The chronological resume is actually a reverse chronological resume—- items are listed in reverse chronological order, with your most recent schooling or job first. Names, dates, and places of employment are listed, and education and work experience are grouped separately.

This is the most common and readily accepted resume format. You should use a chronological resume if you have no large gaps in your work history and if your previous jobs relate to your current job objective. This format is a good choice for professionals moving up the career ladder.

The exact content of every resume naturally varies depending on individual circumstances. A chronological resume usually incorporates these basic components:

• Contact Information
• A Career Objective (Optional)
• A Career Summary
• A brief description of Work History
• Other Related Information (if this applies)
• Awards, Certificates, Significant accomplishments
• Education
• Interests

Resumes are specific to the individual. Each resume, in this case, then will reflect the individual's experience, skills, qualifications, achievements, relevant to the position applied for. For example, a recent graduate, will most likely list Education first, as this may be the focus point for applying on a specific position. (ie. An advertisement requesting a recent graduate with a Computing Science Engineering Degree will expect to see this at the beginning of the resume.)

Far less common is the functional resume. The functional resume focuses on the skills and talents you have developed and de-emphasizes job titles, employer names, and dates. The main purpose of a functional resume is to better the chances of candidates whose qualifications might look weak on a chronological resume or who are in the midst of a career change and wish to deflect attention from recent employment experience. For example, an army officer, a teacher or a homemaker seeking a position at a large corporation might choose a functional resume.

The chrono-functional resume can be a powerful and flexible tool for the job seeker with a solid employment background and special skills he/she wants to emphasize. Like the chronological resume, it chronologically lists job history and education, while allowing the job seeker to highlight what makes his/her qualifications especially marketable.