resume sample chronological format

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 2024, 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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The Chronological Resume: Expert Guide + Free Templates

Last Updated: March 31, 2024

Here we show you how to write a masterful chronological resume that lets your professional achievements shine, and we provide 10 free resume templates to help you take your resume from ordinary to extraordinary.

• 30% higher chance of getting a job‡
• 42% higher response rate from recruiters‡

Our customers have been hired at: * Foot Note

What is a chronological resume?

The chronological resume — also known as the reverse chronological resume — is a popular resume format highlighting work experience over skills and education. Hiring managers and recruiters like chronological resumes because they display your career accomplishments and progression upfront. 

The chronological resume format is popular among job seekers with steady and progressive work histories. It is less suitable if you are changing careers, writing a resume with no work experience or have significant employment gaps. For these situations, you might choose the functional or combination resume.

How to know if you should use a chronological resume

If you’re unsure if the chronological resume format is the best choice for you, think about your work history. A chronological resume might be the most effective option if you fit into any of the following categories.

You’ve shown consistent growth in your career.

Hiring managers want to see a clear pattern of success on your resume. Since the reverse-chronological resume format highlights your job titles, promotions and accomplishments , it’s a great option if you have had a steady career progression. Give three to five examples of your top achievements for each job.

The job ad emphasizes experience.

Having knowledge of your field and the skills to perform the work required is a good start, but some potential employers want to know that you can apply your qualifications in a work setting. Convince them by prominently displaying what you have done for previous employers. Use the chronological resume format to showcase specific measurable achievements for each job in your work history.

There are no gaps in your employment history.

Since a chronological resume puts your employment history front and center, it’s the best resume format for displaying a steady and strong employment history over a long period.

How to write a chronological resume section-by-section

Now that you’re certain the chronological resume format is the right one for you, you probably want to know the best way to write one.

This example demonstrates the basic structure of a chronological resume.

Now, let’s look at how to write each section, in order.

 Include your contact information

Your contact information is one of the most important elements of a great resume; without it, hiring managers won’t know how to contact you!

Here’s what to include in your resume contact information: 

• Your full name.
• A reliable phone number.
• Your professional email address.
• Your city, state and ZIP code. 
• A link to your professional social media account, website or portfolio if you have them.

Craft an impressive professional summary

Your professional summary — also known as a summary statement and resume summary — is your first chance to present yourself to the hiring manager in your reverse-chronological resume. Use it to provide a quick overview of your relevant skills and work experience that make you the best candidate for the job.

Showcase your work history

Your work history section should take up the most space in your chronological resume because it’s the focus of this format. Present your work experience starting with the most recent job first and work your way back in time. Like our chronological resume sample above, display the name of each company, the years you worked there, and three to five bullet points of measurable achievements.

Add your relevant skills

With a few exceptions, your resume skills section will fall under your employment section in the reverse-chronological resume format. Feature five to ten skills that complement your work accomplishments and resume summary. Hiring managers want to see a mix of relevant hard, soft and technical skills.

Include your education

Your education is a critical job credential for most employers — especially if it is mentioned in the job description — no matter which resume format you choose or if you have completed a diploma or degree. On a chronological resume, education is typically displayed under your skills. List each school you attended with the most recent first, the years you attended, the degree received or relevant courses taken.

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Get started with a chronological resume template

Get inspired to write your best resume with a professional resume example , then choose one of the reverse-chronological resume templates below and fill it in with our Resume Builder . We’ll help you craft a seamless professional narrative that focuses on your work experience, taking you one step further toward your dream job.

Reverse-chronological resume templates for top jobs

Choose from the following chronological resumes for top jobs and rewrite them with your own job title and relevant experience, or browse our library of resume templates .

Administrative assistant

The sole focus of a chronological resume is to highlight your work experience and achievements. In this case, the candidate shows how their career has progressed over the years.

See also: Administrative Assistant Resume Templates & Examples

Registered nurse

Like the job seeker in this sample chronological resume, display your expertise in nursing and provide concrete details about how you’ve used your clinical skills, such as monitoring vital signs and soft skills like empathy.

See also: Registered Nurse Resume Templates & Examples

School principal

Focus on work experiences that show your achievements managing school faculty and students in your reverse-chronological resume. Highlight awards and recognitions you’ve received for your work, such as National Distinguished Principal® (NDP).

See also Principal Resume Templates & Examples

Event manager

In the work experience section of your reverse-chronological resume, emphasize your expertise in organizing events for various groups, and your ability to manage event staff and vendors. 

See also: Event Manager Resume Templates & Examples

Financial analyst

Provide examples of how your analyses and strategies have resulted in positive outcomes for clients and businesses, like the job seeker in this reverse-chronological resume sample. Don’t forget to showcase your experience with your hard skills such as financial software.

See also: Financial Analyst Resume Templates & Examples

Medical assistant

This chronological resume for a medical assistant conveys the importance of showing work accomplishments that use soft skills — such as communication, empathy and active listening — which are necessary for working with people.

See also: Medical Assistant Resume Templates & Examples

Warehouse manager

Highlight achievements in your chronological resume work history to show how you’ve improved operations and profits as a manager, using numbers to demonstrate your effectiveness. For example, “Improved inventory accuracy by 25%.”

See also: Warehouse Manager Resume Templates & Examples

This sample of a chronological resume demonstrates the impact details make when writing your work history. Notice how this resume template displays the skills section in a separate column, making it easier for potential employers to see how the candidate’s skills align with their work accomplishments.

See also: Pharmacist Resume Templates & Examples

Retail Management Professional

Our reverse-chronological resume for an assistant retail manager demonstrates how managers can showcase achievements like increasing revenue, improving the customer experience and managing employees with superb interpersonal skills .  when managing employees. 

See also: Retail Management Resume Templates & Examples

Tips for making an exceptional chronological resume

Now that you know the structure of a chronological resume and how to make one, follow these tips to impress hiring managers and distinguish yourself from other job applicants. 

1. Tailor your reverse-chronological resume to the job requirements.

If you want potential employers to notice you, you’ve got to speak to their needs. This means tailoring your work experience and skills to match the job you are applying for. 

Take time to read the job description closely and take note of the skills that match your own. Then go through your work history and make a list of measurable accomplishments for each job, focusing on those that align with your job-relevant skills.

2. Use action words and numbers for impact

Action words and numbers are powerful tools to help you make your reverse-chronological resume stand out. Action words are verbs that describe your work accomplishments, such as “Streamlined the onboarding process for new employees, while numbers provide concrete insight into your abilities, like, …resulted in a 25% improvement in  productivity.” 

When used together, action verbs and numbers can help you paint a clear picture of your potential to succeed at the job and demonstrate how you can make a positive impact on your potential future employer’s organization. For example, “Streamlined the onboarding process for new hires, resulting in a 25% improvement in productivity.”

3. Make your chronological resume ATS-friendly

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software used by many employers to manage and screen resumes. Here are some tips for making your chronological resume ATS-friendly :

• Use a resume grader. We recommend using our ATS resume checker to scan your resume for common issues that might prevent it from passing screening software.  
• Use keywords. Many ATS programs scan resumes for specific resume keywords . Include relevant keywords from the job description throughout your resume.
• Use simple formatting . ATS programs may have trouble reading resumes with complex formatting, such as tables, graphics and images. Use bullet points and acceptable resume fonts , to ensure that your resume is readable by the system.
• Use standard section headings. Use section headings such as “work experience,” “education” and “skills” to make it easy for the ATS to identify each section clearly.

4. Add optional sections

Optional sections can enhance your chronological resume in several ways, including: 

• Magnifying certain skills. For example, if you have a lot of experience in a particular field and you have enough room on your resume, you can create separate skills sections like “ technical skills ” or “ computer skills .” 
• Providing more details about your work history. For example, if you have won an award for your work, you can emphasize it in an “Awards” section to make it stand out from your other accomplishments.
• Accentuating your expertise. For example, you could create a” special projects” section to showcase some of your work. 
• Highlighting professional development. Creating a section for training or certifications –– especially if your field requires them –– can have a positive impact.
• Showing your personality. For example, if you are a volunteer or have relevant hobbies and interests that you are passionate about, you could create a “Volunteer Experience” or a “Hobbies and Interests” section to get the right attention.

How to spotlight skills and achievements in your chronological resume

Your professional and educational achievements are the keys to making an impressive resume, and your job-relevant skills should align with what you’ve done. Here are some tips for using them effectively. 

In your resume summary: Highlight three to five job-relevant skills and something you achieved with at least one of them. For example,

“Dedicated and experienced software engineer with 10+ years of   experience in the industry. Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to meet deadlines and project goals. Strong programming skills in Java, Python, C++, and C#. Created a new software application using Java that streamlined the company’s sales process and it increased sales by 15%.”

• Increased student test scores by 10% in math and reading over the past two years. (This example demonstrates how the job candidate applied effective teaching strategies on the job). 
• Developed and implemented a new reading program that raised student participation by 20% in three months. (This example shows how the candidate used creativity and innovation).
• Won award for best teacher three years in a row for creating a positive and supportive classroom environment where students feel safe and respected. (This example illustrates that the candidate is compassionate).

In your education section: Your chronological resume education section is another place to highlight skills you could not fit in your resume skills section and provides another opportunity to showcase your accomplishments. 

Here’s an example: 

Education University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA Bachelor of Arts in Political Science GPA: 3.9

• Dean’s List 
• Graduated with Honors
• President of the Political Science Club
• Member of the Debate Team
• Interned for the California State Assembly

In an optional section: The bonus sections of your resume provide opportunities to show how you have applied your job-related skills to accomplish professional projects, volunteer or community projects — even hobbies!

For example:  Volunteer activities Habitat for Humanity, May – September, 2021

• Led a team of volunteers in the construction of a new playground for a local elementary school.
• Managed the project from start to finish, including fundraising, design and construction.
• Completed the project in four months within budget.

Key takeaways

Now you know the secrets to making an impressive chronological resume. Let’s recap: 

• Chronological resumes spotlight your work history over skills and education. 
• Chronological resumes suit job seekers with a steady or progressive work history.
• Consider a functional resume if you have no work experience and a combination resume if you are changing careers or have more than 10 years of work experience. 
• Measurable achievements should form the meat of your chronological resume. Use them instead of responsibilities in your work history section.
• Action verbs and numbers can boost a chronological resume; use them when describing your work achievements.

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Why are chronological resumes better?

Chronological resumes are better for job seekers who have worked for at least one year and have a consistent work history, but not necessarily for other job candidates such as career changers and first-time job applicants.

The chronological resume is the most common format because it:

• Makes it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to see your job history. 
• Allows hiring managers and recruiters to quickly see if your experience matches their needs.
• Highlights your work achievements from previous jobs. 
• Displays your skills clearly.

How do you write a resume that stands out using the chronological resume format?

Try the following no-fail tips to make your chronological resume shine:

• Use a professional 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. 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 various massage techniques, including deep tissue, Shiatsu and trigger points.”
• Make an impact with accomplishments. Hiring managers want to see what you can do for them rather than a list of tasks you performed at previous jobs. For every job you list, write at least three measurable achievements. 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 spotlight your employment history, we suggest using the functional resume format if you are writing a resume with no experience . A functional resume is great for first-time job applicants because it highlights skills and education.

How many pages should a chronological resume be?

