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The HR recruiter looks through hundreds of resumes. But only some holders of the perfect CV will land an interview. Find out how to create the most informative chronological resume. Templates can help you choose a personal format for meeting the requirements of a vacancy you dream about.
The Basic Features of a Chronological Resume
A chronological resume is a CV containing all professional, meaningful events laid out in sequence. The main advantage of it is displaying for how long and which positions and responsibilities you have held.
It may hold detailed information about job seekers:
- personal data;
- profession;
- places of employment;
- changes in career;
- education level;
- gained skills;
- competence in languages.
The chronological order aims to streamline your qualifications for a recruiter. It draws attention to selected blocks with professional life's progress and essential points.
Chronological Resume Template Structure
Any chronological resume template assumes a definite, straightforward format. Display the essential elements in the following order, which is important:
- A header.
- Profile/Professional experience.
- Employment history section.
- Education section.
Header Content
The header is a central part. Put upwards your private details with the full name, address, phone number, email, and position you are applying for.
It will be better to point out your mobile as a phone number for easy contact. Ensure you have an official email address, including your real name. Avoid using nicknames or funny titles in it.
If you have a relevant business website, please add a link to it. The LinkedIn profile will be applicable as well.
A job title in this section enlarges the chances to reinforce a message that you are the one the head-hunter is looking for. It works when your current title corresponds to the desired position.
Professional Experience
This block is the next important section of the chronological resume. A template allows you to start with several kinds of introductions:
- resume objective;
- resume profile;
- qualifications summary.
This part represents your unique advantages and should be filled in with the skills and qualifications. Four or six sentence fragments should explain why your experience, skills, or/and education will be proper for a hirer.
Employment History
According to experts, most HR managers will focus on this section. Point out your position, the employer's name, and the dates of starting the work for each job. Break up the positions with double spacing between each entry. A detailed expert opinion on this subject can be found here: https://resumesbot.com/executive-resume-writing-service/.
Your current or recent position should be listed first. Continue with previous places of employment in reverse chronological order through the rest of the history outline.
Specifying your accomplishments under each line containing the place you worked in is essential. Make five or more bullet points that begin with an active verb and describe your experience in the best way.
The past tense of the phrases indicates the work was done in the past: "Managed 10+ staff members", "Created budgets," and "Developed software for sales." To describe the current job, write in the present tense: "Provide services," "Conduct research."
Education Section
The level of your basic competence matters a lot. You can enumerate the names of projects, relevant courses, educational institutions, a period of study, and places. Any academic credentials and honors add much to resume attractiveness.
Additional Sections
You must stick to a format that is more relaxed. Additional information after the Education block would be an asset. If you still need a job history, share your relevant Volunteer Experience. You may include an extra section if you have any of the following:
- Computer Skills;
- Achievements;
- References;
- Professional Affiliations;
- Languages;
- Social Media.
The Best Size Format
Ensure extra blocks don't extend your CV to more than one A4 page. You can break the rule in some cases. To integrate all work experience, you may create two or more pages, for instance, if:
- the professional experience is in abundance;
- you are applying for a management level;
- you are from the academic staff and boast multiple research publications.
A chronological resume is the most common and familiar format for HR managers. You will receive your lucky chance if it demonstrates clear vertical career progression in a similar field. You have to take your chance by picking an industry-specific chronological resume template and filling it out.
About the Author
Elise (JobDiva)
Master of Arts in Journalism.
15 years of serving as a writing correspondent handled a large influx of resume and cover letter orders for clients in different employment industries.
Elise is a multitalented writer and editor with a solid educational background and experience in resume, cover letter writing, and LinkedIn profile development. I am proficient at researching and fact-checking various specialized topics, especially Applicant Tracking System algorithms. She is a great expert in finding and showing your unique value to potential employers with your resume and LinkedIn profile.