How Far Back Should I Go on my Resume? Here's the Answer

The question of 'how far back should I go on my resume?' is pretty common among job seekers. This is because most job seekers hope to impress a potential employer by proving that they have the experience needed for that particular role. But, the truth is, you don't need to include everything in your resume to prove this in your next job search. This article discusses what to and not to include in the experience section of your resume when applying for a new job. 

But even before we discuss this, it's important to understand the recruiting process in most companies and organizations. According to several studies, hiring managers spend around six seconds looking at a resume or cover letter. This tells you one thing; including your entire career history in your resume is probably one of the reasons you haven't yet heard back from that job you applied for. 

As a rule of thumb, your resume should go back 10 to 15 years. However, this also doesn't necessarily mean that you should include everything that falls under that timeframe. 

When should you go back 10 to 15 years on your resume?

Job experts recommended going back 10 to 15 years on your resume if you worked between three to five different jobs within that time. You may spread out your years of experience based on various milestones.

For instance, if you're a web developer, you may have spent the first two years working as an intern at a startup company. Then, you worked the next three years as a full-time web developer at a different company. 

You then got a better job offer at a bigger company, where you now work as a senior web developer. This example shows you worked at three different companies, gained relevant experience, and moved a notch higher in your career. 

When should you go back to 10 years in your resume?

Under certain circumstances, you can still restrict your work experience to the last ten years or less. This mostly happens when there's a significant career change, and you need to restrict your resume to a particular phase. 

Here's an example. 

Andrew graduates with a Master's Degree in Travel and Tourism Management. He lands a job at a prestigious tourism company and works with them for two years. 

He then gets another job as a tourism director and works for a year before studying for a five-year Bachelor's Degree in Software Engineering. 

So when Andrew applies for a job as a software engineer, he'll most likely restrict his professional experience to software engineering. Including his previous career in tourism may not be so relevant in such a situation. Besides, it creates the impression that he doesn't really care about software engineering. 

Can you go back further than 15 years in your resume?

It's unusual, but not unheard of, for job applicants to go back further than 15 years in their resumes. This is because most recruiters only care about your most recent work history, not what you did 20 years ago. 

Here's another example. 

Jane has been working as an accountant for the past 14 years. Before that, she worked as a cashier at a leading store in her city. Although cashiers and accountants fall under the same field, recruiters will be more interested in what Jane achieved over the past 15 years as an accountant rather than her achievements as a cashier. 

How far back should a resume go for work history of more than 15 years?

You may include your work experience from 15 years ago, or even longer if you worked for the same employer the entire time. However, you need to do this in a manner that shows progress throughout the years.

Progress doesn't necessarily mean switching from one employer to another every year. On the contrary, that could be interpreted as a red flag. The ability to keep a job for many years is actually a good thing in the eyes of recruiters. 

Now back to your resume, consider breaking it down to highlight your achievements and progress at the company. For example, if you were promoted several times, you may break down your resume into sections showing how you've grown as a professional over the years. 

Still wondering 'how far back should my resume go?' Here's yet another example:

Peter has been working at XYZ Holdings for the last 20 years. He started as a forklift operator and was promoted to a supervisor five years later. Over the next 15 years, he was promoted to manager and director roles, respectively. Here's how his 20-year resume would look in chronological order: 

2000 - 2005: Forklift operator, XYZ Holdings

2005 - 2010: Shift supervisor, XYZ Holdings

2010 - 2015: Manager, XYZ Holdings

2015 - 2020: Director, XYZ Holdings

Why shouldn't you list your entire work history on a resume? 

The six-second rule aside, here's why it's never a good idea to list your entire work history on a resume unless under special circumstances we discussed earlier. 

Maintaining relevance 

Recruiters are more interested in your suitability for that particular role than your entire work history. For this reason, you need to focus only on the kind of information that's relevant to the job you intend to apply for. First, read and understand the job description and then create your professional resume around that. 

Avoiding age discrimination

Age discrimination at workplaces is real. When your resume suggests that you've been in the industry for far too long, it creates the impression that you're too overqualified for the job. Yes, some recruiters may reject your application when they believe you're too qualified for the job.

Because you have older experience, chances are you'll want to be paid far more than what the employer is willing to offer. But you don't expect the recruiter to call you back to inform you that they can't afford you. So instead, they'll simply ignore your resume. 

Keeping things brief

Recruiters spend an average of six seconds reviewing a professional resume. Chances are they won't call you back when your resume seems more like a dissertation than a relevant summary of your employment history. Keeping your resume brief makes it easier for recruiters to grasp your main achievements, earlier experience, and positions worked.

Avoiding unnecessary questions

Admit it - don't you wish you could get your dream job without being asked any questions? Unfortunately, that's not how things work. Including unnecessary information or experience in your resume sets you up for random questions from the recruiter, i.e., if you're lucky enough to be invited for an interview.

The more irrelevant information you include in your resume, the harder you'll have to practice for the interview. This is because you're never sure what to expect during the interview. For example, you don't know if the recruiter will ask you about your bouncer role in 2002 or your recent experience in computer programming. 

How do I write a resume for an entry-level position?

When applying for an entry-level job, you probably don't have a lot of experience to list down. That said, you obviously can't turn in a blank resume hoping to get hired. Instead, when applying for an entry-level position, the main goal is to demonstrate that you've been actively involved in various career-developing activities.

For example, you may list your educational background in the education section of your resume as a recent graduate, including any positions you held while at school or notable achievements and awards. Other examples include volunteer experiences, internships, transferable skills, and leadership experience.

What should I include in the work experience section of a management role?

When applying for a manager role, you need to include the kind of experience that highlights the qualities of a good manager and aligns with the job description. For example, quantifying your achievements can make your resume stand out. 

Think of something like:

"Managed 20 employees 12 hours a day, increasing average individual performance by 30%."

Key Takeaways 

We hope that this article answers the question of 'how far back should work history go on application?" But if you're still wondering 'how far should resumes go back?' here's a quick summary:

When writing your relevant work experience in your resume, you don't need to be overly restrictive. The art of resume writing requires that you understand how to give the right amount of information - not too little or too much. Remember, whether you're applying for an hourly role, an entry-level role, or a managerial position, relevance is one of the most important things recruiters consider when reviewing your resume.