Ideally, a chronological resume should be one page long. Two pages are acceptable if you have more than 10 years of experience and you think it’s useful to share your entire work history. If you think you need more than one page for your chronological resume, ensure it’s concise, relevant and easy to read or consider using the combination resume format.

Where should you add education in a chronological resume format?

Education should be added after your skills section on a chronological resume. List your educational background in reverse-chronological order and if applicable, include each school, degree, major subject and graduation date. You may also include any relevant coursework, academic honors or extracurricular activities.

What does a reverse-chronological resume emphasize?

A chronological resume emphasizes your work experience, career progression and professional achievements. List your work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent job. 

The chronological resume format is useful for potential employers because it lets them quickly see if you have the experience they want in a potential candidate. By highlighting what you achieved in each position, you give them a sneak peek into what you can do for them. Employers love seeing concrete examples on resumes!

What does a chronological resume look like?

A chronological resume typically has a simple and clean layout, with clear headings and bullet points to make it easy to read. 

Chronological resumes typically include the following sections: 

• Contact Information: This section includes your name, phone number, email address and mailing address.
• Professional Summary: A brief statement summarizing your career goals and professional experience.
• Work Experience: This section lists your work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent job. Each job listing typically includes the job title, company name, employment dates and key responsibilities.
• Skills: This section lists any relevant skills that pertain to the job you’re applying for, such as technical skills, language proficiency or other relevant qualifications.
• Education: This section lists your educational background, including your degree, major, institution and graduation date. 
• Certifications: Optional section that can give the employer a glimpse of your relevant certificates.
• Awards and recognition: Optional section that demonstrates that you are a high achiever and that you have been recognized for your hard work and dedication.

When is a chronological resume a bad choice?

While a chronological resume can effectively showcase your work history and career progression, it may not be advantageous in certain situations. Here are some scenarios when a chronological resume may not be the best option:

• Limited work experience: A chronological resume may not be the best choice if you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience. In this case, a functional resume may be a better option, as it focuses on your skills and abilities rather than your work history.
• Career change: If you are changing careers, a chronological resume may not highlight the relevant skills and experience you have gained in your previous jobs. In this case, a combination resume, highlighting your transferable skills and relevant work experience may be a better option.
• Employment gaps: If you have significant gaps in your employment history, a chronological resume may draw attention to these gaps and raise questions about your work history. A functional or skills-based resume that focuses on your skills and abilities may be a better option.

How can I emphasize accomplishments and numbers in my chronological resume work history effectively?

Here’s how to write an effective work history section on a chronological resume: 

When you write your work experience section, add the titles of the jobs you’ve held and the dates you worked there. 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 a 17% reduction in costs from the previous year.”

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• Ginger Software. Writing Center. Article. Chronological Resume
• Coursera. Article. Chronological Resume Guide: Template and Tips

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• Resume Help

Reverse Chronological Resume Templates [Ideal Format]

Our customers have been hired by:

Here’s the thing—

Even though there exist several different resume formats, the chronological resume is arguably the best choice most of the time.

Want to know why?

This article will show you:

• A good definition of a chronological resume.
• Who the reverse-chronological resume format is best for.
• A chronological resume template and sample resumes.
• Expert tips on writing an effective chronological resume.
• Examples of chronological resumes for over 30 professions.

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 examples here .

If you just want to jump right to the section you’re most interested in, use the table of contents:

• What Is a Chronological Resume?
• Who Is the Chronological Resume Format Good For?
• Chronological Resume Template and Writing Tips
• Examples of Reverse-Chronological Resumes and Why They Work
• Chronological Resume Examples for 30+ Professions

Chronological Resume Example

Michele J. Carden

Sales Representative

614-383-8924

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/michelejcarden

Resume Summary

Experienced Sales Representative with 5+ years in sales, marketing, and customer service. Motivated to support Visionix in driving growth and maintaining a high client satisfaction level. Skilled in relationship building, identifying customer needs, and delivering superior solutions. Successfully oversaw the launch of 3 new products for a multinational consumer goods company, resulting in estimated additional revenue exceeding $1 million annually.

Work Experience

Looksy, Inc., New York City 

April 2020–Present

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Developed and implemented successful customer loyalty programs that increased customer engagement by 25%.
• Exceeded sales quotas on average by 10%, resulting in an estimated $1 million in additional revenue over 2 years.
• Consistently identified customer needs and delivered custom solutions to exceed their expectations.
• Proven success in building relationships and negotiating contracts to drive growth. 
• Resolved customer inquiries promptly and effectively while maintaining high client satisfaction levels, as evidenced by reviews.

Key Achievement:

• Led the launch of 3 new products for a multinational consumer goods company, resulting in estimated additional annual revenue exceeding $1 million.

Vivid, Inc., New York City

August 2017–March 2020

• Partnered with the marketing team to develop promotional materials for key accounts, increasing awareness among the target audience.
• Handled more than 60 inquiries each week via telephone and email communication channels.
• Trained and motivated 4 new employees in the sales department, resulting in improved team performance outcomes..
• Analyzed customer data to identify sales trends, opportunities, and areas of improvement
• Played a crucial role in developing successful marketing campaigns that increased awareness of the product line, leading to a 20% growth in revenue across all market segments within 6 months.

Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing

New York University, New York, NY 

August 2012–June 2017

• Relationship Building
• Negotiation
• Customer Service 
• Communication Skills 
• Market Analysis and Trends Identification 
• Account Management & CRM Software Proficiency 
• Problem-Solving/Conflict Resolution  
• Closing Deals & Meeting Sales Targets 
• Self-Motivation & Initiative Taking       
• Product Knowledge & Presentation Skills

Certifications

• Certified Sales Professional (CSP) – International Association of Professional Salespeople (IAPSP)
• Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP) – The Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA)  

Language Skills

• Spanish–Communicative

You can use this example as a wireframe. Read on, and learn how to write your own chronological resume. 

1. What Is a Chronological Resume?

A  chronological resume  lists your jobs starting with the current or most recent one at the top, followed by previous ones below. This type of resume focuses on your work history and professional achievements.

Chronological resume is the best choice for candidates with a consistent work history.

Plus—

The chronological resume format is arguably the recruiters' favorite.

A study from Jobvite  reveals that 92% of recruiters regard previous job experience as the number one hiring factor.

When you come to think of it—

Experience and job titles are exactly what a chronological resume brings to the reader's attention.

So, if you choose to format your resume in chronological order, you can rest assured the recruiter will find what they're looking for.

But remember:

Even the best-written resume will get you nowhere unless it reaches a human reader.

You need to realize that over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATSs, in their recruitment processes.

The ATS’s task is to initially scan and score the deluge of resumes a typical corporate opening attracts. This way, recruiters can focus on reading the resumes that meet the most important criteria defined in the job offer.

Chronological resumes are easiest to scan for the ATS. That’s what gives this format an additional edge in today’s hiring.

Want to make 100% sure your resume passes the ATS scan? Read: ATS Resume: Template & 10+ Tips on How to Pass the Resume Test

2. Who Is the Chronological Resume Good For?

The reverse-chronological resume is most advantageous when:

• You have several years of professional experience.
• Your career progression has been steady, and preferably in one industry.
• You don’t have gaps in employment on a resume .

That said—

You don’t have to have many years of experience to use the chronological resume format.

How’s that possible?

A chronological resume order is very versatile.

If you’re making a recent college grad resume , for example, you only need to rearrange the order of your resume sections , and put the education resume section first. Just make sure the entries in each section follow the reverse-chronological order.

And you’re pretty much done.

If you think none of the advantages of the chronological resume format would work in your case, consider opting for one of the other common resume structures :

• Functional resume works fine if you want to focus on your skills and hide gaps in employment
• Combination resume is good if you wish to draw the recruiter’s attention to both your skills and experience

Here’s a brief comparison of a functional vs chronological vs combination resume’s pros and cons:

Not sure if the chronological resume is the best format for your needs? Head straight to our detailed guide: Resume Format: Samples and Templates for all Types of Resumes (10+)

3. Chronological Resume Template and Writing Tips

Here’s what sections a typical chronological resume template consists of:

Name and Job Title

Contact information.

• Resume Summary or Objective

Professional Experience

• Additional Sections (e.g. Certifications, Interests)  

Let’s take a closer look at how you can make the most of each of these sections on your reverse-chronological resume:

Even though this section of a chronological resume seems like a no-brainer, it may get tricky when you start thinking about what job title you should put.

Your current one? Or the title of the position you’re applying for?

Obviously, the dilemma is non-existent when both of them are the same.

If you’re pursuing a consistent career path (and this is what a chronological resume is best for) including your current job title makes perfect sense.

But what if you’re applying for a job of a marketer and only have teaching experience?

Well, if you’re making a career change resume consider using a combination resume format.

You can also modify the job title section slightly, and write something along the lines of seeking the position of [job title].

Don’t add any job title at all not to confuse the recruiter about your experience.

Looking for more information on what job title to put on a resume? Read our guide: 450 Job Titles that Work on a Resume & Job Hunt [Current & Desired!]

The rule of thumb is for your contact information on a resume to be current.

Most of the time, listing your mobile phone number, LinkedIn profile on resume , and, obviously, email address will do.

Just make sure your email looks professional.

If you need more information on how to make the most of the top section of your chronological resume head straight to our article: Professional Resume Header Examples & Why They Work [20+ Tips]

Resume Summary or Resume Objective

The first section of your chronological resume that gives the recruiter a glimpse into what you can do is called a resume profile .

The resume profile may take the form of a resume summary or resume objective.

The summary focuses on your previous relevant experience, and so it’s suitable for candidates who’ve been in the workforce for at least 2 years.

In contrast, the objective highlights your skills, and works great on any entry-level resume .

Don’t have a clue how to go about writing your resume profile? Read our guides: Resume Summary Examples (30+ Professional Summary Statements) and 50+ Resume Objective Examples: Career Objectives for All Jobs (+Tips)

Beyond a shadow of a doubt—

This is the heart and mind of a chronological resume.

Here’s how to make the most ofyour work experience on any resume :

• Put your latest or current position up top. Follow it up with the previous ones. This is how the reverse-chronological resume order works.
• List the dates worked , job title, and the name of the company for each position you held. You can also add the location of the company.
• See to it that your recent work history is scannable. Use bullet points, not paragraphs. Up to 6 bullets per position will do.
• Focus on presenting achievements on your resume , rather than responsibilities.
• Make a special subsection for your key achievements to give them more prominence.
• Start all bullet points with strong resume action words such as delivered , managed , boosted , achieved , etc.
• Present the experience that’s relevant to the position you’re seeking. Omit everything else.

Need more advice on tailoring your resume? Head straight to our guide: 6 Tips on How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description (Examples)

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 our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

Depending on how much (or little) experience you have, you may want to put your education above the experience section on your chronological resume.

Either way—

The education section should clearly communicate your value to the employer. 

If you have more than two years of professional experience, list only:

• University name
• Graduation year

If you’re fresh out of school, you may consider adding information on:

• Relevant coursework
• Dean’s List
• Study abroad

You can find more information in our dedicated guide: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]

The skills section is an important element of your chronological resume template.

Obviously, there’s no need for you to organize your skills in the chronological order. You can just as well list them alphabetically.

What’s important, though, is to make sure the list of skills on your resume consists of the relevant ones.

