How far back do you go with your work history??

LJW_2

Hi, I am currently doing my CV and cover letter for a new job. I have a work history that goes back to 1986 but not all relevant to the job I am applying for. Do I still put them all in or just go back a set number of years??

Thanks in advance. :j

TimBear

I would list them all, or they'll only ask you about a gap in your employment history in which case you would have to mention your jobs then anyway. Might as well put it all down, relevant or not!

I'm no expert though!

bluetownbarry

Most employers for referencing purposes normally only go back as far as five years.

Personally, as far as the CV goes, give full details for the last ten years and summarise the years before that, giving prominance to the roles relevent to the role you are applying for. Also, try and it keep to no more than two sides of A4, even better if you can get it on one side. Last time I advertised a vacancy externally I had over 250 CVs to wade through. Pretty much the CVs that waffled on for pages and pages had to be ignored due to time constraints.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

personally and as an employer i would go back a max of 10 years. You need to make sure the key skills that are relevant to the job you are going for are outlined on the top too. Keep it short but hammer home the points first.If your going over 2 pages then seriously cut down on the waffle that write about each role.

no one likes to wade through lots of crap when reading CVs

LJW_2

Thanks for the above advice. I will go back 10 years and then put a short summary of work before then just to explain. I am doing a cover letter so hopefully that is enough.

In my CV I am just putting the job title, lenght of time job held and who with and bullet pointing the skills, do employers prefer this or not?

Aiming for one A4 for cv, one A4 for covering letter and then do the person spec.

I was going to do the person spec and answer each question just in a short summary but now worried that this will add my application by 2 more pages!!

Heeelllp

Jeff_Bridges_hair

What person spec?

Outline your duties in your previous roles too not just the skills. Id personally have the key skills applicable to the job as a separate entity on its own before you even do the work experience.

LJW_2

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

What person spec?

Outline your duties in your previous roles too not just the skills. Id personally have the key skills applicable to the job as a separate entity on its own before you even do the work experience.

I was always told to answer the person spec by each of the points listed..ie to be able to demonstrate...blah blah

However I have just reread the advert and is says to send the covering letter and CV....bit worried now but guessing its just that??

LJW_2

me again...should I aim for one side of A4 for the covering letter? then hopfully one page or maybe another half for my CV??

DCFC79

I have my cv as 2 pages and go as far back as my second job i started in 2000 plus this then fills up the 2nd page to the last line

bristol_pilot

You should account for all your time, month and year, going back to when you left school (even if that was 30 years ago) as with some employers unexplained gaps count against you. However don't put any detail more than 10 years back and little detail more than 5 years.

At my place, CVs with gaps are sifted out by admin staff so I won't even see them.

Emmzi

"year 19DoT - year5yearsago

variety of roles from admin trainee as school leaver to assistant store manager; details available if required"

If anything in the 5 - 10 year ago period is relevant then do 10 but frankly if you're coming for a managerial or professional role I don't care if you had a job in a tea shop at 15. Show me relevancy. Don't waste valuable space on your 2 pages here you could be telling me about your skills.

(Also, I don't care about your hobbies, unless you are a school leaver, or family)