For those of you with many years of experience (ie you are in your mid 50’s), how far back in time do you go with experience on your resume and LinkedIn profile?

15 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 30,2025 at 5:14PM UTC

   It's recommended not to go past 10 years. Simply because noone wants to read long resumes. I'm older, 60, have worked since I was 21, but I don't list all that. I do list a prior career but I had someone look at my resume and went, wow, that's a lot. So I have some work to do to shorten my experience but it's hard when we are seasoned. Recommend 1-2 pages as well. Remove your date of college graduation. You may have to put it in an online application which is fine, just leave it off the resume. It dates you.

2. AnonymousOctober 30,2025 at 5:15PM UTC

   I have been at my company for 25 years so it does not apply to me. If I was to look internally they would see all my experience. As I am not looking to move, I had to think about this. I think I would highlight my experience and not go all the way back but also would list my Masters obtained in 2017 which may take the question of age off the table, atleast for a little.

3. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 30,2025 at 6:19PM UTC

   These days, anything over 10 or 15 years typically gets lopped off the resume. Exception would be if you are at the very most senior level and additional positions show career progression - then maybe up to 20 years. Graduation dates should not be on the resume.

4. AnonymousOctober 31,2025 at 2:48PM UTC

   One issue to consider is most companies have online application. So while you submit a resume and leave dates off, the website you need to use to apply for the role requires all dates. I too recommend 10-15 years tops. If earlier roles apply and show progression then include in relevant experience.

5. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistOctober 31,2025 at 6:14PM UTC

   Requires dates for graduation? Not in my experience but if required, I would put 1900 - they'd probably assume it was a mistake.

6. LauraOctober 30,2025 at 6:32PM UTC

   Focus on relevance rather than dates. If you have experience from 17 years ago that's relevant to the position you're applying to than you can create a section called "Relevant Work Experience" or "Additional Work Experience" and list the bullet points there.

7. AnonymousOctober 30,2025 at 7:00PM UTC

   Age 58 here. I only provide dates for things that I did within the past 10 years, but I include relevant experience from prior to that time without listing dates.

8. AnonymousOctober 31,2025 at 12:26PM UTC

   I include only my executive roles and the one preceding because it’s super relevant. Takes me back about 18 years but the time in those bigger roles was longer so fewer entries.

9. AnonymousOctober 31,2025 at 5:36PM UTC

   Nothing more than 10 years.

   If you were employed for less than a year, just list the year.

   Include the length of TIME & relevance unless you clearly explain in a cover letter or on the resume why there's unaccounted time.

   Do not put the year you graduated from college. Ageism is still present, despite what some say.

   All bullet points should be no more than two sentences.

   Remember that the hiring process and the hiring managers are different now than they were in our 30s. ATS is crucial—most resumes are reviewed by ATS before a person sees them.

10. AnonymousOctober 31,2025 at 6:54PM UTC

    12 years.

11. AnonymousOctober 31,2025 at 8:22PM UTC

    I'm 69 and I go back 15 years

12. Sherry MartinNovember 1,2025 at 12:30PM UTC

    My resume goes back 10 years, and my LinkedIn has my full history. I will more years of experience for consulting roles.

13. Lori CasoNovember 1,2025 at 12:42PM UTC

    The thing about “Boomers” is we stay at jobs for long periods of time… so my LinkedIn goes back 30 years (that’s two jobs.)

14. AnonymousNovember 1,2025 at 1:14PM UTC

    Give no more than ten years. Once they meet you or see your linked in profile they’ll know you’re not 25. If they want to know more work history they will ask. I once had an executive want to know all about me. All the way back to high school!

15. AnonymousNovember 2,2025 at 5:52PM UTC

    I’d remove the years related to graduation from college. I think the # of years you list depends on experience in the type of role you’re looking at especially if you’ve changed careers