Here’s how to get the skills section on your resume right:

• Make a master list of all the skills that you have. Include your soft skills , hard skills , as well as technical skills .
• Take a good look at the job offer to see what skills the employer is looking for specifically. Note down these skills.
• Go back to your master list, and find the skills you identified in the job offer.
• These skills are exactly the ones you need to highlight on your resume.
• Select up to 10 of these skills and list them in the key skills section on your resume.
• It’s a good idea to pepper your entire resume with your key skills. Include some in your resume profile and work history as well.

Need more advice on how to put your skills on a resume? Here’s a guide you’ll want to read: 99 Key Skills for a Resume (Best List of Examples for All Types of Jobs)

Additional Sections

Putting additional sections on your chronological resume can always earn you extra points.

Just remember—

Relevance is the name of the game.

Only add the sections that may boost your chances. Here’s a couple of ideas:

• Achievements
• Hobbies and interests
• Volunteering

Not really sure what sections to include on your resume? Read our guide What to Put on a Resume (20+ Good Things You Should Include to Win)

4. Chronological Resume Samples and Why They Work

Now, let’s have a look at two chronological resume samples: one for a junior position, the other for a more senior role, and see what makes them effective.

At the end of this section there’s a blank chronological resume template you can fill into write your own resume.

Chronological Resume Example—New Grad

Calvin Showalter

SEO Specialist

928-899-2059

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/showalter

twitter.com/showalter

A forward-thinking graduate from Arizona State University with a BA in English and a passion for digital communications. Eager to join DigiMedia as Junior Content Developer to help devise and implement data-driven content strategies, as well as write shareable content loved by the readers. Strong background in writing and editing digital content. 3-month internship experience with SEO and digital content development.

June 2018–September 2018

• Worked with 3 different SEO analytics tools to research relevant keywords and provide editorial guidance.
• Partnered with 2 managing editors to make sure articles are optimized for Google.
• Worked hand-in-hand with the editorial team to create and edit new content verticals.
• Reported on content performance and next-step ideation.

Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Bachelor of Arts, English

Graduated summa cum laude

Relevant coursework:

• Linguistics
• Cognitive grammar

Key achievements:

• Winner of a student essay-writing competition
• Editor-In-Chief of PsyLence.com —online magazine on psychology and digital communications
• Dean’s List 2018, 2019
• Communication (written & verbal)
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving
• Organization
• Collaboration
• Search Engine Optimization
• Google Analytics
• Adobe Photoshop
• Spanish (bilingual)
• Graphic design
• Rock climbing

Even though Calvin has just graduated college and doesn’t have huge experience, he decided to choose the reverse-chronological format.

More than that—

He consciously put the work history section above the education section.

According to a recent Job Outlook Study from NACE , the top hiring factors that employers take into consideration when hiring recent grads are:

• Internship with the employer’s organization
• Internship experience in the relevant industry

Calvin happens to have completed an internship in the relevant industry, and his chronological resume’s structure reflects the way employers assess candidates’ aptitude for the role.

If internship is what they value most, it’s exactly what they see first on Calvin’s resume.

Calvin gives a lot of attention to the education section, and the other sections as well.

The education section clearly shows that Calvin has a lot of potential for becoming a dedicated employee, and it's where he mentions his key achievements.

The position he’s seeking calls for strong communication skills and problem-solving skills , and this is exactly what Calvin highlights throughout the document. 

Here comes the other chronological resume example, this time for a more senior role:

Chronological Resume Example—Managerial Position

Matthew Gilchrist

Sales Manager

+1-299-456-7888

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/matt.gilchrist

twitter.com/matt.gilchrist

Results-driven and strategically minded sales manager with 4+ years of professional experience. Eager to join GHI Inc. to lead and inspire the sales team to delight the customer and expand into new markets. In previous roles consistently exceeded sales targets by 25% at the minimum, managed a team of over 15 sales associates, and brought in extra $200K revenue over the span of two quarters.

June 2017–

• Executed quarterly marketing plans while maintaining top quality standards.
• Ensured adequate stocking of merchandise.
• Prepared weekly schedules and assigned tasks to 15+ employees.
• Managed and developed local marketing strategies in cooperation with the General Manager.

Key Achievements:

• Exceeded sales targets by 25% in Q2 and Q3 2017.
• Identified and started cooperating with 20+ new local suppliers. 

September 2015–June 2017

DEF & Co.

• Developed and conducted quarterly promotional activities.
• Identified new business opportunities by bringing in 20+ new leads monthly.
• Reported the progression of monthly sales initiatives to internal stakeholders.
• Exceeded sales targets by 30% in Q3 and Q4 2016.
• Renegotiated sales contracts that brought in extra $200K revenue in Q1 and Q2 2016.

Penn State University, State College, PA

BA, Psychology

Associations

• National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)—Member
• Voice of Influence (NASP)
• Six Steps to Closing Every Time (NASP)
• The Art of Prospecting (NASP)
• Sales techniques
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication
• Strategic planning
• Relationship building
• Spanish (Advanced)
• Mandarin Chinese (Conversational)
• Skateboarding
• Landscape photography

Matthew is an experienced sales manager.

He chose the reverse-chronological resume template to highlight his rich work history and key achievements.

Also, he uses bullet points to make his work history easy to scan.

The parts that recruiters pay the most attention to (i.e. job titles and achievements) are bolded to make them stand out.

In contrast to the previous example, the education section on Matthew’s resume has been reduced to the necessary minimum.

Rather than present the details of his college education, Matthew has chosen to include such sections as Associations and Certifications to show he treats his career development seriously.

Finally—

You can use, modify, and adjust the placeholder template below to structure your own chronological resume:

Chronological Resume Template

[Your Name]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]

[Resume Objective or Resume Summary]

[Job Title]

[Company Name]

• [Responsibility]
• [Achievement]

[Company Name].

[Graduation Date]

[School Name & Address]

• [Association]
• [Certification]

If you’re looking for beautifully designed, ATS-compliant chronological resume templates, well, you’re in luck. Head straight to our articles: Blank Resume Templates: 15+ Best Blank Resume Forms to Fill In Now   and Word  Resume Templates

5. Chronological Resume Examples for 30+ Professions

Here’s a list of reverse-chronological resume examples for some of the most popular jobs in 10 different industries:

Administrative Jobs

• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Receptionist Resume
• Secretary Resume
• Office Manager Resume

Sales and Customer Service

• Sales Representative Resume
• Customer Service Representative Resume
• Cashier Resume

IT and Programming 

• Software Engineer Resume
• Web Developer Resume
• UX/UI Designer Resume

Students and Recent Graduates

• Entry-Level Candidate Resume
• Internship Candidate Resume

Education and Teaching

• Teacher Resume
• Tutor Resume
• Research Assistant Resume
• Academic Professor Resume

Healthcare 

• Nurse Resume
• Medical Assistant Resume
• Dental Assistant Resume

Finance, Business, & Human Resources 

• Financial Analyst Resume
• Business Analyst Resume
• HR Specialist Resume
• Personal Banker Resume
• Project Manager Resume
• Team Manager Resume
• IT Director Resume

Marketing and Advertising

• Digital Marketing Specialist Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• PR Specialist Resume

Engineering

• Mechanical Engineer Resume
• Electrical Engineer Resume
• Civil Engineer Resume

Haven’t found what you’re looking for? This is where you can find a chronological resume example for any profession and career: Resume Examples for Every Profession

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.

Key Takeaways

Here’s everything you need to know about writing a chronological resume:

• Chronological resume template is one of the most versatile resume formats out there.
• Chronological resumes draw the recruiter’s attention to your work history.
• That said, they’re universal enough to be used by fresh grads and candidates applying for junior roles as well.
• To make the most of your chronological resume you must tailor it to the job offer.

Do you have any questions about writing a chronological resume? Maybe you’d like to share advice on how to get everything right? Give us a shout out in the comments below. We’re always happy to help!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines . We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

• https://www.jobvite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Jobvite-RecruiterNation-Report-WEB-2.pdf
• https://www.odu.edu/content/dam/odu/offices/cmc/docs/nace/2019-nace-job-outlook-survey.pdf

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• English (UK)

Chronological Resume: Format, Templates & Examples

If there’s one resume format you absolutely need to master, it’s the chronological resume. Learn how to use this versatile format to your advantage.

A chronological resume format is one of the best options out there to showcase your work experience and qualification.

It highlights not only your job history, but also any awards, recognition or accomplishments that you have earned.

Plus, its simple structure makes it easier to navigate and scan.

Read on to learn more about why a chronological format is a great option for your resume. 

This guide will show you:

• The reasons why the chronological resume format is so special.
• Expert-approved reverse-chronological resume templates that you can try right now.
• A full step-by-step guide to writing a chronological resume and adapting its structure to your needs.

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder with 20+ resume templates and create your resume now.

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• 25+ Google Docs Resume Templates
• Best LaTeX Resume and CV Templates
• Free Resume Templates to Download and Use
• Functional or Chronological Resume: Which Is Better? (Pros, Cons & Examples)
• Good Resume Examples for Entry-Level Applicants
• How to Find Free LibreOffice or OpenOffice Resume Templates
• Make Sure Your Resume Looks Good: Tips & Samples
• Microsoft Word Resume Templates: Where to Find Them?
• These 50+ Resume Tips Will Improve Your Application ASAP  
• The Most Common Resume Sections (+ Examples)
• What Is a Chrono-Functional Resume? (Example & Tips)

1. What is a Chronological Resume (And is it Different from a Reverse Chronological Resume)?

A chronological resume is a resume that focuses on your work history or your education, presented in the order from your most recent achievements to your humble beginnings. It’s the most common of the three resume formats , the other two being the functional resume and the combination resume.

Sometimes, the term reverse-chronological resume is used. It sounds like the opposite of a chronological resume , but in fact the two terms mean exactly the same. 

Why do people use it? 

Well, they want to emphasize that a resume goes “back in time” from your most recent position to your earliest relevant jobs, hence the word reverse .

2. Why Should You Use The Chronological Resume Format?

No matter if you’re writing your first resume with no experience or applying for a senior position at an international company, a reverse-chronological resume is always a good choice. Here’s why:

• You can adapt the structure of a chronological resume to emphasize either experience or education, depending on your experience level .
• Software systems that scan resumes (known as Applicant Tracking Systems) are trained to read chronological resumes , whereas other resume formats can confuse them.
• Human recruiters also find chronological resumes the easiest to read because they give a quick overview of your professional growth.
• Non-chronological resume formats can give the impression that you’re trying to hide awkward employment gaps or other embarrassing secrets .

Of course, there are a few exceptions.

For example, your work history might be hard to present in a nice, structured way (this sometimes happens to freelancers and creatives). Or you may be starting a whole new career, so you feel that your skills are much more relevant than your previous experience. In this case, you may opt for a functional resume, which focuses on skills rather than work history.

Or you may be applying for a senior position where extensive experience and a unique skillset are equally important, so a combination resume might work better for you.

However, the reverse-chronological resume is still the best choice for the majority of candidates and the majority of jobs.

3. How to Structure a Reverse-Chronological Resume

There are two basic ways to structure a chronological resume, depending on how experienced you are:

Chronological Resume Structure for Experienced Candidates

• Header with contact information
• Resume profile
• Work experience (going up to 10–15 years back from the latest job)
• Education (usually the latest degree only)
• Additional sections if relevant (Languages, Certifications, Awards, etc.

Chronological Resume Structure for Entry-Level Candidates

• Additional sections

If you have relevant experience, make it the most prominent part of your resume and put your education below it.

But if you’re just starting out, put your education above your (modest) work experience. You’ll flip them in a few years’ time when writing your next resume.

