CV - How far back to go for awards, work experience, etc.

[Caylynn]

So I've switched careers (currently completing a second undergraduate degree, years after graduating with my first bachelor's degree) and I'm completing applications for a variety of masters programs and combined masters/dietetic internship programs.

 

I'm wondering when I complete my CV, how far back I should go.  I was told four years by one internship coordinator, yet if I only include the past four years my CV will be missing the bulk of my teaching, training, and management experience.  I'm wondering if she was trying to say that "traditional" undergrads shouldn't include things they did in high school.

 

Should I include impressive scholarships I received from my first degree (even though that was over ten years ago)?  Do I include the relevant work experience from between my two degrees (even the jobs that were over ten years ago, since they'll see how long it was between degrees from my transcripts, and potentially wonder what the heck I was doing during that time)?

 

I feel like if I leave out some of the awards I'll look like less qualified of a candidate compared to the undergraduates who do list the same awards, since they would have received them only four years ago, whereas for me it was 10+ years.  Or is that not a concern?

 

For my statement(s) of intent I'm either limited to one or two pages, and I don't feel it would be benficial to waste precious space trying to explain what I was doing all those years.  Yet I don't know if it is appropriate to include "old" data in the CV - I've had mixed feedback from the people at career services (who all seem to be "traditional" undergrads, so not certain how to approach a non-trad like myself).

 

Thanks!

[fuzzylogician]

I think your goal is to make your CV look the best that it can. If that means adding older stuff that demonstrates teaching and management skills, then that's what you should do. Picking an X number of years to go back seems arbitrary. I understand that if this advice is geared towards traditional students it just means not to put things from high school on the CV, which makes sense. But your situation is different, so I wouldn't just take that advice at face value. 

[Loric]

Advice that got me through..

 

XYZ (Field itself) Experience:

 

2013

2012.

2001..

 

Whatever, reverse chronology.. New header:

 

"Related Experience"

 

Any job type stuff that was remotely pertinent, excluding stuff no one cares about (McD's).

[Caylynn]

Thanks!  My first two big headers are "Nutrition Experience" (list all those experiences), then "Research Experience" (then all those experiences).  I was then thinking of separating out work vs volunteer for the remaining experiences.  I guess I'll prepare another draft and see if I can get any better advice from career services this time around!

[Loric]

Thanks!  My first two big headers are "Nutrition Experience" (list all those experiences), then "Research Experience" (then all those experiences).  I was then thinking of separating out work vs volunteer for the remaining experiences.  I guess I'll prepare another draft and see if I can get any better advice from career services this time around!

 

I think you can more easily group volunteer work and interests, hobbies, etc.. You don't have to include "work" work if it has nothing to do with your career/area of study. That was the McD's example.

 

For example, I want to go into a design program. I include my theatrical productions and a day job doing a design related task - experience, related experience. Crappy call center job doing HR? Not on there, because it's not relevent.

[fuzzylogician]

If you've been out of school and working for a while, I'd consider adding it because it'll give the adcom a better sense of what you've been doing. Having it there means it's the kind of entry that's normally not looked at and will therefore not help your application at all, so for most (traditional) students it's unnecessary. But if you're non-traditional and it helps give a better picture of your life/work experience and basically what you've been doing with your life for the past X years, I'd leave it there. It might just address someone's curiosity about your past, or it might do nothing at all. I don't think it should hurt, so that's why I'd say leave it there. Can't hurt, has some (perhaps small) chance of helping.

[Loric]

If you've been out of school and working for a while, I'd consider adding it because it'll give the adcom a better sense of what you've been doing. Having it there means it's the kind of entry that's normally not looked at and will therefore not help your application at all, so for most (traditional) students it's unnecessary. But if you're non-traditional and it helps give a better picture of your life/work experience and basically what you've been doing with your life for the past X years, I'd leave it there. It might just address someone's curiosity about your past, or it might do nothing at all. I don't think it should hurt, so that's why I'd say leave it there. Can't hurt, has some (perhaps small) chance of helping.

 

True, but f anything you need do need to do some minimal "explaining" if you include it. Even if it just shows leadership skills, organization, ability to meet deadlines, etc.. Those are bullet points you'll want. If it serves absolutely no purpose (really, it should - and you need to find how to express that) then leave it off.

[Caylynn]

Thanks everyone!  Appreciate all the perspectives and advice.  I'm definitely only including things that demonstrate the abilities they are looking for in their programs (critical analysis skills, project management, time management, being receptive to feedback, etc.) and focussing on the skills/abilities I acquired/demonstrated in those positions.