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What is the reverse chronological resume format
Benefits of the reverse chronological resume
Who is the reverse chronological resume for
Is the reverse chronological resume format right for you
66 Reverse chronological resumes
Why is the reverse chronological resume format better
What’s at stake when using a reverse chronological resume
Chronological or reverse chronological resumes
Reverse chronological vs functional vs combination format, key takeaways.
The reverse chronological resume is the most common resume format out there, but is it impactful?
Today’s hiring landscape requires you to not only provide recruiters with information but to package it in a way that they remember. Especially when there’s a tsunami of applicants arriving at their desks.
Everyone is reduced to a piece of paper when it comes to resumes, so how can you make yours as effective as possible?
See the benefits of the reverse-chronological resume and examples of how others have used it in their job application process below. Or explore our professionally designed chronological resume templates instead!
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The reverse-chronological resume describes the most recent job first and moves backward in time for every subsequent position.
The format comes with the following general expectation of flow:
While this is the convention, it’s certainly not the law. You can keep the spirit of a reverse-chronological resume without sticking to a restricting structure. We’ll get into this further on in the article.
Read our full guide about resume sections to confidently optimize a stronger resume that’s more likely to attract job recruiters!
Going with a reverse chronological resume format can really boost your job application. This style has some great benefits that help show off your career growth and achievements in the best way possible. Here’s what a reverse chronological resume will help you achieve:
Inconsistencies inyour career history are one of the first red flags recruiters will notice. Especially since recruiters spend just 6 seconds on initial screenings, your resume can easily be overlooked.
The recruiter is interested in the story of your career — including what brought you to this current position. This can play into your culture fit and your impact on the team dynamics within the organization.
To illustrate this, let’s see what Jonathan, one of Enhancv’s customers, wrote on his resume.
When Jonathan was getting his job at HEB (one of the largest grocery retailers in Texas), he used the reverse-chronological order with Enhancv’s resume builder to highlight his journey into operations from data analytics. Because of this, job recruiters were able to estimate his skill level and recognize his commitment to the area.
Sometimes the traditional route is best. This can come into play when applying to large organizations with standardized application forms or those who rely on Automated Tracking Systems (ATS).
With the reverse-chronological resume being the most common, it’s easily analyzed by the ATS and gives recruiters exactly what they’re looking for. They can directly identify your most recent job and quickly assess how that experience compares to what you’ll be doing.
As the saying goes, “You’re only as good as your last performance”.
One of the advantages of using this format is that it emphasizes the organizations you’ve worked at previously. If you’ve worked with some heavy hitters in your industry, this can create a great impression on the hiring managers and separate you from the crowd.
There are 4 common cases when you’d need to provide a reverse chronological overview of your experience. It’s best for:
Your best bet would be to craft a resume using one of the other two formats to make your employment gaps less obvious . For example, the hybrid resume allows you to highlight your skills rather than your career progression, providing a good workaround.
We recommend avoiding this format if you're in an entry-level role or have mainly temporary work experience.
Just remember, whichever format you choose, list your experience, internships, education, and achievements in reverse chronological order.
Below is a comprehensive list of jobs where the reverse chronological resume can best fit a candidate’s substantial experience.
Here are some job roles where this format is particularly advantageous:
Here are the job titles by sector:
Accounting & finance
Creative
Data science
Engineering
Executive and management roles
Foodservice and hospitality
Government and federal agencies
Human resources
Information technology
Law enforcement
Manufacturing
Nursing and healthcare
Project management
Sales and retail
Teaching and education
Quality assurance
The reason is relevance. On your resume, you should always prioritize experiences and skills directly related to the job you're applying for. Your most recent work experience provides a better reflection of your current qualifications than a job you did 5 years ago. The same applies to your educational progression.
By placing your latest experience at the top, you direct hiring managers’ attention to your most relevant achievements first. This allows them to quickly assess how well you’ll perform in the prospective job. Plus, this format ensures that the most pertinent and updated information is highlighted, making it easier for employers to see your fit for the role.
Always tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for . Don’t list everything that comes to mind just to fill up space. Instead, select keywords from the job description and strategically incorporate them into your resume. This will help you pass the ATS screening and make it easier for recruiters to read through your document.
You’ve probably seen a resume in reverse chronological order before—this is the most common type of resume and it's all over the internet. However, we’re here to give you some quick tips on how to craft yours step by step, along with some insider guidelines on mistakes to avoid.
The reverse chronological resume template should have the following sequence:
You may wonder what makes these sections so typical of the reverse chronological format. It’s the visual hierarchy they create on the resume. A clear and predictable organization makes it easier for recruiters to read and assess your qualifications, making them more relaxed and engaged with your resume.
