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
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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