The Best Chronological Resume Templates You Can Try Right Now

The quickest, easiest way to write a resume is to use a resume builder with a rich gallery of built-in resume templates. You just fill in the blanks using our built-in tips and autofill features, fine-tune the colors and fonts, and hit the Download button.

Here are some of the reverse-chronological resume templates that have helped our users land their dream jobs:

This chronological resume template is a favorite among our users. Its bold contrasting sidebar offers ample space for your skills, languages, and personal info. Your work experience and education section get all the attention they deserve thanks to the clean, structured layout.

Cubic is one of our most versatile templates for a chronological resume. No matter how much (or how little) information you’d like to put on the page, it never looks empty or overcrowded.

Expert Hint: With all our templates, you can adjust the font sizes as well as the line and entry spacing to make sure your resume fills the page optimally.

Primo gives you an opportunity to establish your personal brand without hiring a designer to create your logo—a sleek, modern graphical interpretation of your initials is an integral part of this chronological resume template!

This template is a mirror image of Cascade—this time, the distinctive sidebar is on the right. As always, feel free to use the editor’s drag and drop functionality to reorder the resume sections according to your needs.

This reverse chronological resume template offers a clean single-column resume layout and a sophisticated logo in the corner. The smart use of whitespace makes this template remarkably easy on the eyes.

This bold resume template is another great choice for reverse-chronological types of resumes . The timeline emphasizes your growth and progress, and the modern round icons help guide the reader’s eye towards the most important information.

4. How to Write a Chronological Resume Step by Step

Writing a resume can be a daunting task, but we know how to make it easy and painless. You can check out our full data-driven guide on how to write a resume or go through the steps outlined in this article.

1. Start With a Flawless Resume Header

The resume header is the part on top of your resume that contains your contact information, that is:

• Your full name
• Phone number
• Email address
• (Optionally) Website and additional social media handles

While writing a resume header sounds simple, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Make sure you provide a professional-looking email address, like [email protected]. Even if you think that email username you made up in high school is insanely witty, the recruiter will probably just reject you without bothering to read the rest of your resume.
• Always include your LinkedIn profile. As many as 4 out of 10 recruiters won’t call you in for an interview if they can’t find your professional profile online .
• If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, go create one right after you finish reading this article. It won’t cost you anything.
• Only include links to your website and social media if they’re somehow relevant to the job you’re applying for. So if you’re a food blogger in your spare time, don’t link to your blog if you’re applying for a job as a neurosurgeon. No one cares.

2. Create a Catchy Resume Profile

Your resume profile is that little paragraph on top of your resume. There are two kinds of resume profiles:

• A resume summary is what you write if you’ve got a few years of experience under your belt.
• A resume objective is what you write if you’re just starting a new career.

In a resume summary, you point out a few of your key achievements and promise to achieve similar (or even greater) successes for your new employer.

A resume objective, on the other hand, focuses on your skills and how you’re going to use them to help your new employer achieve their business goals.

Whichever one you pick, here’s a universal formula to follow:

• Start with an adjective that describes your professional self.
• Follow with years of experience.
• List 2–3 relevant skills or accomplishments.
• Name-drop the company you’re applying to and explain what you have to offer.

Here’s what a resume summary can look like, as seen on a senior marketing specialist resume :

3. Present Your Work Experience Like a Pro

The work experience section is the most important part of a reverse chronological resume (unless you’re a total newbie). Here’s how to write it:

• Start with your current or most recent position, then follow it with the one before it, then the previous one, and so on.
• Limit yourself to up to 15 years of professional experience. Leave off all positions older than that.
• In every entry, include your job title, company name, dates worked, and up to 6 bullet points detailing your duties and achievements.
• Focus only on what’s relevant to the position you’re targeting—it’s called “tailoring” a resume to match the requirements of the job on offer .
• Don’t dwell on what you did. Highlight how well you did it. If you have quantifiable accomplishments , show them off.
• As you go back in time, use fewer and fewer bullet points. Your most recent professional activity is what really matters to recruiters.

When writing your work experience section, you might be worried about any job gaps on your resume.

In fact, some people get so nervous about their employment gaps that they try to conceal them by “forgetting” to put full employment dates, straight-out lying, or even opting for a non-chronological resume format altogether.

Don’t be like those people.

A recent study revealed that even long periods of unemployment don’t matter to recruiters, as long as you hold a relevant job afterwards . Even if you’re unemployed right now, there’s no need to worry: current employment gaps shorter than 9 months have no effect on the success of your application.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now .

4. Craft an Education Section That’s Just as Long as Necessary

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:

• Major (and minors, if you have them)
• University name
• Graduation date

Like in this example:

BSc in Mathematics; Minor in Italian

The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY

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 .

5. Show You’ve Got The Right Skills

Writing the skills section feels like tiresome guesswork to many candidates. But what if we told you that it’s actually very easy to identify the skills the recruiter wants to see on your resume?

Here’s how:

They’re all in the job ad.

Read the job ad carefully and highlight all skills-related keywords you can find. There’ll be quite a few.

Pick somewhere between 8–10 of them, put them into a bulleted list, and you’ve got the skills section of your resume. Just make sure that these skills actually apply to you!

To make your expertise more believable, sprinkle the skills from your list all over your resume profile and work experience sections. This will make your resume more cohesive. Also, resume-evaluating software will love seeing keywords from the job ad in your resume.

Need more tips? Check out our complete guide to  skills to put on a resume for an in-depth look at crafting a job-winning skills list.

6. Add Relevant Extras

By now, you’ve completed all the mandatory sections of a reverse-chronological resume. But, where do you put additional certifications? Awards? Relevant volunteering experience? Unique hobbies?

Well, that’s what additional resume sections are for. Here are some common ones:

Certifications

• Affiliations
• Industry awards
• Conference participation
• Publications
• Volunteering experience
• Hobbies and interests

A word of warning, though: your resume shouldn’t include every remotely interesting fact about you. Only include relevant information and boost your value in the recruiter’s eyes.

5. A Basic Chronological Resume Template (Just Fill in The Blanks)

Are you a DIY kind of person? Prefer to create your resume from scratch using Word or Google Docs? Here’s a basic template you can copy and paste:

[Your Name]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]

[Resume Objective or Resume Summary]

[Job Title]

[Company Name]

• [Achievement]

[School Name & Address]

[Graduation Date]

Associations

• [Association]
• [Certification]

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

Key Takeaways

The reverse-chronological resume focuses on your work history and education. It presents your professional growth by starting with your most recent achievements and ending with your earlier successes. Because it’s so versatile, the reverse-chronological resume is the most popular resume format.

Here’s how to write it step by step:

• Create a header with your contact information.
• Craft a catchy resume profile.
• List your jobs (from latest to oldest), focusing on achievements rather than responsibilities.
• Present your educational background (but don’t go into too much detail).
• Demonstrate that you’ve got the exact skills the employer is looking for.
• Spice up your resume with extra sections.
• Play around with different templates in our builder and tweak your chosen template until your resume looks perfect (or format your resume using your favorite software).
• Create a matching cover letter.

Questions? Concerns? Need further help? We’re here to listen and respond. Drop us a line in the comments, and I’ll get back to you double-quick!

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Olga is a career expert with a background in teaching. At ResumeLab, she writes actionable guides to help job-seekers highlight their unique strengths and unlock their career potential.

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Chronological Resume: Templates, Examples & How-to Guide

by Hailey Brophy | Career Advice Expert

Last Updated: January 23, 2024

Table of contents

What is a chronological resume?

Who should use the chronological resume format, chronological resume template and examples, how to write a chronological resume and tips for every section.

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:

• 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.

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.

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.

Was this information helpful? Let us know!

Hailey Brophy

Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.

Read more articles by Hailey Brophy

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How to Use a Reverse Chronological Resume Format

10 min read · Updated on February 07, 2024

Everything you need to know about writing the most common resume format

For most professionals, a chronological resume is the best format to capture skills, experience, and achievements. That's because this resume format focuses on the employment history section, which gives plenty of space to explain the candidate's career trajectory.

The reverse-chronological resume format is also what hiring managers prefer to see , meaning that an alternate structure could even decrease your chances of landing the job. 

To keep that from happening to you, let's explore how to use a reverse-chronological resume format. You'll also find a few guiding examples that can help you to produce a perfect example of the most popular resume out there.

What is a chronological resume?

The chronological resume is a format that focuses on the employment history section where work experience is listed. The main idea is that you start with your most recent or current position and work backward through all your relevant experience of the past 10 years. 

NOTE: This structure is sometimes called the “reverse-chronological resume format.”

It's been said that past behavior is the most reliable predictor of future outcomes. Therefore, prospective employers rely on your career accomplishments to get an idea of what you can do for them. That's part of what makes the reverse-chronological resume format so popular. 

When hiring managers can quickly digest what you've done in the past, they are able to get a feel for whether you'll be the right candidate for their team. By focusing your career history on the most recent experiences and working backward for about 10 years, you provide the most up-to-date and accurate representation of what you bring to the table. 

It's critical to note that the structure of your reverse-chronological resume is important, too. How the information is laid out on the page will aid the hiring manager – who's spending mere seconds glancing at it – to easily find the information about your career history they want. 

How to structure a chronological resume

Your chronological resume will contain at least six sections with relevant headers. Here's an outline of what you should include in your chronological resume:

Contact information 

You want the hiring manager to contact you for an interview, right? Well, here's the place to make sure they have the details they need to do just that. Include your name (it doesn't have to be your full legal name – just use whatever you go by), location, phone number, and email address. You can also add links to your LinkedIn profile (if it's been properly optimized) and any online portfolios you may have

The headline grabs the reader's attention. Write a one-line blurb that contains the title of the job found in the job description, along with a couple of relevant keywords that will help you to stand out from the crowd. 

A summary or professional profile

Your professional summary is a three to five-sentence paragraph that outlines the major events of your career. Start with something that mirrors the title on the job description and match it up with the hard and soft skills you have. Throw in at least one achievement.

This is the place for a bulleted list of skills. Include 9-12 skills that you have that will show the hiring manager you have what it takes to get the job done. Use the same language and keywords you find in the job description to ensure that your resume makes it past the ATS .

Work experience or employment history

Now you've come to the nitty-gritty part of your resume – what you've done, when, and where. Keep in mind that hiring managers will look to your past accomplishments to see what you have to bring to their team. It may be tempting to dump everything you've ever done , but relevancy is critical. 

Let's take a closer look at how to write this section. 

Always list the name of the company you work for first. This is important because if you have a company where you held multiple roles, you can stack the roles to show progression. You need the following information as a sub-heading:

Employer name

Dates worked

Then, add 4-5 bullet points to discuss various aspects of your time in the position. You can focus on topics like:

Projects or tasks you completed

Skills you used

Awards and achievements

Numbers and statistics that quantify your successes

Make sure to list these entries starting with your most recent or current job and working backward, as this is a fundamental component of the reverse-chronological resume format.

For your education, you can (and should) include degrees and the colleges you've attended. However, don't forget about things like professional development classes, certifications, and licenses. Spell out acronyms and omit your graduation dates. Again, this section should be presented in reverse-chronological format. 

Additional sections like awards, hobbies, or languages

Sometimes, there are things you've done outside of the regular work day that are also important to securing a new job. You can create additional sections on your resume for things like public speaking, special projects, and awards. Just remember, if you're adding it to your reverse-chronological resume, it needs to be relevant to the hiring manager who will receive it.