Let’s tackle these sections one by one.
The resume header is the section at the top of your resume and serves as the first point of contact for recruiters. It's often personalized with contrasting colors and a larger font size to attract attention. It should contain the following details:
Not making your name searchable. To make it easier for recruiters to find your resume in a sea of candidates, ensure your name matches your LinkedIn profile, the email address, and the file name.
A resume profile is a section that includes a brief overview of your previous experience, skills, and future goals related to a specific job opening. We normally distinguish between two types—a career summary and an objective statement. Here’s how to write yours:
Writing a resume summary or objective that’s too vague or generic. Ensure your profile is specific, tailored to the job you’re applying for, and highlights your unique qualifications and career goals.
Your work history section determines the format of your resume. Senior candidates can benefit greatly from listing experience in reverse chronological order, while entry-level individuals should go for a hybrid or functional resume.
This is how your experience entries should be listed:
An experience section that doesn’t provide quantifiable results. Don’t just list job duties—include concrete numbers to make your impact tangible.
If you need a more detailed breakdown of how to build your experience section, dive into our article: How to List Work Experience on Your Resume—A Guide with Examples .
Your education section also needs to follow a specific hierarchy to be more readable. See the steps below:
Omitting important details. Make sure you include all critical information to ensure clarity and completeness.
Resume skills help potential employers identify whether you would be a good fit for the role. Consider the whole process from the recruiter's point of view. They’ll either briefly skim the document to identify relevant skills or work with ATS to identify them. Use the tips below to make your skills section count:
Including irrelevant or generic skills that don’t align with the job you’re applying for. Always tailor your skills to match the job description, ensuring they’re specific and relevant to the position. This will make your resume more targeted and appealing to employers.
Additional sections
Depending on the job you’re applying for, inserting more sections into your resume can add value to your application.
Overloading with information and irrelevance. Providing too much detail can make the resume poorly targeted, lengthy, and difficult to read. Aim for conciseness and relevance.
[Your Name]
[Your City, State, ZIP] | [Your Phone Number] | [Your Email Address] [LinkedIn Profile] | [Professional Website or Portfolio]
Professional summary
A concise summary highlighting your key qualifications, skills, and career goals. Typically 3-4 sentences.
Professional experience
[Most recent job title] [Company Name], [City, State] [Month/Year] – [Month/Year]
[Previous job title] [Company Name], [City, State] [Month/Year] – [Month/Year]
[Earlier job title] [Company Name], [City, State] [Month/Year] – [Month/Year]
[Degree Earned] [University Name], [City, State] [Month/Year] – [Month/Year]
Certifications
[Organization Name], Member since [Year]
[Project title] [City, State] [Month/Year] – [Month/Year]
Description of responsibilities and achievements.
Here are some of the considerations that pop into mind when creating a reverse chronological resume.
“Do they still possess the same skills they had X years ago?” “Will they be able to adapt to the current market?”
These are just two of many possible questions the recruiter might not even spend the time to try and get an answer.
A chronological timeline will make the gaps in your career more apparent. If it's been a couple of years since your most recent job, that can be a red flag for the recruiter.
(Tip: One way to overcome this difficulty is to describe other projects or skills you’ve developed during the break.)
Let’s say you have experience in both music and marketing. You’ve spent the last five years pursuing jobs in music, but now you’re looking for a new job in marketing.
In this case, it might make sense to use a reverse-chronological resume format. However, sticking to this structure could make your experience seem irrelevant. This makes it even harder for you, especially when you’re trying to move through the different areas that you’re skilled in.
(Tip: When building your resume, only select experience that’s relevant to the position you’re applying for).
With prior experience being the crux of this resume format, it’s going to be difficult to write your first resume in reverse chronological order. For this reason, this format is not suitable for those entering the job market or applying for volunteer positions for the first time.
(Tip: Go for a skills-based resume and make your strengths and talents shine through).
Chronological and reverse chronological resumes are often used interchangeably as they refer to the same format. They both mean listing your work experience starting from the most recent position and moving backward in time.
However, we use the more precise convention—reverse chronological—to avoid confusion.
This is a traditional format and it’s great for organizing your experience. Still, keep in mind that reverse chronological resumes are far from one-size-fits-all.
In reality, your resume should be tailored to the position you’re applying for . That’s what we call a targeted resume . This may mean starting with a less recent job first as long as it’s more pertinent to the prospective role.
With Enhancv’s resume builder, you can describe your previous experience in modular segments that can be moved as pieces to any place on your resume. This makes positioning easily streamlined, so you don’t have to worry too much.
