How Far Back Should a Resume Go? A Hiring Manager’s Guide to Pruning Experience
- Alex Khamis
- Aug 26
- 7 min read
This is a question I’ve heard more times than I can count. As someone that's been in the hiring seat before, as a resume writer, and as a moderator of one of the world's largest resume communities on Reddit, it’s one of the most common areas people overthink.
Most people feel like they should include everything. After all, you worked hard for those jobs, so why not show it all? But resumes don’t work that way.
The truth is, recruiters and managers are scanning hundreds of resumes. They don’t have the time or interest to read through a 20–30 year career history in detail.
So, let’s break this down. How much is too much, and when is it OK to go back further?
Why You Shouldn’t Include Everything
Resumes aren’t career journals. They’re marketing documents. Their job is to get you interviews. That means they need to be short, relevant, and tailored.
Older experience usually dilutes the impact of your recent roles. If you’re applying for a senior engineering position, no one cares about your early help desk job from 2003.
Recruiters skim. On average, you get a few seconds for a first pass. The more clutter you add, the less chance your most important points stand out.
Another reason is age bias. Employers shouldn’t factor age into hiring, but realistically, they sometimes do. Listing 25 years of experience upfront just makes it easier to date you.
The other problem is skills. Technology, tools, and practices evolve. Listing outdated systems or tools can make you look stale, even if you’re excellent with modern platforms.
The General Rule of Thumb
In North America, the accepted standard is to cover the last 10–15 years of relevant experience. That’s what hiring managers expect, and it’s usually enough to prove your value.
For most professionals, this means a two-page resume at most. One page if you’re early in your career, two if you’re mid to senior level.
Executives are sometimes the exception. They can stretch to about 20 years, but even then, it’s selective. The goal is to show leadership growth, not every early role.
Anything older should either be summarized briefly or left off entirely. Think of it as the “archive” section of your career.
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Senior-Level Individual Contributors
If you’ve been in your field for 15–20 years as an IC, you probably have more experience than fits on paper. That’s where pruning becomes important.
In fast-moving fields like software or IT, even 10 years ago can feel like another era. Old tools and systems don’t hold the same weight today.
For example, if you’re a software engineer with 19 years of work, you don’t need to list your Java 1.4 projects from 2006. Focus on recent frameworks, languages, and achievements.
Older jobs can be summarized in an “Earlier Career” section. Just list company, title, and dates. That way, you show continuity without overwhelming detail.
Recruiters want to know you’ve stayed active and current. Your last decade usually tells that story clearly.
Executives and Senior Leaders
Executives have different challenges. Most start out as individual contributors before moving into leadership. Those early jobs aren’t very relevant anymore.
For executives, detail the last 15 years of leadership roles. If you’ve been in the C-suite, you might extend to 20 years, but only if it adds to your narrative.
The focus should be on strategy, organizational impact, and business results. Early jobs like “account manager” or “analyst” don’t strengthen your case once you’re targeting VP or higher.
You can acknowledge older work in a condensed section. Example: “Earlier career includes roles at Dell and IBM in account management and sales operations.” No bullets, just context.
Exceptions exist. If you worked somewhere notable early on, like the White House or Apple, it can make sense to include. Prestige adds weight, even if it’s dated.
PS: If you're looking an executive embarking on your next job search, don't forget to read our article on the Top Executive Job Boards.
Frequent Job Changers
Job hopping became common in the late 2010s. People switched every two years for pay raises. Fast forward, and now some resumes list ten jobs in fifteen years.
The problem is space. Listing all of them crowds your resume. It also risks making you look unfocused, even if the career path is logical.
One solution is grouping. If you’ve held several similar roles, combine them under one header. Example: “Sales Representative – ABC Corp, XYZ Inc, Acme Co. (2015–2022).”
Then, describe common achievements or skills across those roles. You still get credit for the time, but you avoid a messy list of repetitive short stints.
If a role didn’t add much to your skill set, cut it. Not every job deserves space. It’s fine to skip a two-month contract if it doesn’t add value.
The goal is clarity. Hiring managers don’t want to sift through clutter. They want to see your best work quickly.
Career Switchers
If you’re switching careers, the answer changes. Old roles in a different industry don’t always help, so you can usually shorten your history.
For example, if you worked 12 years in hospitality and are now moving into IT, focus on the last five years of relevant work, training, or projects.
Transferable skills matter. Highlight leadership, communication, problem-solving, or technical training that connects with your target industry. Don’t detail unrelated responsibilities.