Tips on when to use a reverse-chronological resume format

The chronological resume is considered the standard resume format because it suits the widest range of professionals, including people in healthcare, IT, law, HR, business, and education. It's especially useful if you've enjoyed a progressive career with advancements through promotions and new jobs.

The chronological resume is less suitable for creative or independent professions, where gig work and short-term contracts are part of the career path. In those cases, alternative resume formats like functional or hybrid models may be more suitable. 

Expert Tip: You should try to use the hybrid format instead of the functional format. There' a bit of a stigma associated with using the functional resume format .

How to use reverse-chronological resume format

Now that you know what a chronological resume is, what the outline looks like, and who should use it, let's dig into the actual writing part.

The format of your chronological resume is almost as important as the writing, because a clean and organized layout is one of the best ways to show that you're a professional and motivated candidate. 

Make sure to use bold or italics to highlight the key information within your resume, including the employment history section. 

Examples of chronological resumes

To get a sense of what goes into a great chronological resume, let's look at the employment history section for a customer service representative:

Customer Service Representative, Fort Worth, TX

August 2020 - present 

Handled customer calls and responded to queries about services, product malfunctions, promotions, and billing

Worked to address all customer concerns in a timely and effective manner

Calmly handled 200+ calls each day

Developed successful tactics to upsell products and services to customers

Piloted a feedback program that resulted in a 15% increase in branch sales

Here's an option for a Server:

Rooster Bar & Grill, Boston

Lead Server

June 2018 - August 2022

Managed a staff of 15 as the Lead Server at a high-end downtown restaurant

Achieved promotion to Lead Server six months after joining the team

Upsold wine pairing suggestions to customers, based on preferences

Memorized ingredients and allergens on a menu of 30+ dishes

Performed bartending responsibilities during holiday weekends and special events

Check out this example for a Sales Associate:

ABC Pet Shop, Durham, NC

Sales Associate 

September 2021 - present

Maintained a clean shop environment and neat product displays

Gained recognition for reliability and zero absence work record

Fed animals and made sure they had access to fresh water

Answered customer questions and referred to other departments

Helped customers find products that best fit the needs of their pet

Maintained accurate work logs and reported inconsistencies

Chronological resume template

If you're looking for a little more help creating a flawless chronological resume, here's a template that can allow you to quickly plug in your information and be assured of the right format. These are the essential sections, but you may find hobbies, memberships, or other additional sections to be necessary on your resume.

Header information

Your name & job title

Phone number

Email address

LinkedIn profile

Professional summary

Add a paragraph explaining who you are, what you do, your industry and your area of expertise. Show off your soft and hard skills and give an example of a past accomplishment to show how you can add value to a new employer. 

Employment history

Employer name and job title

Dates worked and location

Main duties and responsibilities

A key skill demonstrated

Measurable achievement #1

Measurable achievement #2

Degree name, school

Dates attended, location

Optional bullet point for GPA

Optional bullet point for leadership positions

How to adapt the reverse-chronological resume format for students

Whenever possible, first-time job seekers should aim to create a reverse-chronological resume. However, they may have to resort to an alternative if they lack experience. 

Trying to land your first job as a student or recent graduate can feel daunting, especially when you don't have much experience to show. While it may be tempting to try out another style of resume, the reverse-chronological resume format can actually be adapted to the needs of students with little effort.

If you don't have any traditional employment to show, simply rename the section “Experience.” This allows you to include any volunteer positions, hobbies, side jobs, internships, or school activities that can serve as your work history for the time being. You may also wish to move the Education section above the Experience section, as it's likely to be more relevant to your current aspirations. 

The rest of the rules of the chronological resume apply, including listing your positions from most recent to oldest and making bold section headings. Here's an example:

Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America

May 2022- present, Richmond

Awarded the highest honor for scouts after passing a lengthy review process

Planned and completed the final project involving new traffic patterns at deadly intersections

Reviewed accident records and worked with city officials to develop a crosswalk plan

Worked to educate the local community on safe pedestrian practices

Treasurer, National Math Honor Society, Arcs High School

September 2021 - May 2022, Richmond

Managed bookkeeping and revenue for the high school chapter of a national organization

Tracked payments and expenses and created reports for the Club Supervisor

Worked to eliminate unnecessary spending, resulting in 20% additional profit for the club

Organized four fundraisers that brought in $10,000 over the course of a year

Petsitter, Private client

June 2020 - present, Richmond area

Supervised and took care of three dogs for a neighbor during a two-week vacation

Took dogs on walks twice a day and fed them according to owner's instructions

Reported issues and behavior changes to the owner and adapted accordingly

Land your dream job

With these tips, templates, and adaptable examples, you're on your way to creating a great chronological resume, wowing the socks off a hiring manager, and landing your dream job.

Find more resume writing advice in our related articles below, or upload your resume for a free resume review from our experts!

This article was originally written by Anna Muckerman and has been updated by Marsha Hebert.

Recommended reading:

How to Check if My Resume is ATS-Friendly

What is a Resume? It's Much More Than You Think

Resume Builders Versus Resume Writing Services: Which Should You Choose?

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Guide to Writing a Great Resume with No Work Experience

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• Finding a Job

Chronological Resume Example (With Writing Tips)

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 Guide: Template and Tips

Learn when to use a chronological resume format, and get tips on how to write your own.

With your chronological resume, you’re telling the linear story of your career, starting with your most recent position and working backward. In highlighting your accomplishments and responsibilities, each position will logically build upon the previous, showing how you’ve grown your skill set over time.

Chronological resumes are among the most common types of resumes for two main reasons:

1. They tend to be straightforward and easy for potential employers to follow, listing the information they’re looking for, like your work history, job responsibilities, and major accomplishments.

2. They incorporate the type of information that applicant tracking systems (ATS) are programmed to screen for. They filter qualified candidates by credentials such as job titles, company names, or role-related keywords.

Other common resume types include functional resumes, which highlight skills, or combination resumes, which mix elements of chronological and functional resumes. Learn more about [the various types of resumes you may want to consider]. In this article, we’ll walk through the chronological resume format and offer some tips as you write your own.

What is a reverse chronological order resume?

A reverse chronological order resume is another name for a chronological resume. Although they sound like they could be opposites, people use both phrases to refer to the same type of resume in which a person highlights their work history, starting with the most recent position.

Chronological resume format

If you have less than 10 years of work experience, you’ll likely aim to create a one-page resume , while your resume will likely be longer if you have more experience. Therefore, it’s important to be strategic with the information you include and keep it relevant to the type of job you’re hoping to get.

Your chronological resume will include several key sections:

Objective or summary (optional)

Work experience

Certifications.

Skills (optional)

Before getting started, it may help to read through a few job descriptions for roles you are interested in. Highlight specific keywords, tasks, and skills, and make a list of ways you’ve incorporated each of them into your work experience. You’ll likely want to include most (if not all) of those list items in your resume, so keep that list nearby.

Chronological resume template

Use this chronological resume template to write your resume as we detail what to include in each section below.

Your resume header is at the top of your resume, typically leading with your full name in a more prominent font than the rest of the document. You may choose to use a larger font size, bold text, or write in all capital letters.

On the line below your name, write key contact information, including your email address, phone number, city and state, and website or portfolio address if you have one. Try to keep this information on one line, separating each item with a vertical bar.

Objective or summary

Depending on your work experience and job search goals, you may decide to include an objective or summary below your header. You can use either type of statement to add context to your resume.

A resume objective is an introductory sentence expressing who you are, the value you bring, and what you want moving forward. For example: “Social media coordinator with agency experience looking for a position managing social media strategy, planning, and execution for a major health care brand.”

Resume objectives can be beneficial for people who recently graduated college, are changing careers, or are looking to advance their careers.

Learn more about   how to write a resume objective .

A resume summary is a brief synopsis of your career and accomplishments so far. For example, “Senior project manager with eight years of experience successfully leading large teams and identifying opportunities to reduce overhead and cost.”

Resume summaries can help people with some work experience or with varied work experience succinctly state the common themes of their careers.

Learn more about   how to write a resume summary .

Your work experience is going to be the bulk of your chronological resume. For each position, you should include:

Company name

Dates of employment

Results-oriented list of accomplishments

If you choose to, you can also include one sentence summarizing your job responsibilities for each role before listing your accomplishments. You may decide to add this brief description if your job title doesn’t fully capture your range of responsibilities or if you simply prefer that organizational style.

This is the section where you’ll incorporate items from the list of keywords , tasks, and skills you created while researching job descriptions. Try to frame all of your tasks as accomplishments, focusing on the impact your work had rather than the routines. Use action words to show how you were an active participant in your work.

Be accurate, as your future employer may verify the information on your resume before finalizing your job offer.

Dealing with employment gaps

Since your dates of employment are prominently featured, chronological resumes tend to highlight gaps in your work history. There was a time when employers saw employment gaps as a red flag. Now, as they’ve become increasingly common among people in the workforce, there are more ways to work around an employment gap on a resume.

If you practiced or learned a relevant job skill during your employment gap, you may be able to put an entry on your resume highlighting what you did during that time. For example, if you took time off from work so that you could raise children or care for a family member, you may want to add “caretaker” to your resume to highlight your empathy and communication skills. If you were the primary head of your household, you may even write an entry showcasing your budgeting, scheduling, and delegation skills. Similarly, you can add an entry for any side hustle , contract, or freelance work you did during that time.

Your story didn’t stop when you stopped working for an employer, so get creative as you portray your growth and contributions.

Showing promotions on your resume

There are a few ways to demonstrate promotions on your resume. The two most common ways are: (1) by stacking multiple job titles under a single company header, or (2) by creating separate entries, one for each position.

If you want to optimize your resume for ATS scanning, it’s typically best to create separate entries for each position. This increases the likelihood that the ATS will “read” your resume more accurately. If you’re submitting your resume directly to a recruiter or hiring manager, then you can choose whichever format you prefer.

Learn more about how to show promotions on your resume .

Unless you just graduated, your education section should go below your work experience. If you have more than one degree, organize them with the most recent on top. For each degree, include:

School name

Degree obtained

Field of study

If you are a recent graduate, you may also opt to include:

Dates attended or graduation date

GPA, if it was above 3.50

Honors, achievements, relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, or study abroad programs

Learn more about how to list education on a resume .

If you have relevant certifications, such as a professional certificate , you may choose to include a dedicated section on your resume. Alternatively, you can add certifications as a subsection within your education section.

For each certification, include:

Certification name

Awarding institution

Date it was awarded

Expiration date (if applicable)

Relevant skills

Learn more about   how to list certifications on your resume .

It’s not always necessary to include a separate section for your skills, especially if you are able to incorporate job-related skills throughout your work experience section. However, if there are additional skills you’d like to highlight, include a section at the end of your resume and list out your technical and workplace skills .

Learn more about   how and where to highlight skills on your resume .

Getting started

Learn best practices as you write your resume with the project-centered How to Write a Resume course from SUNY Online, or further explore your potential with the Career Discovery Specialization . Sign up for Coursera today and begin a 7-day, full-access free trial to browse more personal development courses.

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Is a chronological resume format right for you?

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This resume format is considered the gold standard by recruiters. Sometimes called the reverse-chronological resume format, this format lists your jobs starting with your current or most recent role, making it simple for hiring managers to see your career advancement at a glance.

