Short answer: it’s “6 years’ experience”, with an apostrophe after the “s” in “years.” The version without the apostrophe — “6 years experience” — is one of the most common small errors on resumes and job posts, and most readers won’t consciously notice it, but a sharp editor or hiring manager will.
The Short Answer
Write “6 years’ experience” when you mean experience that belongs to, or is measured by, six years. The apostrophe signals a possessive relationship, similar to “a day’s work” or “two weeks’ notice.” Without it, the phrase reads as grammatically incomplete — “years” is just sitting next to “experience” with nothing connecting them.
You’ll also see “6 years of experience,” which sidesteps the apostrophe question entirely by adding “of.” That version is completely correct and, for many writers, the safer default.
Why the Apostrophe Belongs There
Time expressions like this behave like possessives in English, even though nothing is literally “owned.” Grammarians call this a genitive of measure — the same category that gives us “a moment’s notice” or “a stone’s throw.” “Six years” is treated as a single unit that possesses the experience, so it takes the possessive form: years’.
Here’s the test that makes it click: rewrite the phrase using “of.” If it reads naturally as “experience of six years,” the possessive apostrophe is doing the same job as that “of” and should be there. Compare:
- “a day’s pay” = “pay of a day”
- “6 years’ experience” = “experience of 6 years”
Since “six” is plural, the apostrophe goes after the “s” — years’, not year’s. If you were describing one year, it would flip to “1 year’s experience,” apostrophe before the “s,” because “year” is singular there.
Why People Get It Wrong
The mistake is understandable. “Years experience” sounds fine out loud — apostrophes are invisible in speech, so your ear never flags the problem. It also looks like a compound noun, similar to “customer service” or “data entry,” where two nouns just sit side by side with no punctuation needed. But “customer service” isn’t measuring a possession; “6 years experience” is trying to say the experience belongs to a six-year span, which is exactly where possessive grammar kicks in.
Resume templates and job boards make it worse. Once one company posts “5 years experience required” without the apostrophe, it gets copied into a hundred other listings, and the error starts to look normal simply because it’s everywhere.
Which to Use When
| Form | Correct? | Best used |
|---|---|---|
| 6 years’ experience | Yes | Formal writing, resumes, cover letters |
| 6 years of experience | Yes | Anywhere — clean and unambiguous |
| 6 years experience | No | Avoid; missing the apostrophe |
| 6 year’s experience | No | Wrong placement — treats “year” as singular |
Examples in a Sentence
- “She has 6 years’ experience in digital marketing.”
- “The role requires 6 years of experience in software development.”
- “With 6 years’ experience managing remote teams, he felt ready for the promotion.”
- “Candidates need at least 6 years’ experience in accounting or a related field.”
Notice that “6 years of experience” never needs an apostrophe, because “of” already carries the possessive meaning the apostrophe would otherwise supply. Once you add “of,” drop the apostrophe entirely — you don’t need both.
A Quick Fix for Resumes
If you’re not confident about apostrophe placement, sidestep it. Use “6 years of experience” throughout your resume and cover letter. It reads just as professionally, it’s impossible to get wrong, and no hiring manager will think less of you for choosing the clearer phrasing over the punctuated one.
Key Takeaways
- “6 years’ experience” is correct — the apostrophe goes after the “s” because “years” is plural.
- “6 years of experience” is an equally correct alternative that avoids the apostrophe question altogether.
- “6 years experience” without any punctuation is the common but incorrect form.
- The rule mirrors other time-possessive phrases like “two weeks’ notice” and “a day’s work.”
- For singular years, the apostrophe moves before the “s”: “1 year’s experience.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it “6 years experience” or “6 years’ experience”?
It’s “6 years’ experience,” with the apostrophe placed after the “s” in “years.” This follows the same possessive-of-measure rule used in phrases like “two weeks’ notice.”
Can I just write “6 years of experience” instead?
Yes, and it’s arguably the safer choice. “6 years of experience” is fully correct and doesn’t require any apostrophe decision at all.
Why does “years” need an apostrophe if nothing is being owned?
English treats time expressions like measurements of possession. “Six years” is functioning as the “owner” of the experience, the same way “a day” owns “a day’s work,” even though nothing is literally possessed.
Is “6 year’s experience” ever correct?
Only if you mean exactly one year, and even then it should read “1 year’s experience,” not “6 year’s experience.” With the number six, “years” is plural, so the apostrophe goes after the “s”: years’.
Does this rule apply to resumes and cover letters specifically?
Yes, and it matters there more than almost anywhere else, since resumes get scrutinized closely. Using “6 years’ experience” or “6 years of experience” correctly shows attention to detail recruiters notice.
Is this a spelling mistake or a grammar mistake?
It’s a grammar and punctuation issue, not a spelling one. “Years” is spelled correctly either way; the question is whether the possessive apostrophe belongs in the phrase.
Small as it is, that apostrophe is a quiet signal of care in your writing. If phrases like this trip you up often, it’s worth browsing a few more entries on commonly confused wording — the patterns repeat more than you’d expect.
