Having too many jobs on a resume is a common occurrence. This is especially true for those who’ve been in the workforce for years or who frequently job hop.
You’re probably reading this because you also have a long CV. Does your resume stretch to three pages or more? Are you struggling to smush everything together?
Well, we are here to tell you how to solve that problem. Keep reading to learn how to present a resume filled with only the jobs that matter.
Why Having Too Many Jobs on a Resume Isn’t Good
Today’s working environment is competitive, and hiring managers are becoming strict in searching for the perfect candidate. Resumes filled with irrelevant information and too many jobs that don’t fit the applicable position will go in the “no” pile.
So, are you a college student applying for jobs before graduation? You might want to reconsider listing your long high school string of babysitting gigs and summer jobs.
On the other hand, maybe you’ve spent years working in various industries. You’ve had at least five different jobs as well.
If you’re supposed to fill your CV with ALL your job experience, how do you fit it on there?
The answer is- you don’t. Listing too many jobs can actually hurt your chances of getting hired.
Companies like consistency- in everything, including your career history. But the good news is that you can easily turn a “no” CV into a clean, concise winner.
How to Fix Having Too Many Jobs on Your CV
There is an art form to crafting a winning resume. And, honestly, everyone has their opinion on how to do so. As a recruiting and staffing firm, we’ve seen our fair share of resumes. Keep reading to hear our strategies for narrowing down the jobs listed on your CV.
Don’t Include Everything
Now, you might be thinking this is an obvious tip, but we’re serious here. Don’t include everything. Unless you’re applying for an animal shelter or the like, your prospective employer doesn’t need to know about your dog walking history.
We do recommend keeping a master resume that DOES include everything. This is for your records only and to remember what you’ve accomplished. You can pull information from the master resume to fit the new CV you’re custom making.
Rule of Three
If it wasn’t from the past three years, leave it off. Employers want to see your recent history ONLY. However, there are a few exceptions to that rule.
For example, let’s say you’ve been at your current job for five years. Naturally, you’d want to put that at the top of your history. But you can also list the job that you did right before that. That would have been over five years ago, but it’s still relevant in terms of career chronology.
Also, it is typically recommended to only list your last three roles. So, what were your past three jobs, internships, or personal ventures?
Keep It Custom
The most important thing you should do if you have too many jobs on your resume? Create a new, custom CV for each job you’re applying for.
Now, that might sound like a lot. But can you create 1-3 different resumes, each one focused on a specific industry or role? Most definitely.
Also, remember to omit what is irrelevant to the career you’re trying to create for yourself.
Combine if Necessary
Look for any opportunity to combine your experience into one. Do you have a lot of contractor job history? Group that together all in one. This is very helpful for freelancers or contractors who work on short-term projects for multiple companies.
Also, what job history can you repurpose into soft or technical skills instead? If you want to include the skills you’ve learned but not the job title itself, stick those skills in your objective summary or skills section.
Skip the Interview and Go Straight to a Dallas Recruiter
Are you looking for a job in the sales industry in Dallas, Texas? Our team can help you find the perfect sales position that aligns with your objective, future goals, and current skill set. We will connect you straight to hiring companies to expedite your job search. We also have an office in Chicago.
If you are trying to fill a sales-based role within your company, Sales Recruiters Dallas can also help you hire the perfect candidate. We use a hands-on approach that’s proven to get results and makes the hiring process a breeze.
Learn more about us to hire talent or get hired sooner rather than later.