Chapter 17 | How to deal with earlier roles

Not every role needs equal space; your current and most recent roles will usually carry the most weight, whereas older or less relevant roles can be shortened, so use detail where it matters most

Ask:

Is this role relevant to the target I am pursuing?

Does it show progression, credibility, or important transferable value?

Does it need full bullets, or would a summary do?

Earlier Career section

Where appropriate, you can create an Earlier Career section to capture:

• older positions

• less relevant work

• stepping-stone roles

This helps keep the CV focused while still showing continuity.

Example:

Built early career experience within hospitality operations, supporting day-to-day service delivery, stock management, and team coordination in fast-moving environments. Exposure to high-footfall trading periods and operational demands developed a strong understanding of eEiciency, customer expectations, and the importance of maintaining standards under pressure.