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To get a stab at your dream job, you need to give the hiring manager exactly what she wants. Start with her favorite resume format: a chronological layout. Elegant, classy, and, most importantly, extremely efficient.
In every area of life, trends come and go. But—
There are those all-time classics that are never out of style. Think about the little black dress or the ‘68 Shelby Mustang.
That’s what a chronological resume is for the hiring industry.
The paradigm of job search. The go-to format for nearly every candidate.
Want to know what makes it so special? Not sure how to write a reverse-chronological resume?
In this guide:
Let’s cover the very basics first.
A chronological resume (or actually a reverse-chronological resume) is the most common and universal of the three standard resume styles. Its focal point is the work history section in which you outline up to 15 years of your most recent employment, listing positions in descending chronological order and outlining your key responsibilities.
A chronological resume template consists of the following sections, usually in the below order:
Here’s a reverse-chronological resume example so you can see what it looks like in practice.
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What makes the reverse-chronological resume format so good?
First of all, it highlights what matters most to recruiters: your work history, with a focus on your most recent employment.
That’s why recruiters prefer this format over the other ones. And your professional future is in their hands, so you better play by their rules.
Secondly, the chronological resume layout is most likely to pass an ATS test. See, nowadays most large companies (98% of Fortune 500) use algorithms and bots to scan resumes before they reach human decision-makers.
Those bots look for keywords such as:
And a reverse-chronological resume makes all of the above prominent and easy to parse.
Feel like you should write a good ol’ classic chronological resume?
You’re probably right! Let’s look into what types of candidates can benefit from writing a chronological resume most.
In other words, virtually everyone.
See, the chronological resume is such a great format mostly because it’s versatile. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro. What’s more—
You can adjust this resume structure so that it fits your needs. I’ll explain that in detail in the following section.
The two other typical resume formats are:
If you’d like to take a closer look at the two other options, see our dedicated guide comparing a chronological vs functional vs combination resume and make a fully-informed choice. We also have a guide on functional vs chronological resume format if you're deciding between those two.
But (don’t say I didn’t warn you), you’ll most likely end up with a chronological resume format anyway. And it will be for a good reason!
Now, let’s walk through how you can make the most of each section of a chronological resume. Read on for tons of examples and actionable tips.
(Plus, as a bonus, at the bottom you’ll get a ready-to-use fill-in-the-blanks rev-chron resume template you’ll be able to adjust in minutes.)
If there’s any downside to the chronological resume setup, it’s that your resume might end up looking too similar to those by other candidates.
The fix?
Add a bit of extra value to each section. It’s not that hard—let me show you how.
Include:
Pretty simple, right?
If you need more detail, read our in-depth guide to creating a standout resume header.
It’s that short-and-sweet paragraph at the top of your resume.
The purpose of a resume profile is to provide an overview of your qualifications and expertise plus present a few highlights of your career.
Got 2+ years’ experience in your field? Your resume profile should be a professional summary that focuses on accomplishments and shows how you’ll translate those into success in your prospective position.
Barely starting out on your career?Put a resume objective statement at the top of your reverse-chronological resume. Showcase skills that you’ve mastered so far and explain how well you’ll fit in.
Whichever one you pick, here’s a universal formula to follow:
These examples show you how a resume profile works in practice.
The first one comes from a senior marketing specialist resume.
See that? Specific information on the candidate’s skill set and solid examples of achievements that back those skills up.
Now, see a sample resume profile that doesn’t quite tick all the boxes.
Not awful, true.
But it doesn’t include anything special other than generic qualifications most candidates for that position will have.
Here comes the key component of every reverse-chronological resume template.
The work history section. It’s the most prominent part of the whole resume. One that makes or breaks your chances.
Here’s how to craft a millennium-falcon-like experience section on a chronological resume:
Alright, let’s see a good and a bad example of presenting your work history in a reverse-chronological resume layout.
Here’s a top-notch work history section sample taken from a resume of a data scientist.
The job to which she’s applying requires skills in machine learning, data mining, and model development optimization. Senior Data Scientist ACB Inc. Los Angeles, CA May 2013–Sep 2019 Key achievement: Applied data mining to analyze procurement processes resulting in savings of $420,000 a year.
And here’s a less-than-perfect sample from a PR specialist resume. PR Specialist with Nike Seattle, 2018 - today Seattle, Washington Responsible for:
Night and day. The good example fits the job like Spandex. Plus, it lists specific, verifiable achievements. Recruiters would have to be crazy to not call her up for an interview.
The bad example? It lacks details, is vague, and just plain boring.
For most candidates, listing education on their chronological resumes is a sheer formality.
If you have over 2 years of relevant experience in your field, make your education section brief and to-the-point.
Include only:
Like in this example:
BSc in Mathematics; Minor in Italian
The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY
2014
Recently graduated and don’t have a solid work history to show off yet?
Do two things—
First of all, make your education section the main selling point of your chronological resume. Put it above the work experience.
Secondly, add more details about your educational background: list relevant coursework, honors and awards, extracurricular activities, and other achievements.
You can learn more by reading our guide to perfecting your education section.
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Make a skills section that clearly stands out from the rest of your resume. List between 5 and 10 skills relevant to the position you’re targeting.
But—
Don’t just cram your chronological resume with a random set of skills. Go about it this way:
Master the art and science behind putting skills on a resume with our dedicated guide.
Like I said above, the only potential flaw of the chronological resume setup is that it’s just sooo common and almost formulaic.
Sure, you’ve already learned how to max out each standard part of your resume. Time for one extra step—
Create an additional resume section and enter a few of your proudest professional “wins.”
Check out these ideas.
It’s a perfect example of show don’t tell. All of the above will make your key qualifications much more believable.
And voila. Follow the above steps to create a job-winning chronological resume.
Before you start writing your resume, though, I’ve got a bonus for you!
If you’re pressed for time, you feel free to use the handy template below.
Copy it, add your own details, and you’ll have a perfectly-structured chronological resume in minutes.
[Your Name]
[Job Title]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
[LinkedIn Profile]
[Dependable/detail-oriented/creative/another adjective that describes you][Your Job Title] with [Number of Years] years of experience in [coordinating projects/inbound marketing/front-end development/another key area of your expertise] seeking to join [Target Company Name] to help boost all of your major KPIs in the upcoming months. In my [current/previous position] with [Company Name][boosted sales/cut costs/improved processes/other relevant achievements] by 30% year-on-year.
[Position]
[Company]
[Dates worked]
[Position]
[Company]
[Dates worked]
[Degree]
[School/University Name]
[Graduation Date]
Technical Skills
Soft Skills
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Here’s a recap of how to write a chronological resume:
Questions? Concerns? Need further help? I’m here to listen and respond. Drop me a line in the comments and I’ll get back to you double-quick!
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A perfect resume is one that will land you an interview by convincing the recruiter you’re perfect for the role. Don’t know how to write one? We do, and we’re about to show you.
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