The chronological CV—often referred to as the “reverse chronological CV”—is one of the most widely used CV formats for good reason. Done the right way, the chronological CV format can make a great first impression on recruiters by offering a clear timeline of your career to date.
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) also prefer this format as they can easily process your information, making it more likely that your CV will also ‘beat the bots!’ This makes the chronological CV the best way to go for people with some job experience under their belt.
In this article, we’ll explain what this chronological CV format is and how to use it most effectively, as well as provide some real-life chronological CV examples.
Why use a chronological CV format?
Listing your work experience by date just makes sense. That’s why the chronological format is the most popular way to create a CV. It’s quick and easy for anyone to glance at your CV and see exactly how long you’ve been at each job, giving them a clear picture of your career journey.
The most logical way to do this is to list your jobs in reverse chronological order, with your most recent activities first. Hiring managers are primarily concerned about what you’ve done in the last five to ten years. Most of them won’t pay much attention to anything beyond that. As the famous saying goes, “What you did yesterday matters less than what you do today.”
What should your chronological CV include?
While every CV is unique, the basic chronological CV format and structure is always the same. Here are the key components:
- CV header. This includes your full name, job title, location, professional email address, and phone number.
- Summary/ profile. Write a short and impactful summary (three to four sentences) at the top of the page, outlining what you do and highlighting your key strengths and skills.
- Work experience. List your previous jobs, starting with the most recent role and working backwards, with bullet points outlining your key achievements and responsibilities for each position.
- Education. Highlight your formal educational qualifications (starting with the highest degree) and any relevant certifications within your field.
- Skills. Concisely list your hard (industry-specific) and soft skills that are relevant to your target role.
- Optional sections. These include professional memberships, awards, or publications.
When to use a chronological CV
The chronological CV format works best for people who have some work experience under their belt, including multiple jobs. If you’ve had a very lengthy career, then you should focus on the roles you’ve held within the last ten years. For example, if your first job was as a sales assistant in Primark and you’ve had 10 years of experience as a marketing manager since then, you won’t need to include this first role. The focus should be on your most impressive experience first.
On the other hand, there are instances where the reverse chronological CV format isn’t the best option and another CV format is needed. Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of the chronological CV to consider:
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Chronological CV alternatives
If you identify with any of the situations listed in the “Disadvantages” section above, you may want to consider using an alternative CV format. Sometimes your work experience might not fit neatly into the chronological CV box, so you’ll need another solution.
One alternative is the functional (or skills-based) CV, which shifts the focus from your career timeline to your relevant skills and talents acquired throughout your career.
Another option is the hybrid (or combination) CV, which blends both chronological and functional formats and is ideal for those with varied career experiences.
So, who might be better suited to the reverse chronological CV vs. a different approach? Let’s break it down:
- Chronological CVs work best for those in more traditional, linear careers, such as teachers, doctors, or anyone with a clear, steady career progression.
- Functional CVs (Skills-based) are ideal for those making a career change or entering the workforce for the first time, as they highlight transferable skills rather than focusing on work history.
- Hybrid CVs are great for those with a diverse career background, allowing you to showcase both your skills and experience without overemphasising the timeline of your career.
While most people opt for the chronological CV format, depending on your unique circumstances, a functional or hybrid CV could be better suited to highlight your experience and strengths. It all comes down to what you want to emphasise to potential employers.
How to write your work experience section
Your work experience is the main section of the CV where the reverse chronological format applies, so it’s important to get it right.
Start by listing your current or most recent job first, including your job title, company name, location, and dates of employment. Then go back in reverse order to list your earlier roles, covering a period of no more than 10 years to keep your CV concise and relevant.
Under each role, add descriptive bullet points.This is the part where you’ll include the keywords, tasks, and skills that you’ve gathered from reviewing job descriptions. Aim to present your tasks as achievements, highlighting the impact of your work rather than just the day-to-day responsibilities. Use action verbs to emphasise your active involvement and contribution to your role, such as “spearheaded,” “transformed,” “created,” and “organised.”
Relevance must guide your decisions about what to include or omit from your CV’s employment history section. Be selective in reserving this space for your shiniest work experience highlights.
How to write your education section
The education section on your CV is another area where the reverse chronological approach needs to be used. Start with your highest or most recent qualification first.
For example, if you have a PhD, list this information first, including the field of study, university, and the year you earned this qualification. Follow this with the same information on your master’s degree and, below that, the same for your bachelor’s degree.
Recruiters typically prefer the information in your education section to be clear and concise, so there’s no need to mention your secondary school, sixth form, or college qualifications once you have a bachelor’s degree or postgraduate qualifications.
Certifications in your field can also be mentioned in your education section, for example, if you’ve completed the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Diploma in Accounting or a Six Sigma Green Belt to compliment your project management career.
Chronological CV writing tips
While the content of your chronological CV is important, so is its structure and formatting. Research shows that a whopping two thirds of hiring managers reject CVs with formatting mistakes, reinforcing the importance of the finer details.
Here are some top tips to ensure that your chronological CV formatting is on point:
- Stick to a consistent date format. If you’re going to list a month and year for your job experiences, use that same format across all of your work experience and any other sections that include dates. If you worked for several years at most of your jobs, you can often only list the years you worked at each.
- Use bullet points. Using bullet points helps to create more white space and break up your CV information into succinct, easy-to-digest chunks.
- Create balance. Your CV should be visually appealing, so make sure that the overall look is balanced and easy to read. For example, section headers should be evenly spaced and margins should be uniform (e.g., aim for 2.5 centimetre margins all around).
- Be concise. As with writing any type of CV, one of the most important things to do is be concise and succinct. You don’t need to use a lot of extra words or detailed explanations. Save that for your interview. You already have a lot of information that needs to fit onto a single page or two, so make every word count.
Chronological CV examples
Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration. Here are some chronological CV examples for different professions to help you get started:
Nurse CV example
Teacher CV example
Student CV example
Accountant CV example
Office manager CV example
Retail CV example
Sales CV example
Key takeaways
For job seekers with multiple years of work experience in a specific field or industry, the chronological (or reverse chronological) CV is the perfect choice. This CV format focuses on work history, while also detailing your skills and education.
It’s important to assess whether the chronological CV format is the right choice for you. If you have little to no work experience, consider a functional (or skills-based) CV instead. Another option is the hybrid CV that provides equal weight to skills and experience, which can be a good option for career changers.
Ensuring that your chronological CV format and structure are on point will help you make a great first impression. If you need some help getting started, check out our CV builder where you can quickly and easily create a professional CV with zero stress.
