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)
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.
Related: How Many Jobs Should You Apply to Per Day? (And What Actually Works)
If you’re a recent graduate or transitioning careers, you may not have traditional full-time experience. That’s okay—recruiters know this.
Include:
Use your bullet points to describe outcomes and skills—what you learned, built, managed, or improved.
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:
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.
If you’ve got 15+ years of experience, the key is curation. You don’t need to tell your full career story. Focus on:
Older jobs should be included only if they’re:
Anything older can go in a "Previous Experience" or "Early Career" section—no need for bullet points.
Whether you’re listing jobs from 2 years ago or 20, format is everything. A cluttered, hard-to-read resume will be skipped.
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
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.
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.
Need help trimming or upgrading your job history? Try Jobcamp.ai’s Resume Optimizer to get personalized recommendations in 60 seconds.
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