Employment History: How Far Back?

Examiner -- I was recently contacted by a former classmate for some resume advice, so I took the time to review her current resume and give her some pointers. One of her questions was how far back to go in terms of listing her previous work history. The question is quite common and one that I am hearing more and more as “forty-something” professionals are unexpectedly finding themselves back in the job market. You’re likely to get a wide range of answers depending on the source you consult. Some headhunters and resume writers will adhere to the hard and fast rule of restricting the time period covered by a resume to the past ten years. In most cases, I would also subscribe to this train of thought. However, I also believe that every rule has its exceptions.