A resume is the single most important document for a job seeker. While your cover letter is of course useful too – for introducing you to a prospective employer and for demonstrating that you’ve done your homework – nothing compares to a resume.

Your resume lists your experience, education, skills, and certifications. In other words, it’s a concise list of your qualifications. And without the right qualifications, you simply won’t be eligible for the right job.

But crafting a strong resume raises a lot of questions for job seekers. How detailed should it be? Is it appropriate to list only your employment highlights, or should your resume include every job you’ve ever had?

Despite what you may have heard, there is no hard and fast rule about how far back your resume should go. It really is up to you to use your discretion. Naturally, if you’re just beginning your career, you will likely want to include your complete employment history in order to appear as experienced as possible. However, if you’re a seasoned worker with a lot of experience over the years, it will be up to you to decide which positions are most important.

The best way to determine what to include on your resume is to consider the position you are applying for. While this may take more time than simply creating one resume for every company, you’ll increase your chances of landing an interview if you tailor each one for the job that you want.

Read the job posting carefully and make a list of all of the qualifications that the company is looking for. Then, review your employment history and make sure to include any positions you’ve held that have equipped you with the skills and experience they’ve listed.

On a final note, you should also look to feature any positions that you held for a long period of time. Employers are always looking for workers who are committed to staying the course, so be sure to highlight that in your resume.

Looking for a job in the GTA or Southwestern Ontario? We have offices in Toronto, Newmarket, Milton, and St. Thomas to make sure its easy for you to find the job you’re looking for. Contact the experts at HCR today.