually relatively simple.
1. The Reverse-Chronological Order
This resume order is by far the most common among candidates and most recognized by recruiters. It also goes by the name of chronological order. So as confusing as it may be, the reverse-chronological resume and the chronological resume are the same thing.
This order focuses on your skills and professional work experience, so it’s the best for candidates with at least some job experience under their belt.
The name comes from the fact that you start with your most recent job position and goes backwards in time.
This is what a reverse-chronological resume order looks like:
- Contact Infromation
- Resume Objective /Summary
Read more: The Reverse-Chronological Resume (Template and Examples)
2. The Functional/Skill-Based Resume Order
The functional resume, also called the skills-based resume , puts more emphasis on your skills than anything else. It’s perfect for candidates that switched jobs a lot, did a lot of freelancing or who have a lot of career gaps in their work history. It’s a good creative resume format for non-traditional industries, too.
This is what the functional resume order looks like:
- Resume Summary /Objective
- Skills Section
Read more: Functional Resume: Template
3. The Combination Resume Order
The combination resume order is a combination of the reverse-chronological and functional resume orders. It focuses on the summary of your qualifications , so it’s best for career changer resumes or for more experienced candidates.
This is how the combination resume order breaks down:
- Skills Summary
Read more: The Combination Resume: Template and Examples
See, wasn’t all that complicated, was it?
Now that that’s clear, let’s take closer look at how to order the different, individual items of your resume:
Resume Order of Items
- Resume objective or resume summary: This is a short blurb about your experience and skill set and should be no longer than 2-3 sentences. It goes at the top of your resume.
- Resume experience order: no matter which type of resume order you choose, you should always order your jobs reverse-chronologically on your resume. Start from the most recent position and work your way backwards.
- Job skills : there’s no right way to order your skills, just simply list them. If you have a lot of them, you can think of putting them into subgroups to make them easier to read. Remember to include a good mix of soft skills , hard skills as well as technical skills .
- Education: when listing your education on a resume, the simplest and most common order is listing the name of your school, the school’s location, the dates you attended, and the degree you earned. Listing unfinished college on a resume is similar, you just leave out the degree and potentially add relevant college courses. Remember to start your education section with your most recent degree level.
- Additional sections: here you can list things like projects , achievements and accomplishments , licenses and certificates , volunteering , hobbies and interests , and languages . These are often overlooked and that’s a shame as they can be a key factor in finding certain types of jobs .
Pro Tip : No matter how you order your resume, remember to stick to the truth . Recruiters do background checks and will ask for proof of education or skills if checks come up empty.
Read more: How to Write a Resume
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
That’s all there is to it! Get the parts of your resume in working order and watch it zoom down the road of success!
Thanks for reading. Is there anything that you still would like to know about resume order? Let us know in the comments below!
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Chronological Resume - Writing Guide With 5 Free Templates
The chronological resume - also known as the “reverse chronological resume” - is the most popular resume format out there.
Particularly advisable for those with rich work history, the chronological resume prioritizes and lists your work experience and achievements from most to least recent.
This article is here to teach you all there is to know about creating a chronological resume.
- What is a Chronological Resume?
Chronological Resume Structure
- When to Use a Chronological Resume Format?
- 4 Free Chronological Resume Templates
- How to Create a Chronological Resume - Step by Step
- 9+ Chronological Resume Examples for All Industries
What is a Chronological Resume?
A chronological resume lists your work experiences and achievements starting from the current or most recent one, and following up with previous jobs below.
For this exact reason, the chronological resume is the perfect choice for job-seekers who have plenty of experience and achievements to list on their resume .
What’s most important, studies point to the chronological resume being a favorite among recruiters, too.
Why? Well, because you are applying for a job, so work experience in your resume will be the first thing a recruiter looks out for.
But worry not, you can structure your resume in a chronological format even as a recent graduate too. Or, you can opt for other popular formats fitter to your profile.
But first, let’s go through the basics.
The chronological resume follows a straightforward structure. The only thing to keep in mind is that your current or most recent experience - be it professional or educational - comes first.
The second most recent will follow, and so on.
Here are the main and most popular sections for the chronological resume structure:
- Contact information
- Professional title and resume summary/objective
- Work experience and achievements
- Education section
- Your top soft/hard skills
- Include optional sections (languages, certificates, volunteer experience, etc)
If you’re a recent college graduate and want to build your resume in the chronological structure format, you still can.
All you have to do is rearrange the order of your resume sections so that the education resume section comes first.
Here, too, make sure that your education entries are listed from the most to least recent, and you’re good to go!
If reading this is already looking too complicated and time-consuming, try out the Novorésumé online resume builder . Novorésumé provides 8+ free resume templates that follow the chronological resume structure.
When to Use a Chronological Resume Format
The three main types of resume formats are the chronological, functional/skills-based one, and a combination resume format of the two. What you choose to use will depend on the type of job you are applying for and your experience level.
In the majority of cases, the obvious choice is the chronological resume. It is common, it highlights just the right sections, and job recruiters prefer it over the other formats.
Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean you should just cross the other options off your list, especially if your work experience doesn’t amount to much.
Consider these other two formats, taking into account their advantages and disadvantages as well:
Functional Resume
- Perfect for students or recent graduates, as it highlights your skills.
- Offers creative space for a varied portfolio
- Difficult to pass through the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) that most companies use to scan through countless resumes they receive daily.
- It conceals your experiences, however minor they might be.
Combination Resume
- A great choice for job-seekers with a diverse skill-set, because it highlights both skills and experiences.
- It can mask gaps in your employment history since you can also list your skills, so it’s the second-best option for those who lack work experience.
- It is a really good fit only for highly specialized professionals who have a very diverse skill-set. Say, for example, that you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in 3-4 different fields, and you want to show all that in your resume - then, the combination resume really is the one for you.
