How Far Back Should You Go with Your LinkedIn Job History?

In terms of career history, how far back should we go on our LinkedIn profiles?

I have been asked about this many times, so here is my take:

I figure my LinkedIn profile is there to build trust with my target audience. I want to give it my best shot to attract people to my skills and experiences. It’s very important, therefore, to show as much of my job history as possible. Demonstrating a long and rich history of experience in a sector or a skill serves to underpin your depth of knowledge, so why would you cut it short?

What If I Changed Careers?

Equally, demonstrating a career switch can be equally valuable as it can often demonstrate your flexibility and adaptability.

So, for me, the answer is to go right back to where you started.

What If My LinkedIn Job History Shows Gaps?

Some recruiters also recommend not leaving gaps. It might leave a person wondering what you did in those missing years. Be honest!

If you took a career break, that’s fine. If you took time out to care for someone, I think that’s also fine to share. It adds to what makes you, you!

Lastly, on this subject, don’t just tell me the job roles you’ve had. Provide me with some details about what you achieved in those roles. It makes for a much more valuable read and provides context to the position.

As a member of my LinkedIn community Kevin Deutch suggests:

“I think it is also important, as with a CV, to keep each entry punchy and to quantify your achievements eg. ‘Led a team of 7’, ‘increased sales by 20%’, ‘reduced waste by 10% every quarter’, ‘Delivered £1m contract 1 month early and to budget’. It’s there to sell your skills/expertise so don’t be bashful (and on the other hand keep it real!)”

Do you have any tips to share in this area? Let me know over on LinkedIn.