What Jobs Should I Include on My Resume? (A 2025 Guide for Every Career Stage)

When it’s time to send your resume out into the world, it’s tempting to include everything you’ve ever done—from your first internship to your latest gig. But in a world where attention spans are short and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are scanning before humans even glance at your resume, what you choose to include—or leave out—matters.

So, what jobs should you include on your resume in 2025?

Let’s dive into a practical breakdown that works for recent grads, mid-level professionals, and senior job seekers alike.

 Related: How Many Jobs Should You List on a Resume? (What Recruiters Expect in 2025)

Start with Relevance, Not Just Recency

The most important filter isn’t always time—it’s relevance.

Ask yourself: Does this job strengthen my application for the role I’m applying to? If the answer is yes, include it. If not, even recent roles might be better left off.

Prioritize:

• Experience directly tied to the job description
• Roles that demonstrate transferable skills (leadership, strategy, problem-solving)
• Positions that show career progression

Consider Leaving Out:

• Unrelated side gigs
• Short-term jobs with no measurable impact
• Very old roles, unless they’re critical to your story

 Related: How Many Jobs Should You Apply to Per Day? (And What Actually Works)

What to Include If You're Just Starting Out

If you’re a recent graduate or transitioning careers, you may not have traditional full-time experience. That’s okay—recruiters know this.

Include:

• Internships (paid or unpaid)
• Volunteering or leadership in student organizations
• Freelance work or side projects
• Class projects that mimic real-world experience (especially in tech or design fields)

Use your bullet points to describe outcomes and skills—what you learned, built, managed, or improved.

Mid-Level Candidates: Focus on Growth and Impact

If you’re 3–10 years into your career, you’ve likely worked a few jobs—but not all of them need to be on your resume. Highlight roles where you:

• Led initiatives
• Took on new responsibilities
• Contributed to measurable results (e.g., "grew monthly revenue by 20%")

You can group similar or short-term roles under one section to avoid resume clutter. Think: "Content Marketing Roles, 2019–2023" or "Contract Projects in Software Development".

 Pro Tip: Use Jobcamp’s AI Resume Tool to auto-summarize and format these sections cleanly.

Senior Professionals: Cut the Fat, Keep the Core

If you’ve got 15+ years of experience, the key is curation. You don’t need to tell your full career story. Focus on:

• The last 10–15 years
• Executive or leadership roles
• Projects with impact and strategic scope

Older jobs should be included only if they’re:

• Highly relevant
• Industry-recognized
• Tied to your biggest achievements

Anything older can go in a "Previous Experience" or "Early Career" section—no need for bullet points.

Formatting Matters: Clarity Beats Chronology

Whether you’re listing jobs from 2 years ago or 20, format is everything. A cluttered, hard-to-read resume will be skipped.

Tips:

• Use consistent layout: Job Title, Company, Dates, Location
• Keep it scannable: 3–5 bullets max per job
• Start each point with an action verb

And remember: ATS can’t read fancy design tricks. Stick with clean templates and standard fonts.

Related: Formatting Tips to Optimize Resume Job History for ATS

FAQs: What Jobs Should Be on a Resume?

1. Should I include jobs that aren't related to the role I'm applying for?
Only if they showcase transferable skills or fill a career gap. Otherwise, skip them.

2. Can I leave off early jobs?
Yes—especially if they’re not adding value or are too far back in time.

3. What if I have multiple short jobs?
Group them under a single category or project-based section to keep things tidy.

4. Do freelance and gig jobs count?
Absolutely. Just present them professionally, like any other job.

5. Should I include job titles I was overqualified for?
Yes, but only if the responsibilities or outcomes are impressive.

Final Word: Think Strategically, Not Sentimentally

Your resume isn’t your life story—it’s a marketing document. Choose jobs that make you look qualified, credible, and focused. Whether you’re applying for a creative role, a data-heavy position, or a leadership role, always ask: Will this experience help me get the interview?

If not, hit delete.

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