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Should I include dates on my resume?

By   ·  4 minute read

A common question I hear from clients is: “Do I need dates on my resume?” They’ve often been advised by friends, unemployment offices, or even other career professionals to obscure or leave dates off entirely. Let’s break this down with clear reasoning and practical advice.


Why Do Dates Matter on a Resume?

Hiring Managers Are Under Pressure

First, it’s important to understand that many hiring managers are under immense pressure to fill roles quickly and effectively. They may not have formal training in interviewing and often feel just as nervous as you do during the hiring process. They’re expected to make the “right choice,” and if they don’t, it can create significant headaches for their team.

When reviewing resumes, hiring managers are looking for clarity, not ambiguity. Dates help provide that clarity by showing a clear timeline of your professional journey. If dates are missing, it raises questions—even if unintentionally—about potential employment gaps, outdated experience, or an attempt to hide something.

Dates Provide Essential Context

Dates provide context to your experience. For example:

  • Did you hold a role for six months or six years?

  • Was your experience recent, or did it happen two decades ago?

  • Have you had steady employment, or were there significant breaks?

These details matter when assessing your qualifications and fit for a role. For example, if you were a project manager from 2010 to 2020, that’s a significant decade of experience that tells a hiring manager a lot about your expertise.

In addition, dates help hiring managers understand career progression. If they see consistent growth from entry-level positions to leadership roles, it reassures them that you’re someone who is reliable and capable of handling increased responsibilities over time.

Should I Include My College Graduation Date?

When it comes to your college graduation date, my advice differs. Yes, including your graduation date allows someone to calculate your approximate age. Unfortunately, age bias does exist, and if you’re concerned about this, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave your graduation date off your resume. Your degree and the institution are what matter most.

Hiring managers are generally more interested in whether you have the degree or certification required for the role than in the year you earned it.

However, if you’re a recent graduate, including your graduation date can work in your favor. It signals that your knowledge is up-to-date, and you’re entering the workforce with current insights and training. For example: Bachelor of Science in Marketing | University of XYZ | 2023

For mid-career professionals, it’s less relevant to include graduation dates unless specifically requested.

How Far Should I Go Back on My Resume?

As far as dates of employment, however, no…you really shouldn’t leave these off within the past 10 or 15 years. I also don’t advocate dropping off old positions altogether either. The resume tells your story. And your first job or first five jobs may help do that, albeit in a very supporting role. Expand in detail on page 1 about your current or job and positions in the last ten years. These will be the most relevant, challenging, and applicable to the position you’re applying to.

If you stayed home with your kids for 10 years and had 10 years of work experience before that, I’m ok with leaving dates off your first few positions and listing them with bullets under an early career heading.

How Far Back Should My Resume Go?

For work experience, you should include dates for the last 10 to 15 years. This timeframe is considered the most relevant and reflective of your current skills and experience.

  • Recent Roles (Last 10-15 Years): Provide detailed descriptions with dates, key achievements, and responsibilities.

  • Older Roles: If your earlier positions add value to your overall story, include them under a section like “Early Career Experience.” You can list them with fewer details and without dates if they’re not directly relevant to your current career goals.

For example: Early Career Experience:

  • Sales Associate, XYZ Retail

  • Junior Analyst, ABC Corporation

This approach ensures you still highlight your foundational experience without overwhelming the reader with unnecessary details.

When Older Experience is Relevant

In some cases, older experience might be directly relevant to the role you’re applying for. For example, if you worked in a technical role 20 years ago and the job you’re applying for involves those same technical skills, it’s worth including those details. You can add a section titled “Relevant Earlier Experience” to emphasize it.

Relevant Earlier Experience:

Software Developer | ABC Tech | 2000-2005

  • Developed enterprise software solutions.

  • Led training sessions for junior developers.

Should Every Job on My Resume Have Dates?

In general, yes. If there’s no compelling reason to exclude dates (e.g., career gaps due to caregiving or other personal reasons), it’s best to include them. Leaving dates off can create suspicion, even if you have nothing to hide.

Recruiters I’ve spoken with consistently emphasize the importance of transparency. A resume without dates often raises red flags and may lead to assumptions about employment gaps or outdated skills.

Addressing Career Gaps

If you have a significant career gap, it’s better to address it briefly than to try to hide it. For example: Family Caregiver | 2015-2020 Managed household operations and supported family members’ healthcare needs.

You can also emphasize any volunteer work, freelance projects, or professional development you pursued during that time.

Freelance Consultant | 2015-2020

  • Provided consulting services to small businesses.

  • Delivered training workshops on project management.

This kind of transparency builds trust and demonstrates professionalism.

How to Present Dates Effectively

  • Use a consistent format throughout your resume (e.g., MM/YYYY or YYYY-YYYY).

  • Align dates to the right margin for easy scanning.

  • Avoid vague date ranges like “Several years” or “Early 2000s.”

For example: Senior Marketing Manager | ABC Corp | 2018-Present Marketing Specialist | XYZ Inc | 2013-2018

Final Thoughts

Your resume tells your professional story, and dates are an important part of that narrative. While there are certain exceptions (e.g., graduation dates), removing dates entirely isn’t usually the best strategy.

Be bold, honest, and strategic about how you present your experience. Clear timelines paired with strong accomplishments create confidence in your application and set the stage for positive interactions with hiring managers.

Remember, your goal is to make it as easy as possible for hiring managers to understand your career journey and see why you’re the right person for the role. Dates, when used effectively, are a key part of achieving that clarity.