- It is hard to organize. As a professional with a diverse skill-set, it might be a challenge to decide which part of your expertise to prioritize in the combination resume format.
4 Chronological Resume Templates
Below, you will find 5 chronological resume templates out of many free resume templates. Dig right in to find the best match for you.
#1. Creative Chronological Resume Template
#2: Modern Chronological Resume Template
#3: Professional Chronological Resume Template
#4: Functional Chronological Resume Template
How to Create a Chronological Resume
Now that we mentioned the traditional structure, let’s go through each section one by one to create the perfect chronological resume.
#1: Start With a Contact Information Section
Depending on the template you have chosen for your chronological resume, there is a possibility that your name will be directly followed by your professional title right at the top.
How do you fill up your professional title in chronological resume format? Easy. If you’re not looking to change career paths your professional title should be your current title. However, if you’re changing career paths, then choosing the combination resume mentioned above might be a better option for you.
Regarding the rest of the contact information section on your chronological resume, it should be current and lacking any typos. The mandatory elements of the information section include:
- First and last name
- Phone number
- Email address
- LinkedIn URL (optional)
#2: Add a Resume Summary or Resume Objective
Second in the chronological resume comes your ‘profile’ as a candidate, which is expressed through a resume summary or a resume objective .
Wondering what the difference is?
Well, the summary is a short (2-3 sentences) overview of your career so far and it is used in 90% of resumes - especially by those with two or more years of work experience. A summary is a perfect fit for the chronological resume.
On the contrary, a resume objective represents your aspirational career goal and highlights your skills, making it perfect for entry-level professionals with little work experience, or job-seekers looking to completely switch career paths.
#3: Fill in Your Work Experience
This is, without a doubt, the section that weighs the most when it comes to the chronological resume, so it’s vital that you get it right.
Your work experience section is there to show the recruiter what you can bring to the table through your past accomplishments and responsibilities and what the company would be gaining were they to hire you.
Feeling pressured? Don’t. There are many practices to help your work experience section stand out in the eyes of the recruiter.
If you are looking for more tips and tricks to help you take your resume to the next level, head over to our beginner’s guide on how to write a resume .
Here are the key points you should keep in mind when it comes to the work section:
- This is the most important so we’ll be repeating it as many times as it takes: your current or latest job position should be placed on top. Then come the previous ones, all the way to your earliest job position.
- For each entry, list your job title and position, the company and its location, as well as the dates when you were employed.
- List your achievements and responsibilities, with a higher focus on quantifiable achievements, whenever you can.
- Use bullet points instead of just text to express what you have achieved and what you were responsible for in every job entry.
- Tailor the resume to the position you are applying for. For example, if you’ve had too many jobs in the past and some of them don’t relate to the field you are now applying for, then they are just taking space. Feel free to omit them.
Here’s a close-up of a work experience section in the chronological resume:
#4: Add an Education Section
Generally, the education section comes right after work experience.
If, however, you have just graduated college and want to create a chronological resume to start applying for jobs, the education section can replace the experience section that you’d be lacking.
Either way, the education section should be brief but jam-packed with information that can communicate your values and skills to the recruiter.
Here’s what the education section consists of:
- Program Name: E.g. “MA in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies”
- University Name: E.g. “University of Greenwich”
- Period Attended: E.g. “08/1214 - 05/2018”
- (Optional) GPA: E.g. “3.9 GPA”
- (Optional) Honors: E.g. “ Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude”
- (Optional) Academic Achievements: E.g. Papers you might have published, or awards received.
- (Optional) Minor: E.g. “Minor in Political Science”
#5: Spice Up Your Chronological Resume With Your Skills
Needless to say, the reverse-chronological order doesn’t really apply in the skills section.
What you can do, however, is begin by listing your hard skills and then your soft skills.
Unsure of what this means?
- Hard skills are measurable abilities. These can range from programming in Python language to knowing how to use Photoshop and InDesign.
- Soft skills are personal skills. They vary from attitude to flexibility, motivation and teamwork.
Listing your skills has its own peculiarities, so don’t pay this section less attention than the ones above it, especially if you’re a recent college student. Pay attention to skills specifically required at the job ad and if you have them, make sure to include them.
Here’s an example of how your skills section can look like:
#6: Include Any of These Optional Sections
Last but not least, come these optional sections.
Having them in your resume can earn you extra points and even separate you from the competitors, but only if they don’t make your resume longer than it should be (1-2 pages maximum) and if they are relevant to the job position.
Some of those sections include (but are not limited to):
- Languages : If you speak two or more languages, don’t fail to put that in your resume. To list them, simply categorize your proficiency level into native, fluent, proficient, intermediate, or basic .
- Hobbies & Interests : They can help humanize you and show a part of your personality that work and education can’t. If
- Volunteering Experience : Studies show that volunteering experience actually raises your chances of getting hired .
- Certification & Awards : If you have awards that make you stand out in your field or certifications from experts that are relevant to the position you are applying for, don’t hesitate to show them off!
Not sure how adding volunteering experience works? Check our article on how to list volunteer experience on your resume .
10 Chronological Resume Examples for All Industries
Now let us walk you through a few practical examples of what the chronological resume looks like depending on the industry.
#1. Business Chronological Resume
In the world of business, accomplishments matter. This is why in this business chronological resume , the work experience section is jam-packed with measurable information on what the employee achieved in his previous professional experiences.
#2. Computer Science Chronological Resume
Computer science jobs are heavily based on hard skills - in addition to your previous work experiences, that is. So, make sure to include your hard skills on your computer science resume to impress recruiters.
#3. Architect Chronological Resume
As you can see from the example above, the sections that follow your work experience and education can be placed according to your profile. If, for example, you’ve worked on some side projects that you feel do your resume more justice than your skills, feel free to prioritize those projects.
In this article, you can find what’s expected from an architect’s resume in more detail.
