How Many Jobs to List on Your Resume
How Many Jobs to List on Your Resume | Tips & How-to | Resume.com
When you create your resume, it’s important to list the most relevant jobs so that hiring managers will be able to understand your background and expertise. The better you’re able to narrow down how many jobs you should include, the more clear and concise your resume will be. Learn more about how many jobs you should list on your resume and how to narrow down your selection.
How many jobs should you list on your resume?
When it comes to how many jobs you should list on your resume, there isn’t an exact number. The general rule is to stick to jobs that you held within the past 10 years. This ensures that you’re using your most relevant experiences. Ultimately, the answer comes down to relevancy. You should also take into consideration your own personal background when deciding how many jobs you’ll list. For example, if you had a previous position that successfully conveys your ability to do the job you’re applying for, there may be a valid reason to include it. In other words, if you have relevant experience that applies to the role, even if it’s past the 10-year mark, you can still list it on your resume.
Why is it important to limit how many jobs are listed on your resume?
Here are some of the main reasons why you should keep your experience section concise:
It makes your resume more clear and legible
Limiting the number of jobs you list helps keep your resume down to one page. This is preferred by the majority of hiring managers that look through several resumes per day. Decluttering also helps your resume look more aesthetically pleasing and makes it clearer for hiring managers to read and understand. In addition, if you shorten your resume down from two pages to one, you’ll be saving paper which is good for the environment.
It’s easier for hiring managers to understand your relevant qualifications
When you limit the number of jobs you have listed on your resume, it helps hiring managers to see how your most recent experiences align with the responsibilities of the job they’re hiring for. When they hire for a particular job, they look for candidates that have the skills and expertise necessary to perform the everyday duties of the job. Narrowing down the number of jobs you list helps them get a clearer picture of your recent capabilities rather than reading about your experience from more than a decade ago.
It’s quicker for hiring managers to read through
Hiring managers look through several stacks of applications per day. When you limit the number of jobs you have listed, you’re making your resume significantly shorter. This can help hiring managers to sift through your resume at a quicker pace.
It tailors your resume to the job you’re applying for
When you apply for a job, it’s important to consider only your most relevant skills and expertise to the role you’re applying for. Limiting the number of jobs you list will help you tailor your resume to a particular job and will ensure you’re only listing the qualifications and experience a particular hiring manager is looking for.
It lets hiring managers know how up-to-date your skills are
When you narrow down the number of jobs you plan to list, you’re also letting hiring managers know when the last time was that you used your particular skills. This helps them determine whether or not your skills and expertise are up-to-par with the latest advancements and technologies in your industry.
How to determine the number of jobs to list on your resume
Here are the steps to take when determining which positions to include on your professional resume:
1. First, consider the role you’re applying for
Before you determine how many of your previous jobs you want to list on your resume, refer to the job posting for the job you’re applying for. The job posting and description will list the necessary qualifications for the role such as skills or experience you’re expected to have. The better you understand what the company is looking for, the easier it will be to narrow down how many of your previous jobs to list.
2. Second, determine your most relevant experiences
Next, determine what skills and expertise you possess and create a list. From here, determine any correlations between your background and the job you’re applying for. Narrow down your list to only the most relevant jobs. This lets hiring managers know whether or not you’re qualified for the job as well as how up-to-date your skills are.
3. Third, consider including early experience in your qualifications summary
If you have any jobs from early on in your career that you didn’t end up including, consider adding them to your qualifications summary at the top of your resume. Your qualification summary should provide hiring managers with your highest accomplishments. Therefore, including other experience that isn’t listed in your experience section can help recruiters see how your expertise extends beyond what you’ve done in your most recent roles.
4. Finally, combine any early experience when applicable
If you worked for the same company in several roles early on in your career, consider combining this experience under one company umbrella. Template for listing multiple roles under one company:
Company Name
- Position 1, start date – end date
- Position 2, start date – end date
- Position 3, start date – end date
This helps organize your resume while briefly mentioning the experience you had early on in your career.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine which and how many jobs to list on your resume. Bear in mind that regardless of the fact, you should stick to the roles that are relevant to the position you’re currently applying for.
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