How to Write a Chronological Resume

Complete guide on how to write a chronological resume with tips, downloadable template, and FAQs.

By Tina Visagie, Aug 17, 2021

Tina Visagie is a Copywriter at Betterteam. She has written extensively about small businesses and branding, and has experience in journalism, PR, and social media management.

A woman holding her chronological resume.

Also called the reverse-chronological resume, the chronological resume lists all the jobs you've held, starting with the most recent. The chronological resume works well for applicants with extensive work experience. New graduates and those with limited work experience may also use this format, listing their qualifications in chronological order.

Download our Chronological Resume Template:

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Chronological Resume Template: (Text Version)

[Your Full Name] [Your current job title, if applicable] [Your contact number] | [Your professional email address] | [Your LinkedIn profile/website]

Career Summary or Resume Objective [Write your career summary or resume objective. A career summary is an overview of all your skills and work experience and is best used by experienced candidates. Resume objectives emphasize what you want to achieve in your career and may be used by new graduates or those transferring to a different career.]

Experience (Include the most current position first) [Date of employment with year/month – year/month] [Position Title] [Company Name and location] [Include 2-4 bullet points with all your responsibilities and accomplishments]

[Date of employment with year/month – year/month] [Position Title] [Company Name and location] Include 2-4 bullet points with all your responsibilities and accomplishments]

[Date of employment with year/month – year/month] [Position Title] [Company Name and location] [Include 2-4 bullet points with all your responsibilities and accomplishments]

Education [Name of the educational institution | Location (year started – year ended)] [Name of degree as well as majors/another relevant certificate] [Any special achievements or awards obtained]

[Name of the educational institution | Location (year started – year ended)] [Name of degree as well as majors/another relevant certificate] [Any special achievements or awards obtained]

Skills [Bulleted list of all your key skills, relevant to the position you are applying for. Limit the list to between 5 and 10 skills. Include both hard skills (skills that can be learned and measured) and soft skills (individual characteristics that are learned through experience and interaction with others)].

How to Write a Chronological Resume:

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4 Hours

Irrespective of the type of resume you write, there are some basic guidelines you'll have to follow. Read through our step-by-step guide to find out how to construct each section of your resume and to make a great impression on the hiring manager.

Create your chronological resume.

1.1

List your name and contact details at the top of the resume.

Always use a professional email address and a reliable contact number, and include your LinkedIn profile or any links to websites relevant to your work.

1.2

Add a career summary.

Include a Career Summary or Resume Objective beneath your contact details. A career summary statement would be better suited to a chronological resume.

1.3

List the three most relevant jobs for the post you are applying to.

Start with your current or most recent position. Include the period you have held each position, your job title, the company's name, and location, as well as 2-4 bullet points describing your key duties and any achievements. Only include jobs you've had in the last 15 years.

1.4

List your qualifications.

Start with the most recently obtained qualifications. Include any degrees, diplomas, or certificates that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

1.5

Include your skills.

List both hard and soft skills, limiting the section to between five and ten points.

Chronological vs. Functional Resume:

A chronological resume is primarily focused on work experience and lists the jobs you've held in reverse-chronological order. A functional resume will prioritize the skills and education of the candidate, listing these sections at the top, with work experience relegated to the bottom of the resume.

FAQs:

What is the format for a chronological resume?

A chronological resume should span one page and it lists all your work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recently held position. In order, it includes the following sections:

Personal contact information.
Career Summary Statement or Resume Objective.
Work Experience.
Education.
Skills.

How do you list jobs chronologically on a resume?

In the experience section of your resume, start by listing your current or most recent job first, then list your second most recent job, continuing in this fashion until you have reached your first job. You don't have to list them all. Include only the most relevant positions for the job you are applying to.

How do you list years on a resume?

For work experience, include the year and the month you started working, as well as the year and the month you ended each job. You'll list these years in ranges, like 2020-03 - 2022-09.

You can apply the same format when you list the years pertaining to your degree; you'll include the start date and the graduation date then.

What does a chronological resume focus on?

The chronological resume focuses on work experience, but inexperienced candidates may also use this format, listing their qualifications in reverse-chronological order at the top of the resume.

When to use a chronological resume?

A chronological resume is best-suited to candidates with extensive work experience. It can be used by students with limited work experience, but it should not be used by those who have frequently job hopped.

What is the difference between a chronological and functional Resume?

A chronological resume focuses on job experience, whereas a functional resume priorities skills and other attributes like education.

What is a reverse-chronological order resume?

A reverse-chronological order resume is a resume that lists experience and qualifications in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent jobs you've held and the newest academic qualifications you've obtained.

How to Write a Chronological Resume

Download our Chronological Resume Template:

Chronological Resume Template: (Text Version)