Every line matters in a resume. How you structure and prioritize your information can be the difference between landing an interview and being ignored.
However, not every job from your work history fits well when you’re applying for a specific role. So should you include irrelevant experience on your resume, or is it better to leave it out completely?
Unrelated jobs in your document can confuse recruiters and take up valuable space. However, if presented the right way, your “irrelevant” experience can win you some candidacy points.
In this guide, you’ll find pointers on how to decide what to keep and what to omit. This way, every part of your application will work in your favor.
Key takeaways
- Focus on roles that add value for the job you want.
- Leave out low-impact roles that clutter your resume.
- Use accomplishments and skills to reframe unrelated roles.
- “Irrelevant” experience can be beneficial if it points to your transferable skills.
- If you’re switching industries, explain your career story in your resume objective or cover letter.
- Resort to a functional resume format if your work history doesn’t align with your professional goals.
What does “irrelevant experience” mean on a resume?
Jobs, internships, or side gigs that don’t connect to a role in any way can be considered irrelevant experience.
Here are some common examples:
What might be considered irrelevant
- Jobs in a completely different industry with no transferable skills.
- Temporary or seasonal roles with limited relevance to your current path.
- Outdated early-career roles that no longer reflect your capabilities.
- Brief stints where you had no measurable impact.
- Freelance or side gigs that don’t support your main narrative.
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How hiring managers view unrelated experience
It’s important to remember that decision-makers and recruiters go through dozens—sometimes hundreds—of resumes for every open position. They skim quickly to see if the applicants have the needed skills and experience.
Does this mean a non-specific experience is an instant deal-breaker? No, but presentation is key.
Here’s the twist: some past roles may seem unrelated—but they’re not.
PRO TIP
Many seemingly irrelevant jobs teach skills that transfer well to other roles.
Here are some examples:
- Managing a grocery store can show you’re organized, responsible, and good with staff and customers—qualities employers value in many fields.
- Bartending teaches you how to communicate clearly, multitask under pressure, and defuse tense situations—skills that shine in customer service, sales, or hospitality roles.
- Working in a warehouse builds attention to detail, teamwork, and time management—valuable in logistics, operations, and project coordination jobs.
If you were to review my personal resume, you’d find that I have notable experience as a hiring decision-maker.
In the past, I’ve always appreciated candidates who, despite lacking direct experience, presented a clear career story and pointed out how their skills transferred well to the role they wanted.
So, if you’re early in your career or shifting to another industry, don’t be discouraged by the fact that your resume isn’t a perfect one-to-one match with the role you want to land.
Just do your best to connect the dots, present the skills and accomplishments that matter the most, and you’ll have a resume that’s hard to ignore.
Author’s take
Should you include irrelevant experience on a resume?
Listing irrelevant experience in your document can be distracting from what really makes you the right fit for the role. However, if you frame it right, it can strengthen your application.
Let’s break down the possible scenarios.
When you should definitely leave it out
Too much unrelated information can water down your strengths.
Cut out irrelevant experience if:
It’s a distraction
Your main qualifications should be the star of the show. Hiring managers spend just a few seconds scanning each resume. Don’t make them hunt for what makes you the right person for the job.
It’s outdated or entry-level
If you’ve progressed in your career, you don’t need to list every early job, especially if they don’t add any value now.
It takes up valuable space
If your resume is getting long, then it’s best to cut what doesn’t deliver impact.
Always ask yourself
“Does this role show skills, achievements, or qualities that support the job I want to land?”
If not, you might be better off leaving it out to keep your resume focused and easy for hiring managers to scan.
When it can actually help your application
Including experience that isn’t directly related can work in your favor in some situations.
Examples:
Demonstration of relevant skills
Transferable skills are abilities you’ve developed in one job or context that can be applied to a different role or industry.
Let’s say you worked in retail while studying, but now you’re applying for a corporate role.
Customer-facing jobs require communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution—skills that are valuable almost anywhere.
Filling gaps
A big employment gap can raise a few questions. So listing an unrelated role shows you were still working, learning, and responsible during that time.
(Another way to deal with employment gaps and to reframe irrelevant experience is to use a hybrid resume format.)
Tells part of your professional story
If the job shows growth, leadership, or unique achievements, it can help paint a picture of who you are and how you work, even if it’s not a perfect match.
Moral of the story
Include “irrelevant” experience only if it helps you get closer to an interview. The key is to reframe it so it aligns with the role you’re applying for. If you’re unable to, then you’re better off focusing on what shows you’re ready for this role right now.
How to decide if an experience is worth including
Choosing what to keep and what to cut from your resume can be tricky, so we came up with a few smart questions that can help you figure out if that “irrelevant” job really deserves a spot.
Have a look:
| Before listing a job in your resume, ask yourself: |
|---|
| “Does this experience show a skill that’s needed for the job I want?” The job title doesn’t match, but the skills might. For example, consider instances of teamwork, leadership, project management, or communication that connect well to the role you’re targeting. |
| “Did I achieve something in this role that makes me notable?” Generic job duties won’t impress anyone. But quantifiable results—like “increased sales by 30%” or “trained a team of 10 new hires”—show you’re a result-oriented professional. |
| “Does this experience fill an employment gap?” As we hinted at earlier, sometimes it’s worth including a less relevant job just to avoid big unexplained gaps. Still, do your best to point out transferable skills. |
| “Is it clear enough to hiring managers why I’ve included this?” If the experience feels random and you can’t tie it well to the new role, it may distract more than it helps. |
If you can’t answer “yes” to at least two of these, then it’s probably better to leave out the experience.
Or—hold on a sec. Maybe there’s a way to reframe it?
Tips for making your experience more relevant
Let's discuss some practical ways you can reframe to fit your career narrative.
First, look at each job through the lens of the job description you’re targeting.
Then, ask yourself: “What did I do that relates to what the new role requires?”
Here are the main aspects you should think about:
Focus on skills
One of the best ways to make “irrelevant” experience relevant is by emphasizing your skill set.
Consider soft skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, or adaptability.
Then move on to practical and technical skills that apply in a broader sense, like organizing workflows, training others, or managing budgets. These are valuable in almost every job.
PRO TIP
If you find that you can offer more transferable skills than direct experience, consider using a functional resume.
This format puts your skills and accomplishments front and center, rather than making your work history the main focus. It’s a clever option to show you’re qualified, even if your past jobs don’t align all that well.
Write achievement-focused bullet points
List your notable accomplishments and, when possible, use numbers to quantify your impact. Results and outcomes prove you get things done, regardless of industry.
For example, “Managed schedules for a team of 15” sounds more impressive than “Scheduled staff shifts.”
And if you need help with this, Enhancv’s Bullet Point Generator is the perfect solution.
Use language that matches the job description
If the job posting mentions “project management” and you were in charge of projects in an unrelated role, then say so. Strategic wording helps recruiters make the connection.
Common mistakes when adding indirect experience
There are some pitfalls to look out for when including unrelated jobs in your resume.
| Mistake | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Listing everything just to fill space. | Focus on relevant and impactful roles. |
| Failing to connect the dots. | Detail how an experience relates to the job. |
| Over-explaining irrelevant roles. | Provide context through targeted bullet points. |
| Leaving out a clear career story. | Use your resume objective to explain your shift. |
Conclusion
Including irrelevant experience on your resume doesn’t have to feel like a balancing act. It all comes down to what roles in your work history help you tell a compelling career story. Simply focus on relevancy and impact—and don’t be afraid to leave out what doesn’t serve you.
Make one that's truly you.
