Chronological Resume Templates and Examples

What Is the Chronological Resume Format?

The chronological resume format is a standard resume format that lists your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job listed at the top and each previous position in descending order. This is the most popular format in 2024 because it accommodates people with any experience level and presents your qualifications in a logical, time-ordered fashion which is easy for a hiring manager to read.

Use the chronological resume format if you have:

• Several years of experience in one career path
• Worked for several employers or clients in one industry
• Minimal or no gaps between jobs

How Do I Format My Professional Experience Chronologically?

To start, make a list of the previous job titles you’ve held, starting with your current job. Follow that with the company you worked for and the job location. Underneath each job, signify the amount of time you worked at each job. Typically, just a month and a year is fine.

Once you’ve listed the roles you intend to include on your resume, create bullet points under each position which include details about each job you’ve had and your duties or accomplishments in those roles. Use quantifiable ways you’ve contributed to each company, using hard numbers if possible. Highlight accomplishments that will show experience in the position you’re applying for or have a significant amount of overlap.

If you need help figuring out how best to describe your previous work, use key skills and action verbs that relate to the position you’re applying for. While these should also be listed in the key skills section of your resume, it’s always a good idea to incorporate the kinds of words the hiring manager is looking for through the body of your resume.

For more advice, check out our guide How To List Work Experience on a Resume, which gives a more general overview of the kind of content to include as opposed to the specifics of formatting.

Are There Cases When I Shouldn’t Use the Chronological Format?

Yes, there are absolutely cases when the chronological format isn’t your best option. Here are some examples:

• If you have large gaps in your employment history
• If you want to emphasize a particular skill set
• If you are changing careers and have little work experience in the new career field
• If you have frequently changed jobs
• If you’ve recently re-entered the workforce

In these situations, you might consider using a non-chronological resume format, such as functional or hybrid. This is an alternative to the more traditional reverse-chronological resume formats. It is used frequently by individuals who want to highlight their accomplishments and skills rather than their work experience. This type of resume is ideal for those who are new to the workforce or who are changing careers.

Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

A resume should be a forward-looking value proposition that showcases your most relevant accomplishments for a target role — not a rear view summary of your previous roles and responsibilities.