Resume ? : What is the limit on how far back to list your jobs?

[supernova]

Those of you who have a longer track record like me, what is your break point for leaving off jobs? 15 years ago? 10 years ago?

I'm to the point that listing my entire work history is about 2 pages now and seems irrelevant, not to mention boring.

So what's your opinion?

[ohiosmith]

1. 10 to 15 years at the max. If you apply for a job where your earlier experience is relevant

discuss it in the cover letter.

Keep it to one or two pages at the most.

[supernova]

4. That's a good idea

about the cover letter.

Ideally, I like to keep it to one page, plus make it fit in everybody's HR search engines.

[ohiosmith]

5. Perfect. Also, use the information from the published position description to create job

specific resumes and cover letters. A lot of organizations electronically scan resumes. If those submitted do not contain the necessary key words/phrases they are discarded.

[CreekDog]

2. if it's relevant and helpful

but nothing from previous lives or other personalities.

[supernova]

9. Keep my alternate egos separate. Check.

I was so afraid my other personality, Sadie the 1920s Flapper, would get the job instead of me.

:crazy:

[CreekDog]

12. Wow! what kinna job are you applying for?

:woohoo:

[CreekDog]

13. If your other personality is better qualified for the job, then use that

However, they have to do the work, don't let them slack off and make you show up every day.

[Coyote_Bandit]

3. I keep my resume to a single page

I list education and professional credentials first.

I categorize and group work experience (business and financial; consulting and legal; and creative and communications) and do not put it in chronological order.

I omit dates for everything except educational degrees and professional credentials.

Work experience goes back 20 years.

And, I often change formatting depending on who/where I am submitting the resume.....

[supernova]

7. So you have more of a functional resume?

I like that idea.

I've performed different roles over the years, but they all are connected to writing in some way.

[Coyote_Bandit]

11. Yes

My resume is some combination of chronological (the education and credentials sections) and functional (the experience and skills sections).

It enables me to create relationships between a broad range of positions and skills in several industries that might otherwise appear a bit random.

I returned to school in my 30's and I have found that this format can serve to diminish the impact of gaps in employment (I worked when I returned to school but the chronologhy has to be put together in a functional resume).

And it is useful in highlighting recurrent themes and skills.

[IcyPeas]

6. 10 years / eom

[Deep13]

8. Don't worry about that...

...once you get it down to a single page, anything not relevant will have been sacrificed anyway.

Make sure your resume says "I'm a doer." (As opposed to a DUer.) Present each job listed with a description that conveys the message that you were presented with this challenge and you did well with it. Remember, it ain't about the steak, it's about the sizzle. The purpose of a resume is to land an interview. You will not be hired just on that.

Anything on page two is essentially not important enough for page one and will likely not be read. Either that or whoever receives it will think that you are not sufficiently self-disciplined to pare it down to a single page and will just chuck it.

The coverletter is just as important as the resume. I recommend you read Knock 'Em Dead by Martin Yate for an excellent instruction on searching, contacting employers and doing well in the interview.

[supernova]

10. Good advice.

Thanks!

:D