#4. Nurse Chronological Resume
Action verbs can really make an active professional like that of a nurse shine. So when you list your achievements under your experience, use strong verbs that can paint a picture of who you are and what you can do.
#5. Pharmacist Chronological Resume
With plenty of attributes up their sleeve, the chronological format is the perfect choice for a pharmacist’s resume .
#6. Project Manager Chronological Resume
Project manager resumes have good chances to show industry expertise - given they hold the manager title - and highlight successful projects. Feel free to do both in your chronological resume, as shown above.
#7. Web Developer Chronological Resume
As you can see in the example, the candidate has chosen to place his courses and training above his education. When you have followed courses or have been trained in the exact field of work where you’re applying, it makes sense to rank the field-specific courses and training higher than your university education.
This article has more information on how to perfect your Web Developer Resume .
#8. Teacher Chronological Resume
This is another “special” example of a chronological resume. Right after the experience section, the candidate has listed their volunteering experience. Not normally the case, it makes sense here because the volunteering experience has been as a tutor - which is pretty much the same thing as a teacher in the teacher resume .
In cases when your volunteering experience is directly connected to the job you are applying for, feel free to list it under professional experience as well.
#9. Bar Manager Chronological Resume
For more info on how to update your own bar manager chronological resume for 2023, this is the article for you.
#10. Human Resources Chronological Resume
The example says it all: the chronological resume does wonders showing the peak of your work experience first, and then going back to your professional history and skills. This article on the HR chronological resume has more tips on how to perfect it.
Discover More Resume Templates
- Combination Resume Templates
- Creative Resume Templates
- Functional Resume Templates
- Minimalistic Resume Templates
- High School Resume Templates
- One Page Resume Templates
- 2 Page Resume Templates
- Google Docs Resume Templates
- Word Resume Templates
Key Takeaways
And that’s a wrap!
Let’s do a quick recap of the main points covered in this article:
- The chronological resume - or reverse chronological - is a top choice among candidates with years of professional experience and a favorite among recruiters.
- The chronological resume focuses on your work experience, starting your current or most recent one, and following up with the rest - from most to least recent.
- Recent college graduates that want to use this format can - simply replace the work section with the education section, following the same reverse-chronological order.
- Save time and energy building the reverse chronological resume from scratch by using online resume builders , such as the one Novorésumé offers.
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What is the Best Resume Format: Functional, Chronological or Combined?
The chronological format
The chronological resume is the most used out there, it’s the employer’s favorite as it is very easy to read and it’s hard to hide anything in it. It works brilliantly when you have stayed consistent in your career. As long as the job you are applying for is in the same field, the full chronology will be relevant to the reader and therefore the focus is on your experience. Your employment history is actually in reverse chronological order and your current position will be at the top of the list. The chronological resume doesn’t work well when you have gaps or when you have shifted industries often, as it will expose your weak points. • Objective • Summary • Experience • Education • References
The functional format
The combined format
The combination format is exactly what it sounds like; it combines the chronological and functional formats to give you the best of both worlds. It allows you to use the tasty features from the functional resume but you can still fly in under the radar in the eye of the reader. Examples of people that can benefit from this would be someone wanting to change careers and has some relevant skills for the new field. It can also be useful when someone wants to pack more skills in than the work experience section allows for or would not bring out adequately. • Objective • Summary • Accomplishments • Experience • Education • References
5 Housekeeping rules that apply to all formats
1. Make sure you put all your contact details on every page, make it easy for the employer to call you up for an interview. 2. You have to put exact dates against every employment and education. If you don’t it will look slightly dodgy and you have to be prepared for a lack-of-dates grilling. 3. All education and qualifications should be listed. The fact that you majored in art history doesn’t mean you can’t apply for a Java consultant job ; it means you are trainable and can learn anything. 4. The layout should be pleasing on the eye and never distracting, allow for enough white space in between your text, boxes and bullet points. 5. Make it a habit to use a spel cheker, as your intended audience will swiftly delete a resume that contains typos.
Great, so which format do I use again?
If you can, go with the chronological as it’s everyone’s favorite. If you are shifting careers and possibly have transferable skills, go combined. If you have a short career or big holes in your experience, go functional. Applying across state borders? Check out 3 Tips for Sending Your Resume to Another State . Which format do you use and are you getting interviews?
- Post author By Jörgen Sundberg
The more resumes you look at, the more confused you can get especially since there are so many different formats to choose from. Most people don’t realize that the format is one of the most important choices when writing a winning resume. Get this wrong and you could effectively be hiding your own career highlights from the reader.
The bad news is that you only get about 10 seconds attention from the person screening your resume so you best make a good first impression. The good news is that I have narrowed it down to only three formats worth considering. Here they are, complete with reasons why you should choose them and in what order the content should be in your resume.
Chronological format:
The chronological resume is the most used out there, it’s the employer’s favorite as it is very easy to read and it’s hard to hide anything in it. It works brilliantly when you have stayed consistent in your career. As long as the job you are applying for is in the same field, the full chronology will be relevant to the reader and therefore the focus is on your experience.
Your employment history is actually in reverse chronological order and your current position will be at the top of the list. The chronological resume doesn’t work well when you have gaps or when you have shifted industries often, as it will expose your weak points.
Functional format:
The functional format should be used when you want to draw attention away from your work experience due to job hopping, a very long career, a very short career, long gaps, re-entering the job market and so forth. The functional resume focuses on what you can do, what your achievements are and your core competence.
This format is used by graduates, people seeking to change their career completely and anyone with employment gaps that don’t add any value to their experience. If you are looking to change industries, make sure to focus on transferable skills such as sales or people management. A word of warning; employers are known to raise their eyebrows when they see a functional resume so only use this format if you absolutely have to.
