should you include a short-term job on your resume?

March 21, 2011

If you were only at a job for a few months, should you include it on your resume?

The answer, as is so often the case, is: It depends.

Head on over to U.S. News & World Report to read my column about how to handle this.

Posted in resumes

{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }

Anonymous March 22, 2011 at 9:16 am

So… what about the application itself, or perhaps a security clearance form? If you get fired after being on a job for a short time, are you ever *required* to disclose it?

Ask a Manager March 22, 2011 at 10:00 am: I’m pretty sure (but not positive) that it depends on the wording of the form. If the form explicitly says that you must provide a comprehensive listing, leaving nothing else, and sign to attest to its truthfulness, then yeah, it could be a problem if they later discovered you left something out. But not every form says that.

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Anonymous March 22, 2011 at 11:38 pm

I worked at a well known organization for 2 months. I didn’t get along with my coworkers and decided to leave. I was miserable there. I moved on to another industry and unfortunately I ended up working alongside an ex-coworker from the (2 month) job. I’m glad I left that particular job on my resume. It would have looked bad if I left the short term job off of my resume. It would put me in an awkward situation if my boss found out (through my ex-coworker) that I worked somewhere and did not mention it.

Ask a Manager March 22, 2011 at 11:42 pm: I’m going to disagree! You’re not obligated to fill prospective employers in on everything you’ve ever done professionally. If your boss asked why you hadn’t mentioned it, you’d just say, “I didn’t think it added much to my resume, and I had a lot of other things I wanted to include.”

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NoahJon Marshall January 13, 2012 at 12:55 pm

A bit late on commenting on this article, but I have an issue like this on my resume. I was only at a job 3 months but it was for a popular professional sports team and it was what I did in between two full time, normal playing jobs (the sports team was hourly and part time). If I take it off, there will be about a 6 month gap between jobs. I left the sports job when I found a full time job. Thoughts?

Ask a Manager January 13, 2012 at 2:20 pm: Sounds worth leaving on.

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Anonymous January 20, 2012 at 5:07 am

Im working in a two day a week job at the moment as a bilingual PA, so its part time and I been doing so since May 2011, before the current job I worked a 2.5 days week from May to July. My question is do I have to mention that its part time on my CV or can I list them without saying so? Is it wise to leave it out and having to mention it on the interview?

Because the other 9 working years on my CV were all full time jobs! Im asking because unlike in the past I have the feeling that companies are not considering me for roles anymore at the moment because of that.

Many thanks!

Ask a Manager January 20, 2012 at 11:49 am: No need to mention it on your resume — or even in your interview, unless you’re asked.

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Anonymous January 20, 2012 at 11:55 am

Many thanks!

Anonymous February 14, 2012 at 1:35 pm

Hi – I just had an experience that was more like an extended interview period than being hired. Worked four days and that included the interview day. Told her I didn’t think the job was a fit initially, was begged to stay, worked 2 more days, no set schedule ever set up. Then told she wanted to just be able to call on me when needed. I told her that wasn’t going to be possible. So . . . I wasn’t going to put it on my resume, but since I was actually paid for 4 days of work, do I have to legally put it on an application? I don’t want any problems in the future over this. Thank you for any help! :)

Ask a Manager February 14, 2012 at 1:36 pm

Nope.

Anonymous February 14, 2012 at 2:00 pm: Thank you for your help.

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Jen February 15, 2012 at 9:15 pm