This format works well for seasoned professionals with strong work histories. However, it isn’t for everyone. Here, we outline everything there is to know about the chronological format to help you decide if it is right for you.

The structure of a chronological resume

Include your name, email address, phone number and location. Your mailing address is not required on a modern resume but highly experienced candidates should consider adding links to their LinkedIn profiles or their professional website, if applicable.

Professional summary

Your professional summary is your elevator pitch, a two-to-five sentence teaser that highlights what you bring to the table. Name your most sought-after skills and experience here.

Work history

This is the primary focus of a chronological resume format. This section should be listed in reverse-chronological order with your most recent job at the top of the list. In a chronological resume, this section should be detailed. Use data and metrics wherever possible to show the impact your work has had on past employers.

List your most relevant hard and soft skills in this section, paying close attention to those called out in the job ad.

List your last degree (i.e., MBA, JD or BA/BS). If you don’t have a college degree but have a lot of work experience, feel free to leave this section off your resume.

Use this template

Who should use a chronological resume format?

Choosing the right resume format is an essential step in proving to recruiters and hiring managers that you are the right person for the job. While the chronological format might be the preferred format of recruiters, it isn’t for every job seeker. You should use a chronological resume if:

If you’ve climbed the ranks in the same field over several years, writing a chronological resume will help show your recruiters the steady progress you’ve made in your chosen field. Using this format makes it easy for hiring managers to see career growth and understand that the position you are applying for is the next logical step in your career.

Recruiters look closely at an applicant’s work history. If you’ve been employed consistently over the course of your career, this format will help show off your reliability.

If you’re looking for a similar job title in a different industry — say, being an executive assistant in an ad agency instead of a law firm — this resume format is also a solid choice.

When to consider a different format

Just because recruiters love this format doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone. Some job seekers might be better off choosing a functional or combination format to show off their unique skills and experience. The resume format you choose will depend on several factors. Consider choosing either a combination or functional resume format if:

If you recently graduated or are just entering the workforce, you’ll want to emphasize your skills and education over your limited work history by choosing another format.

If you’ve been with the same employer for many years in various roles, choosing a combination resume format could better highlight your career progression.

Since a chronological resume format emphasizes direct work experience over skills, those making major changes in their professional lives should choose a functional or combination resume to highlight their transferable skills.

Long periods of unemployment between jobs will be highlighted with this format. Choosing a different resume format can make gaps in employment less noticeable.

If you have bounced around from job to job, are a freelancer, or work in the gig economy, this resume format will be difficult to use to your advantage. Instead, consider a functional resume format that focuses more on skills than on work history.

Learn more about resume formats

Resume Success Stories

3 chronological resume format examples.

Highlight a Strong Career Progression

This job seeker has used the chronological resume format to show off her strong career progression as she seeks a new role as an event planner. Since the chronological format makes it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to scan a candidate’s work history, it’s clear at a glance that Amy has risen through the ranks during her career.

Highlights a Solid Work History

Other candidates use this format to show off a solid work history, with no gaps or layoffs in sight. It works well for this mid-level job seeker because it shows a consistent, industry-specific work history. The chronological resume format aligns the employment dates to quickly show that there are no gaps in the timeline of the applicant’s career.

Highlights Job Tenure for Those Switching Industries

This job seeker adeptly uses the chronological format to show off his breadth of experience and relevant roles as he seeks a position in a new industry. The format helps recruiters see quickly that this candidate has held roles as an executive assistant for more than nine years and that his skills transfer easily from industry to industry.

Chronological resume format FAQ

How should you order information on a chronological resume.

Every resume should contain the same basic five sections. The difference between resume formats is how these sections are ordered on the page.

Here is how to order the sections of a combination resume format: header, professional summary, work experience, skills and education. For more information about how to layout a chronological resume, see the diagram on our resume formats page.

Do recruiters have a resume format preference?

The resume you create should be formatted in a way that best showcases your unique work experience. While the chronological styling is usually considered the standard resume format, and recruiters are the most familiar with it, this choice is only effective for candidates who have clear work histories. People with transferable skills looking to move jobs or those that have gaps in their resumes should consider different options.

How do I show a promotion in my chronological resume?

There are two options for how to list a promotion on a chronological resume. The easiest is to list it the way you list all the other jobs you’ve had by creating a separate entry in your work history. Here you would place the name of the employer, your job title, and dates of employment above a bulleted list of job responsibilities.

The other option is to create multiple entries under one header for the company, listing each of the job titles you held, the dates you held them, along with a list of duties.

See more on our FAQ page

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Dive Into Expert Guides to Enhance your Resume

Chronological Resume Writing Guide

Get the best out of the standard resume format

Certified Professional Resume Writer

Wondering how to order your resume? 

You may be deciding if you should list your latest job at the top or at the bottom . Or what you should focus on more.

We’ve got you covered. 

With a chronological resume, you can highlight your work history, achievements , and roles in past jobs, especially if you’re an experienced job seeker . 

This format is a great way to show career stability and can be the right choice for many job seekers. 

In this guide, you’ll learn how to craft one, what to include, and get expert advice. Plus, you can also use our resume building tools and samples to help yourself craft a stunning application.

What is a Chronological Resume?

A Chronological Resume is a popular format that allows you to list your work history from your most recent job to your earliest. 

It is a favorite of HR specialists because t he format is clear and easy to read . 

Research shows recruiters spend just 7.4 seconds on a resume , so this format helps them catch the most important details of your work history quickly. 

A chronological format starts with a summary, then l ists jobs in reverse order , and ends with your education.

You can also add sections like skills or volunteer work if they fit the job you’re applying for.

Pros and Cons of the Chronological Resume

Let’s look at the benefits of using this type of resume format, and some disadvantages. It’s great for those with a clear career path or deep expertise in a specific field, helping them move forward in that area.

• Clearly lists responsibilities and achievements for each job.
• Easy for hiring managers to read and see your career path.
• A very clear format.
• It can be used for the Applicant Tracking Systems, which is currently used by 99% of Fortune 500 companies . Using a resume template can optimize it for these systems more.

However, it may not be the best depending on your level of experience and work history.

• Not the best format for those with gaps or regular job changes.
• It’s a common format, so it might not stand out or showcase personality. 
• It may not highlight your skills as much as you may like.

In cases like these, using other types of resume formats such as the functional or combination resume is better.

Tips for Writing the Chronological Resume

Making a chronological resume can raise certain questions, such as what do I need to include in the work experience section ? 

The following tips will serve as guidelines for learning how to create a resume with the typical chronological resume format.

• Start and end dates (month and year)
• Job title and company name
• Responsibilities and achievements
• Use action verbs , statistics, and facts to back up your claims.
• Always maintain a formal tone and structured layout.
• Check for errors to ensure a good final product.
• Different layouts exist for students and other individuals.

Make sure the best parts of your experience stand out by using AI-powered suggestions that you can create with our resume builder.

Consider trying out a number of templates to find which one goes best with your resume.

Chronological Resume Templates

Once you understand what to include in your chronological format, using the correct tools such as a resume template will make the process much easier .

Here are some ways templates can help:

• They provide example sections to guide your personalization.
• They’re flexible and fit many professions and levels.
• They highlight relevant sections and leave out unnecessary ones.

With ResumeCoach you can find plenty of chronological resume templates for all different styles and levels to help you build your ultimate resume to land the job of your dreams.

Struggling with Resume Writing?

Ease the process with our templates

Chronological Resume Templates

Classic chronological templates are popular for a reason - they do their job. Use one of the tried-and-tested resume formats below to secure your interview.

Double Column

Chronological resume template. Education position is reversed to focus more on the experience.

Single Column

Reverse chronological resume template. Classic one-column style for chronological resumes.

Chronological timeline template. Additional line between job titles makes up for a clean and presentable resume.

Professional resume template. A sleek and straightforward design that conveys a sense of professionalism and competence.

Modern resume template. A stylish two-column design with a pop of color to stand out from the crowd.

Creative resume template. Showcase your unique personality with a custom design that speaks to your creativity.

In This Guide:

What is a chronological resume template, who should use a chronological resume, tips for building the best chronological resume template, chronological resume templates pros and cons.

Chronological resume template is the most commonly used format in resumes, and recruiters prefer them to others. A reverse chronological order resume template lists your jobs, starting with the current or most recent one at the top. It provides comprehension opportunities for hiring managers to see your experience.

Have it in mind that chronological and reverse chronological resume templates are essentially the same thing. Because they list your experience chronologically, but in a reverse way, starting with your most recent job. You can use Enhancv builder to build your chronological resume in the best way possible.

People who can get all the advantages that chronological resume templates offer are jobseekers at any professional level with a consistent work history without gaps between roles.

However, reverse chronological order can work for just about anyone looking for a job. This resume formatting is simple and professional, and you can effortlessly apply it to any resume design.

Resumes in chronological order are very convenient for students because this formatting is the easiest way to organize their limited experience.

Choosing this format is easily understood by recruiters because chronological resume templates are the most popular layout hiring managers see.

A chronological resume is arranged in a way to emphasize your professional experience - your education and certifications, skills, other relevant activities, or volunteer experiences. A summary statement is optional in chronological resume formatting. Excluding the cases in which you are higher-level management or changing your current professional field.

If you think a chronological resume template is not a good fit for your case, you can try a functional or combination resume template. A functional resume is focused on your skills and abilities and lists your roles and education at the bottom.

A combination resume blends a functional resume and a chronological resume and emphasizes both your skills and experience in equal measure.

Let’s create your perfect chronological resume by following the best practices.

The reverse-chronological format resume template can be applied to any design – modern or traditional. It only depends on your professional field and the type of company you are applying to. Modern design is appropriate when you are in more creative and innovative industries and want to make your resume pop up from the rest of the applicants. Use the traditional design without icons, graphics, and flashy colors for applying for positions in more traditional companies.

The best font to use for resumes is a classic, easy-to-read font, like Times New Roman or Calibri. You can use modern fonts, which are also appropriate, like Helvetica, Verdana, Ariel, or Lato. Keep in mind that ATS systems don't mind the font as long as it's readible serif or sans-serif. The regular font size for resumes is 12 points. Larger fonts are acceptable for headings, your name, or titles of sections. If you're having trouble fitting your content on one page, you might try making your font 10.5 points, but don't go lower.

Your resume should be easy for the hiring manager to digest all your best work. Using the right font in combination with colors can help that. Use white as the background, black for the text, and the remaining color as an accent. It is advisable to use for the third color some shades of blue, green, or dark red. Avoid too flashy colors.

Select the best layout

Your resume should always begin with your full, searchable name. Your name should be the biggest thing on the page. Recruiters are spending a few seconds on your resume, they should know whose it is. Show your location, there is no need to put your full home address, but recruiters expect to see your city and state. Add your contact information like your phone number and professional and easy-to-read e-mail address.

As we mentioned before, for the Chronological resume template, you can skip the summary statement section . It can be a plus to add one or two sentences about who you are as a professional and what is your experience.

Your work experience section on the Chronological resume template is the most important one. You should include responsibilities and accomplishments for each job you’ve held. If you want your resume to stand out more, you can organize your experience in two separate sections. The first one, under the header “Relevant work experience” to a specific job you are applying for, and the second section is Work Experience.

Right after your work experience section, you should list your education in reverse chronological order first on the list you should add your academic degrees, following your training and certifications . Do not list your high school diploma once you have attended college unless relevant to your professional field.