- Accomplishments
- Capabilities
- Employment History
The combination format is exactly what it sounds like; it combines the chronological and functional formats to give you the best of both worlds. It allows you to use the tasty features from the functional resume but you can still fly in under the radar in the eye of the reader.
Examples of people that can benefit from this would be someone wanting to change careers and has some relevant skills for the new field. It can also be useful when someone wants to pack more skills in than the work experience section allows for or would not bring out adequately.
5 housekeeping rules that apply to all formats:
- Make sure you put all your contact details on every page, make it easy for the employer to call you up for an interview.
- You have to put exact dates against every employment and education. If you don’t it will look slightly dodgy and you have to be prepared for a lack-of-dates grilling.
- All education and qualifications should be listed. The fact that you majored in art history doesn’t mean you can’t apply for a Java consultant job; it means you are trainable and can learn anything.
- The layout should be pleasing on the eye and never distracting, allow for enough white space in between your text, boxes and bullet points.
- Make it a habit to use a spel cheker [sic], as your intended audience will swiftly delete a resume that contains typos.
Great, so which format do I use again?
If you can, go with the chronological as it’s everyone’s favorite. If you are shifting careers and possibly have transferable skills, go combined. If you have a short career or big holes in your experience, go functional.
Which format do you use and are you getting interviews? Let us know in the comments below!
RELATED: What Is the Best Resume Font, Size and Format?
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- Tags chronological , combined , format , functional , Resume & CV Writing , Resumes
By Jörgen Sundberg
Founder of Undercover Recruiter & CEO of Link Humans , home of The Employer Brand Index .
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Chronological Resume: Template, Format & Examples
Unsure what a chronological resume is or if it’s the right format for you? Check out our chronological resume explanation , format , template , example , and writing guide below for help.
What is a chronological resume?
A chronological resume is a standard resume format that lists your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job listed at the top and each previous position in descending order.
The chronological resume continues to be the most popular format in 2023 because it accommodates people with any experience level and presents your qualifications in a logical, time-ordered fashion that is easy for a hiring manager to read, as our expert CPRW, Eva Chan, explains at the 21-second mark in her video:
Chronological resume format
Here’s what a chronological resume format looks like:
Chronological resume template & example
Ordering your sections properly is important when writing a chronological resume.
To ensure you order your chronological resume correctly, here’s a template you can copy and paste into either Google Docs or Microsoft Word and fill in with your information:
Chronological resume template
1. Resume Heading
FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email: [email protected] | Phone: 908 555 555 | Address: 118 Washington Ave., New York, NY 10280 | Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile
2. Resume Introduction
Passionate [industry] professional with [# of years] years of experience. Seeking to use my expertise in [relevant skills] to fill the [position name] position at [Company’s Name] . A dedicated worker aiming to help contribute to [Company’s Name] ’s goals and take on more responsibility as quickly as possible.
3. Work or Relevant Experience
Most Recent Job Title Employer Name / Location / Start Date – End Date
- Include a bulleted list of your accomplishments and responsibilities
- Unless this is your only job, avoid using more than five bullet points
- Add numbers (such as percentages or dollar amounts) to these bullet points to illustrate your specific achievements
Earlier Job Title Employer Name / Location / Start Date – End Date
- List relevant accomplishments from an earlier job
- Assuming you no longer hold this job, use past tense verbs to describe your achievements
4. Education
Degree Name / Major University, Location | Start Date – End Date
5. Skills and Certifications
- List your relevant skills and certifications
- Include a range of hard skills and soft skills
- Specify the actual names of software or tools you can use
6. Additional Resume Section
- Here’s where you can add any other relevant information
- For example, this section could be for any of the following: publications, languages, volunteer experience, or even hobbies
Chronological resume example
Want to see this format in action? Here’s an example of a chronological resume you can download and use for a reference:
How to order a chronological resume
Here are five steps to follow when writing your chronological resume:
1. List your contact information
To ensure the hiring manager can contact you, include the following four pieces of information in your chronological resume header :
- First and last name
- Email address
- Phone number
- LinkedIn profile
2. Open with a strong resume introduction
One of the best ways to get employers’ attention is by starting your resume with a convincing introduction.
You can choose to either write a resume objective or summary.
Resume objectives are typically for candidates just starting their career. You’ll need to list any relevant qualifications you currently have and end with a statement that shows the hiring manager you’re dedicated and will quickly adapt to your new position.
Here’s an example of a nursing resume objective on a chronological resume:
Hardworking recent-graduate RN with over a year of clinical internship experience helping treat patients with chronic illnesses and monitoring vitals. Possess a BSN and BLS certification. Seeking to leverage my skills and qualifications to fill the RN position at Brandywine Hospital.
On the other hand, a resume summary is typically meant for candidates with several years of experience, and acts as a highlight reel for your career achievements. In a few sentences, it provides a quick overview of your relevant qualifications, goals, and most valuable skills.
Here’s an example of a resume summary for an administrative assistant on a chronological resume:
Administrative Assistant with 2+ years of experience preparing flawless presentations, assembling facility reports, and maintaining the utmost confidentiality. Possesses a B.A. in History and expertise in Microsoft Excel. Looking to leverage my knowledge and experience into a role as a Project Manager.
3. Write your work experience in reverse chronological order
Your resume’s work experience section is the core of a chronological resume.
List each relevant job you’ve held in reverse chronological order, with your most recent position at the top. Under each position, provide three to five bullet points outlining your primary duties and responsibilities.
Remember to add hard numbers to your bullet points to make your accomplishments measurable for a hiring manager to see and better understand how you contributed to previous employers.
Additionally, start each bullet point with an action verb to make your work experience more engaging to read. Using action verbs will give the impression you’re proactive at work and make it easier for the HR manager to understand exactly what you can achieve on the job.
