A resume is your first point of contact with a company. Hiring managers receive over 118 applications, so how do you make yourself stand out?
Regardless of your niche or industry, a well-written resume can set the foundation for a path to building a career. However, your success will depend on the format you choose.
Different types of resumes communicate different things to hiring managers. If you want to spotlight your work history, a chronological resume might be best. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of chronological resumes and if it’s right for your job application.
Functional vs Chronological Resume
First, what is a chronological resume? A chronological resume details your accomplishments and work history in reverse chronological order. Your skills and qualifications come after the last item on your list, or your earliest job experience.
You may include your educational background in a separate section. Some job hunters like to put this alongside their certifications.
On the other hand, a functional resume focuses on your abilities and skills. Many include bulleted lists of how these skills helped the applicant in real situations in the workplace. Functional resumes may also include a work history section, but it is often brief.
Pros of a Chronological Resume
Hiring managers don’t look at resumes for longer than six to seven seconds. Chronological resumes are the easiest to scan and can help highlight experience.
Chronological resumes are ideal for job-seekers who have been in the same industry or held similar jobs. It can show where you started and how you advanced to higher positions.
This shows potential employers that you have extensive experience and proves you can be a valuable addition to the team. This can be a great option if you’re vying for a specific position.
A consistent work history also shows that you’ve continued to develop acquired skills. This may help in an industry that always updates its standards and protocols.
Cons of a Chronological Resume
If you have huge gaps in your employment history, a chronological resume will highlight that. Fortunately, you can solve this by adding achievements you may have had during this time. This can include certifications, training, volunteer work, and personal projects.
Depending on the industry you want to apply to, a chronological resume may hurt you. You may have an unrelated work history to the field you want to pursue.
To strengthen your application, add a list of transferrable skills related to the position you want to apply to.
How to Write a Chronological Resume
A chronological resume starts with your name and contact information. You may also include links to your social media or portfolio if you think it’s relevant. Your summary should only be two to three sentences long.
Not sure how to write an effective summary? Consider trying this resume writing service.
Your professional history is the most important section of your resume. List your past positions in reverse chronological order, starting from the latest. Ensure to include your job title, achievements, and how long you were in that position.
Finally, add a skills section, including hard and soft skills. You may also put your educational history in this section.
Pros and Cons of Chronological Resumes
Chronological resumes can be helpful if you’re pursuing a certain position in a specific industry. Use this guide to write an effective resume and get your dream job. If you found this article helpful, please check out our other posts for more career-building tips.
