Widely Used Resume Chronological Order

Choosing the correct resume format is an important aspect of resume writing. Furthermore, once you have decided to use the chronological format, you need to decide the type of chronology - escalating or reverse. Escalating or reverse refers to the timeline. It is not in the order of importance or relevance. Contents are arranged either in order they occurred or in the proposed order, i.e. from latest to the old.

Chronological Order

Putting up your resume in chronological order, would mean starting the section with the credentials that you acquired first. It means starting with your first job experience, then the next in timeline and lastly the latest experience. Similarly, in the educational qualifications section, begin with the qualification acquired first.

For Example:

In Educational Qualifications Section,

• Completed Diploma in Business Management in the year 2003
• Completed Bachelor's Degree in Business Management in the year 2007
• Completed Master's Degree in Business Administration in the year 2009

Reverse Chronology Order

As the name suggests, this order is completely opposite to the chronological order. In this order, place your details, starting from the recent ones, then the previous in the timeline, and lastly, the first experience. This is true in case of all the sections namely, qualifications, experiences and achievements.

For Example:

In Work History Section,

Designation: Accounts Manager
Duration: April 2008 - till date
Responsibilities:

Designation: Accounts Supervisor
Duration: January 2006 - March 2008
Responsibilities:

Designation: Accountant
Duration: February 2005 - December 2005
Responsibilities:

Which is better - chronological or reverse chronological resume?

The reverse chronological order is better than chronological order for many reasons. The basic difference between the two formats is its order and the details that get the prominence. With the reverse order, the latest qualifications and experiences get more prominence in the resume and so help to impress the employer more and increase your chances of winning the interview call. It is easier for the employer to make out the career growth of the applicant. Moreover, Chronological order tends to give the resume an amateurish appearance whereas the reverse order looks more professional and impressive.

Importance of Reverse Chronological Order

• Reverse chronological is ideal and commonly accepted format of writing. Most of the Employers expect this format in resumes.
• It is assumed that your recent experience is the best in your career with highest designation, major responsibilities and best salary. Hence, reverse order lets you present this information before any other.
• The latest experience interests the employer the most. He is keen on knowing the position you worked at, responsibilities handled and tasks lead by you. From this information, he tries to visualize your profile in his organization.
• It is easier for the employer to follow your career progression.
• This order reveals other details of your work history like name of organizations worked with, duration, designation that the employer might be interested in, etc.
• The order helps to give the resume an organized and planned look that improves the readability of the resume.
• With the career objective stated at the top, the employer gets a clear idea about the applicant's career plans, motives and his expectations from the job.

Hence, it is advisable to adopt reverse chronology in resume. Along with its many advantages to both employer and the applicant, it is the conventional and professional format of resume writing.