hi, I also have had a series of short term jobs. From 2004 to 2009 I’ve had 5 jobs, two of which were at the same place. I don’t like job hopping–it’s stressful and you start out on the bottom every time. The ongoing stigma given to people with this kind of history is that they must be irresponsible, or flighty, or emotionally problematic. While I’m sure HR people do see alot of that, it doesn’t mean that’s the case with everyone. I didn’t leave these places because “I didn’t fit in”, or “my boss is a jerk”. I became a full-time college student during this period and found myself with several work/school schedule conflicts as well as a big change in my financial needs.
I worked at a major bookstore chain from ’04-’06, at which time I was let go. To be honest, I found a $7.98 bargain book I thought my brother might like. I told him that I’d set it aside for him. I happened to be covering a break for a cashier when he came in to buy it. I unthinkingly applied my employee discount to his purchase (a big no-no). He saved $2.00. I lost my job. Two bucks is a pitiful amount, but from a corporate point of view I now understand and accept responsibility for my termination. At the time, however, I was not so understanding. I filed for unemployment–the bookstore fought it but the state ultimately deemed it was an unreasonable termination and granted me full benefits. One week before my unemployment ran out I landed a job at a major department store marking price reductions on merchandise. The hours were strict and unflexible (5am-1pm, M-F). I worked there for a year and a half, until I went back to college full time in fall ’07. That kind of schedule would not work with my daily morning and afternoon classes.
In September ’07 I found a job at a coffee shop which provided excellent flexibility. However, in November of that year I received a notice from my school saying that the upcoming spring semester will be the last time I qualify for financial aid. Well now that I’d be paying for school out of pocket I’d better find a job that pays more than $7/hr. I trained to become a certified nursing assistant and by January I left my barista job.
I started work as a first shift CNA in mid-March of ’08. As I looked at the contract they wanted me to sign, I noticed a clause that stated employees cannot request a change in shift unless they’ve been there for six months. I told the interviewer that I was a full time college student (which she already knew from my application) and that my work availability would change in five and a half months, at which point I’d almost certainly need to switch to second shift–otherwise I couldn’t work there. I brought this up three times during the interview to make certain there was no misunderstanding and all three times she assured me that, regardless of the policy, they would accommodate that need. Fast forward five months to mid-August. Classes are two weeks away and now I’m being told that they weren’t going to let me go to second shift. Additionally, I was scheduled to work during hours that I was supposed to be in class. I had no choice but to leave.
Now it’s spring break ’09. Summer was coming soon and I had room in my class schedule for a part time job (I took 12-15 credits every summer from ’08 through ’09 in an effort to graduate ASAP). I asked my former employer if there was a CNA position available and her response was a wholehearted “yes.” I told her that I was still in school and had one more year to go. So I started with the same company, again in mid-March and worked through summer. Fall of ’09 saw my class schedule explode, and once again my employer couldn’t/wouldn’t accomodate it. One month after I provided HR with a copy of my class schedule I received my work schedule for September. Surprise, surprise, they had me working on days and during times that I was supposed to be in class. Again. I brought this to HR’s attention and was basically told to deal with it. (CNA work is an extremely high turnover job with no shortage of applicants–I was totally replaceable). So once again I left.
I graduated in May ’10 with a BS in healthcare administration and a 3.5 GPA. I was deep into my job hunt until a major family medical emergency and death in July put me in a position of caring for two elderly family members. Since I was the only one in the family who was unemployed and I had the added bonus of being a trained caregiver, I was the natural choice. My job hunt screeched to a halt and my time has been devoted to this ever since. Now it’s 2012, I’m very long term unemployed and possess few skills (i.e., no experience) pertinent to entry level jobs in healthcare administration. My longest term of employment is with a job from which I was fired. I am not a job hopper by nature, but you’d never know it by my resume. Since hiring managers quickly glance at resumes, I’m kind of at a loss on how to go about representing my job history in a way that won’t get it automatically tossed out.
I read several of your posts talking about doing away with functional resumes since they imply to hiring managers that you’re hiding something. I’ve also read about functional/chronological hybrids, but with my gaps and general lack of experience I wonder if this is the route to go. With the quantity and calibre of applicants out there I’m kind of at the point now where I’m wavering between cautious optomism and extreme hopelessness (read: depression).

Ask a Manager February 15, 2012 at 11:02 pm: This actually sounds very typical for a student! It’s normal to have a bunch of short-term jobs while you’re in school — so I think you are worrying about something that you don’t need to worry about!

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Mauro February 16, 2012 at 10:21 am

Hi,

I had a year contract with a company, once they announce a layoff for this company all the projects went down the road. As a result I ended up with a lot of time on my hand and decided to get a second job with a big company in the financial area. I only worked 4 month in this company at the financial area and I had to leave because I didn’t get a long with a co-worker. Now that I’m looking for a new job because my year contract it’s about to expired on the first company; my question is, should I put the 4 months that I worked at that financial company in my resume? the time at that company overlaps with the 1 year contract, should I removed the 4 months at that company? those this looks bad on a resume?

Thank you,

Mauro

Anonymous February 17, 2012 at 4:03 pm

I was laid off in June 2011. It took me 3 months to find another opportunity with a similar firm and job. I have been on the job for five months now, but I am extremely unhappy. I have recently submitted my resume to a firm I’m very interested in working for; however, I did not disclose my current employment. I am wondering if I did the right thing?

marifel February 21, 2012 at 6:56 am

Hi!I am currently employed already but prior to this company I am working now, I joined this X company and have worked for almost 1 year even though they were suppose to transfer my working visa to their sponsorship after 1 month. God bless my former employer who let me use their visa for almost a year with this company. You might say I am gullible for believing and waiting that they can do it but finally I left!

