When setting out to write the perfect resume, choosing a format is an important decision. Reverse-chronological resumes are the standard format, so knowing how to craft one is key! This guide will teach you how to write the best reverse chronological resumes.
A reverse-chronological resume is a format focused on relevant work experience.
It is called reverse-chronological because it lists your most recent job first.
All other jobs are then listed from most recent to least recent.
3 key factors help strengthen this type of resume:
Put simply, this resume format is a showcase of your professional experience.
The work experience section will generally be the largest.
Typically, you will want to use the reverse-chronological format as often as possible.
Using this type of resume will automatically give you an advantage.
This is due to the format being highly recognizable by hiring managers.
Reverse-chronological resumes are the standard expected by most employers.
This format is easy to follow and clearly demonstrates a candidate’s experience.
This resume format is especially good to use when applying to entry- to mid-level positions.
The reverse-chronological resume gives you the best opportunity to showcase your experience and accomplishments.
If you do not have much relevant or recent work experience, you may want to consider an alternative format.
When it comes to resumes, there are 3 main formats:
Choosing between these 3 depends on what experience you have to show.
The following situations may call for the use of a functional or combination resume:
Though employers expect to see reverse-chronological resumes, the other two can be just as effective.
It’s all about keeping the format and design simple and easy to follow.
Are you feeling totally lost on which resume format to use? Read our guide on How to Choose the Correct Resume Format in 2024 (with Examples) to learn more!
There are four main sections of the reverse-chronological resume:
The work experience section is often the most prominent on the reverse-chronological resume.
However, the other sections matter as well.
We will go over each of these four main sections to help you understand how to best format your resume.
The header of any resume should contain the applicant’s personal information.
This includes:
This header will not take up a lot of space on the resume.
Yet, it will be the first thing the employer sees.
Make sure to enlarge and bold your font to help your name stand out.
There are two main formatting options for the header: left-aligned or center-aligned.
A left-aligned resume will have all the information aligned to the left side of the page.
This will include the header and name.
A center-aligned resume will align down the middle of the page.
This can help the name and header to stand out.
However, a center alignment is not often suggested for the remaining sections.
If this is the alignment you choose, only use it on the header.
Incorrect:
John Doe, Atlanta, GA
Technical Analyst
crazyjohn@website.com, 123-456-789
Why It’s Incorrect: In this example, the information is not well-organized and the name doesn’t stand out.
It is best to make the name bigger than the rest of the text.
Bolding and italics can be used to provide better visual organization to the information.
Additionally, the person used an unprofessional email.
This can be a major turn-off to employers.
Correct:
John Doe
Technical Analyst in Atlanta, GA
(123) 456-789 | johndoe@gmail.com
ProTip: Whenever you need to create a professional email, it is best to make one through Gmail. This gives you access to lots of sharing and networking tools. Plus, the Google Workspace is used by many companies!
As we have covered, there are 3 main factors to consider when writing your work experience section:
Sometimes candidates will have a lot of work experience, but none that is directly relevant to the new job.
In this case, it is essential to think of ways to tie in your job descriptions to the skills needed for the one you are applying to.
When writing your job descriptions, you should ideally include three bullet points.
These should be short and simple sentences that use action verbs.
If you have quantifiable achievements, these may be included as one of the bullet points.
In this example, the applicant is applying for a job as an office manager at a major firm.
Incorrect:
Work Experience
Administrative Assistant, Johnson Law Firm
June 2019 – May 2021
· Helped to lower overall operational costs
· Managed and created schedules
· Handled the bookkeeping
Bartender, Stir
Charlotte, NC | August 2016 – May 2019
· Provided thorough customer service
· Helped customers with complaints
· Worked alongside a team of 20 servers
Why It’s Incorrect: In this example, the applicant does not provide detailed descriptions and uses weak action verbs. There are no quantifiable achievements or captivating details. Plus, the bartending job is not tailored to show transferable skills.
Correct
Work Experience
Administrative Assistant, Johnson Law Firm
Charlotte, NC | June 2019 – May 2021
· Reduced operational costs by 15 percent by scouting new supply source
· Managed the travel arrangements and schedules of the top 5 associates
· Optimized the virtual bookkeeping system to be more efficient
Bartender, Stir
Charlotte, NC | August 2016 – May 2019
· Multitasked by crafting drinks, taking orders, and closing tabs simultaneously
· Settled customer complaints with patience and compassion
· Delegated side work tasks amongst the serving staff
In this corrected example, the most recent and relevant job has much better descriptions. For the bartending job, the descriptions have been altered to show skills that are useful in an office setting.
For more ideas on more compelling language to use on your resume, take a look at our list of 350+ Action Verbs to Make Your Resume More Effective in 2024.
The education section of a reverse-chronological resume does not need to be very extensive.
In alternative resume formats, such as the functional resume, education may be more emphasized.
For the reverse-chronological resume, there are only 5 key pieces of information to include:
In some cases, it may be beneficial to include relevant academic experiences or achievements.
As for listing your GPA, it is recommended to only do so when specifically requested by the employer.
Incorrect:
Education
The University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
· Graduated May 2018
· Studied Mass Communications and Business
· GPA 3.7
Why It’s Incorrect: This example is fairly disorganized and lacks visual flow. It includes unnecessary information, such as GPA. Plus, it does not list the actual degree earned.
Correct:
Education
The University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
· Earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in 2018
· Double-majored in mass communications and business
· Received letter of recommendation from the Dean
Keep your education section short and sweet on a reverse-chronological resume.
If you are applying to jobs in the realms of science or academia, you will need to expand your education section.
This will likely require you to write a Curriculum Vitae instead of a resume.
Check out our article on What is the Difference Between a CV and a Resume in 2024?
Your skills section is similar to your education section in that it should be short and simple.
Ideally, you should aim to list around 6 skills on your resume.
These should include a mix of both hard and soft skills.
Hard skills are those that require technical knowledge, such as how to use a programming language.
Soft skills are more abstract and emotion-based, such as communication and teamwork.
By including both types of skills, you provide employers with a more well-rounded view of your talents.
Plus, the skills section can be a great place to plug in keywords found throughout the job application and description.
Here are some common examples of hard skills:
Here are some common examples of soft skills:
There are, of course, extra sections you can consider adding to your resume.
These include:
When including additional sections on a reverse-chronological resume, be mindful of the formatting.
You want the work experience section to remain the focal point.
You also want to keep a good visual flow by not cramming too much information onto one page.
Pro Tip: In a reverse-chronological resume, your work experience section is the most important. Be sure to take your time writing this section and tailoring it for the job.
When formatting your reverse-chronological resume, keep in mind the following 5 elements:
Need more help organizing your resume? Check out our post on How to Organize Your Resume with Resume Layout Examples in 2024.
With the reverse-chronological resume, work experience is king.
Any accomplishments related to your work experience are the most important information to highlight.
This can include:
Promotions are particularly important for a reverse-chronological resume.
They help to show a candidate’s commitment, longevity, and work ethic at a company.
For more advice on highlighting promotions, take a look at our guide on How to Show Your Job Promotions on a Resume in 2024.
Now that you have a better understanding of the reverse-chronological format, writing your resume will be simple.
Remember these 5 key takeaways when writing a reverse chronological resume:
While you’re here, don’t miss out on reading our extensive collection of FREE guides! Easy Resume offers many resume-building resources.
We have the career advice, resume examples, and templates for you.
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