Easy Steps for a Chronological Resume

Use a CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME if you have a work history relevant to the position you are applying for and no gaps in employment. (Click Easy Steps for a Chronological Resume-TEMPLATE and use the instructions below to create your resume.)

• Use a one-page resume as an entry-level professional or up to two pages as a seasoned professional.

• Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, Tahoma, or Verdana in an 11- or 12-point font size for body text.

• Use at least a .5-inch margin on all sides.

• Use the same heading on the cover letter, resume, and references.

• Make your name stand out in the heading by using a larger font.

STUDENT A. NAME
Street Address, City, MI 00000
(000) 000-0000               Email Address        
LinkedIn Profile URL

1. QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

Your qualifications summary is like a billboard for your greatest achievements and most relevant skills. It should be focused on the requirements mentioned in the position you are applying for and should explain with bullet points and phrases what hard skills (specific knowledge or experience) or soft skills (e.g., flexibility, team orientation) you have to offer and how your previous accomplishments make you a good fit for the position. (Other possible titles for this section: PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY, KEY QUALIFICATIONS, CORE QUALIFICATIONS, CAREER PROFILE). For more information see Begin Your Resume With Professional Qualifications

2. EDUCATION

Name of College/University                     City, State                      00/0000–00/0000
Title of Degree                                                                               Honors:

• If you had a relevant major or a specific education track, include that here. Other optional information: organizations, honors (for example, Dean’s List), and grade point average if 3.5+.

• Entry-level job seekers and career changers with education relevant to the job they are applying for should list education first. All others should list professional experience first.

• Use a phrase such as the following for a degree that has not been completed: Expected graduation 00/0000

3. WORK EXPERIENCE 

Company Name                                        City, State                    00/0000–00/0000
Position Title

• Use industry-standard titles: If you were a customer service representative but your company referred to your position as client satisfaction guru, use the industry-standard title. Spell out job titles and add abbreviations if applicable: Customer Service Representative (CSR).

• The experience section should demonstrate what you have done at previous organizations. If you listed an achievement in the professional summary, be sure to reference it in the experience section. For instance, if you mentioned selling $X of product, be sure that in your experience section your sales add up to $X.

• Keywords from the job description are important to include in this section. 

• Make sure each bullet point starts with an action verb formatted in the correct tense (present tense verbs for your current job, past tense for previous jobs). 

• For more information see 185 Power Action Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome!

4. OPTIONAL SECTIONS include the following:

         LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS

         Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association                  Expires 00/0000

• List licenses or certifications granted by a governing body. For instance, if you are required to be certified in Basic Life Support (BLS), list that certification here​​​

        VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

         Blood Services Team Member, American Red Cross                      0000    

• This section can be useful for those with little professional experience who have gained transferable job skills.

• Depending on the length of your resume and your goals, the Volunteer Experience section can simply be a list of your titles and the organizations or can include duties/achievements as in the Professional Skills section.

         AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS

• List specific additional awards or achievements that could help you attain your career objective. 

        RELEVANT COURSEWORK

• This section can include additional college coursework required for the position or that the organization would find helpful and is not specifically listed in your education section.

Final Check!

• Be sure to check for grammar and spelling errors before submission! Have a second pair of eyes review your documents.

• Do not include tables, special characters, or non-standard bullets when submitting via computer. These may confuse the applicant tracking system (ATS). 

• Save your resume as a PDF or in plain text for electronic transmission.

• Do not include references on a resume nor phrases like “References available upon request.” A separate reference sheet formatted like your other documents should be created in case an employer requests it.

Revised 27 November 2024