You can list your achievements on a chronological resume template in your work experience section. If you can additionally emphasize your achievements, you can lay them out in a separate section. People who don’t have much work experience can use achievements in education, volunteering, or project sections. When you list achievements, make sure they include the time frame, scale, and results.

You can design your Chronological resume template in two columns to fit all information on one page. Recurred prefer one-page resumes because they are easy to scan for the key points they are looking for in a candidate.

• The chronological format is the most commonly used, and most recruiters prefer them. This resume format draws attention to your work experience and career advancements.
• A chronological resume template is the easiest format to read for ATSs because emphasizes your work experience by putting it on top of the page.
• This resume layout works for anyone looking for any kind of job, and it is student-friendly.
• Chronological format is not recommended for people with gaps in their work history.
• This format is not a good choice if you are applying for a position in a field in which you don’t have previews experience.
• If you are just starting your career, chronological resume formatting will emphasize your lack of experience.

Frequently asked questions about chronological resume templates

Is the chronological resume best, what is the difference between a chronological and functional resume, why do most employers prefer chronological resumes to functional resumes, how far back should a resume go.

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Chronological Résumé Sample

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Media File: Chronological Résumé Sample

This style of organization is very conservative, and it is most useful for people who have work experience in positions which are closely related to their desired employment. This style is also most suited to people who have not had long periods of unemployment time between jobs. This format starts with the present, or most recent, job and progresses back in time.

Click on the "Media File" link above to see the chronological résumé sample.

How to Write Work Experience on a Resume: Examples & Tips

• April 30, 2024
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

When it comes to crafting an impressive resume, highlighting your work experience is crucial. Potential employers want to know what you’ve done in the past and how it aligns with the position you’re applying for. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to effectively write work experience on your resume.

Table of contents

• Importance of the work experience section in a resume

What to include in work experience section

1. include relevant experiences, 2. format your work experience section, 3. write strong bullet points.

• 4. Tailoring  work experince to the job

5. Highlight transferable skills

6. quantifying your achievements, 7. be consistent, examples of work experience on a resume, common mistakes to avoid.

• Work experience section: FAQ

Importance of the work experience section in resume

The work experience section of a resume is a crucial component that showcases your past employment history and highlights the skills, knowledge, and expertise you have gained throughout your career. This section provides concrete evidence of your ability to perform specific tasks and responsibilities.

Including specific achievements and accomplishments in the work experience section can make your resume stand out. By highlighting quantifiable results, such as increased sales, cost savings, or successful projects, you demonstrate your ability to deliver tangible outcomes. These achievements provide evidence of your value and impact in previous roles, giving potential employers a glimpse into what you can bring to their organization.

The work experience section is often regarded by employers as the most crucial aspect of a resume. They read it first to quickly assess your employment history and determine if you possess the necessary experience and skills for the role you are applying for.

When creating a work experience section on your resume, there are several key elements that you should include:

• Job titles and company names.  Clearly state your job title for each role and provide the name of the company or organization where you worked
• Dates of employment.  Specify the start and end dates for each position, including the month and year
• Responsibilities and achievements.  Describe your responsibilities in concise statements, highlighting key achievements and focusing on quantifiable accomplishments and specific examples of your contributions

Maximizing your work experience section on your resume

When composing your work experience section, it’s crucial to include experiences that are directly related to the job you’re applying for. This is especially important for individuals who have a solid work history and are not seeking a major career shift. In such cases, it is customary to highlight your most recent full-time positions.

However, if you’re just starting out in the workforce, aiming to venture into a different industry, or keen on making a career pivot, it can be advantageous to incorporate unconventional experiences. These could include internships, volunteer work, freelance projects, or even personal projects that showcase your skills and adaptability.  

When it comes to formatting work experience on a resume, there are various options available. The most popular format is the chronological format, where you list your work history in reverse order, starting with your most recent job.

• Chronological Format The chronological format is great for job seekers with a steady work history. It shows your career growth and experience in an organized way. It’s perfect if you have a consistent work history without gaps or frequent job changes. Employers can quickly see your qualifications and how your skills and responsibilities have evolved over time. This format is preferred by employers because it highlights your job progression and stability.
• Functional Format The functional format prioritizes skills and experience over chronological work history. It replaces the work history section with a professional experience or accomplishments section that highlights skills developed over time. This format is ideal for those with career gaps, multiple industry or position changes, or a need to showcase specific skills for a job. It enables employers to quickly identify relevant skills and expertise.
• Hybrid Format   The hybrid format blends the best of both the chronological and functional formats, enabling you to highlight your skills and accomplishments upfront on your resume. This is followed by a chronological presentation of your work history. This format is ideal if you want to emphasize both your skills and work experience. By showcasing your key qualifications and achievements first, you provide employers with a concise overview of your abilities. Subsequently, you can offer a chronological summary of your work history, demonstrating your career growth and stability.

Related:  20+ Essential Nursing Skills for Your Resume [2024]

Use strong and concise bullet points to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments in each role. Focus on quantifiable achievements and highlight the impact you made in previous positions. Use strong action verbs and concrete examples to showcase your abilities and the impact you’ve made. For example, instead of simply listing your job duties, emphasize the results you achieved and the value you brought to the organization

4. Tailoring work experince to the job

By tailoring your work experience section to each job application, you can effectively showcase the skills and achievements that are most relevant to the position you are applying for.

• Analyzing the job description This step allows you to identify the specific skills, qualifications, and experiences that the employer is seeking. By doing so, you gain insight into what to emphasize in your resume and how to align your past roles and achievements with the requirements of the job you’re applying for.
• Highlighting relevant skills and experiences After analyzing the job description, it becomes important to highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position. Focus on roles where you have developed skills or achieved significant accomplishments that closely align with the job you’re applying for. By doing this, you effectively demonstrate your suitability and potential value to prospective employers.

When showcasing transferable skills in the work experience section, it is important to first identify which skills are transferable. Transferable skills are skills that you have acquired through education, internships, or previous work experiences that can be applied to different roles or industries. These skills demonstrate your ability to succeed in a job, even if your work history is not an exact match for the position at hand.

• Identify your transferable skills  When identifying transferable skills, it’s important to reflect on your previous roles and think about the skills you utilized to succeed in those positions. Did you have excellent problem-solving abilities? Were you adept at multitasking and time management? By identifying these skills, you can then demonstrate how they can be applied to future roles.
• Include transferable skills in your work experience Once you have identified your transferable skills, it’s important to incorporate them into the descriptions of your past work experiences. Be specific and provide examples of how you have utilized these skills to overcome challenges or achieve specific results in your previous roles. For instance, if you have strong analytical-thinking skills, you can mention how you used these skills to analyze data and make informed decisions that resulted in positive outcomes for your previous employers.

The example clearly demonstrates the candidate’s essential transferable skills for a project manager role, including communication, planning, and reporting.

• Highlight specific accomplishments Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, focus on specific accomplishments that demonstrate your impact. For instance, you can mention that you successfully achieved a 13% increase in sales by implementing innovative product displays and promotion strategies within the first quarter of your employment. This not only showcases your ability to drive results but also highlights your transferable skills in sales, marketing, and problem-solving.
• Utilize the C.A.R. method formula The C.A.R. method formula, which stands for Challenge, Action, and Result, is an effective way to structure your accomplishments. Start by describing the challenge or problem you encountered, then outline the specific actions you took to address it, and finally, state the results of your efforts. This approach provides context and helps the hiring manager understand the significance of your achievement. For example, you can say, “Faced with declining customer engagement, I revamped our social media strategy, resulting in a 30% increase in online followers and a 20% boost in website traffic.”
• Increased sales by 25% through the implementation of a targeted marketing campaign.
• Streamlined operations, resulting in a 35% reduction in production time and cost.
• Led a cross-functional team of 15 members to successfully launch a new product, resulting in a 15% increase in market share.
• Consistency is key when it comes to presenting your work experience section in a resume. By maintaining a consistent format, you not only showcase your attention to detail but also convey a sense of professionalism. To achieve this, make sure you use a consistent format for listing job titles, employers, and employment dates on your resume.
• Start by choosing a specific format for your job titles. For example, you can use bold or capitalized letters to make them stand out. Whatever format you choose, make sure it remains consistent across all your job entries.
• Next, list the employers in a consistent manner. This can include using the full company name or using abbreviations, but again, maintain this consistency throughout your resume.
• Lastly, ensure that the employment dates are presented consistently. You can use a month and year format (e.g., January 2020 – March 2024) or simply list the years (e.g., 2020 – 2024). Whichever format you decide on, stick to it for each job entry.

#1. Work experience on a resume for a student

Student Assistant, Stuyvesant High School January 2022 – Current

• Streamlined administrative processes by developing an efficient filing system, resulting in a 30% reduction in paperwork errors and a more organized office environment.
• Assisted in the coordination and execution of a successful student-led event, attracting over 200 attendees and generating positive feedback from both students and faculty.
• Managed a budget of $4,500 for student organization activities, effectively allocating funds to support various events and initiatives throughout the academic year.

#2. Work experience on a resume for a teacher

Teacher, Westminster School January 2020 – March 2024

• Improved student test scores by 15% over the course of one academic year through implementing personalized teaching strategies tailored to each student’s needs.
• Developed and implemented a project-based learning curriculum that resulted in a 20% increase in student engagement and participation.
• Implemented data-driven instructional practices, resulting in a 25% decrease in student absenteeism and an increase in overall classroom attendance

 #3. Work Experience in CV for a Business Manager

Business Manager, Unilever January 2020 – Current

• Streamlined operational processes, resulting in a 15% reduction in production costs and a 10% increase in overall productivity within the department.
• Successfully led a cross-functional team in the development and launch of a new product, which generated $1 million in sales within the first three months.
• Developed and executed a cost-saving initiative that resulted in a 30% reduction in overhead expenses, saving the company $500,000 annually.

 #4. Work Experience in CV for a Pharmacist

Pharmacist, Green Health Feb 2020 – Current

• Increased medication adherence rates by implementing a patient education program, resulting in a 20% decrease in hospital readmissions for patients with chronic conditions.
• Streamlined medication dispensing processes, reducing average wait times by 30% and increasing customer satisfaction scores by 15%.
• Implemented a medication therapy management system, resulting in a 25% reduction in medication errors and a significant improvement in patient safety outcomes.

 #5. Work Experience Resume for a Cashier

Cashier, Walmart Feb 2020 – Current

• Increased average daily sales by 15% within six months through upselling techniques and exceptional customer service, resulting in a boost in overall revenue for the store.
• Successfully resolved customer complaints and conflicts, maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rating based on post-purchase surveys, showcasing strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

 #6. Work Experience Resume for a Sales Associate

Sales Associate, Morgane Le Fay Feb 2020 – Current

• Increased sales revenue by 25% within the first quarter by effectively upselling and cross-selling products to customers.
• Exceeded monthly sales targets consistently by 15%, resulting in being recognized as the top-performing sales associate for three consecutive months.
• Collaborated with the marketing team to launch a successful social media campaign, resulting in a 22% increase in online sales and brand visibility

 #7. Work Experience Resume for a Medical Assistant 

Medical assistant, Greenhouse Feb 2020 – Current

• Increased patient satisfaction scores by 15% through proactive communication and personalized care, resulting in improved patient retention and positive online reviews.
• Successfully assisted in the implementation of an electronic medical records system, resulting in a 33% reduction in administrative errors and a more efficient workflow.
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive patient education program, resulting in a 20% increase in patient compliance with treatment plans and improved overall health outcomes.

