When it comes to crafting a standout CV, one of the biggest questions job seekers face is how much work history to include. Should you list every single job you’ve ever held, or is it better to keep things concise? The answer largely depends on your experience level, the relevance of your past roles, and the specific job you’re applying for.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you decide how much of your work history should make the cut.
Consider the relevance
The golden rule for any CV is relevance. Hiring managers are most interested in your experience that directly relates to the job at hand. So, if you’ve had a long career across different fields, focus on the roles that demonstrate skills and experiences applicable to the position you’re applying for.
For example:
If you’re applying for a role in marketing, your time as a barista may not be relevant, but your work as a social media manager for a local café absolutely is.
A project manager applying for a similar role doesn’t need to list an internship from 10 years ago unless it directly highlights a skill that’s crucial for the job.
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How far back should you go?
As a general rule, it’s best to include the last 10-15 years of your work history. Why? Because beyond that, your experience may be outdated in fast-moving industries like technology, marketing, or healthcare. Trends, tools, and best practices change quickly, and what you did 20 years ago might not be relevant anymore.
However, for senior professionals or those in specialized roles (e.g., scientific research, legal, or education), older experiences may still hold significant value. In that case, consider including key positions that demonstrate a depth of knowledge or expertise, even if they go back more than 15 years.
Balancing detail with brevity
While it might be tempting to list every job with full descriptions, a long, cluttered CV can overwhelm a hiring manager. Aim to keep your CV one to two pages long—preferably on the shorter side if you’re earlier in your career. Each role should be given enough space to demonstrate key accomplishments, but avoid overly detailed job descriptions that can make the CV feel bloated.
- For recent roles (last 5–10 years): Include bullet points that highlight specific achievements, responsibilities, and skills.
- For older roles (more than 10 years ago): Summarize them briefly, possibly with just the job title, company, and dates, unless they are particularly relevant.
What about early-career jobs?
If you’re early in your career, it can be tricky to decide how much to include, especially if you haven’t had many relevant jobs yet. In this case:
- Don’t be afraid to list internships, part-time jobs, or freelance work, as long as they’ve helped you build the skills needed for the role you’re applying for.
- You might also consider including volunteer work or extracurricular activities if they’re relevant.
As your career progresses, these early roles can eventually be removed or minimized in favor of more current, relevant experiences.
Handling gaps in employment
If you have gaps in your work history, you may wonder whether you should leave them out or explain them. There’s no need to list every period of unemployment, but if there are large gaps, it’s wise to address them briefly:
- Consider including freelance work, caregiving, education, or personal projects you pursued during those gaps.
- You can also mention in your cover letter that you took time off for a specific reason, especially if it adds value to your application.
The goal is to present a continuous professional narrative, even if there are non-traditional work experiences in between.
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