Here’s an example of a work experience section on a chronological resume that utilizes hard numbers and action verbs:
4. Include a brief education section
For most people, your resume’s education section will be short and simple, including only the following three pieces of information:
- university name and location
- degree or certification name
- graduation date
Here’s what an education section looks like in practice:
However, suppose you’re a college student or will be graduating soon. In that case, you may want to add additional sections to your education section to increase your value as a candidate, such as your GPA (if it’s higher than 3.5), Dean’s list , relevant coursework, extracurricular activities , and other academic awards .
Here’s an example of a recent graduate ‘s education section on a chronological resume:
5. List your skills
No chronological resume is complete without a skills section . Here, you’ll need to list any hard or soft skills you didn’t have an opportunity to give examples of in your work experience section.
However, remember to keep it clear and concise, only including skills on your resume directly relevant to the job you’re applying to.
If you’re not sure which skills to include, look at the position’s job description. Usually, employers spell out the exact qualifications they’re looking for in the “Responsibilities” section of their listing.
Here’s an example real estate agent ‘s skills section on a chronological resume:
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Written by Nick Herschel
Nick is a Digital Marketing Specialist at Resume Genius, where he assists people in writing outstanding resumes and CVs. Recently equipped with his MBA, you can find him... more
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Chronological Resume Example (With Writing Tips)
Alison Doyle is one of the nation’s foremost career experts.
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When to Use a Chronological Resume
When to use a different resume format, what to include in a chronological resume, tips for writing a chronological resume, how to format a chronological resume, chronological resume example, frequently asked questions (faqs).
What is a chronological resume, and when should you use one? A chronological resume lists your work history in reverse chronological order. That is, the top of your resume lists your most recent job first. Your previous role is directly below that, and so on.
This type of resume affords you the opportunity to give pride of place to your most recent and outstanding talents, skills, and expertise, ensuring that a hiring manager will be interested enough to read through your entire resume.
Review information on when to use a chronological resume, when to choose a different format, what to include, writing and formatting tips, and examples.
Key Takeaways
- Chronological resumes are a good fit for most job seekers. If you have a limited job history, employment gaps, or did some job hopping, consider using a different format.
- Include the standard sections—contact information, education, and experience—in your resume and consider adding optional sections like a profile.
- Pay attention to your word choices and formatting. Your resume should be easy to scan through, as well as be full of details that match the job description and play up your most relevant qualifications.
Chronological resumes are the most commonly used format, and for good reason. Most employers prefer candidates who have current or very recent experience in their career fields. Plus, it's the easiest option to create.
The more experienced a potential new employee is, the less likely it will be that the employer will have to spend time and money to train them after they’re hired.
If you have a straightforward work history—one where you have work experience in the job area you are targeting, with few significant unemployment gaps—then a chronological resume is the way to go.
While it’s fine to include several job descriptions in your “Professional Experience” section, you don't need to present more than 10 years of employment in the work history section of a resume. Doing so may result in your application being screened out by employers guilty of ageism.
While most candidates will opt for the chronological resume format, it's not always the best choice. Consider a non-chronological functional resume or a combination resume format if you:
- Have done a lot of job-hopping
- Have employment gaps
- Do not have a work history
- You're working in a different field than the one you're currently targeting
These alternate resume formats allow you to place your most relevant experience at the top of the document, even if the role isn't the most recent one.
Take a look at the sections you'll include in a chronological resume:
- Contact information: This is where you'll inform potential employers how to reach you. This should go on the very top of the page—along with your phone number, email, and address. This section also includes your name in a bigger font size.
- Experience: This is generally the heart of your resume, where you share your previous work experience. In a chronological resume, this is listed in order from most to least recent.
- Education: In this section, you'll list your education background, along with any certifications, professional development, and academic accomplishments.
- Skills: Here, you'll highlight your hard skills, such as computer skills and language skills.
You can also choose to include an objective statement, resume profile, or career summary on your resume. These optional sections generally summarize your skills and experience. In the case of an objective statement, you also call out your employment goals.
As you're writing your resume, keep these tips in mind:
- Create top-notch job descriptions: As you describe your previous jobs, look for ways to make them sound impressive . Try adding numbers and incorporating action verbs . Don't limit yourself by simply listing out day-to-day responsibilities. Instead, look for ways to highlight your achievements.
- Avoid "I" and "me": It's customary to write resumes in the third person. So, in a job description, instead of saying "I managed a team of five people," you'd simply say, "Managed a team of five people."
- Match your qualifications to the job : Employers are most interested in your relevant qualifications. That is, it's lovely if you're skilled at accounting best practices, but if you're being hired for marketing, that may not be very meaningful to your hiring manager. Look for ways to showcase skills that are mentioned in the job ad and are needed in the role at hand.
- Carefully eliminate all typos and errors: Having a typo makes your resume appear unprofessional. It also reflects poorly on you, as well as potentially makes you appear sloppy and poor at handling details. Read through your resume carefully to catch—and remove—errors and typos.
- Include relevant keywords: Both hiring managers and automated tracking systems (ATS) look for keywords in resumes . Including them in the document can help you increase your chances of landing a job interview.
A resume is a formal document, with fairly set guidelines for how it should look. If your resume looks different from the usual format, you should have a very good reason. For instance, a design-focused role might offer more freedom to deviate from the norm. Here are some formatting strategies to keep in mind:
- Consider using a template: Resume templates , which are available through word processing software such as Google Docs and Microsoft Word, can help you cut down on the labor to create the document. A template can be a very helpful starting point as you create or update your resume.
- Choose a readable font: Make sure to choose a standard font (think: Times New Roman or Arial) that's easy to read. Don't make the size too small because you're looking to include lots of information on a single page.
- Make sure it's easy to read on the screen and when printed out: Few people want to read a document with cramped margins and a tiny font. Try to make your resume easy to scan by using bullet points, strategically bolded text, and incorporating plenty of white space.
This is an example of a chronological resume. Download the chronological resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for a text version of the resume.