Overall, you’ll benefit from organizing your resume by relevance and impact, not by date.
Besides the reverse chronological resume, there are two other formats that suit different needs.
Take a look at the table below to see how the three formats compare to each other.
Choosing the right resume format can make a huge difference in catching a recruiter’s eye. The reverse chronological resume is a popular choice for a reason, offering a clear and organized way to present your career history.
First job jitters: how long should you stay at your first job, how to properly use resume buzzwords to get an interview, should i hand in my resume in person, negotiating a salary increase for a new job: what to expect and how to ask, how to show recruiters you're willing to relocate on your resume.
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There are three main resume formats, but reverse chronological is by far the most popular as well as the most effective layout for the majority of job seekers. This article will cover when to use a reverse chronological resume and how to create an effective one.
In many countries around the world, reverse chronological resumes are considered standard. The format is sometimes referred to simply as a chronological resume, although ‘reverse chronological’ is more accurate since past positions are typically listed starting with your current or most recent job at the top and working backwards in time from there.
A reverse chronological resume prioritizes your previous work experience which makes it the preferred format for most recruiters, who generally look first for your past positions. However, if you don’t have a wealth of work experience, you may wish to use a different resume format to highlight your skills and abilities as outlined in the next section.
The reverse chronological format will also make any gaps in your work history immediately apparent to employers, but taking time away from work is no longer the red flag it once was and you can easily frame the gap in a positive light by simply including a short explanation and/or highlighting skills that you gained during that period.
Reverse chronological resumes are also the easiest for applicant tracking systems ( ATS ) to scan. ATSs are automated computer programs that scan each resume that is submitted to a company, evaluating each one on the basis of how well it matches up to keywords that the employer has inputted regarding their desired experience and skills in a candidate.
The two other main resume formats are functional resumes and combination resumes.
A functional resume showcases your skills over your past experience, which can be beneficial for freelancers, those in creative industries, and those who have gaps in their work history or little to no work history to mention. However, a functional resume can be more difficult for hiring managers to scan and it can present some red flags that you might be intentionally concealing your work experience or lack thereof.
A combination resume includes elements of both reverse chronological and functional resumes, which allows you to highlight your skills as well as your experience while also glossing over gaps in your employment. But, a combination resume can be difficult to format effectively and is best used only when applying to highly specialized positions.
A reverse chronological resume is a great choice if you have at least a few years of professional work experience, but the format is very versatile.
In an ideal scenario where you have several years of experience in one industry and are applying for another position in the same field, a reverse chronological resume will clearly demonstrate your career progression.
However, you can still reap the benefits of a reverse chronological resume even if you don’t have much work experience, such as if you are a student or a recent graduate. In that case, you can place your education section above your work experience section and still list everything in reverse chronological order. You can include internships, volunteer work, and so forth in your work experience section.
Again, if you are concerned about a reverse chronological resume exposing gaps in your work history, it is now considered acceptable to include an explanation for each gap in the same format that you would list a past job. Simply list the dates and the reason for the gap. If applicable (such as if you took time off to complete a training course or certification), you can also include bullet points that outline your new skills and qualifications .
If you’ve decided that a reverse chronological resume makes sense for your situation, here are the key sections to include:
Your resume header goes at the very top of your resume and should include your full name, your phone number, your email address, your LinkedIn URL, links to your online portfolio or professional website if you have one, and your city and state (or your full mailing address if you prefer).
Next, add your resume introduction section, which can either be a resume summary or a resume objective depending on your situation. If you have at least a few years of experience in the industry that you are applying for, use a summary to highlight your skills and experience. An objective statement is usually a better option if you are a student, have recently graduated, or are making a career change.
If you have at least a few years of work experience in your target industry, add your work experience section next. If you are still a student or you’ve recently graduated, you can place your education section above your work experience.
List your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent position. You don’t need to include every position that you’ve ever held, especially if you have previously worked jobs that aren’t pertinent to your current career. For example, if you worked as a lifeguard in high school or college and you are now several years out of school and applying for an engineering position, you don’t need to include that on your resume.
For each job, include your official title, the company name and location, and the dates you worked there (months and years only). Under each one, add a few bullet points that outline your skills and achievements , focusing on how well you performed in the position rather than just listing job duties and responsibilities. Quantify your accomplishments with numbers and data whenever possible.
If you have a college degree and at least a few years of professional experience, your education section can be brief, listing the university you went to, the degree you earned, and the dates you attended. There’s no need to list your high school information if you’ve already earned an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or more advanced degree. If you have multiple degrees, list the highest one first followed by the others in reverse chronological order.
