How far back should a resume go?
Ten to fifteen years in detail. Anything older gets one line or comes off.
That is the rule most recruiters give, and it holds for most people. The reason is simple. The reader wants to know what you can do now, and your last few jobs are the best proof.
What to do with the older jobs
Don't delete them and hope nobody asks. Add a short section at the bottom called "Earlier experience." List the title and the employer. Leave off the dates and the bullet points.
Example:
Earlier experience
Operations Supervisor, Midwest Freight
Dispatcher, Midwest Freight
Customer Service Representative, Allied Insurance
Three lines. It shows the career had a start, and it keeps the page about the last 15 years.
When to break the rule
The old job is your best proof. If you ran a warehouse in 2004 and you want to run one again, that job stays, with a couple of lines. Relevance beats recency.
You spent your whole career at one employer. Show the full span next to the company name. Then detail only the titles from the last 10 to 15 years. See how to show promotions at the same company.
Your field expects the full history. Government, academic and some licensed jobs want everything. Follow the posting.
The application form asks for it. A resume is a summary you choose. An application form is a record. If the form asks for every job since 1990, fill it in. The two don't have to match in length, only in facts.
How far back for education?
List the degree and the school. Leave off the year. If you finished a certificate or course in the last five years, put the year on that one, because recent training helps you.
How long should a resume be with 30 years of experience?
Two pages. One page forces you to cut real results. Three means older jobs are taking space the recent ones need.
Does cutting old jobs hide your age?
Somewhat. That is fine, because you aren't lying, only choosing what goes on a summary. More on that in should you hide your age on a resume.
Not sure what to keep?
Keen sorts it out with you. You talk back through your jobs on your phone, and the recent ones get the detail while older ones get a line. You see the resume before you pay.