A resume should generally go back about 10 to 15 years in work history. This time frame is widely recommended by career experts and hiring managers because it highlights your most recent and relevant experience, which better reflects your current skills and capabilities

. Key points to consider:

• Relevance: Include only the work experience relevant to the job you are applying for. Tailoring your resume to the position ensures that the hiring manager sees your most applicable skills and achievements

• Conciseness: Limiting your resume to 10–15 years helps keep it concise and focused, avoiding overwhelming the reader with outdated information

• Avoiding Age Bias: Going back further than 15 years can unintentionally reveal your age and potentially lead to age discrimination. Omitting older experience can help mitigate this risk

• Exceptions: Some fields like civil service or academia may require a full employment history. Also, if earlier experience is highly relevant or shows important career progression, it can be briefly included, but typically summarized to keep the resume concise

• Formatting Tips: Use reverse-chronological order, emphasize recent roles with detailed achievements, and summarize older roles with fewer details

In summary, aim to include about 10 to 15 years of your most relevant work experience on your resume, adjusting based on the job requirements and your career history.