However, if you are currently in high school or college or you don’t have much professional experience, you can include your high school information. To make up for a lack of work experience, you may wish to include extra details about your education, including your GPA (if it’s above a 3.5), relevant coursework, honors and awards, and so forth.
While you should work your skills into all other sections of your resume, you can also create a dedicated section to highlight your hard and soft skills . Be sure to list only skills that are relevant to the job that you are applying for. Read the job posting carefully to identify which skills and qualities the employer is looking for, and use those keywords in your resume. Consider using resume action verbs to convey your skills more effectively.
If you still have room on your resume after including all of the above sections, you can add optional resume sections such as hobbies and interests, certifications , languages , volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, and so forth.
Your resume should only be a single page if you have less than ten years of experience in your industry, and no more than two pages if you have more experience than that.
Here’s an example of what a reverse chronological resume might look like:
John Sample
Salt Lake City, Utah
(111) 222-3333
linkedin.com/in/john.sample
Results-driven sales manager with 5+ years of experience, eager to contribute sales and management skills to ABC Company to motivate the sales team and drive exceptional revenue growth. In past roles, consistently grew sales by at least 20% year over year, managed teams of up to 20 sales associates, and increased annual revenue by $100K+.
Sales Manager, XYZ Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, August 2018-Present
Sales Associate, DEF Company, Salt Lake City, UT, July 2016-August 2018
Oregon State University, Beaverton, OR
BA in Economics, 2016
Bilingual English/Spanish
A reverse chronological resume is a great choice for the majority of job searchers as it will highlight your skills and experience in an easy-to-scan format that is optimized for both hiring managers and ATSs. The focal point of a reverse chronological resume is your work experience, which should be listed with your current or most recent position first, working backwards in time from there.
Not sure how to create an eye-catching reverse chronological resume? Consider using Jobseeker ’s professional resume creation tool. You can enter in your information and then easily swap between formats, styles, color schemes, and more with just a few clicks. Then download your polished resume instantly and get started applying for your dream job!
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If you’ve ever written a resume before, you may already know about the reverse chronological resume format. But what does a reverse chronological resume actually involve? Let's explore.
If you’ve ever written a resume before, you may already know about the reverse chronological resume format. It’s the most popular resume format out there, and it’s a classic for a reason. With a reverse chronological resume, you can prioritize your most recent work experience, giving hiring managers a clear sense of where you are in your career.
But what does a reverse chronological resume actually involve? Should you always rely on this tried and tested format, or are there times when it’s better to take another approach? And do you need a particular resume template to make the most of the reverse chronological approach?
If you’ve ever asked yourself any of these questions, look no further! We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the reverse chronological resume format, so you can get the most out of it when it’s time to look for a job. Read on, and we’ll give you all the information you need to know!
On this page, we’ll cover the following points:
A reverse chronological resume is a resume that organizes the work experience section in reverse chronological format. That means it lists your most recent work experience first—then works backwards, in the same order, through your work history.
If this sounds like the standard approach to writing a resume, that’s because it is! The reverse chronological resume format is by far the most popular way to arrange a resume. It isn’t the only way to do it, but it’s certainly common enough to be the default approach.
That’s because most employers consider recent work experience to be the most important factor they consider when hiring. A reverse chronological resume puts your most recent work experience at the forefront of your resume. It makes it easy for hiring managers to find what they’re looking for—and since most hiring managers are extremely short on time, that will give you a real advantage in its own right.
It’s also worth remembering that many companies use ATS (applicant tracking software) to sort qualified applicants from unqualified applicants. This happens right at the start of the hiring process, usually before a real person has even looked at your resume. Reverse chronological resumes are easy for ATS software to parse—meaning that a reverse chronological resume might give you an edge in getting through that crucial first stage.
The reverse chronological resume format is versatile, widely recognized, and easy for both humans and software to read and understand. Where other resume formats tend to have very specific applications, the reverse chronological format is a great approach to take in most circumstances. If you’re not sure which resume format to use, the odds are good that this format will work well for you!
As you might expect, it’s simple to make a reverse chronological resume! You just need to make sure you have your approximate dates of employment in all your recent roles. That way, you’ll have a much easier time sorting them into the right order.
Like any resume, your reverse chronological resume should contain all of the following sections:
These sections can, within reason, appear in any order. That said, it’s standard to feature your name and contact information and your resume summary at the very beginning of your resume. And unless you’re applying for your first job, your work experience will usually be the most important section of your resume—so after those two elements, your work experience should appear next.