The Balance
Chronological Resume Example (Text Version)
James Applicant Edmond, OR 555-555-1212 james.applicant@email.com
Energetic and motivating leader with a proven ability to effectively manage both staff and long and short-term projects. A self-starter and strong independent worker who excels at analyzing products and procedures in order to generate new ideas that improve efficiency and production quality.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COMFORT, INC., Edmond, OR MANAGER (2018-Present) Manage daily operations of a $1 million foam insulation company.
- Train and supervise work crews in more efficient product installation techniques resulting in reduced material waste by 20% and labor hours by 43%.
- Instrumental in developing sales team’s knowledge in the areas of building science and energy conservation in order to provide customers with the information to successfully plan for, and utilize, spray foam insulation.
MILITARY BASE. Edmond, OR DATA NETWORK MANAGER (2016-2018) Managed command and control data network used to generate video representation of geographic area surrounding the ship. The team consisted of 38 individuals from four departments.
- Production Control Officer - Coordinated the efforts of 135 personnel utilizing 37,000 man hours. Completed 520 jobs totaling over $4 million during a 13-month refurbishment period.
- Assistant Command Duty Officer - Directed daily routine utilizing a duty section of 600 personnel from 12 different departments.
MILITARY BASE. Edmond, OR INSTRUCTOR PILOT (2012–2016) Administered, coordinated, and supervised flight and academic training for the United States flight training program that encompassed over 200 instructors and 600 students in five units.
- Coordinated and supervised four Flight Commanders to ensure that pilot completion rates met quarterly and annual goals.
- Managed and scheduled 11 instructor pilots and 38 flight students to complete primary and intermediate level flight training.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- AUBURN UNIVERSITY, MBA in Finance, 2021
- UNIVERSITY OF COSTA RICA , Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, 2012
- Aviator - Advanced Flight Training, United States Flight Patrol
In what order should work history be listed on a resume?
In a chronological resume, which is the most common format, work history is listed in reverse chronological order. Your current or most recent job is listed first, followed by your other jobs in descending order. Your oldest job is listed last.
What is the difference between a chronological and a functional resume?
A chronological resume focuses on your employment history, while a functional resume highlights your skills and qualifications for a job. A combination resume includes your top qualifications plus your chronological work history.
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Chronological Resume Format: Examples and Tips
The chronological resume — also known as the reverse-chronological resume — is the most popular resume format used by job seekers. It’s particularly useful for candidates with extensive work experience, as the reverse-chronological order resume focuses on work history to show career growth. Read on to learn how to write a chronological resume, review our examples, and create your professional resume using our Resume Builder .
What is a chronological resume?
A chronological resume is a resume format that emphasizes your work history, focusing on your top job accomplishments and responsibilities, along with related top skills. The chronological resume format places the work history section below the professional summary , so the recruiter or hiring manager will see your experience and career progression right away.
While the most popular, you might want to steer away from using the reverse-chronological resume format if you have no experience , are changing careers or have a significant gap between jobs. For these situations, there are other formats from which to choose.
Who should use a chronological resume
You’ve shown consistent growth in your career.
A chronological resume highlights your job titles, promotions and accomplishments. With a clear pattern of success, hiring managers will see that you are a motivated , valuable candidate, driven to succeed. Give three to five examples of your best achievements for each job.
The job places heavy importance on experience.
Some jobs just aren’t for first-timers. Suppose you’re applying for a position that places a premium on employees who’ve put in the work and understand the job inside and out. In that case, a chronological resume is the best format for showing off your experience. Give examples of how you’ve specifically improved businesses and their bottom lines and taken on more responsibilities over time.
There are no gaps in your employment history.
Since a chronological resume offers a comprehensive rundown of your career, it’s the best format for showing steady employment over a long period — and displays your extensive, gap-free experience for all employers to see.
How to write a chronological resume
Professional summary
Also known as a summary statement and resume summary, this section is the first chance to present yourself to the hiring manager. To start your chronological order resume the right way, give a quick overview of your top skills and qualifications that make you the best candidate for the job.
Work history
In a chronological resume, the work history section takes up the most space because it’s the focus of this format. Present your work experience in reverse-chronological order, showing how you’ve grown through the years and progressed in your career.
Even though the skills section is usually placed below the work history, as this reverse-chronological resume example shows, it’s still essential to feature key skills. Feature six to eight skills that complement your work experience and resume summary. It helps the hiring manager understand who you are and what you can do .
As the name suggests, the education section in a chronological resume is where you list your academic credentials and any special training or certificates you have. You don’t have to include your graduation date if you graduated more than 10 years ago.
Chronological resume examples
A resume example is a great way to get inspiration and see the chronological resume in action. Use the chronological resume samples below as a guide for your own resume, and find more job-specific examples on our resume examples page.
We also have dozens of resume templates you can use, including free reverse-chronological resume templates for Word you can easily download and edit. Our templates come in various categories, from professional resume templates to creative , modern and more.
Chronological resume example for administrative assistant
The sole focus of a chronological resume is to highlight career advancement. In this particular case, the candidate shows how they have grown through the years and taken on more responsibilities.
Sample of a chronological resume for a bank branch manager
Like this chronological resume sample, list the financial services you’ve specialized in and concrete details on the activities you’ve led, such as managing a staff of 12 employees or overseeing customer service, staffing and other operational duties.
Chronological resume format for principal
Mention experiences in which you’ve had to manage large groups of faculty and students in your reverse-chronological resume. Add any recognitions you’ve received for your work (e.g., your school receiving an award for academic excellence).
Sample chronological resume for event coordinator
In the work experience section of your reverse-chronological order resume, list examples where you’ve organized various events for groups of all sizes and show how you’ve been able to collaborate successfully with clients.
