Dear Cindy – Listing Work Experience – How Old Is Too Old?

How far back do I have to go when writing my résumé?

Sincerely,

Old-Timer

Dear OT:

A good rule of thumb is to go as far back as your last degree or significant certificate – but there are exceptions. It's probably easiest to give some examples.

You have advanced education, e.g.:

• If you are a newly qualified MSN applying for a DON position, include all RN jobs you held prior to obtaining the MSN.

• If you are a not-so-newly-qualified MSN applying for a DON position, include all jobs held since obtaining the MSN. A summary line can be used to cover the rest of your experience, e.g., "1985 to 2004, worked as a RN on medical/surgical units. Details available upon request."

You lack formal education in the position for which you are applying, but have on-the-job training, e.g.:

• If you have gained minimal experience since completing your on-the-job training, include all the jobs (see closing note) you held prior to completing your on-the-job training.

• If you have gained several years of experience since completing the on-the-job training, include all jobs you have held since completing your on-the-job training. A summary line, as above, can be used to account for the other experience.

You're a new graduate, e.g.:

• If you're a new graduate with some related, practicum, or volunteer experience, include all the jobs held, relating skills used/developed to those required for the job being applied for.

• If you're a new graduate with no related experience or no experience at all – this can be a challenge! Address your lack of formal experience in your cover letter (the recruiter is going to notice it anyway), but stress what you will bring to the position, such as enthusiasm, dedication, eagerness to learn, etc. The key is to back up these characteristics – don't just say you're dedicated and enthusiastic, show that you are, for example: "I am dedicated and enthusiastic – I raised $$ fundraising for X Charity." The key is to emphasize the skills (e.g. time management, research) you've demonstrated or developed while studying and/or participating in extracurricular activities without lying or simply pushing things to the point of absurdity.

A special circumstance: If you don't have any advanced education or formal on-the-job training, but you do have years and years of experience, elaborate your most recent two or three jobs (covering the last four or five years) and provide basic information on the rest.

And since a résumé should generally only be one or two pages in length (see Dear Cindy – How Long Is Too Long for a Résumé) – this can also guide you in what you should and should not include or elaborate on.

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Dear Cindy – Listing Work Experience – How Old Is Too Old?

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