When writing a reverse chronological work experience section, you need to list your recent roles in order, starting with the most recent and working backwards. When listing each role, you should include all of the following information:
As always, you should tailor this section to the requirements of the job description for the role you want. If you need prior customer service experience to be considered for your new role, make sure you mention your prior customer service experience when writing about your recent employment! And wherever possible, you should try to quantify that experience with concrete, verifiable achievements—things like statistics, sales figures and performance indicators will make your resume much more credible.
You should also make sure that all of your employment history listings are formatted in the same way. That consistency will make for a more visually appealing resume, and will make sure you look as professional as possible. Choosing the right resume template can help you with that, and we’ll list some of our favorite reverse chronological resume templates later in this post.
The reverse chronological resume can be a great asset in a range of job search situations. But when is it a particularly good idea to use this resume format? And most importantly, when should you consider using a different format instead?
The reverse chronological format is ideal in two particular situations:
Because a reverse chronological resume gives hiring managers a comprehensive overview of your career history, it doesn’t leave you anywhere to hide any gaps or career breaks. If you’ve taken an extended period of time off from work for any reason, this could put you at a slight disadvantage if you use the reverse chronological resume format.
It’s worth noting that that doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker! If you took a few years off to raise a child, care for a loved one, or pursue further education, you may be able to list that career break as part of your work history. That way, the gap in your work history will be accounted for right away, and won’t lead to any potentially awkward questions if you get to interview.
But if you’re worried about calling undue attention to a career gap, you may benefit from using a different resume format. A functional resume or combination resume format will give you more scope to gloss over a career break, since they are less focused on providing a chronological recounting of your work history.
Likewise, if you’re making a big career change, you may not want to focus so much on a reverse chronological listing of your work experience. That’s because your work experience may not be relevant to the job you actually want. In this case, a reverse chronological resume format might lure you into including a lot of information that may not matter much to a hiring manager!
In that situation, focusing on your skills will give hiring managers a clearer picture of what you’re capable of. A functional resume, which puts the spotlight on your skills and how you have applied them in the past, may give you a bigger advantage.
We’ve talked about the situations when a reverse chronological resume may not work well for you. But what about the industries where it can particularly shine?
As we’ve discussed, reverse chronological resumes are widely-used and widely-understood. The only real circumstances in which a reverse chronological resume won’t work for you are the two we’ve explained above. That means that, provided you don’t have any career gaps you’d like to gloss over and you aren’t making a big career change, you can use a reverse chronological resume format in just about any industry.
But there are certain industries where a reverse chronological format can really shine. If you’re looking for work in a more conservative industry, where employers may be suspicious of a less conventional resume format, the reverse chronological format should be your first choice. In that situation, applying with a reverse chronological resume will show that you understand professional norms and standards—and most importantly, that you are prepared to adhere to them.
Here are some industries where a reverse chronological resume format will serve you especially well:
That’s not to say that you can’t use a reverse chronological resume in less traditional workplaces or industries! Creative fields like design, marketing and media will still understand and appreciate a reverse chronological resume. So will cutting-edge workplaces like start-ups and tech companies, which have a reputation for experimenting with new ideas before other companies follow suit.
But those companies may be more receptive to other resume formats than the industries listed above. When applying for a job in a more traditional industry, it’s smart to stick to what works—and that’s the reverse chronological resume.
At VisualCV, we believe we offer some of the best resume templates on the internet. But which one should you choose for your reverse chronological resume?
The good news is that there’s no wrong answer here! All of our templates can be adapted to suit a reverse chronological resume order. What’s more, they’re all guaranteed to be ATS-compatible, so whichever template you choose will work seamlessly with ATS software regardless of its format.
To get you started in choosing the right template for you, we’ve listed some of our favorite resume templates below. Take a look and see which one you like best!
This streamlined, elegant template offers a great way to format your reverse chronological work history section. Pops of color call attention to your past employers and employment dates, so hiring managers can understand at a glance what they’re reading. It’s readable, visually engaging, and stylish enough to pass muster at any type of company—so wherever you take Arya, it will have your back.
Are you applying for a company that could be put off by the bells and whistles of more creative resume templates? Or do you just want to be 100% confident that your resume will make it through an ATS software screening? The ATS resume template is simple, sleek and traditional in every sense—which makes it perfect for a reverse chronological resume format.
The Corporate template is built for the world of business, featuring a streamlined two-column layout and classic, readable fonts. Within the work history section, it calls attention to the employment dates, so it’s easy for hiring managers to understand the reverse chronological format. If you’re applying for a job in a traditional industry and don’t want your resume to skew too creative in its design, this is the template for you.
