Tandem's Resume Tips - How Much Employment To List
Kent R.
From the archives - common questions worth re-addressing. Q: Some of my proudest accomplishments occurred at jobs that I had 20 years ago. A friend recently told me that I should not be going that far back on my resume. Is this true?
A: Every situation is different, but – for the most part – you don’t want to go back more than 10 – 15 years on your resume. This standard is very disappointing to a lot of people, especially since we tend to have strong emotions associated with early-career accomplishments. Remember, though, that it’s best to keep your resume as succinct as possible. You want the potential employer to learn all of the details of your background and experience via an interview. Plus, sticking to your most recent experience helps in warding off discrimination, etc.
Keep in mind, too, that there are other ways to speak to older accomplishments without listing them in your Professional Experience section.