Chronological Resume
Is this really the best resume style to use?

The chronological resume style is the first choice for many people. But....does this mean it is the best, or most appropriate style to use?

Are you aware for example that there other resume styles and has a different purpose and impact. The other commonly used styles are the functional resume functional resume style and the combination style resume.

One of the first differences between these styles is the way in which employment history is recorded in the document.

So....let's examine this element of the resume first and how this is recorded on a chronological resume.

What is a chronological resume?

The chronological resume is sometimes called a reverse chronological resume.

The reason for this is that you will document your professional experience, or employment history in reverse chronological order - that is - your most recent employment first, then next most recent and so on.

When should you use a chronological resume?

The decision about whether this is the most appropriate style of resume for you is fairly simple.

If you have an established career direction....AND....you are continuing on the same or similar career path in keeping with your next career move, then this is the style to use.

The reader, when reading this style of resume, will much more easily understand how your career has evolved - your career path will make sense to the reader.

The functional resume on the other hand should be seriously considered if you are changing your career direction.

If you were for example a career changer, and used a chronological resume, the reader will probably struggle to understand the relevance of your past employment to your intended new career pathway. The most likely outcome if you used this style in these circumstances? A rejection of your application.

A combination style resume best suits people with substantial professional experience and a substantial record of achievement.

When using this style, you could be either a person continuing with your career path, or a career changer.

Writing a good chronological resume

Your professional profile

Professional Profile...... Usually the first heading on your resume. Also, critically, the first substantial information the reader is learning about your resume profile must position you and your brand as being a solid professional in your current career field.

Your career profile should also generally convey an impression that you are following a career development plan.

Your career profile should include information that is related to some of the following:

• Your personality- write down at least three words which best describe your personality.
• Describe your specialisation in a word or two - this is not necessarily the same as your existing job title.
• Summarise the scope, breadth and depth of your experience, the geographic area/s that you have or presently work in
• Elaborate on the level of responsibility you've held in your career - size of the team/s you lead, your level in the hierarchy, size of budget
• Your strengths - what are your most employable strengths?
• Briefly summarise your career path - where did you start, where did you go next and so on
• What are you famous for so far in your career - put the accent on achievement - what achievements or contributions have most significance for you?

Chronological resume - Key skills summary

It is advisable to include a key skills summary, either as a part of your profile, or under a separate heading called Key Skills Summary (or similar).

Chronological resume
Recording your professional experience

When creating youir resume, this is one of the main areas of difference between the chronological and a functional resume styles.

When documenting your professional experience you will be writing in considerable detail about the various positions you've held in your career - with emphasis on your achievements in each position.

Go to career highlights for guidance on how to document your accomplishments, or if you want ideas about what achievements to include.

You will of course need to write about your career history in reverse chronological order. The details you will need to provide will usually include for each position (last 5-7 years):

• The position title
• The name of your employer - consider writing a very brief statement which profiles your employer underneath the employer name. Things like its size, reputation, market share, level of sales, number of employees, where it operates etc.
• The period over which you were employed - usually month and year you commenced to the month and year you left that position. If still employed in the role you describe month and year of commencement - present
• A brief sentence, two at most, about what the primary focus of your position was
• Using the heading "Achievements" or "Accomplishments" or "Contribution" fully describe your achievements or contributions

Ensure you tailor the descriptions of your achievement quotes so that they are relevant to the skills you're promoting in your profile....AND....to the position for which you are now applying

Chronological resume - Summary

The major areas of difference in the chronological resume style are:

• Your profile - it should position you as having solid and relevant experience and capabilities that are related to continuing your present career path.
• Key Skills Summary - as for any resume, you will write about skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for.
• Professional Experience or Career History - in this style of resume you are writing about achievements for each of the job roles that you've held.

Need more resume writing tips?

• See how a functional resume differs from this style
• These resume guidelines cover some basic resume writing tips
• Just getting started on creating a resume - learn which headings you need to include
• Learn about resume objectives including how to write a career objective
• How to write a professional looking career profile statement
• How to promote your career highlights including what achievements to write about, and how to write them