No Strict Rules for Resume Work Histories

Q: Having been terminated, I am in the market for a job for the first time in a while.

I know the basic format for a resume but have received conflicting information about how many previous employers to list. I also have been told that I only need to list my business experience for the last 10 years.

Is there any rule of thumb on these issues?

--G.T., Valley Village

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A: There are no hard and fast rules for listing your employment history on a resume. The most important thing is to provide prospective employers with a clear picture of your experience and qualifications.

If you held an important and relevant position more than 10 years ago, by all means include it. A good guideline, space permitting, is to give more detail about your most recent positions (the last 10 years), and briefly list earlier, significant positions.

--Ron Riggio, director

Kravis Leadership Institute

Claremont McKenna College

If you have a question about an on-the-job situation, please mail it to Shop Talk, Los Angeles Times, P.O. Box 2008, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; dictate it to (714) 966-7873; or e-mail it to shoptalk@latimes.com. Include your initials and hometown. The Shop Talk column is designed to answer questions of general interest. It should not be construed as legal advice.

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