My question is should I mentioned this on my CV about this X company even though it was not my fault I left as I would like to remove it on my CV but then, I do not like that I will not disclose it on my CV too. May you suggest statement that I can put on my CV in case you advise to mention it?

Ask a Manager February 21, 2012 at 8:01 pm

If you were there for a year, I don’t see any reason not to include it on your resume.

Anonymous February 22, 2012 at 12:30 am: Any word/statement that I can disclose on my CV since I feel like after 1 year of work in X company, I left because I have to as the Management is weak in doing the right thing to do as their employee. I work in the Middle East hence the manner of transfer of working visa is necessary and mandatory to be finished with 1 month only.

Thank you!

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STUCK!!?? February 22, 2012 at 7:47 pm

I recently graduated rn school and have been at my nursing job for 5 months and I am soo unhappy, I am considering looking for another job but I would need to put my current job down for experience purposes, does this look really bad? should I push it out the full year and start looking then? oh and I am also 4 months pregnant which i think makes me even more unmarketable???? The job I would be applying for is 35 miles closer to my house which would make my life so much easier as well….

Ask a Manager February 22, 2012 at 7:50 pm: You’ve got nothing to lose — you might as well apply and see what happens!

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BLSC February 24, 2012 at 3:14 am

I joined a company as a VP sales and mktg as they had just partnered with a big brand. I was there for ~8weeks when the owner ran out of money and laid off all the sales and mktg team. i worked like a dog for the time I was there but wonder if i should include it? thx

DBM February 24, 2012 at 9:55 am

Thanks for answering questions!
I went through the interview process and background check for a job at a major cellular company.
I was hired and worked my first complete day of work and decided the job was not right for me. I called my manager the next morning and told her that it wasn’t going to work out and left after one day of work. I understand the situation was unfortunate, but I felt like I acted as responsible as one could in a unfortunate situation. I called my manager (instead of not showing up) and I mailed back inventory keys at my own expense.
Should I mention this company/job on my resume? I recently applied/interviewed for another job with a major cellular company and did not include this job on my resume or background check because I didn’t think one day of employment needed to be included. It has been about a month since this happened and I have not received a paycheck from them and I don’t believe I was properly put into their system yet as I did not clock in on their computer system. Thanks

Ask a Manager February 24, 2012 at 11:14 am: One day? Definitely don’t include it.

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Hank S. February 28, 2012 at 3:26 am

I’ve been working in the same industry, financial services, for over 12 years. In Aug 2010, I left a supervisor position at a credit union to look for greener pastures. In Nov 2011, after a year and three months of looking, I interviewed for a supervisor position at another credit union, but was eventually offered a specialist position because they wanted to flatten the hierarchy in the department. I accepted the lower position as specialist. Now, a local bank has posted a management position that better suits my experience. Do I list the past three months that I’ve been working as a specialist and risk showing a regression in my work history, or not list the job and show that I’ve been unemployed for a year and six months?

NSH March 8, 2012 at 11:33 am

I was made redundant from a company after 9 years and went straight into another job which I resigned from after completing 4 months of a 6 month probationary period, as the job did not meet my expectations. Should I put this on my CV? I am concerned that other employers may think I will leave them also after a short time

Ask a Manager March 8, 2012 at 11:40 am: I’d say that the advice in the column applies here!

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Anonymous March 14, 2012 at 10:37 pm

I didn’t work for a year duemtomahealth issues. After three months looking again I have founded a “wonderful job” in a good company but I didn’t t get alone with my boss and unfortunately I had an emergency surgery during my probation period. After a month going back to work they fired me and told me that after my absences I have to leave the job. I have never had that problem in this country . Should I listed this job on my resume since my last job before this was a year ago. If I mention this last job on my resume what should I say in an interview?

I’m looking forward to receiveing your answers

Ask a Manager March 14, 2012 at 10:39 pm

Probably not, but how long were you employed there?

Carmen Elena March 14, 2012 at 10:45 pm

I was there for four months. My last job was until September
2010. The thing it’s that I have learned new systems in logistics and I was before in the education field, thanks

Ask a Manager March 14, 2012 at 10:50 pm: Can’t say with certainty without seeing the whole resume, but generally speaking, I wouldn’t put a four-month job on a resume because (a) you won’t have been there long enough to have compelling accomplishments so it won’t add much anyway, and (b) it’ll raise questions about why it was short-term.

