VENT - Years of Experience?
Among the many weird things that have happened during my job search, a recruiter wants me to limit my resume to jobs I've held in the past 7 years. However, the job description lists more than 7 years of experience with some skills.
???
To clarify, I do tailor my resume for different positions. In this case the recruiter is asking me to take off relevant experience that would add up to the more than 7 years that the posted job description asks for - because he only want the resume to reflect employers within the past 7 years. (I also have relevant experience in the more recent timeframe, but it's not possible to show the requested more than 7 years of experience in a role when you only list 7 years of job experience on your resume.)
I'm getting some very good responses on this. And some useful suggestions about how to tailor my resume. I guess my frustration is that since they asked for 10 years of experience, it seems odd that I can't list more than 7 years. (Yes, I can put that there's more in the summary, but why ask for more, if you're going to eliminate candidates with more?)
Anonymous
10/13/22 at 12:41PM UTC
In the summary section of your resume, you can note "with more than x years of experience" and then, retitle your work experience section "recent relevant experience" or something along those lines. With this format, you are meeting the request of the recruiter, but also making it clear that there's (an ambiguous amount of) more experience.
Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume Writer
THE career expert for high achievers
4.13k
10/13/22 at 4:58PM UTC
The problem with this approach is the ATS doesn't work that way - it will add up years next to jobs with a relevant title.
As a Master Resume Writer, I would never limit a client's resume to the past 7 years - not enough of a trajectory.
Anonymous
10/12/22 at 11:21PM UTC
The recruiter might be reading the room and hearing why candidates are not moving forward. That may be why he or she is asking you to remove work experience. There could be more to the story than what you're being told.
The hiring manager might have less than 10 years experience, your older positions might date your resume or he or she might want you to focus on more recent positions.
I wasn't hired for a manager position because I had more years of experience than the hiring manager. I was offered the role originally and then it was rescinded as I was told confidentially that my boss was worried that I would possibly try to compete with her in the future. The recruiter disclosed that I had more experience than my prospective director. Fortunately I was able to talk myself back into my former role or I would have been left without a job.
Whatever the situation, think about your next steps. Do you want to play these games or hold out to work for a company that values your experience?
After my recent experience, I have an additional section on my resume that doesn't list years but adds in anything from previous positions that I feel would benefit the role. I tailor my resume for each application to reflect the role and that includes my additional work section. Good luck!
Anonymous
10/12/22 at 10:23PM UTC
I would assume he had candidates who submitted more years of experience and have been rejected by the hiring manager. Some hiring managers are afraid of candidates with more experience than they have. Afraid that person is either too old, knows to much or will steal their job.
Anonymous
10/12/22 at 10:52PM UTC
very true
Anonymous
10/12/22 at 8:40PM UTC
Run away from them.
I do limit my resume as well, but it's more like 10 years deep, to show my CPA firm, which is uber-important in my field.
Remember, it's a recruiter talking, NOT a hiring manager. They want to spin you as decades younger than you are. They're just trying for a sale, bottom line.
C HRecruiting & People Ops / HR - N. CA
251
10/17/22 at 5:10PM UTC
I would disagree with this as a long time recruiter. I’d think this tailored request is indeed because the recruiter is “reading the room” for patterns on who moves forward and why.
This is why recruiting is both an art and a science.
Jeanette Abreu
12
10/12/22 at 8:39PM UTC
It is advisable to center it on positions that you have had relevant to the jobs you are applying too. You can tailor different resumes if you are applying to different positions. If you do not have work experience in what you are applying to then add your jobs plus center on your skills in your resume. I read that you should add up to 13 years of work experience.