The Monte template offers the best of both worlds, striking an elegant compromise between its traditional layout and its more creative font and color choices. It’s designed for a reverse chronological format, with employment and education dates set apart for ease of reading. For applicants looking to add a touch of personality to a classic resume format, this template is the way to go.
This two-column resume template uses pops of color smartly, calling attention to key details like employment dates throughout. While its formatting choices are bold and eye-catching, it uses them sparingly enough to avoid seeming unprofessional or chaotic. This template is particularly great for candidates looking for a one-page resume—the two-column layout allows you to fit more information onto a page, without ever compromising on style.
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If you don’t organize your resume properly, it’s all too easy for it to look like a bunch of mumbo jumbo. And when all those words and numbers blend together into a big mess, you make it that much harder for a recruiter or hiring manager to see the point in bringing you in for an interview.
That’s where the chronological resume format comes in.
You know what a resume is, right? A one-pager documenting your work experience, education, skills, and extracurriculars that paints a nice clear picture of what makes you a valuable employee or hire?
Well, a chronological resume does that by listing your work and other experiences in reverse chronological order, meaning your most recent jobs are at the top of your resume and your least recent jobs are down below. (This is why it’s sometimes called a reverse chronological resume—because that more accurately explains what’s going on.)
That doesn’t mean that everything you’ve ever done gets listed exactly in reverse chronological order, though. If you have jobs that overlap in a certain timeframe, for example, you might choose to list the job that’s most relevant to the role you’re applying for first, regardless of when you started it.
It’s also pretty common to put your education and activities in their own section or sections, rather than mixing them in with your work experience. If you went to graduate school or have multiple education experiences, you’d still list them in reverse chronological order within your education section, for consistency.
The beauty of this layout is that it works for just about anyone looking for any kind of job. Students and new grads tend to lean on this format because it’s the simplest way to organize their limited work experience. The same goes for professionals at any level with a consistent career history—in other words, those who’ve gone from job to job without gaps (or with very few gaps) between roles.
A chronological format is also the most popular layout hiring managers see. That means if you go with this format, your resume will be easily understood by any type of recruiter out there.
A chronological resume includes the following:
The way these items are organized is simple: Your work history goes toward the top—because it’s the main focus—with each role listed in reverse chronological order. Your education, skills, and activities fall toward the bottom or off to the side of the page—except if you’re a new grad, in which case you may list education at the top.
Other formats, like a functional resume or combination resume , include these same elements but in a different layout. A functional resume groups your experience and responsibilities not by role but by skill, and lists your jobs and education at the bottom. A combination resume, on the other hand, is a mix between a functional resume and a chronological resume, highlighting both your skills and experience in equal measure. Both of these layouts are less common than a chronological resume and are used most often by career changers, people with unique career paths, and people who have taken long breaks between jobs.
The best course of action for writing a chronological resume is to start off with a rough outline (or use a template ). In your head or on paper, list out every work-related experience you’ve had. Based on that information, decide how you want to sort that information and how many “sections” of your resume you want to create. You’ll most likely include several or all of the sections listed in bullets above (more or less in that order).
Once you know the layout, start to plug in your information in reverse chronological order, including with each job you’ve had your title, company (and sometimes company location), dates of employment, and three to five bullet points explaining what you achieved and the skills you built in that position.
If you’ve never written a resume before, definitely take a look at this comprehensive guide to making a resume for more thorough advice.
OK, so this all sounds good and dandy to you, but you’re still not sure exactly what this looks like in practice. Don’t fret—here’s a sample chronological resume you can use as a reference when you decide to make your own.
Download an Example Chronological Resume
How you format your resume is only half the battle. The other half is about making sure the content itself is in tip top shape—because that’s what recruiters are reading, after all. This means that your bullet points should start off with strong action verbs and showcase your accomplishments rather than just your duties.
Don’t forget to tailor your resume to the role you’re applying for—make sure your bullet points match up with the qualifications and responsibilities in the job description, and that you’re including relevant keywords the company’s applicant tracking system, or ATS , may be scanning for. And of course, check (and double check) your information for spelling and grammar mistakes.
One more note: Try keeping your resume to one page, unless you’re at least a decade into your career. Hiring managers love to skim resumes, and long ones tend to turn them off. Save all the little details you can’t fit into your resume for your cover letter and interviews.
The reverse chronological resume format is widely used by job seekers today for a reason. As a whole, it’s a strong approach for professionals at all levels. But what’s more important than the priority of the date...
The reverse chronological resume format, meaning that your most recent or current job is listed first, followed by previous positions in descending order of recency, is widely used by job seekers today for a reason.