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Anonymous March 19, 2012 at 4:15 am

My question is about how to handle this if your most recent job is the short term one.
I left a job after 5+ years. Decent company, worked mostly with good people, but it was going nowhere for my future and I really wanted to switch fields.
I got a job offer in my new field of interest and took it, but it quickly turned out not to be what they described. I won’t go into the details, but the job was literally not the job I applied for or accepted, and so after a month I put in my two-weeks. (Which, from what I understand, was rare as it appeared a number of people simply left this employer without saying a word.)
Now, however, I’m a month and a half into being unemployed and my most recent employment, which is the only directly relevant experience I have in this field (though I’ve been doing volunteer work at my mother-in-law’s business that’s relevant since I left) is a very short blip on my resume.
Should I include it becuase it shortens my unemployed period of time/because it’s relevant, or should I leave it off since it’s so short?

Many, many thanks in advance.

Anonymous March 24, 2012 at 3:18 pm

I am really disliking my job…it isn’t in my field and it’s boring, and I actually rejected it once before they changed the terms and promised me I would work with one of the other VPs on other projects (although that dept. is based in another state, he visits monthly), so I accepted. This was 2 months ago. Since then, that VP has visited this office once and barely said “Hi” to me. Both I and my direct supervisor have emailed him asking for word so we can coordinate those marketing duties, but nothing. Should I put it on my resume? 99% of my duties are irrelevant to what I want to do (and if I include it I might have to leave off earlier but more pertinent experience), but if I don’t, my last job ended in October. If I don’t put it on the resume, should I mention it in the cover letter?

Anita March 25, 2012 at 10:53 pm

I just left this last job because I was miserable there. The boss was completely hard to please. She did not communicate well at all leaving me frustrated and feeling stupid. Trying to be professional about it after only being their for 2 weeks I did talk to her about it and everything was good for a couple of weeks. And she did it again had me running in circles and giving me the look. I couldn’t take it anymore she was pulling me in so many different directions I left crying. She called me as I was driving home and apologized and asked if I would come back and talk and that I was a good fit with the company. I got there she started talking but than proceeded to let me know her disappointment in me once again. I knew in my heart that this wasn’t going to work out. So she asked if I wanted to stay if not that she would understand. I said no this isn’t going to work.
So I left and now have no job.
Do I put this on my application because now it looks like I’ve been without a job for a month!
Or do I put it on and where it ask for reason for leaving ( I could put will explain) on application.
Don’t know what to do!!!!

Jack April 1, 2012 at 4:50 pm

I attended the police acadamy and all training except i did not graduate becuase the police found out about a teenage fight incident that i did not put on the application because i forgot. The offical reason i was let go was non-disclosuer. It was all of 2008 so i understand i will have a gap in my resume but i dont think i will ever be considered for a job interview to explain the circumstances of the police acadamy failure. I worked for my familys company 2007 + 2009-2010. Can I just leave the police accadamy off my resume and put i worked at my family company 2007-2010?

Jolian April 8, 2012 at 6:27 pm

I graduated from university in September 2011. I got my first job in February 2012 and after 1 month they laid me off. because I was replacing one of the employees who were on leave for 1 month and I did not know that from beginning. Since it is my only experience in my field, should I include it on my resume? Also, without that, there will be a 8 month gap on my resume which I am trying to avoid it. Should I mention the month or I can simply write 2012 and then in interview explain about the details? thank you.

Laurie April 9, 2012 at 3:15 pm

After working for a company for nearly 20 years, I was terminated. I was out of work for about 2 months when I started a new job. After a month of grueling hours and very hard work, I was let go. I did not put this short-term position on my resume ..should I have included this position on my resume even though it was only for 1 month?

Anonymous April 13, 2012 at 9:24 am

I got terminated from my job a couple of years ago where I was at for four months. I was terminated because I was unable to provide adequate documentation from my doctor to allow me to lift certain amount of weight since I was pregnant during this time. I was told by my supervisor that I could not come back to work until I got approval from my doctor to dismiss my restrictions. I was unable to provide adequate documentation at the time so I was terminated. During this time I was in college so I did not think much about it. Now that I have graduated this position is an important part of my work experience since I accomplish so much and had many responsibilities through this job. I am going in for a job interview this week and the job relates to the position that I was terminated from. How would I explain this to the interviewer? If they called my supervisor from this position and found out that I was terminated would it hurt me as a candidate? This has been on my mind lately and it is driving me crazy. Please help..