To create an effective work experience section, it’s crucial to steer clear of common errors that could impede your job prospects. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Including irrelevant Information:  Make sure to only include relevant work experience and skills that are directly related to the job you’re applying for. Keep your application focused by excluding irrelevant or outdated information.
• Exaggerating or lying : It’s crucial to be honest and truthful in your resume. Exaggerating or lying about your qualifications or experience can easily be uncovered during the hiring process and can damage your credibility.
• Using clichés and buzzwords:  Avoid using clichés and overused buzzwords in your resume. Highlight specific achievements and experiences to showcase your skills.
• Poor formatting and organization : A cluttered and poorly formatted resume can be difficult to read and understand. Make your resume visually appealing and easy to navigate with clear headings, bullet points, and a consistent format.
• Neglecting to Include keywords:  Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes for specific keywords. Make sure to include relevant keywords from the job description to increase your chances of getting through the initial screening process.

Crafting an effective work experience section can be challenging, especially if you are unsure about how to present your experiences or lack confidence in your writing skills. If you find yourself in this situation, consider reaching out to a professional resume writer who can provide expert guidance and help you create a compelling resume.

A professional resume writer can assist in highlighting your strengths, tailoring your resume to specific job requirements, and ensuring that your work experience section effectively communicates your value to potential employers. They can provide valuable insights and help you stand out from the competition.

FAQ: Work experience section

How far back should i go in listing work experience.

When deciding how far back to go in listing work experience on your resume, it is generally recommended to include about 10–15 years of relevant work history. However, this recommendation can vary depending on your professional background and the specific job you are applying for. If you have early career accomplishments that give you more credibility, you can list them in a separate section below your work history

How  do I  deal with gaps in my work  history?

One approach is to create a new entry in your professional experience section specifically addressing the gap. You can use job titles such as “Career Break,” and include the dates it occurred. This allows you to highlight any relevant skills or experiences gained during that time. Consider using a hybrid resume format if you find it difficult to address a career break directly or if you need to describe it quickly. This format combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes, allowing you to highlight your skills and achievements while still including a chronological work history.

What if I have limited work experience?

If you have limited work experience, there are still ways to showcase your qualifications on your resume. Focus on highlighting relevant skills, internships, volunteer work, coursework, or projects that demonstrate your abilities and potential. Additionally, consider using a functional resume format that emphasizes your skills and accomplishments rather than a chronological format that focuses on work history.

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Are you writing a resume for your first job? Here’s how to write a resume without experience, plus a resume example and expert tips!

How to Write a Resume With No Experience: Template, Example, and Expert Tips

Are you launching a job search for the first time? Maybe you’re considering a new career , or it’s your first job search after college . Or, perhaps you have experience in an employee role, but you’re starting a freelance business and need a resume to land your first freelance client .

Even if you’re focusing on entry-level jobs that don’t require experience , you need to write your “first job resume” without a formal job history . To do so, you’ll rely on your transferable skills , education, and experience you’ve built on your own .

Below, we’ve outlined tips on writing a resume without experience, including a resume template and an example resume, as well as common resume questions posed by entry-level job seekers .

FlexJobs is the longtime leader in helping job seekers find the highest-quality remote, work-from-home, hybrid, and flexible jobs . You can sign up for premium-level access to our database of hand-screened job listings, as well as job search and career webinars, and many other great resources! Learn today how FlexJobs can empower your job search !

10 Tips for Writing a Resume With No Experience

We’ve gathered a few tips on how to write a resume with no experience to help you jump that first hurdle.

1. Highlight Transferable Skills

Just because you weren’t on the payroll doesn’t mean your skills are less valuable. Consider times you’ve demonstrated transferable skills , such as organization, communication , or problem-solving . For example, say you led a group project at school or volunteered to plan an event. These are excellent experiences to add to your resume.

Also, consider that many hard skills employers look for are skills you can learn before you land the job. Suppose you’re pursuing a career in graphic design. You’re likely proficient with design programs, like the Adobe suite, and listing it on your resume will help you catch the hiring manager’s notice.

2. Focus on Your Education

Your education is relevant if you’ve just graduated, completed certifications, or are learning online . Look closely at the job description and point out any courses, projects, or achievements that match the job’s requirements.

Did you win any awards or participate in a club related to the job? Remember to mention it on your resume. Also, if you had a high GPA or made it to the Dean’s list, those speak volumes about your focus and work ethic.

3. Include Volunteer Experience

Organizations are becoming more conscious of their company culture and look for team members who will fit in and represent the company’s values effectively. Communicate your passion for a cause or that you actively volunteer with a community group. It says a lot about your values and interests and can help you land a job with no experience .

Volunteering during your job search can also help you get work experience for your resume . For example, if you want to pursue a career as a social media specialist, volunteering to run social media accounts for a nonprofit organization will give you real-world experience.

4. Mention Extracurricular Activities

Did you play sports, join a debate team, or participate in the school newspaper? These extracurricular activities are more than just hobbies. They highlight your teamwork skills, leadership abilities , and time management skills .

You’ll lean more heavily on your work history when you’re further along in your career. But when writing a resume without experience, you’ll need to rely on your personality and interests to snag the hiring manager’s attention.

5. Write a Powerful Summary

Your resume summary is the first thing a hiring manager sees when they review your resume. Make sure it stands out and entices them to keep reading.

In two or three lines, highlight your skills, achievements, and career goals . Emphasize how you can bring value to the company and why you are a strong candidate. Keep it concise, but ensure it captures your unique qualities and positions you as the top job candidate .

6. Structure Your Resume for Readability

A hiring manager glances at your resume quickly. You’ll write a better resume if you keep it clean and straightforward.

Opt for a ready-made template or use a resume builder . Ensure it has proper margins and spacing, a professional font , and consistent formatting. List accomplishments in bullet points to avoid big text blocks. Aim to be clear, rather than clever, to optimize your resume for the applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by many companies.

7. Tailor Your Resume to Each Job

It might sound like extra work, but it’s vital to tailor your resume for each job you apply for. However, that doesn’t mean starting from scratch each time. Instead, carefully review the job description , noting the required skills and experience. Then, tweak your resume to align with what the hiring manager is looking for , emphasizing relevant skills.

Tailoring your resume can be as simple as adjusting your phrasing to fit the role better. For example, if the job description uses the phrase “team player,” ensure you include that similar phrase in your skills or experience section. However, you can go deeper by reprioritizing the skills you share and the tone you set to match the company branding.

8. Show, Don’t Tell

Make your achievements specific. For example, mention the exact budget if you managed a club’s finances. If you led fundraising, specify how much money you raised. Employers want evidence that you can make a real difference in their organization and might need help understanding your impact. Share specific examples of your accomplishments to show how valuable you can be.

Also, choose strong action verbs to describe what you’ve done. Instead of saying, “Responsible for organizing nonprofit events,” say, “Organized and executed annual Walk For Life events with 200 students and community members.” Those extra details can help you land a high-paying entry-level job despite lacking formal work experience .

9. Proofread and Check for Grammar Errors

Don’t let a misplaced comma or the wrong “their” stand in the way of a solid career fit. Ensure you proofread your resume and have someone else review it for grammar or spelling errors . Although they seem minor, hiring managers often see those as a signal that you need more attention to detail.

It’s good practice to update your resume and then walk away from your computer for a few minutes. With a fresh mind, read it out loud to ensure it flows.

10. Keep It Concise

Realistically, your first resume shouldn’t be more than a single page and never more than two . Use enough detail to explain your achievements, but not so much that your bullet points become wordy or complicated to read. Don’t use overly flowery language or buzzwords that don’t add real value.

Hiring managers have limited time to scan resumes, so make sure yours highlights your accomplishments concisely. Use bold headings and clear formatting to make it visually appealing.

Resume Template With Little to No Experience

Now that you know how to make a resume with no experience , you can use this resume template as a starting point. Fill in the blanks with your information and adjust as needed to match the job you’re applying for.

The header will have your basic information formatted to stand out from the rest of your content. Keep it to essential information only so it’s not cluttered. If you’re applying for jobs in the United States, the current advice is not to include a photo. However, if you have a LinkedIn profile or personal website , include those links.

[Your Name] [Your City/State] [Your Phone Number] [Your Professional Email Address]

Professional Summary

A [new graduate/student] with a passion for [industry or field] aiming to utilize my [skills] and [education details] to contribute to a [positive characteristic of the company/mission of the position you’re applying for].

[Volunteer/Work experience, Organization/Company Name, Date Range] [Up to five bullet points]

[Extracurricular activity, Organization Name, Date Range] [Up to five bullet points]

[Skill #1] [Skill #2] [Skill #3]

[Degree Name, Institution Name, Graduation Date] Relevant coursework: [Course Name 1, Course Name 2] GPA: [Your GPA, if high and you choose to add it]

Certifications

[Certification Name, Issuing Body, Date Earned]

Additional Sections (optional, as needed)

[Awards and Honors] [Leadership roles in organizations]

Example Resume for a First Job

Want to see how to put all those tips into practice? Look at this resume example for first jobs from our fictional new graduate, Samantha Young, who is hoping to land a nearby entry-level job .

Samantha Young Anytown, Anystate 555-555-5555 [email protected]

A newly graduated high school student, I bring a robust work ethic and a passion for culinary arts. I am keen to become part of a vibrant team at a local restaurant where I can acquire hands-on experience and contribute to creating an incredible dining experience for guests.

Volunteer Dishwasher , Anytown Soup Kitchen, Summers 2021 – 2023

• Worked with the culinary team to ensure a clean and efficient kitchen, serving over 500 meals a week

Secretary , Culinary Club, September 2020 – May 2022

• Managed club emails, organized club events, and led presentations on culinary topics
• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Basic food preparation knowledge
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment

High School Diploma , Anytown High School, 2019 Relevant coursework:

• Culinary Skills, Nutrition Foundations
• Attended a food safety and hygiene workshop

Food Handlers Certificate , Anytown Health Department, 2021

Common Questions About Writing a Resume With No Experience

Whether you’re looking for a side gig to make money from home , pursuing a freelance career for the first time, changing careers to a new industry, or looking for your very first professional job, these are common questions job seekers have about writing resumes without work experience .

1. Is it worth making a resume when you have no job experience?

Definitely! A resume is a marketing tool that showcases your skills, education, and potential to employers. It also demonstrates your initiative and dedication to starting a career. If you’re struggling, consider hiring a resume writer.

2.  How do you say you have no experience on a job resume?

Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, emphasize what you do . For example, suppose you’re applying for your first remote job but don’t have remote work experience . Ensure that you tailor your resume to the role and highlight skills relevant to remote work so that the hiring manager sees your lack of remote experience as a minor issue.

3. How long should a resume be with no work experience?

A resume should be long enough to provide a comprehensive view of your skills and qualifications but not so long that it becomes difficult to read. Generally, one page is sufficient for writing a resume with no experience .

Find a Job With No Experience

Keep in mind that a resume isn’t just a list of your past jobs and skills; it’s meant to communicate your unique talents and potential to employers. Even if you lack conventional work experience , emphasize your strengths on your resume and show your passion and motivation for the job.

And if you're looking for a work-from-home job that doesn't require experience —or any other flexible job —you're in the right place! Members get exclusive access to our jobs database, which is updated every day with new job postings in more than 50 career categories . Take a tour to learn more about the many benefits of a FlexJobs membership!

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