What is a Chronological Resume?
A chronological resume is a resume that lists your jobs and their descriptions by the date you held those jobs.
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Technically, your jobs should be listed in a reverse-chronological order – that is to say, your most recent job should be listed first and your least recent job listed last.
Listing your jobs and experience in this way makes a lot of sense. Usually your most recent experience can be the most relevant experience you have when applying for a new job. It can also be where you have the most contacts to use as references that could give you a leg up on the competition.
While there are technically different ways to format your resume besides using a chronological resume layout, almost all resumes will still have some part of the work history listed out and it will almost always make the most sense to list chronologically with your most recent job first.
General Layout of a Chronological Resume
A chronological resume is going to be no different than any other type of resume and should include all of the following sections:
- Heading with name and contact information
- Objective or Professional Summary
- Combination of Job History & Work Descriptions
- Education Information
Your resume may also contain a skills section depending on the type of job you are applying for.
Chronological Resume Format Vs. Other Resume Formats
Functional
Combination
Download Free Chronological Resume Samples
All of the following resume templates for download are based on a chronological format.
Reverse Chronological Resume Template
This resume template lists your work experience in a reverse chronological order, with your most recent experience first and your least recent experience last.
File name: Reverse-Chronological-Resume-Template.docx
File size: 7.7 KB
Total downloads: 0
Chronological Resume FAQ
What is a chronological resume?
A chronological resume is a type of resume where you list your work experience from most recent to least recent. Learn more here.
How do you write a chronological resume?
Just like you would most other resumes. But with a chronological resume, your work experience and the way you describe your past jobs will be the centerpiece of the resume.
Learn more about creating a chronological resume by clicking here.
Who should use chronological resume?
Almost everyone should be listing their job experience in a chronological format, with their most recent experience first and their least recent experience last.
But you may want to emphasizes specific skills over general job experience. Learn more about which resume would be right for you by clicking here.
What order do you list work experience on a resume?
You should almost always be listing your work experience
What is a chronological / combination resume?
A combination resume is a type of resume format that combines the chronological and functional formats.
In truth, almost all resumes are some type of a combination resume – especially on this website.
What type of resume do employers prefer?
An employer prefers the type of resume that will put you and your skills in the best light.
Having said that, most employers are conditioned to look at your work experience from most to least recent experience so do keep that in mind. Part of a building a good resume is being predictable in how you communicate information, so make a good first impression in that regard by using the chronological format when listing old & current jobs.