Resume in Chronological Order (Plus Template and Example)

Candidates use different resume formats when applying for a job, such as a functional or combination resume or a resume in chronological order. Chronological order is a popular format to list your work experience, qualifications and skills to help employers assess your suitability for their advertised position. Learning how to write a chronological resume can help you understand how it can advance your career. In this article, we discuss what a chronological resume is, review the steps to preparing one and provide a template and example to help you.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

What is a resume in chronological order?

A resume in chronological order, also known as a reverse chronological resume, is a document that summarises your experience and qualifications by listing your job history in reverse sequence, starting with your most recent position. Employers may prefer this resume format as it allows them to easily understand a candidate's latest job and their relevant work experience. An effective reverse chronological resume begins with relevant work experience, skills and credentials to demonstrate that you're an ideal candidate for the open position.

Companies and recruiters may also use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to detect specified phrases or keywords and filter resumes. A well-prepared reverse chronological resume integrates keywords from the job description, which conveys skills and traits that are essential to performing the job. This increases the likelihood of your resume passing an ATS scan, encouraging interested employers to shortlist you for an interview.

Related: Understanding Resume Design (Definition, Steps and Tips)

How to write a chronological resume

Follow these steps to learn how to write your resume in chronological order:

1. State your contact details clearly

List your contact information at the beginning of your resume. Start by writing your full name in bold typeface, followed by your contact number and professional email address. Prominently displaying your information at the start of your document helps recruiters easily contact you for an interview and may help them to remember your application during the screening process. If you have one, also include a link to your professional networking profile or portfolio. Depending on the role and industry, a portfolio can help to showcase your skills and past work to prospective employers.

Related: How to Format Your Resume (With Examples)

2. Craft an engaging professional summary

If you have more than two years of experience, consider adding a professional summary in the first section of your resume. A professional summary usually contains two or three sentences detailing your credentials, work experience and background. Hiring managers or recruiters typically scan resumes and often refer to the professional summary to gauge a candidate's suitability for the role. If you have limited work experience, consider including your career goals or any certifications and training you're currently pursuing in the professional summary. This might impress hiring managers and conveys your commitment to long-term development in this field.

An engaging professional summary helps to introduce you to the hiring manager. It can confirm that you possess the requisite industry knowledge and demonstrate your proficiency with valuable software and tools.

3. Detail your work and internship experiences

When detailing your employment history for a chronological resume, start with your most recent work experience that best demonstrates your suitability for the role. For instance, if you're applying for a job as a customer service agent, prioritise roles that feature your experience in retail, food and beverage or hospitality. These work experiences are relevant to customer service, and you can highlight their transferrable skills and qualities to show that you're capable of performing the job. For each job, state the name of the company, your job title and the start and end dates of your employment.

Next, use bullet points to describe the duties and tasks you performed in these roles. It helps to include any achievements or accolades you've earned, such as awards or recognition for outstanding work performance. For example, how you created technical documentation for the help centre that reduced ticket enquiries by 10% per quarter. Quantifying your accomplishments can help prospective employers visualise your impact and how you might help the company as an employee.

Related: How to Write Work Experience on a Resume (With Tips and Examples)

4. List your applicable skills

Compile a list of your professional skills relevant to the advertised role. These can be a mix of soft and hard skills that prove your capability and competency to perform the job. Start by making a list of your technical and soft skills. Then, examine the job description to find the qualifications or capabilities the role requires. Add any skills or talents from your list relevant to the job.

For instance, soft skills, such as communication, sales and customer service, might increase your chances of an interview for a marketing position. Also, include useful technical skills such as proficiency in graphic design software or customer relationship management tools.

5. Provide your educational qualifications

In a chronological resume, indicate your academic qualifications in reverse order, similar to the work experience section. Start with the highest educational qualification you've earned and progressively add other relevant degrees or certifications. For instance, if you're preparing a resume for a teaching role, include your master's degree in education and then your bachelor's degree in English.

Include the name of the institution, the degree title and your date of graduation. Depending on the job, some employers may also prefer candidates with certifications that officially validate skills and competencies. Ensure that your certifications are current and valid before including them on your resume.

Related: How to List Volunteer Work on a Resume (With Examples)

When to use a chronological resume

Knowing when to use a chronological document can help you attract the attention of hiring managers and prospective employers. Typically, this type of resume suits candidates with significant work experience. Depending on the role, a reverse chronological resume may appeal to an employer who values candidates with extensive work experience and skills. In general, this type of resume is most effective when candidates have:

• minimal gaps between jobs

• several years of accumulated experience in a field

• consistently worked for multiple employers in a particular industry or sector

A functional or combination resume is better for recent graduates or candidates with little professional experience. Both these formats emphasise your skills and abilities in place of work experience. These formats may also be useful if you're applying for roles where employers specify particular skills or traits. Selecting the right resume format can help a hiring manager or recruiter focus on your skills or professional experience and better determine if you're a good fit for their vacant role.

Related: CV Templates: How to Use Different Types for Successful Job Applications

Template for a chronological resume

The model shown is for illustration purposes only, and may require additional formatting to meet accepted standards.

Use this template to help you write your chronological resume

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [Location]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as a professional.]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list 5 experience items. For previous roles, list 3.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [Location]

• (strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [Location]

• (strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

Skills
[Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

Education

[Degree], [Name of School or University]

[Location]

Certifications (optional)
[Certification Name], [Host Organisation] - [Year completed or expiration date]

Resume example

Follow this resume example that demonstrates the chronological format in use:

Amos Yong, Cisco Certified Network Associate
+65 9111 2000 | amosyong90@email.com | Singapore

Professional Summary
Highly motivated Software Engineer with over five years of experience in delivering scalable and efficient solutions. Proficient in multiple programming languages such as SQL, Java and C++ with a proven track record of successfully completing projects on time and within budget. Seeking to leverage my skills and experience to help your organisation grow.

Experience

Software Engineer| September 2021–Current
Digitex | Singapore

• designing and developing a highly scalable e-commerce platform to increase website traffic by 25%

• implementing new features to improve customer satisfaction scores by 30%

• working with cross-functional teams in an agile software development environment

• testing and conducting quality assurance according to best practices

• ensuring platform stability, security and accessibility to all customers

Junior Software Engineer | March 2019–August 2021
Myscopis | Singapore

• developed a cloud-based platform to help doctors track eye implants and update patient records

• designed and maintained microservices that improved the monitoring of optical irregularities

• collaborated with the product team to gather requirements and prioritise features to meet medical and safety regulations

Skills
Python | MySQL | Project Management | Software testing | Communication

Education
Bachelor's degree in computer science, Taman Jurong School of Informatics
Singapore

Certifications
Cisco Certified Network Associate, Cisco - 2027