Having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile is crucial for any job seeker. However, a common question is whether you should include unrelated jobs or experiences on your LinkedIn profile. Here are some quick answers to key questions to help you decide if unrelated roles belong on your LinkedIn profile:
Does including unrelated jobs dilute my brand?
Yes, having too many disparate and irrelevant positions on your LinkedIn profile can dilute your personal brand and make it less clear to recruiters what you want to do next. Each unrelated job creates a disconnect versus showing a clear progression and growth in your career.
Will unrelated jobs make me look like a job hopper?
Possibly. Having many short-term jobs or experiences in totally unrelated fields may signal to some recruiters that you lack focus or commitment. However, you can offset this perception by showing steady growth in each role and highlighting transferable skills.
When are unrelated jobs worth including?
Include unrelated roles when they demonstrate valuable skills or help tell your career story. For example, hospitality jobs that show you have strong customer service skills. Or, early internships in a different field that paved the way to discovering your true passion.
How can I feature unrelated jobs tactfully?
- Place them in a separate “Other Experience” section
- Only highlight transferable skills gained versus detailed job descriptions
- List them below more relevant roles in your experience section
Should I remove early unrelated jobs once I have more experience?
Generally, yes. Once you have over 5-7 years of experience in your target field, remove early jobs in unrelated industries like retail, food service, etc. However, you may still feature 1-2 if highly relevant. Roles directly connected to your career pivot are also often worth keeping.
What about unrelated side gigs or volunteer work?
These can be great to include if they demonstrate relevant transferable skills and interests. For example, volunteering at an animal shelter shows compassion. Serving on a homeowners association board displays leadership abilities. Just be sure to highlight the applicable skills versus just listing the role.
What is the best way to format unrelated roles?
If you have multiple unrelated roles to include, list them in a separate “Other Experience” section after your most Professional Experience. You can also list them without detailed job descriptions, only highlighting the relevant skills, accomplishments, or learnings that will appeal to recruiters.
Conclusion
Including some unrelated roles on LinkedIn is fine if warranted. But focus on showcasing transferable skills versus detailed job descriptions. Unrelated jobs are best included briefly or in a separate section. And remove early unrelated roles as you gain more relevant experience. With a strategic approach, you can feature roles that strengthen rather than dilute your brand.
When Should You Include Unrelated Work Experience on Your Resume?
Including unrelated work on your resume is a controversial topic among job seekers. Here is a quick guide on when to include unrelated roles:
Do Include Unrelated Roles When:
- You are early in your career and have limited professional experience
- The roles demonstrate valuable transferable skills
- You are making a career change and the roles help tell your career story
- The roles show career progression and responsibility growth
Avoid Including Unrelated Roles When:
- You have over 5-7 years of experience in your target field
- The roles may create perception issues around commitment or fit
- You have many other accomplishments and skills to showcase
- The roles are over 10 years old and not relevant
Tips for Featuring Unrelated Roles:
- Place in an “Other Experience” or “Additional Experience” section
- Focus on highlighting transferable skills vs. job duties
- Keep descriptions brief – no more than 3-5 concise bullet points
- List at the bottom of your experience section
The key is choosing selectively when to include unrelated roles and emphasizing transferable skills. With a strategic approach, you can use roles of all types to present the best version of your experience and capabilities.
Should You Include Unrelated Experience on Your LinkedIn Profile?
Pros | Cons | |
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Including Some Unrelated Roles |
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Excluding Unrelated Roles |
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There are good arguments on both sides of whether to include unrelated roles on your LinkedIn profile. Here are some tips to find the right balance:
- Place unrelated roles in an “Other Experience” section
- Emphasize transferable skills over job duties
- Keep descriptions brief – 3-4 concise bullet points
- List unrelated roles below more relevant experience
- Remove early unrelated roles once you have 5+ years of experience
With a selective, strategic approach, you can include roles that strengthen your brand and tell your career story versus dilute your profile.
Key Takeaways
- Including some unrelated roles can demonstrate transferable skills and career progression. But having too many can dilute your professional brand.
- Early career unrelated roles are often worth including briefly to show a diversity of experience. But later in your career, focus on highlighting the most relevant experience.
- Emphasize transferable skills over detailed job descriptions for unrelated roles.
- Place unrelated roles in a separate “Other Experience” section or at the bottom of your experience list.
- Remove early unrelated roles once you have over 5 years of professional experience in your field.
In summary, take a selective, strategic approach to including unrelated experience on LinkedIn and your resume. The focus should be on showcasing the roles that strengthen your personal brand and career story versus dilute your profile.