Writing a Chronological Resume

A chronological resume is the easiest to write as it is the most traditional type of resume and the format preferred by most employers. If you are certain that this type of resume best suits your requirements and situation, then nothing can stop a well framed chronological resume from achieving its aim - earning you a place in the interview round.

What is a chronological resume?

A chronological resume lists your work history along with all the relevant details in the reverse order, which means that the latest job is mentioned first and the earliest one would be listed last. This format is ideal for those with strong professional experience and a steady career graph that depicts consistent upward progress. Most people in the corporate careers and other traditional occupations would do well to use this kind of resume.

Components of a chronological resume

A chronological resume consists of the following sections:

Personal details
Objective
Work experience
Education
Certificates/Licenses/achievements
Activities
References (Optional)

Let us elaborate on each of the sections mentioned above.

Personal Details: This comprises of your name, your postal address, contact numbers and email ID. This should be placed in a prominent position where it can be easily noticed, so it could either be in the center of the page or in the top left corner. Ensure that your contact details are accurate as that is what your employers would use to contact you.
Objective: In a chronological resume, an objective is optional. However it is recommended to include an objective in the form of a crisp sentence that clearly states the job title you seek and mentions how you would contribute towards the company's goals. An objective should be a clever blend of stressing on your expertise and linking it to the expectations of the employer.
Work Experience: This section forms the major part of the chronological resume. You should begin with your most recent job and go successively backwards. The name of the company, the designation and the dates that you worked there must be clearly mentioned. This should be followed by a precise description of your duties and responsibilities in bullet form. If you begin each point with an action word, it would certainly have greater impact on the reader. Also try and match your experience with the job profile of the position you are seeking. The greatest emphasis should be on your latest job so that the recruiters can gauge your current skills and expertise. You may also include any honorary or voluntary work that you might have undertaken as this also adds to your overall impression.
Education: Under this section include all your qualifications again beginning from the latest degree to the earlier ones. It is better to leave out the dates to keep the recruiters guessing about your age. You could also list your diplomas, certifications and other specialized training programs or even workshops that you may have attended.
Certificates/Licenses/Achievements: Here you could mention any special permits or licenses that you may have earned that are related to your profession. This would be the right place to include your professional and academic achievements which can bolster the strength of your resume.
Activities: This is an optional inclusion and you need mention it only if it applies to you. Here you could list community activities that you have undertaken or club events that you have participated in. This carries value if it happens to be related to the job you seek else it is best to omit it rather than risk sounding irrelevant.
References: It is increasingly the trend nowadays to skip this section. If at all you want to include it on your resume, you could simply mention that reference would be made available on request.

This step by step guide to building a chronological resume would certainly make your job that much simpler and less complicated. Once you are aware of the correct format of a chronological resume, all you need to do is fill it in with the details and facts specific to you to create a resume that is sure to be a go-getter.