As a whole, it’s a strong approach for professionals at all levels.
But what’s more important than the priority of dates is whether or not it’s most impactful for the hiring manager.
If you’d like to learn more about how this formatting leads to candidate success and how you can use this concept to increase your hiring chances, keep reading on!
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The reverse chronological order is a resume format that lists your work experience from the most recent job position and qualifications going back to the oldest position.
This format is widely accepted and preferred by many employers because it provides a clear and easy-to-follow timeline of your work history. It also shows higher relevance and contextuality, making it more compelling and leaving a more profound effect on the hiring manager.
It’s a modern format and common approach used by job seekers when making an application.
Unlike listing in chronological order, it highlights the most recent and relevant details first.
It also reveals no gaps in your employment history as it shows a consistent timeline of your career. Meaning, employers can easily see your corporate progression and professional development.
Since it’s highly contextual to the job you’re applying for, it makes your application more impactful for recruiters.
Depending on your circumstances, one of these 3 alternative resume formats could be the better option.
We’ll go through each of these below and who they’re best suited for:
All job seekers should aim to create a one-page reverse chronological resume as it showcases a stable record of your professional background. It’s good practice for providing clarity and making relevance and quality a priority.
The most relevant and important things should be shown first if you want to make a what to put on a resume .
But, there are some exceptions where you should reconsider using this format:
In some of these cases, the skills-based format or hybrid resume would be the better option.
We’ll cover how the how to write a resume should be structured when creating a reverse chronological resume. Later, we’ve also included and analyzed proven examples that have got candidates interviewed at even the most competitive companies.
Despite how much experience you have as a professional, it works for almost all candidates.
The first job title to mention should be the most recent position you’ve worked in.
What’s more important than the what to write in a resume for work experience and jobs you’ve had is its relevance. So, take into account if it’s related or helpful in any way, shape, or form to your prospective employer.
When describing your experience, the key details should be written down first. That includes information such as:
Here’s an example below:
As you’re listing your qualifications, start with the latest one you’ve achieved.
Then, go backward by writing down the awards you’ve achieved before that. This makes the date of your achievements clear and it brings attention to your formal knowledge in specific areas.
Here’s an example of this:
Repeat the process from the previous steps but for your other resume sections.
By using this principle throughout your application, the reader will immediately notice that you’re up to date. This makes it easy to review and identify your strengths since you’re showing what’s most related to the job position you’re applying for.
Here’s an example from the certifications section:
One aspect that stays the same is that the most important details are mentioned first, so stick to your strengths. This holds true for all types of resumes.
If you're unsure of how to update resume , you may find it helpful to refer to some of the guides and expert resume examples we have available. These can provide valuable tips and guidance on how to craft an effective and compelling resume.
The work experience section is thorough and detailed when providing a description of previous responsibilities. But, it’s mostly in-depth with the recent job position as opposed to their first job position.
From this progression, it’s clear the candidate has developed their skills throughout their professional experiences.
The employment history and engineering specializations section are reverse chronological. This allows the employer to notice their areas of expertise and how well-informed they are in certain fields.
The first job title listed is often the most detailed part of the section because they’re more relevant.
When it comes to the education section, they’ve made it simple for the hiring manager to see they’re updated with the formal knowledge required. It’s easy to notice this, as well as their other qualifications that have been written.
It’s acceptable to reconsider elements of the reverse chronological format as long as it makes sense.
The importance of the information provided is a bigger factor than the dates themselves.
Here’s an example from the creative producer template that got the candidate an interview with Tesla:
From the sample above, notice that the section isn’t entirely in reverse chronological order.
The user emphasizes a significant project and ensures the recruiter sees this first, i.e. being a director & editor at Apple. This portrays a stronger impression at first glance and is more likely to grab the reader’s attention.
Highlighting your career progress and professional strengths is easier with a reverse chronological resume. Plus, it’s flexible and works for almost all candidates. It’s no surprise why it’s the most popular resume format.
Above all, it emphasizes consistency and relevance.
But, the best approach depends on the context of your career timeline.
When you have gaps in your work history, consider using the hybrid or skills-based resume format.
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Astley Cervania is a career writer and editor who has helped hundreds of thousands of job seekers build resumes and cover letters that land interviews. He is a Rezi-acknowledged expert in the field of career advice and has been delivering job success insights for 4+ years, helping readers translate their work background into a compelling job application.
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COMMENTS
This format focuses on your work history instead of skills like the functional format. In the chronological format, you will include your most recent job first, with the rest of your experience in reverse chronological order. Each position will have a set of bullets that flesh out your achievements in that role. A chronological resume is an ATS ...