Chronological resume sample for financial analyst
Give examples of how your analyses and recommendations have resulted in positive outcomes for clients and businesses, like the reverse-chronological resume template above. Don’t forget to list your knowledge of job-specific software in your skills section.
Sample of a chronological resume for medical assistant
Focus your reverse-chronological resume on communication skills, empathy and other intangible qualifications necessary for working with patients and specific medical training and certifications.
Chronological resume format for warehouse manager
Like this reverse-chronological resume example, use your work history to show how you’ve improved operations and profits as a manager, using specific numbers that demonstrate your effectiveness (e.g., improving inventory accuracy by 25%).
Sample chronological resume for pharmacist
This particular chronological order resume features the candidate’s extensive work history, published articles and other credentials that make them an expert in their field. It’s extensive, thorough and detailed.
Chronological resume sample for retail manager
Give examples of how you’ve increased company revenue while ensuring customer satisfaction. Don’t forget to list intangible abilities important to the job in your reverse-chronological resume, such as team leadership, time management and attention to detail.
How to make a chronological resume
1. make your summary an “elevator pitch.”.
Similar to an elevator pitch , your summary statement is a succinct overview of your top skills and experiences that lets a prospective employer know who you are right off the bat. Model your pitch on what the employer is looking for. For example, if you’re applying for a software engineer job and one of the prime requirements is “experience with Objective-C,” start your reverse-chronological order resume by mentioning any skills and experiences of your own that match (e.g., “Hard-working software engineer with 6+ years experience programming in Objective-C.”).
2. Focus on achievements and numbers in your work history.
This is the heart of the chronological resume format. When you list your work experience, start with your current or most recent job first and then go backward — that’s where the reverse-chronological order comes in. Remember to list the name of the company, the dates you’ve worked there, and the titles of the jobs you’ve held. Underneath each job title:
- Feature three to five bullet points that highlight your top responsibilities or accomplishments .
- Begin each statement with a powerful action verb like adjusted, analyzed, compiled, created or implemented.
- Use quantifiable achievements in your chronological order resume to show how you’ve excelled at previous jobs. For example: “Collaborated with the motion capture department to collect data for over 100 specific characters and apply them to animations” or “Managed $500,000 budget, improving processes that resulted in 17% reduction in costs from the previous year.”
3. Feature your top skills.
Always customize your chronological resume to best job’s needs, including the skills section. Write a mixture of six to eight hard skills (such as Microsoft Office, Photoshop, or employee evaluations) and soft skills (like good communication, detail-oriented or time management).
4. Include important training and educational credentials.
If you’ve been in the same line of work for a while, any evidence you can provide that you’ve honed your skills through additional education or training can positively impact recruiters. List any specialized coursework or certifications in the education section of your reverse-chronological order resume.
You should present your academic qualifications in reverse-chronological order, including the name of the university, high school or technical school and the credential you gained there. No need to include the graduation date — just stick to the basic facts, such as the subject you specialized in.
Check out our How to Write a Resume article for more resume-writing advice.
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Chronological resume format FAQ
How to write a resume that stands out when using the chronological format.
There are several ways to make a chronological resume stand out, but the following no-fail tips are our favorite.
- Use a resume template to give your resume a professional and polished look. Our premium and free resume templates are professionally designed, ATS-friendly and easy to customize.
- Make a great first impression with an enticing professional summary or resume objective . Think of it as an elevator pitch — a short but compelling overview of your top qualifications. For example, “Attentive and knowledgeable massage therapist with a five-year track record of solid customer service and a knack for building relationships. Experienced in a wide range of massage techniques, including deep tissue, Shiatsu and trigger points.”
- Focus on your accomplishments to make an impact. Hiring managers want to see what you can do for them, not a list of tasks you performed at previous jobs. Be specific and use numbers to make your point. For example, “Increased customer satisfaction by 30% in two months.”
Will the chronological resume format work for me if I’ve never had a job?
Since chronological resumes focus on employment history , we suggest using the functional resume format if you’ve never had a job. A functional resume is great for first-time job applicants because it highlights skills and education.
How many pages should a chronological resume format be?
Ideally, a chronological resume should be one-page long. Still, two pages are acceptable if you have more than 15 years of experience; showing your entire work history will benefit you. If you think you need more than one page for your chronological resume, ensure it’s concise, relevant and easy to read.
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The chronological resume format prominently displays your employment history, with your most recent work experience listed first. Featuring work history makes it easy for hiring managers to quickly scan your resume to see whether your skills and experience align with the requirements of the open role.
Despite its popularity, the chronological format — sometimes referred to as the reverse-chronological resume or standard resume format — isn’t for everyone. We will cover the following topics to help you decide if it is right for you:
What is a chronological resume?
Who should use the chronological resume format.
- A selection of chronological resume templates and examples
- Tips for how to write a chronological resume
- Frequently asked questions about the chronological resume format
A chronological resume is one of the three types of resume formats . This format lists your work history in reverse-chronological order, placing your most recent job first and your previous roles in descending order from there.
According to a recent survey, three out of four hiring managers in the U.S. prefer the chronological resume format because it is easy to scan and helps them gauge if a candidate is qualified for the role.
Unlike the combination resume format or the functional resume format, the chronological format, by definition, places the most emphasis on an applicant’s work history. In short, experienced applicants should use a chronological resume versus a functional resume, which is more appropriate for inexperienced applicants. Here is how a chronological resume should look:
Structure of a chronological resume
You should use the chronological resume format to apply for a job if:
- You have at least one year of relevant work experience.
- You have a steady employment track record.
- Your skills match the job description closely.
- You can show steady job advancement.
Pros and cons of using a chronological resume:
- It allows applicant tracking system (ATS) software to quickly scan your resume for keywords.
- Employers can see your past employers and job titles at-a-glance, which is advantageous if you worked for well-known or prestigious companies.
- It devotes a lot of space to your work history, so hiring managers can see what you achieved in each position.
