The Chronological CV

What is a Chronological CV?

and when do we use it?

When one has been staidly employed through out their lives, the greatest tool in their arsenal when job hunting is their CV, assuming the CV is written correctly and clearly promotes achievements. 

The Chronological CV is one where your work history and qualifications are displayed in reverse order starting with the most recent.

The advantages of the chronological CV are 

• Clearly displays your progression in your career

• Displays your consistency
• Displays your career trajectory and
• Your route to any specialisations

First things first, do you write a personal profile or a career profile, or a little of both. The answer is, use what the job advertisement is giving you, mirror your profile whether personal or career to the wording in the advert and give the recruiting manager what they are looking for. Be careful to keep all information factual and realistic.

Example of an Advertisement 

Job Advert taken from Secs in the City Jobs board

“This PA/Office Manager role, based out of stunning offices in central Milan will see you taking on a senior support role for the company CEO as well as managing an admin team and being a key point of contact within the business. You will be managing a highly-changeable diary, booking extensive international travel and ensuring the smooth day to day running of the office. You will be setting targets and tracking performance for team members and will be managing training and recruitment as the company grows. 

The ideal candidate for this exciting PA/Office Manager role will have demonstrable senior level support in a PA capacity. You will be able to show previous team management experience within a previous role and you will be comfortable managing multiple projects at any given time. You will be hugely personable, highly professional and appropriately discrete with a natural quiet confidence. “

Example of a profile taking into account the Advertisement

A high caliber multi lingual senior PA/Office Manager specialising in senior-level confidential PA support to C-Suite executives, with a phenomenal track record including team and office management, management of demanding diaries and a confident client facing liaison. Career to date spent predominantly in the field of (add the field) honing a broad and highly effective skill set.  Rate of career progression and breath of appointments for major firms like, (add the big named firms) reflects professional capabilities.” Looking to join a forward thinking firm in need of expert administration and logistical support for senior management and or board members.