If you’re returning to a previous field after time away, include those older roles. They’re relevant even if they’re 15+ years old. Just keep them concise.
Resume space should go toward building the story that connects you to your new field. Anything else is noise.
Academics
Academic careers are unique. In academia, you use a CV instead of a resume. CVs are expected to include your entire career: teaching, publications, research, and grants.
That means everything counts, no matter how far back it goes. A senior professor’s CV might be 15 pages, and that’s completely normal in that context.
But if you’re leaving academia for industry, switch formats. Don’t send a 15-page CV. Use a resume and stick to the same 10–15 year guideline as everyone else.
Translate academic work into business terms. Instead of “published in ten journals,” highlight transferable skills like data analysis, project leadership, or grant management.
It’s not about length, it’s about relevance to the role you’re pursuing.
Consultants and Freelancers
Consultants and freelancers face another issue: too many projects. Listing every client or gig will bury the reader in details.
The better approach is grouping. Example: “IT Consultant – Independent (2010–Present). Selected clients: Microsoft, Dell, and four mid-sized SaaS companies.” Then list a handful of relevant projects.
Consulting resumes can be longer, sometimes up to three pages, because project detail matters. But even then, you don’t need to go past 10–15 years unless it’s critical.
If an old project still demonstrates unique expertise, include it. Otherwise, keep the focus on the most recent and relevant contracts.
Think of it as a portfolio. Show the best samples, not the entire archive.
Common Mistakes
Here’s what I see most often:
Listing every job since high school
Keeping outdated tools and skills
Extending resumes to five pages
Over explaining unrelated early roles
None of this helps. It only makes your resume harder to scan.
The resume should feel like a highlight reel, not a documentary.
When It’s OK to Break the Rule
Sometimes you should go back further than 15 years. A few examples:
If you worked for a prestigious employer early in your career
If you’re returning to a field you left long ago
In those cases, older experience supports your candidacy. But still keep it concise. A single line can be enough to show that history.
The point isn’t to hide your experience, it’s to prioritize what matters most for the role.
Practical Tips
Keep a “master resume” with everything you’ve ever done. That way you’re not losing history, just curating it.
Tailor each resume to the job you’re applying for. Cut or add depending on what’s most relevant. This process should only take a few minutes per role.
If you need to show older work, use an “Earlier Career” section. Just list the roles without descriptions.
LinkedIn is another tool. You can keep your full work history there, while your resume stays tight and focused. PS: Read our article for tips on how to tune up your LinkedIn headline.
To Sum It Up
So, how far back should a resume go? For most professionals, about 10–15 years of relevant experience. Sometimes less if you’re switching careers, sometimes more if you’re an executive.
Your resume isn’t a scrapbook. It’s an ad. The question to ask isn’t “How much can I fit?” but “What strengthens my case for this job?”
Keep it sharp, keep it current, and leave the rest in your archive.
FAQ
How many previous jobs should you list on a resume?
List enough jobs to show you’re qualified for the role, usually from the past 10–15 years. That’s typically five to seven roles, depending on tenure and relevance.
How far back should I list on my resume?
Stick to the last 10–15 years of relevant work. Hiring managers don’t expect a full career record, only what supports your candidacy today.
Should you go back more than 10 years on a resume?
Only if it strengthens your case. For example, executives may list up to 20 years, or you might add a prestigious older role. Otherwise, keep the focus on recent work.
Should you remove old jobs from your resume?
Yes, if they no longer help you. Early retail or entry-level jobs often become irrelevant as your career grows. Keep them only if they add unique, transferable value.
How long should my resume be?
One page if you’re early career, two pages if you’re mid to senior level. Executives sometimes need a third, but only if all content is relevant.
Do I need to include my entire work history on LinkedIn?
Not necessarily. LinkedIn can hold more than your resume, but you don’t need to add every role. Use it strategically, just like your resume.
What if I have employment gaps?
Don’t extend your timeline just to cover them. Address gaps honestly in a cover letter or interview. Keep your resume focused on relevant skills and accomplishments.
How should I handle freelance or consulting work?
Group projects under one consulting entry. List select clients or engagements, not every contract. Keep the focus on work that aligns with the jobs you’re applying for.
Author
Alex Khamis is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and Managing Partner at Final Draft Resumes and Resumatic.
He has over 15 years of experience across career services and business communications. He's helped people land roles at companies like The Walt Disney Corporation and Microsoft.
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