- This format showcases a stellar work history and lets recruiters see how you’ve moved up the ladder.
- Any gaps in your employment history will be made evident with this format.
- Skills, education or training take a backseat to work experience.
- “Job-hopping” — making frequent job changes — stands out on a chronological resume.
- Freelance, contract and other short-term jobs can be tricky to explain in a chronological resume format.
- This format doesn’t work well for applicants with little to no work experience.
For other examples of resume formats, see our combination and functional format pages.
Chronological resume template and examples
Free downloadable chronological resume template.
As you learn how to format your resume , using one of our premium or free resume templates can help. Our templates ensure that your resume is properly formatted and organized. We offer modern , professional , creative and simple templates to suit every job seeker and industry. Check out our full selection of resume templates , or download the template below for free and insert your resume information.
Chronological resume example
Whether you are applying for a job in nursing , customer service , engineering or IT — or any other field — studying chronological resume samples can be beneficial. Find a sample chronological resume example for the job title you seek and learn how to write a resume that will get you noticed.
How to Write a Chronological Resume and Tips for Every Section
Tips for writing the resume header:.
- Use your full name and not a nickname.
- List a professional email address.
- Only add your city and state, not your complete mailing address.
Tips for writing the professional summary:
- Keep it short — three-to-five sentences are all you need.
- Find relevant skills and experience in the job ad and highlight them here.
- Use data to highlight a professional accomplishment, such as “Increased monthly revenue by 12%.”
Tips for writing the work experience section:
- A reverse-chronological list of the relevant jobs you have held.
- Bullet points that highlight your job responsibilities.
- Use more bullet points to describe your current role, and fewer as you go down the page.
- Use data and metrics whenever possible to show the impact of your work.
Tips for writing the skills section:
- Review the job ad for critical skills. Put those key skills toward the top of your skills list.
- Be sure to include soft skills in addition to your technical skills. Skills like communication and collaboration are hard to teach and, as a result, are highly sought after.
- Be sure to include special skills and training. These can set you apart from similarly qualified candidates.
Tips for writing the education section:
- Double-check the exact title of your degrees and certifications to ensure they are listed accurately.
- Be sure to highlight any academic awards you’ve received.
- Don’t list your dates of graduation — doing so can introduce age bias into the hiring process.
How do you list your resume in chronological order?
List your work experience on your resume in reverse-chronological order, with your most recent position, working backward in time. Generally, you should only include jobs from the past 10 years. Follow the same arrangement for your education section, with your latest, most advanced degree (or coursework, if you haven’t completed your studies yet) presented first.
Does resume work experience have to be in chronological order?
Yes. In a chronological resume, regardless of the resume you choose, your work history is always presented in reverse-chronological order. However, if you have gaps in your work experience or lack extensive experience, you may want to consider a functional resume, which focuses on your abilities and skills.
Do you put work experience or education first on a chronological resume?
In the chronological format, work experience will appear first. This allows you to show hiring managers that you have the necessary experience to excel at a new job. Like your work history section, the education section should start with your most recent degree or accomplishment. You should include information about your degrees, relevant coursework, notable achievements and certificate programs.
How can I make my resume stand out while using the chronological resume format?
There are three main ways to make a chronological resume stand out. They are:
- Mirror the job description . You can stand out by highlighting those skills that are listed in the job ad that you possess. If you have specific certifications and licenses or other training that is listed in the job ad, be sure to mention it.
- Focus on your achievements . Employers don’t want to read a long list of job responsibilities. Hiring managers want to know the impact you have made in past positions to see what you’ll bring to the table. To drive it home, use data and metrics whenever possible. For example, instead of writing that you, “Welcomed customers and answered questions,” you should write, “Increased customer satisfaction by 40% through high-quality customer service.”
- Write a compelling summary statement . Many job seekers use generic summary statements such as, “Good communicator with 10 years of sales experience.” If you want to stand out, make your summary enticing. Write a compelling statement, such as, “Proven success in revitalizing underperforming sales numbers through scalable marketing strategies that have driven a 32% increase in leads,” which is sure to get attention.
Should I include jobs where I’ve had a short stint?
It depends. Most experts agree it’s best to stay with a company for at least two years because it shows a level of commitment and a thoughtful understanding of your own career path. But if one or two of your jobs lasted a year or less, it is OK to add them. Just be prepared to confidently and clearly explain why they were short-term stints during your interview. You can also address any such concerns in your cover letter. However, if you’ve had several short-term jobs throughout your career or within one year, then a functional resume format is a better option for you.
If I’m changing careers, can I make this format work for me?
Absolutely. You can make the chronological format work for you if your career change entails applying for the next step up from your current role, and you have a track record of stable work experience and a clear path of advancement in the industry. For example, if you’ve been a construction worker for five years and want to apply for a project manager job, it’s acceptable to use the chronological format. However, if you are a nanny and want to apply for an administrative assistant position, you should use the functional format.
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A chronological resume helps employers quickly understand the value of your most recent and relevant work experiences. As employers may only
Well, a chronological resume does that by listing your work and other experiences in reverse chronological order, meaning your most recent jobs are at the
Work experience should always be listed on a resume in reverse chronological order. Your work history should go back in time from top to bottom:
A chronological resume lists your work experiences and achievements starting from the current or most recent one, and following up with previous
As long as the job you are applying for is in the same field, the full chronology will be relevant to the reader and therefore the focus is on your experience.
A chronological resume is a standard resume format that lists your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most
A chronological resume lists your work history in order of date, with the most recent position at the top. It might include a resume objective
What is a chronological resume, and when should you use one? A chronological resume lists your work history in reverse chronological order.
This is the heart of the chronological resume format. When you list your work experience, start with your current or most recent job first and then go backward
A chronological resume is one of the three types of resume formats. This format lists your work history in reverse-chronological order