In most cases, the best CV format to use for your office administrator CV is reverse chronological. This format details recent work experience listed under dated employer headings, starting with your current or most recent job and working back to earlier roles. Most hiring managers expect to see this format and, as a result, find it easy to read.
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 ...
A reverse chronological format displays your academic and professional experiences in reverse-chronological order. It indicates that the document lists all of your previous jobs in chronological order, beginning with the most recent one you held. The last entry on the list will be your first job. This format has become very popular and is the ...
You can use the following steps to write a comprehensive reverse-chronological CV: 1. Start with a header. A header helps introduce you to hiring managers, and you can center this section in the middle of your document. It includes your full name, followed by your current phone number, email address and location.
A reverse-chronological resume is a format focused on relevant work experience. ... Here is an example of a work experience section on a reverse-chronological resume: In this example, the applicant is applying for a job as an office manager at a major firm. Incorrect:
The reverse chronological resume, a popular choice, can be particularly effective under the right circumstances. Deciding when to use a reverse chronological resume. The reverse chronological resume format is most effective for those with a clear and steady progression in their career, particularly within the same field.
The most commonly used resume format is a reverse-chronological one as it shows hiring managers how you progressed throughout your career. Get started with your resume: ... Start from over 100+ resume examples — skip the blank page! Over thousands of resume work experience bullets. Coming soon!
2. Chronological (Reverse-Chronological) Resume Format. Pros: Highlights professional experience and accomplishments. Easier to scan by ATS. Shows work history that is preferred and often required by employers. Cons: Requires strict and consistent formatting. Reveals employment gaps or frequent job-hopping.
The chronological resume format is a top choice among job seekers and a favorite among recruiters, too. Check out our free chronological resume templates. ... The chronological resume - also known as the "reverse chronological resume" - is the most popular resume format out there. ... 9+ Chronological Resume Examples for All Industries;
Here are three examples of chronological resumes you can download and use for reference: 1. Chronological resume example for a financial advisor ... The reverse-chronological format highlights your latest and most relevant experiences, making it easier for employers to see your career trajectory and qualifications quickly.
Below you will find an example of a resume written in the reverse chronological resume format. This is the most widely used resume format. In this example the resume starts out with job title headlines (Sales Management) to quickly allow the reader to identify the job seeker's profession. The job title headlines are followed by a list of ...
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 ...
Hit the ground running with an official Teal resume template designed with best practices. Use our library of 900+ synonyms to find the perfect words for your next resume. 1,500+ cover letter examples to help you craft a meaningful narrative in your next application. Explore 1,500+ CV samples and formatting tips to land your next interview faster.
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.
Reverse Chronological Resume Example. Here's a sample resume written in reverse chronological order:. Why Is Reverse Chronological Order the Most Popular Resume Format? This ordering system is considered the traditional resume format in all industries and professions. For that reason, recruiters and employers are more familiar with it, which makes it easier for them to analyze.
Here are the steps you can take to write a chronological resume: 1. List your contact information. Begin with your name and contact information. Provide your phone number, email address and location, including your city and state.
The reverse chronological resume is the most common and traditional type of resume. With this resume format, you list your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent position and proceeding backwards. To help you write your reverse chronological resume, we have created this free resume example for a ...
The reverse-chronological resume describes the most recent job first and moves backward in time for every subsequent position. The format comes with the following general expectation of flow: Resume header. Personal summary. Work experience. Skills section.
A reverse chronological resume is a great choice if you have at least a few years of professional work experience, but the format is very versatile. In an ideal scenario where you have several years of experience in one industry and are applying for another position in the same field, a reverse chronological resume will clearly demonstrate your ...
A reverse chronological resume is a resume that organizes the work experience section in reverse chronological format. That means it lists your most recent work experience first—then works backwards, in the same order, through your work history. If this sounds like the standard approach to writing a resume, that's because it is!
Solution: Stick to a consistent format. Use the same font and size for similar elements (e.g., all job titles in bold, all dates in italics). 2. Overly Long Resumes. Error: Including too much information and making the resume excessively long. Solution: Keep your resume to one or two pages.
A chronological resume includes the following: Your name and contact information (at the top of the page as the header) Your work experience, including your responsibilities and accomplishments for each job you've held (you can include this under one header, "Work Experience," or divide it into "Relevant Work Experience" and ...
The reverse chronological order is a resume format that lists your work experience from the most recent job position and qualifications going back to the oldest position. This format is widely accepted and preferred by many employers because it provides a clear and easy-to-follow timeline of your work history. It also shows higher relevance and ...