You’ve spent years building your career. You’ve got the skills, the stories and the successes to prove it. So why lead with “20+ years’ experience” on your CV or LinkedIn profile?

It’s a perfectly respectable achievement, but it doesn’t tell an employer what makes you valuable. It’s not how long you’ve been doing the job that matters most. It’s what you’ve achieved along the way.

Don’t let a number do the talking

Leading with “20+ years’ experience” might seem impressive, but it can also create assumptions before you’ve even had a conversation.

For starters, an employer might take one look and think, “We can’t afford this person!”

You could be perfectly happy with the salary on offer, but they’ve already imagined you’ll want to earn gazillions!

Why give them the opportunity to make that assumption before they’ve discovered what you can bring to the business?

Your years of experience belong on your CV. They just don’t have to be the headline act.

You’ve got plenty to brag about!

Remember that impossible deadline you met? The campaign you turned around? The team you built from scratch? The problem everyone else was scratching their heads over?

And what about the people you’ve mentored? There’s something pretty special about watching someone you’ve guided go on to do brilliant things in their own career.

Those are achievements worth talking about!

You’ve developed judgement, confidence and the ability to handle situations that might once have had you running for the hills.

That’s the experience employers need to hear about.

Show them what you’ve got

Compare these two CV introductions:

“Marketing professional with 20+ years’ experience.”

Or:

“Senior marketing professional with a track record of building brands, leading teams and delivering successful campaigns across multiple markets.”

See the difference?

One tells an employer how long you’ve worked. The other gives them a reason to want to know more.

Whether you’re in marketing, finance, operations or management, lead with the skills, achievements and expertise that make you an asset.

And don’t be shy about it!

Experience is something to celebrate

Nobody’s suggesting you hide your career history or pretend you haven’t been around the block a few times.

Quite the opposite!

As VGP recruiter Christine Swartz advises, focus on the value your experience has given you rather than simply counting the years.

Your CV can tell the chronological story. Your opening statement should sell the highlights.

So, next time you’re updating your CV or LinkedIn profile, ask yourself:

Am I telling employers how long I’ve worked, or am I showing them why they’d be lucky to have me?

You’ve earned your stripes. Now make sure your CV shows them off!