CV - how far into the past should they go?

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How many years should the CV go in detail into the past?



As we get older I suppose that things of 30+ years ago are not that relevant. Could I just not enter into the details of them? the CV would still cover the time from college admission up to today, but only the last 10 years would be with further explanation.







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    up vote
    7
    down vote

    favorite












    How many years should the CV go in detail into the past?



    As we get older I suppose that things of 30+ years ago are not that relevant. Could I just not enter into the details of them? the CV would still cover the time from college admission up to today, but only the last 10 years would be with further explanation.







    share|improve this question






















      up vote
      7
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      7
      down vote

      favorite











      How many years should the CV go in detail into the past?



      As we get older I suppose that things of 30+ years ago are not that relevant. Could I just not enter into the details of them? the CV would still cover the time from college admission up to today, but only the last 10 years would be with further explanation.







      share|improve this question












      How many years should the CV go in detail into the past?



      As we get older I suppose that things of 30+ years ago are not that relevant. Could I just not enter into the details of them? the CV would still cover the time from college admission up to today, but only the last 10 years would be with further explanation.









      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Dec 9 '13 at 17:10









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          2 Answers
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          I'd say that the focus is on enough detail to address the given job requirements.



          In general - you want the last 2-3 jobs, going back up to 10 years in some level of detail. But mileage varies depending on the positions you've held and the position you're applying to.



          For example:



          • if the target position focuses on a legacy technology and you did something awesome with it 15 years ago - highlight that position.


          • if the target position is focusing on a wide and deep breadth of capabilities, make sure you show your breadth.


          • if there are areas in the near term that are irrelevant, but job history longer ago that is a direct match, de-emphasize the less relevant areas and focus the reader on the relevant experience.


          For older or less relevant positions, length, company and position are fine. Figure that the reader is time-pressed and wants a fast easy to read summary of your career.






          share|improve this answer



























            up vote
            18
            down vote













            I tend to leave older stuff on there to show the complete history, but show it in less and less detail as time goes on. Mine now goes back 17 years, but they are down to 1 liners pretty much just with a company name and the dates at the start of that period.






            share|improve this answer




















            • This is exactly the approach I take also - and with a similar length resume - just over 17 years. The oldest items are quite literally "company name - job title - mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy"
              – Carson63000
              Dec 10 '13 at 0:58










            • @Carson63000 I would even go with yyyy-yyyy, as long as each of them is at least 2 years, but that's marginal probably.
              – yo'
              Dec 10 '13 at 21:29










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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            5
            down vote



            accepted










            I'd say that the focus is on enough detail to address the given job requirements.



            In general - you want the last 2-3 jobs, going back up to 10 years in some level of detail. But mileage varies depending on the positions you've held and the position you're applying to.



            For example:



            • if the target position focuses on a legacy technology and you did something awesome with it 15 years ago - highlight that position.


            • if the target position is focusing on a wide and deep breadth of capabilities, make sure you show your breadth.


            • if there are areas in the near term that are irrelevant, but job history longer ago that is a direct match, de-emphasize the less relevant areas and focus the reader on the relevant experience.


            For older or less relevant positions, length, company and position are fine. Figure that the reader is time-pressed and wants a fast easy to read summary of your career.






            share|improve this answer
























              up vote
              5
              down vote



              accepted










              I'd say that the focus is on enough detail to address the given job requirements.



              In general - you want the last 2-3 jobs, going back up to 10 years in some level of detail. But mileage varies depending on the positions you've held and the position you're applying to.



              For example:



              • if the target position focuses on a legacy technology and you did something awesome with it 15 years ago - highlight that position.


              • if the target position is focusing on a wide and deep breadth of capabilities, make sure you show your breadth.


              • if there are areas in the near term that are irrelevant, but job history longer ago that is a direct match, de-emphasize the less relevant areas and focus the reader on the relevant experience.


              For older or less relevant positions, length, company and position are fine. Figure that the reader is time-pressed and wants a fast easy to read summary of your career.






              share|improve this answer






















                up vote
                5
                down vote



                accepted







                up vote
                5
                down vote



                accepted






                I'd say that the focus is on enough detail to address the given job requirements.



                In general - you want the last 2-3 jobs, going back up to 10 years in some level of detail. But mileage varies depending on the positions you've held and the position you're applying to.



                For example:



                • if the target position focuses on a legacy technology and you did something awesome with it 15 years ago - highlight that position.


                • if the target position is focusing on a wide and deep breadth of capabilities, make sure you show your breadth.


