Chronological Resume Format

What is a chronological resume format?

The traditional and most commonly used resume format is the chronological format- so named because the core component of the resume is a chronological review of your employment history. This format stresses past work experience and details the duties you have had in previous jobs.

When should a chronological resume format be used?

Use a chronological resume format if you:

- Have progressed up a clearly defined career ladder and you're looking for job advancement.

- Have recent steady job experience at one or more companies.

- Have had a steady succession of jobs using the same skills.

When should a chronological resume not be used?

Do not use a chronological resume format if you:

- Desire to make a career change not necessarily consistent with your previous experience.

- Want to return to a previous occupation.

- Have a career history which is plagued with ups and downs or an unusual number of employers.

- Your skills and accomplishments span a variety of areas, and you desire to emphasize your broad base versus a linear progression.

How do I write a chronological resume format?

The chronological resume is very easy to write since it sticks to the facts and simply lists the dates of your work history in chronological order. A common and effective format for a chronological resume involves the following categories:

1. Personal data

2. Employment objective

3. Work experience

4. Education

5. Special skills

Personal Data

As with all types of resumes, begin by stating your name, address, and telephone number at the top of the page. It is common to place this information in the center of the page. Remember that it is neither necessary nor advisable to give additional personal information such as marital status, age, ethnic background, religion, etc.

Employment Objective

When you have a specific career goal in mind, state this objective in brief, concise terms under the heading of “Employment Objective.” If you are certain of the job you want, and you are confident that it is a realistic objective, simply state the job title (e.g. Nursing Assistant, Electro-Mechanical Drafter, Security Guard, etc.). If you are open to accepting more than one type of job in your field, or if you are unsure of precisely what type of position would suit you, write an objective in more general terms. For example, “Employment Objective: An entry-level position in the field of Customer Service.”

Work Experience

Under the category heading of “Work Experience” list the positions you have held, starting with your most recent job and working your way down to your earliest work experience. For each job you have held, list the following information:

1. Dates of employment

2. Name of the company you worked for

3. Position title

4. Description of the duties you performed

It is not always necessary to put the month and year down for the dates of your employment, and you may just designate the year(s) that you worked for the employer. If you worked for an employer for less than a year, you should designate the month that you worked (e.g. January 1999-June 1999). Greater detail can be given when asked by an employer in an interview. If you are currently employed, list this job first, specifying the date you started and “to present” in order to indicate that you are still employed in this position (e.g. “1983 to present”).

Use the official company or business name, not the name of the person you worked under. Some people also give the city and state of the company, but the street address of the company is not listed. The name of your supervisor and his/her telephone number may also be listed here, or it may be given on the list of References (If you wish the past employer to serve as a reference), and/or on the employment application.

Within each job you list on the resume, write a description of your duties in that position, stressing your major responsibilities along with the accomplishments that demonstrated your abilities on the job. Your description should be 3-4 sentences long. Do not use pronouns to begin your sentences, but rather action verbs.

It’s important to note that you can also use this section to chronicle volunteer experience. You can list volunteer positions in the same manner as you would paid jobs by detailing the name of the organization, the years of your involvement, your position (member, committee chair, board member, etc.), your responsibilities and accomplishments.

Education

Your educational experience, including any Vocational Training, may be listed under the heading “Education” and placed either before or after the “Work Experience” section. If you wish to stress the training or education that you have received, and especially if it puts you in a good light, place this category before the “Work Experience” section. In reverse chronological order (most recent first), list the dates and type of certification received or courses of study pursued on one line and, on the following line list the name and location of the school you attended. Again, you may designate only the year that you finished your training or education. If you are continuing your education, put the year you began and indicate that you are presently enrolled. For example, write “2000 to present.”

It is not necessary to list your high school diploma if you have any college experience, since it will be assumed that you graduated from high school. If you have not taken any college courses, you may wish to list your high school diploma or the date of your GED.

It is not wise to include training or schooling which would indicate that you are currently studying for a career in a field other than the one you are applying for.

Special Skills

While it is not necessary to do so, it is often useful and effective to describe your best skills and abilities, as well as your finest personal work traits under the heading of “Special Skills.” This is your chance to emphasize those skills which you know are most valued by the employer. Depending on how strong your work experience is, or if you feel that a listing of you job duties doesn’t do you justice, you may wish to place this category before the “Work Experience” category in order to make the best first impression that you can.

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