Writing a Chronological CV

Here, we'll look at some of the pros and cons of the chronological CV:

Pro:

Because your most recent job positions, volunteer activities, and educational experiences are listed at the top of each section of your CV, the person who receives it can quickly know what your career path has been from a length of service perspective.

This is helpful, because many interviewers or search committees have very little time to spend delving into individuals CVs; hence, the faster they can skim through them, the better. And one of the critical elements they typically look for is your current status.

Con:

Unfortunately, your most recent achievements or positions aren't always going to help you get the job.

For instance, let's say you are an accountant who decided two years ago to switch gears and become a novelist. After 24 months of near-poverty and self-employment, you decided to hang up your pen and return to the daily grind of life with numbers. However, your CV will list your last employment title as "freelancer" or "self employed writer". If someone is reviewing your CV very quickly, he or she might assume you are inappropriate for the job and simply discard your CV before delving into it further to uncover how qualified you really are.

Pro:

As stated before, the chronological CV is very frequently seen (and, in some cases, may be expected.) This means that you'll be employing a tried and true method for getting your information to your intended audience. As the saying goes, why reinvent the wheel?

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Con:

On the other hand, some authorities on the subjects of CVs and job hunting suggest that looking like the rest of the pack can be detrimental to the job seeker. If your CV blends in with every other CV on your recipients' desktop, its uniqueness or relevancy might be lost or overlooked. This can be especially true if you're applying for a job which is outside of your education or career track.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Pro:

A chronological CV is extremely quick to put together, because it flows easily. After all, you basically just pop in the numbers, job titles, employers, and other pertinent data. It's rather simple and efficient, making it useful for those who don't want to spend hours mulling over how to organise their CVs.

Con:

Conversely, the chronological CV might be quick to write, but it doesn't necessary "mirror" the job posting. To do that, you'll need to choose another type of CV, such as a skills-based or targeted CV.

Pro:

Let's face it; this doesn't have to be the last CV you'll ever write. In fact, chances are that you could wind up with many different CVs over the course of your career. If the chronological style gets you noticed at least once, it has been worth your time investment.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our CV Builder lets you build a professionally structured CV tailored to your target role. Enter your details and experience, and get a polished CV ready to send to employers. Try it now →