Spinoff of Resume Question

I would leave them on...some of mine go back to 2000...basically everything but McDonalds. I graduated high school in 2001, but my experience at the gym managing clients and sales has helped me grow in my career. Plus I was there 5 years or so.

Put on there what you think and go from there. Some companies want 1 page resumes and others want EVERYTHING on there.

When I was unemployed, I had been with my employer for almost 9 years. I had assistance improving my resume (part of my severance package). They helped me bump it up. I eventually ended up getting my job back. Anyway, we emphasized the work I did at the most recent that would be most relevant and put most emphasis on some items from my previous employer. I had multiple positions there over a 15 yr span of time that we mainly placed emphasis on those items that would help show leadership and other skills. Then when I interviewed, I was able to expand on those skills.

As an HR professional, I will tell you to put everything that is relevant to your work history.

On mine, I go back to 1999. That is when I worked at GM and started my labor relations career. I just applied for a job with Nissan and I wanted that on my resume to show I had worked at an auto plant before.

I try to tailor any cover letter to the particular job I am applying for, as well as my resume.

So, yes, I would include all relevant jobs.

ETA: a resume for someone who has been out of school for more than 5-10 years should be two pages, not 1. One page is entry-level, early career. If you've been around a while, employers and recruiters will expect that your experience merits a second page. The 1-page rule is outdated.

Yes, include the prior work - my resume goes back to college, which is almost 20 years. All of my experience is relevant to the position that I just landed. My first two post-college jobs are condensed down to just a couple of bullet points, but they highlight my experience in accounting and finance in a non-traditional setting.

Maybe I'm nosy, but I like to see info going back to college and I've interviewed a lot of candidates over the years. Keep the resume to two pages and include what's relevant, leaving no gaps. When I'm looking at candidates, I like to see their entire career trajectory and get an idea of who they are from it. I once hired a candidate in part because he had worked at a second job for 15 years, from college to professional work to grad school and back into the workforce. I was impressed by his ability to grind out a second job when he needed to earlier in his career. I would view a candidate who took a career detour and stuck it out even though it was unsatisfying work as someone who can prioritize through different stages of life and who will better appreciate a good opportunity.

Good luck!

What JB & SouthernYankee said is spot on. I will also add, there are many different ways to format a resume.

I worked for one company 13 years, but I held 3 different positions. So I listed the employer, but broke each position into it's own section, complete with bullet points highlighting responsibilities.

For the older jobs you held, if they are not relevant to the industry you are applying for, you can simply list the company, position, & one line outlining duties. You can also do that for the older jobs, even if they are in the industry, assuming that you grew & promoted your skill set with your more recent employment history.

Best of luck! T. :)

Put on your resume any experience that you think shows you as the best candidate for the job.

Mama,

In your case? You list all relevant work to what you WANT to do. You tailor your resume to the position you are applying for.

The fact that you've had a job for 15 years speaks volumes about you. DO NOT forget that on your resume - so take 15 years of work and the best you did from it - make it 5 to 10 bullet points and be done with it.

Highlight your experience from previous positions - again - TAILOR your resume for each position you apply for!!

Good luck!

I say put them on since they show relevant experience to what you are looking for.

I stick by my original answer - you put in everything relevant regardless of how long ago.

On a resume, it is best to list the jobs that are relevant to the one you're applying to gain, regardless of timeline, and leave off the jobs that have nothing to do with it.

For vague example, if it is an office job you might list similar jobs from 19, 11, and 4 years ago, but leave off the waitressing job 7 years ago and the part-time retail clerk job from 12 years ago.

If the job you've held for the past 15 years is the only one relevant to the new position, it is the only one you need to list. If you had a similar job 20 years ago, then list that too.

Timeline gaps are not a big questionable deal in most cases anymore, and cover letters should usually be very brief to non-existent unless requested in the job offering. They are often not read at all, and writing a full page may get your resume binned.

In your case, I'd go back farther because you need to feature those skills, and you need to show that you've worked in more than one industry and are therefore adaptable and teachable. Where an applicant really doesn't want to go back forever is when it gives away the age - if you put that your first job was in 1975, it's obvious that you're in your 60s and, even though it's illegal, employers will consider that you won't be around for many years. And 40 year old skills aren't that relevant - or at least they've been honed in more recent employment. Same reason you don't put the year you graduated from school.

in your case i'd definitely leave the high-profile jobs on there. i think it's a win/win for you- the longevity at your current gig proves you've got staying power, and you've got versatility demonstrated in your older-but-more-relavent experience.
good luck!
khairete
S.

I'd say put anything relevant....

Mine goes back to 1985 because it's relevant....If I just went back 10 years, it would appear that I was a lunch lady with a Master's degree (that was my part-time job during my "hiatus") that worked retail during the holidays, which were fine for the times, when I was home with the munchkin, BUT.............

Good luck

I would say that your resume shouldn't be more then one page (maybe two). If potential employers start getting what appear to be books they will put those aside.

I also think it depends on what kind of job you are going for. The higher up someone goes the more skills and details you will probably need to list.

I forgot to add that maybe having more then one resume depending on what you are applying for.

Include the other jobs since they are relevant to what you're looking to do next. In fact, you can even highlight them more than the current job if you think they look better on paper. List them chronologically, just don't put as much detail for the current job (just because it's first doesn't mean it has to be the biggest/best). Absolutely include the older jobs. Experience is far more important than time in this case.

If you have more info than will fit on 2 pages - no one is going to read it.
These people go through THOUSANDS of resumes - and your job is to put something down that will catch their attention without boring them to death.
They'll look into your details once you pass the initial 'get their attention' stage - it's GETTING PAST that stage that's the trick.

The rule of thumb is keep it to one page so it isn't a matter of time so much as number of employers. Some people bounce around so much you have four pages for five years, okay, not that bad.

If I put my last three it would take me back to the 80s, still I would list my last three if I were looking for a job.

leave it all on there. when my dad lost his job after more than 20 years, we used all work experience from college graduation till present. when the company he got hired for after that let him go (age related) he retired early.

All relevant work. My husbands goes back well into the 90s.

I'd cover that in a cover letter. Then list the one job and briefly go over other jobs or careers you've had.