The job market is highly competitive with dozens of people applying for the same roles in many instances. That means that your resume must quickly catch a hiring manager’s attention and effectively position you for the job. One factor that catches many job seekers up is how much job history should your resume include? Do you share all of the jobs you have held or only certain ones?
Resist the Temptation to Overshare
In your eagerness to let a potential employer know about all of your skills and experience, it can be easy to delve too deep. Your resume is not an autobiography, and age discrimination is real. Finding the right balance for what you include is key. You want to give a hiring manager enough information to get a sense of your ability to effectively perform the role without making yourself appear overqualified.
Details such as the year you graduated college or work you performed 30 years ago can also open you up to potential age discrimination, whether intentional or not. A hiring manager who was still in elementary school in the early 2000s might view someone who was working a full-time job at that time to be “old,” when in reality, they still have many years of employment ahead of them. Too much job history can work against you.
Furthermore, your most recent experience is likely the most relevant, especially if you have continued to move into roles with increased responsibility. The entry-level job you held right out of college is not going to be weighted as heavily as your recent management role, nor will it accurately show your current abilities.
Factors to Consider When it Comes to Job History
There are several considerations to keep in mind as you decide which jobs you should include on your resume and which ones you should consolidate or leave off completely.
What Stage of Your Career Are You in?
Recent college graduates and entry-level professionals will certainly have less work experience to highlight than someone who is a senior executive or has been working for many years. A general rule of thumb is to focus on the past 10 to 15 years employment.
- Entry-level candidates should typically include jobs they held from college onward. Don’t forget to add any internships, apprenticeships, or meaningful volunteer work.
- Mid-level candidates should include positions held within the last 10 to 15 years, focusing on those that are most relevant to what they want to do next.
- Senior-level candidates should also focus on the past 10 to 15 years while also taking into consideration the job description. If an employer is looking for at least 10 years in a certain type of role or industry, or notable leadership, it may be beneficial to add experience beyond 15 years.
- Career changers who are looking to transition into a new industry should focus on those roles that demonstrate transferable skills and experience.
How Relevant is the Job to What You Are Targeting?
You want to keep your resume focused to provide employers with a clear picture of who you are and what you can do. Part-time jobs that you worked on the side for extra income may or may not have any relation to your full-time career. If they don’t, and they do not leave any significant gap in employment, you can leave them off.
You also don’t want your resume to become redundant. If you held many of the same responsibilities in progressive roles, you don’t need to list every one in detail. Elaborate on your most recent role and then for previous ones, highlight accomplishments, achievements, or functions you took on that differentiate those positions from others. What did you do in that job that benefitted the company or helped you be more successful in subsequent roles?
If you are switching careers and have a few years of relevant experience, you can consolidate jobs you held in your previous career that do not add much value. It can be beneficial to show that you have these years of work experience, but you do not need to elaborate on them in detail.
Keep Your Resume Concise
More information is not always better. A hiring manager may be turned off by a three-page resume that could have easily been expressed in two pages. Going back too far may also make you appear overqualified for the role and reduce your chances of landing an interview.
At the same time, only listing five years of experience when you have 10 or 15 could be selling yourself short. You may be leaving out essential details that are attractive to a potential employer and show you have the knowledge and skills they are seeking in their next hire.
How Much Job History Should Your Resume Include to Be Effective?
There is not a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. It will depend on your specific situation and career journey. The team at Grammar Chic can help you present your job history, experience, and accomplishments in a way that aligns with current standards as well as your goals for future employment. Contact us today at (803) 831-7444 or resumewriting@grammarchic.net to get started!
