Chronological Resume

by Lisa McGrimmon

A chronological resume is a resume format that puts the emphasis on your work experience. The sections of a chronological resume are typically organized as follows:

  • Contact Information 
  • Profile 
  • Work Experience - List jobs in reverse chronological order (most recent job first, oldest job last) 
  • Education 

Unlike a combination resume or a functional resume, a chronological style resume does not contain a separate section where you can summarize your relevant skills. In a chronological style resume, your skills are communicated as you describe your job duties and accomplishments in the work experience section of the resume.

Strengths of a Chronological Resume

  • Easy to prepare 
  • Highlights a strong work history 
  • Trusted by employers

Weaknesses of a Chronological Resume

  • Draws into focus any weaknesses or gaps you may have in your work history and makes them very difficult to minimize 
  • No separate section to highlight skills, so your skills can become completely buried and not easy to see at a glance 
  • Can highlight your age, which can be a concern for experienced workers and younger workers 
  • Can become repetitive if you have held the same type of job at a few different companies 
  • Limited flexibility in how the information is organized, which sometimes means that the most important information is not at the top of your resume

Who Should Use a Chronological Resume

Job seekers who have a strong work history that is directly related to the work they are currently seeking are the only people who should consider using a chronological style resume. If there are any issues or concerns with your work history, a chronological style resume will not be a good option for you.

To help you decide whether your work history is strong enough to stand up to the scrutiny of a chronological resume, consider the following characteristics of a strong employment history:

  • You have worked for several years doing a job that is the same as or similar to the type of job you are currently seeking. 
  • You are not making a career change. 
  • You have not been out of the workforce for an extended period of time. It has been less than six months since your last paid employment. 
  • You do not have gaps in the last few years of your work history. 
  • You have not held several jobs in a short period of time. 
  • Your work history shows professional growth and advancement over time through promotions and/or increased responsibilities.

Related: Sample Chronological Resume Format

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