                • if there are areas in the near term that are irrelevant, but job history longer ago that is a direct match, de-emphasize the less relevant areas and focus the reader on the relevant experience.


                For older or less relevant positions, length, company and position are fine. Figure that the reader is time-pressed and wants a fast easy to read summary of your career.






                share|improve this answer












                I'd say that the focus is on enough detail to address the given job requirements.



                In general - you want the last 2-3 jobs, going back up to 10 years in some level of detail. But mileage varies depending on the positions you've held and the position you're applying to.



                For example:



                • if the target position focuses on a legacy technology and you did something awesome with it 15 years ago - highlight that position.


                • if the target position is focusing on a wide and deep breadth of capabilities, make sure you show your breadth.


                • if there are areas in the near term that are irrelevant, but job history longer ago that is a direct match, de-emphasize the less relevant areas and focus the reader on the relevant experience.


                For older or less relevant positions, length, company and position are fine. Figure that the reader is time-pressed and wants a fast easy to read summary of your career.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Dec 9 '13 at 19:52









                bethlakshmi

                70.4k4136277




                70.4k4136277






















                    up vote
                    18
                    down vote













                    I tend to leave older stuff on there to show the complete history, but show it in less and less detail as time goes on. Mine now goes back 17 years, but they are down to 1 liners pretty much just with a company name and the dates at the start of that period.






                    share|improve this answer




















                    • This is exactly the approach I take also - and with a similar length resume - just over 17 years. The oldest items are quite literally "company name - job title - mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy"
                      – Carson63000
                      Dec 10 '13 at 0:58










                    • @Carson63000 I would even go with yyyy-yyyy, as long as each of them is at least 2 years, but that's marginal probably.
                      – yo'
                      Dec 10 '13 at 21:29














                    up vote
                    18
                    down vote













                    I tend to leave older stuff on there to show the complete history, but show it in less and less detail as time goes on. Mine now goes back 17 years, but they are down to 1 liners pretty much just with a company name and the dates at the start of that period.






                    share|improve this answer




















                    • This is exactly the approach I take also - and with a similar length resume - just over 17 years. The oldest items are quite literally "company name - job title - mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy"
                      – Carson63000
                      Dec 10 '13 at 0:58










                    • @Carson63000 I would even go with yyyy-yyyy, as long as each of them is at least 2 years, but that's marginal probably.
                      – yo'
                      Dec 10 '13 at 21:29












                    up vote
                    18
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    18
                    down vote









                    I tend to leave older stuff on there to show the complete history, but show it in less and less detail as time goes on. Mine now goes back 17 years, but they are down to 1 liners pretty much just with a company name and the dates at the start of that period.






                    share|improve this answer












                    I tend to leave older stuff on there to show the complete history, but show it in less and less detail as time goes on. Mine now goes back 17 years, but they are down to 1 liners pretty much just with a company name and the dates at the start of that period.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Dec 9 '13 at 17:15









                    Matt

                    32519




                    32519











                    • This is exactly the approach I take also - and with a similar length resume - just over 17 years. The oldest items are quite literally "company name - job title - mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy"
                      – Carson63000
                      Dec 10 '13 at 0:58










                    • @Carson63000 I would even go with yyyy-yyyy, as long as each of them is at least 2 years, but that's marginal probably.
                      – yo'
                      Dec 10 '13 at 21:29
















                    • This is exactly the approach I take also - and with a similar length resume - just over 17 years. The oldest items are quite literally "company name - job title - mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy"
                      – Carson63000
                      Dec 10 '13 at 0:58










                    • @Carson63000 I would even go with yyyy-yyyy, as long as each of them is at least 2 years, but that's marginal probably.
                      – yo'
                      Dec 10 '13 at 21:29















                    This is exactly the approach I take also - and with a similar length resume - just over 17 years. The oldest items are quite literally "company name - job title - mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy"
                    – Carson63000
                    Dec 10 '13 at 0:58




                    This is exactly the approach I take also - and with a similar length resume - just over 17 years. The oldest items are quite literally "company name - job title - mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy"
                    – Carson63000
                    Dec 10 '13 at 0:58












                    @Carson63000 I would even go with yyyy-yyyy, as long as each of them is at least 2 years, but that's marginal probably.
                    – yo'
                    Dec 10 '13 at 21:29




                    @Carson63000 I would even go with yyyy-yyyy, as long as each of them is at least 2 years, but that's marginal probably.
                    – yo'
                    Dec 10 '13 at 21:29












                     

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