How to Write a Chronological Resume

Gather the following information:

1. Past employers with start and end dates (generally going back no more than 10 years) 
2. Specific accomplishments associated with each position
3. Educational history including continuing education or relevant coursework 
4. Specific skills 
5. Certifications, honors, awards and special achievements

Using that information, create a document with the following sections:

Contact Information 

• Include your first and last name, mailing address, phone number and email address.

Objective or Summary 

• While the current trend is against an objective statement, many hiring manager expect to see it. To decide whether or not to include one on your resume, consider your industry and field. More progressive companies or industries might view inclusion of the objective as an indication that you’re not keeping up with the trends. More traditional companies or industries might see the missing objective as an oversight.

Professional Experience 

• This is where you’ll list your employers, including dates of hire and separation, starting and ending job titles and major accomplishments. Most employers look for candidates to provide more than the typical list of job duties and responsibilities. They want to see specific achievements and the benefits they provided their employer, and they want to see them quantified. For example, say that you increased productivity, surpassed your sales goal or reduced costs by a specific percentage or dollar amount if that information is available. 

Education 

• The information included here will vary depending upon how recently you graduated and how relevant your studies were to your field of work. Students and recent grads can include GPA (generally if 3.0 or higher), honors and major areas of study. Experienced job seekers can list as little as names of educational institutions and degree(s) awarded.

Other Relevant Information 

• Any additional relevant experiences you have had should be included here. For example, if you have participated in professional development programs, relevant civic activities, or have received special recognition.

What not to include: 

• Personal information related to age, ethnicity, marital status, children, or physical appearance. Make sure your email address does not inadvertently disclose personal information.
• Salary information 
• Handwritten changes or updates 
• Any mention of references - for example, there is no need to say that references are available upon request. Do have a list of references available on a separate sheet, but do not include them on your resume. 
• Any irrelevant information