Quick Answer
It is generally recommended to include your full work history on your LinkedIn profile, with a few caveats. Here are some quick tips:
- List all previous roles, even if they were short-term or not directly relevant to your current career path.
- Only leave off roles if they were very brief (less than 3 months) or not true professional positions.
- For irrelevant or dated roles, keep descriptions brief and focused on transferable skills.
- Make sure your most recent and relevant positions are highlighted with more detail.
- You can reorder work history so your most important roles are at the top.
- If you have large gaps between roles, consider including non-traditional work or education during those periods.
- There is no need to go into too much detail on positions from over 10-15 years ago.
Why Include Your Full Work History?
Here are some of the main benefits of putting your entire work history on your LinkedIn profile:
Shows the Full Scope of Your Experience
Detailing your full work history gives readers a more complete picture of your overall experience level and career progression over time. It shows you have real experience even if you are changing careers or re-entering the workforce.
Illustrates Work Ethic
A consistent work history illustrates positive traits like reliability, dedication, and the ability to hold down a job long-term. Gaps in your profile may raise questions.
Highlights Transferable Skills
Seemingly unrelated roles may have provided you with versatile skills that apply more broadly, like communication, analytical thinking, leadership, etc. Including these helps demonstrate the full range of abilities you bring to the table.
Provides Conversation Starters
Your full work history offers hiring managers, recruiters, and colleagues multiple jumping off points to learn more about you. They may ask how your experience aligns or dig into details on roles that intrigue them.
Strengthens Your Professional Network
Former colleagues from any point in your career are valuable contacts. LinkedIn makes it easy to reconnect and strengthen those networks, which may lead to new opportunities.
When to Exclude Roles
While it is recommended to err on the side of inclusion when creating your LinkedIn profile, there are some instances where leaving off certain roles makes sense:
Very Short-Term Roles
If you were at a job for just a month or two, it may be fine to exclude it from your profile. Especially if you have other roles that cover that time period that highlight your work more meaningfully.
Non-Professional Roles
No need to list occasional gigs like dog walking, babysitting, lawn mowing, etc. Focus on formal professional work experience.
Roles Unrelated to Your Goals
Listing every job from high school and college summer breaks is not necessary. Very outdated or irrelevant experience can be removed to streamline your work history.
Potentially Negative Experiences
It is okay to use your judgment on including roles you were let go from or had major issues at. But be prepared to explain any significant gaps.
Ultra-Remote Roles
If you freelanced online or had virtual roles with little connection to your target field, they do not necessarily need to be included. But relevant remote work should still be listed.
Best Practices for All Roles
When including your full work history on LinkedIn, keep these tips in mind:
- Highlight transferable skills gained even from unrelated roles.
- Focus on accomplishments and impact rather than just duties.
- Use keywords that apply to your target field when possible.
- Keep descriptions for older roles brief and meaningful.
- Make your most recent and relevant roles detailed and keyword-rich.
- Order work history strategically so your best roles are at the top.
- Link to employer pages and include logos when possible.
Example Work History
Here is an example of how to strategically structure your LinkedIn work history to highlight your most relevant experience first while still including your full background:
Dates | Position | Company | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 2021 – Present | Social Media Manager | ABC Marketing Agency | Develop and execute social strategies for Fortune 500 clients including content creation, campaign management, analytics reporting, and community engagement. Increased followers and engagement rates by 25% across platforms. |
March 2017 – Dec 2020 | Marketing Coordinator | XYZ Corporation | Led email marketing initiatives and coordinated webinars, tradeshows, and events. Supported 20% YoY revenue increase through targeted digital marketing campaigns. |
June 2015 – Feb 2017 | Content Specialist | 123 Technologies | Wrote customer-focused content for blogs, emails, and landing pages. Managed content calendars and UX strategy. Expanded content library by 40%. |
Nov 2013 – May 2015 | Marketing Assistant | Helping Hands Nonprofit | Supported daily administrative tasks for small marketing team at local nonprofit. Helped coordinate fundraising events and social media. |
Sept 2012 – Oct 2013 | Freelance Writer | Self-Employed | Wrote SEO web content and blog posts for small businesses and startups on marketing topics. |
Tips for Large Employment Gaps
If you have significant gaps between roles, consider including the following to fill in those periods:
- Educational degrees or courses completed
- Volunteer work or community involvement
- Freelancing or consulting projects
- Travel or cultural experiences
- Caregiving for family members
- Medical leave or health issues (no details needed)
This demonstrates you were actively developing and gives insights into your interests or constraints at the time.
Example with Employment Gaps Filled
Dates | Role/Experience | Company/Details |
---|---|---|
Jan 2021 – Present | Social Media Manager | ABC Marketing Agency |
Aug 2019 – Dec 2020 | Masters in Marketing | State University |
March 2017 – July 2019 | Marketing Coordinator | XYZ Corporation |
Dec 2015 – Feb 2017 | Content Specialist | 123 Technologies |
Sept 2014 – Nov 2015 | Social Media Consultant | Self-Employed |
Nov 2013 – Aug 2014 | Traveling in Asia & Europe | N/A |
Keywords and Key Sections
To maximize your LinkedIn profile visibility, be strategic with keywords:
- Include keywords from job listings that match your target role
- Work them naturally into role descriptions and skill sections
- Prioritize keywords in top sections like Headline, Summary, and Experience
- Leverage all 120 allowed skills to showcase niche and soft skills
- Ask colleagues or mentors what they would search for your skills
Pro tip: You can check LinkedIn suggestions based on your profile to see keywords to add.
Customize Talking Points for Each Role
Rather than just listing generic duties, customize bullets for each position to highlight your unique accomplishments and contributions, like:
- Created social media content strategy leading to 25% more followers
- Implemented new email nurturing tracks improving open rates by 15%
- Wrote 100+ blog posts driving 20% increase in lead generation
- Managed daily administrative tasks allowing managers to focus on strategic initiatives
- Provided French translation services for 2x as many clients
Quantify results when possible to demonstrate the business impact you drove in each position.
Conclusion
Including your full employment history on LinkedIn provides professional transparency while allowing you to strategically highlight your most relevant experience.
Focus on showcasing transferable skills gained from even unrelated roles and customizing talking points by position. With a comprehensive and keyword-optimized profile, you can maximize visibility and stand out to recruiters and hiring managers in your target field.