Following are the key components of a standard chronological resume:

(1) Identification – Your contact information (name, address, phone number(s) and email address).

(2) Job objective – This is optional and should only be included for new college graduates or those changing careers. The job objective could be incorporated into the cover letter if you opt not to use it in the resume. If you do use an objective, make sure your objective explains the kind of work you want to do and keep it between two to four typed lines.

(3) Key accomplishments - Think of this section as an executive summary of your resume. Identify key accomplishments that will grab the attention of an employer. This section could also be labeled "Professional Profile," "Summary of Accomplishments," "Key Skills," "Summary of Qualifications," or "Qualifications."

(4) Education – This section should follow your work experience section and should include schools attended, majors/minors, degrees, and honors or awards received.

(5) Professional experience - This section could also be labeled "Experience, "Work History," or "Employment." This section should include company name, your job title, dates of employment, and major accomplishments. List experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with your most current experience. List your accomplishments in a bulleted format and avoid discussing job duties or responsibilities.

(6) Affiliations and Interests - This section is optional; include only if you have room on your resume for it. Items from this section are often used as an ice-breaker by interviewers. This section should only include professional memberships and non-controversial activities or interests.

(7) References – This section should only include a statement saying references are available upon request. Don’t include the names or contact information of your references on your resume. This information can be included as a separate document.