How to Write a Reversed-Chronological Resume (With Template)

Updated 17 September 2022

A reversed-chronological resume is a document that professionals can use to showcase their work experience from most to least recent. Employers often prefer this resume type because it can make it simple for them to assess what roles a candidate held and how long ago. Learning how to format an effective reversed-chronological resume can help you attract the attention of hiring managers and increase your chances of progressing to an interview. In this article, we discuss how to write a reversed-chronological resume, offer a template for both experienced and entry-level professionals and provide a resume example using reversed-chronological layout.

How to write a reversed-chronological resume

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you learn how to write a reversed-chronological resume:

1. List your contact details

Begin a reversed-chronological application by listing your contact details at the top of your document. Start by writing your full name in a bold and bigger font size than the rest of the text on your resume. Making your name the largest feature on your document can help hiring managers remember your application. Underneath this, list on a single line your phone number, email address and the city and state in which you live. Here's an example of how this might appear:

Gregory Watson

0422 555 225 | g.watson@email.com | Perth, Western Australia

2. Write a professional summary

Underneath your contact details, write a professional summary that briefly describes your years of industry experience and your key skills and capabilities. Hiring managers often read a candidate's summary first to determine their suitability for a role, so this is an excellent opportunity to introduce yourself and encourage them to continue reading.

You may be a professional with an extensive work history who requires multiple pages to display their career experience and achievements. In this context, having a resume summary allows you to condense your career trajectory into a few sentences. Rather than perusing the entire document, this can help hiring managers – who typically review volumes of candidate applications – identify whether your application is worth taking seriously straight away. Here's an example of a resume summary for a finance professional:

Dedicated finance executive with ten years of experience monitoring expenses and investments for a variety of large enterprises. Capable of evaluating complex financial reports, writing cash-flow statements and supervising staff members. Seeking a finance manager position with JPO Global Technology Enterprises.

3. Display your professional experience

This section is your opportunity to include all your relevant work experience. Begin with your current or most recent position and then continue to list your experience in reverse-chronological order. For example, if you were applying for a dental assistant position, you'd start with your current employer and then provide information about each job you had prior to that relating to the dental or healthcare industries.

Format this section by listing the job title and employment dates on one line. On the second line, write the name of the company and the city and state where you worked. Here's an example of how this might appear:

Dental Assistant | June 2018–Current
Mayland District Dental Care | Perth, Western Australia

Underneath your employment details, provide several bullet points, each describing a relevant task you performed in the role or a noteworthy achievement you accomplished. If possible, try to include measurable accomplishments you can describe numerically. For example, you might detail how many positive reviews you received from ensuring excellent patient care. If you work in the finance industry, you could outline how much you saved a company in business expenditures or how many clients you secured. Quantifying your impact in a previous role can help show your value to employers and differentiate you from other candidates.

4. Provide your skills

Including a skills section on your resume is your opportunity to show a hiring manager what relevant abilities you possess for your desired role. Include a variety of hard skills. These refer to technical expertise you've gained from undergoing training. For example, coding capabilities, copy-editing proficiency and software knowledge are hard skills. Also, list any soft skills that convey your desirable personality traits, such as interpersonal, communication, organisational or teamwork skills. When listing your skills, format them on a single line and separate each ability with a vertical bar. Here's an example of how this might appear:

Software knowledge | Interpersonal communication | Network security | Adaptability

Related: Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

5. Highlight your qualifications

The last section of a reversed-chronological application is where you can provide information about any degrees, certificates or other qualifications you have that apply to your desired position. You can format this section by listing the certificate or degree's name, followed by the name of the awarding institution. Here's an example of how this might appear:

Bachelor of Commerce, The University of Gambier Lakes

Similarly to your experience section, list your most to least recent educational achievement. For example, if you have a bachelor's degree in accounting and recently completed a master's degree in business administration, list the master's degree first.

Chronological resume template for experienced professionals

Here's a resume template you can use when formatting your work history and qualifications:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State]

Professional Summary

[Two to three sentences that highlight years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as a professional.]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list five experience items. For previous roles, list three.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

Skills

Education

[Degree and major or certification name], [Name of school or university]

Chronological resume template for entry-level professionals

Here's a resume template for entry-level professionals:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification, if applicable]

[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State]

Professional Summary

[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as an entry-level professional.]

Education

[Degree], [Major] | [Date of graduation]
[Name of school or university]

Optional

[Certification name], [Host organisation], [Year completed or expiration date]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list five experience items. For previous roles, list three.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

Skills

Sample resume with reversed-chronological format

Here's a sample resume using a reversed-chronological format you can use for inspiration and guidance when writing your own:

Emily Angelo

0441 111 990 | emily.angelo@email.com | Perth, Western Australia

Professional Summary

Passionate high school teacher with over 15 years of experience teaching in suburban and regional schools. Proficient in areas of literacy development, classroom management and using information technology to enhance student learning. Seeking a position as an English teacher with Arthur Parkes Secondary College.

Experience

English Teacher | April 2017–Current
Sacred Heart Grammar School | Perth, Western Australia

Prepare year seven and nine students for NAPLAN tests each year, which has resulted in a 20% increase in the number of students who score above the national average
Develop course content specific to the learning ability of students
Work additional hours with ESL students to help them develop reading and writing proficiency
Attend school administration meetings to help administrators develop learning programs
Implement classroom management strategies to ensure each lesson is productive

English teacher | February 2012–March 2017
Shenton Regional High School | Albany, Western Australia

Developed and executed successful lessons for year 11 and 12 students
Attended regular meetings with English teachers to assess overall teaching productivity and share supportive ideas
Designed and conducted grammar activities that improved students' writing abilities by 25%

Skills

Education

Master of English Education, Alexander Bedford University

Bachelor of Education (Secondary), English major, Alexander Bedford University

How to Write a Reversed-Chronological Resume (With Template)