The Danger (and Value) of Showing 10+ Years of Experience on Your Resume

I was speaking with someone today with more than 30 years of experience in their industry. They resisted the fact that I wanted them to put 10+ years of experience. As we discussed the positive and negative of putting the true number of years (32!), I thought this might make an interesting topic for today.

The Dangers

• The biggest danger with listing more than 10 years of experience is the fear of age discrimination. Age discrimination is based in fear. A few of these concerns are that you lack energy, fear that you are not open to changing technology or ideas, and fear that you may have health concerns. These are all tough to overcome on a piece of paper.

• The more experience you have, the more salary you can demand. Employers are looking for the most cost-effective employee. Therefore, showing your entire 25 years of experience may give them second thoughts about whether or not they can afford you.

• Keep in mind, if you have 32 years of experience and you are being interviewed by your potential boss that isn't even 32 years old, they may be intimidated by you to the point that they will not even call you for an interview. Fear that you may take their job from them could be a stopping point for some less secure bosses.

• Most employers truly want to know your latest and greatest accomplishments. They view older accomplishments as outdated and irrelevant. Employers do not want to wade through irrelevant information to get to what they deem "the good stuff."

The Value

• Showing a depth and breadth of experience demonstrates you can hit the ground running and make an immediate impact on the organization. Be sure to show that you possess current knowledge of new technology or methods if you go back more than 10 years.

• In more than 10 years of industry experience, chances are you have seen changes in industry standards and expectations and changes in technology. Demonstrating your consistent performance, no matter the changes surrounding you, can be valuable to your sales pitch.

When to Include an Objective Statement

Some job seekers question whether and/or when to use an objective statement on a resume. Others wonder about using a career summary or summary of qualifications instead. So, what’s the difference, and when should you include one or the other?

Objective Statement vs. Career Summary

The objective statement should clearly communicate the type of job the job seeker is pursuing. It can even be customized to include the specific job title. On the other hand, for those who have experience, a career summary or summary of qualifications should succinctly sum up their qualifications and years of experience in the occupation and/or industry of interest. Qualifications, expertise, and skills highlighted in a summary should be mentioned again, more specifically, along with other experience and skills, later in the resume.

When Is an Objective Statement a Must?

You really can’t error by including an objective statement in a resume; however, omitting one can sometimes be a mistake. For example, job seekers new to the job market who have limited or no work experience must include a clear, concise objective statement. Without it, a recruiter or hiring manager may have difficulty making a connection between the applicant and the company’s current job openings. An objective statement is also important to a job seeker who has very diverse experience, making it hard for the employer to immediately conclude what type of job the person is applying for. This is also true for career changers who are hoping to break into a new role or new industry.

If you’re not sure how to begin writing either an objective or qualifications summary then look for samples. Ask yourself which ones would stand out if you were the employer, then use the standouts to help you draft your own statement. Remember, this is typically one of the first things a recruiter or hiring manager will read in your resume. Be sure it clearly and concisely defines the job you are pursuing and that it doesn’t contain any misspellings or grammar errors.