How many years of experience should you include on your resume?

by Robbie Miller Kaplan


Resumes must show that you are qualified for the positions you seek so you must include enough experience to demonstrate that you meet job requirements. There are differing philosophies on how many years to include but I feel the job applicant is the best judge on the number of experience entries that showcase their credentials. It is possible to summarize past experiences in a short paragraph after the last experience entry; it is also fine to omit experiences that either have no relevance to the jobs you seek or are so old they date you. Some job seekers are very proud of a specific past job or the experience may have been with a prestigious organization and they want to continue to include it; others may feel going beyond 20 years is just too long. Evaluate your experiences objectively and include the right balance to ensure you meet the needs of prospective employers.


Send questions or comments to: rmkaplan@job-resources.com
Copyright © Robbie Miller Kaplan.  All rights reserved.
Revised: January 15, 2004 .