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Step 1
**What is a chronological resume?**
Before you learn how to write it, let me first tell you what it is. A chronological resume is a "traditional" or standard resume. It's main focus is on your work history. -
Step 2
**Main sections**
A chronological resume is divided into various sections. Here they are in the order they would typically appear on a resume:
a) Contact info
b) Objective
c) Work experience
d) Education -
Step 3
Sample contact sectoin**Your contact information**
The very first thing an employer needs to know is who this resume belongs to. So you should begin your resume with your:
a) Name--big and bold!
b) Address
c) Phone--home, voicemail, and/or cell
d) E-mail
Which phone number(s)to include is up to you. For example, some people only put their cell phones, while others list their home and cells.
Whether or not to include an e-mail address is also a personal choice. Some people don't list one at all, while others do. If you don't have an e-mail address or prefer not to use your personal one, then you could always create another one just for job-hunting. For example, you could create a free e-mail account through:
a) Google Mail
b) Yahoo Mail
c) Hotmail -
Step 4
Sample objective**Objective**
This section is where you'd put what kind of work you're seeking. For instance, if you're looking for part-time, you can say that. If you're looking for customer service, then that can be your objective.
But this section is strictly optional! Whether you decide to have an objective on your resume is completely up to you. -
Step 5
Sample work history**Work experience**
This is the main section of a chronological resume and will fill most of the space. Here is where you list the various jobs you've had and what you did on the job.
With each job, you'd list:
a) Company name
b) Job title or area
c) Dates of employment
The ordering of these is totally up to you. Some choose to put the company names first, while others put the dates. The important thing is to be consistent! In other words, list all jobs in the same way. And all this information goes on a single line!
Now underneath each individual job, you'd bullet what you do or did on the job. Each bullet would be a main point or responsibility. Make it concise and relatively short--a sentence or two at the most.
Skip a line between each of your various jobs to make your resume more readible. Not absolutely necessary, but it does make it easier to read. It all depends on how much experience and information you've got to put on there. But spreading things out when possible does make it easier for the reader. -
Step 6
Sample education section**Education**
Here is where you'd put any formal or on-the-job training you've had that's relevant to what you're going for.
So you'd list:
a) Training dates
b) Where you received your training
c) Degree / diploma / certificate--Whatever they call your official completion document. For example, when you graduate from college you can get a B.A., a B.S., a Certificate, an A.S., an A.A.S., etc.
Now some people choose to also mention any on-the-job training in the work experience section underneath the job where you got it. That's perfectly fine and all right to dupe here. Others only put it in one section or the other. Which way to go is a personal choice!