ANNA April 23, 2012 at 2:08 pm

Hi there, i recently applied for a bank teller position but when i did the application and resume i didnt include a on-call job i had on the side since 2008. It’s a catering business and they only called me a few times a year, the last time i went to work there was January 2011. How should i go about that,should i tell them?…. they schedule me a phone interview for tomorrow..i dont knw what to do :/

Ask a Manager April 23, 2012 at 3:22 pm: It’s your call — either way is fine.

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Katy May 1, 2012 at 6:51 am

I’m a university student that arrived back from studying abroad for a year in Italy and I am putting together my resume for jobs after graduation in the Media/Design field. I worked an amazing job for eight weeks of the summer doing PR on the beach that I absolutely loved but I’m not sure if I should include this on my resume since it was such short term. On the other hand, it was in a non-english speaking country and I feel like it exemplifies my adaptability in new/foreign places. This is the same for a few jobs that I held while abroad for short time at bars and hostels as well. Do you think it would be wise to include any of these short-term positions?

Ask a Manager May 1, 2012 at 9:29 am: Definitely include the PR one since it’s in your field and sounds like it was designed to be short-term! Since you’re a college student, short-term jobs are normal.

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Anonymous May 7, 2012 at 10:52 pm

The last company I was at laid me off only have 3 months. When I asked if it was any issues/problems with my performance/work they said no, that they had made a mistake and thought the positon should be with someone with a clinical background? The job before that was 3 months because I was brought in at a senior level, but was not senior level material, or so they thought. I am a very hard worker, have my masters..I am wondering if I am choosing the wrong types of jobs….

Diana May 9, 2012 at 3:39 pm

I was working at jcp for 4 months and had a family emergency back home in Florida. I left with 1 week notice but the store manager told me that I’d be rehirable due to the circumstances. I was a very good employee during those 4 months, never late or called off. After I left, an ex co-worker was caught stealing & put some of the blame on me, saying I stoled products before I left (although I knew she was stealing, I didnt say anything, which I regret doing). This all happened 1-2 weeks after I left. The store manager fired her and said that I wouldnt be non-rehirable. The co-worker signed off that she takes full blame though. I tried to call the manager to explain that the situation is not true but she never returned my calls.

6 months later I’m applying at the same company but a different location. I didnt put that i worked at the company before because I was only there for 3-4 months and I felt they would give me a bad reference anyways. They will obviously see that I worked for the company before when they look in the system for my name, what Can I say to the hiring manager that will help me land the job, or if she ask why im unhirable. How can I explain the situation without bad mouthing my manager for being unfair? Was it wrong for me not to put the company down as a reference? Please help me, I really miss my job there and would do anything for get it back.

p.s. I never got a call from my store manager or anyone regarding the situation, i didnt even know what was going on until I spoke to another ex co-worker of mine who told me everything…

Allison May 14, 2012 at 12:02 pm

Hello, appreciate your help!
I worked for a company for 8 yrs and recently quit due to a hostile work environment. I accepted a new job, in my same field, within 2 wks. After 4 months, my new job was eliminated – along with many others, including my new manager’s position. The company decided to downsize and refocus. The owner’s right hand told me to use her as a reference, that she hoped to be able to hire me back eventually. I learned two new industry programs and helped to launch a new best practice for the company while there. Can I include on my resume I was laid off? Thank you.

Anonymous May 16, 2012 at 10:43 pm

I would really appreciate any competent answers. I got hired for a private sector position and it ended in voluntary resignation in 2 weeks. I have no idea whether I am required to put this on my FEDERAL resume. Am I required if it was 2 weeks and part-time? We had no conflicts. They realized they don’t need my position; I did not have much to do and it is understandable that they don’t want to pay another person for not doing much (I am grateful to them for trying to give me a chance so that I could start out my career but I could not be productive for them and I could not grow as a person). The other reason was that this was my first paid job so I had to start from scratch and I had a lot of questions and some people at work got tired of my training. Well, of course, I am not like people who have 15-20 years of experience and they probably wanted someone like that because all the other employees had that. I am not that person, I can’t change that so I am not going to feel bad about that. However, whether to put this on my federal resume or not is giving me a headache. I am afraid they would not give me a chance to explain the situation at an interview but at the same time, I want to be honest. Am I required by law to do it even if it was part-time and 2 weeks? I have a lot of volunteer experience and this has been my only paid position so far; I want to go into federal employment and of course, I want to be honest but I don’t know if the HR people would just think it is dumb to put a 2-week employment on the resume and this would disqualify me. What’s your opinion?

Anonymous May 18, 2012 at 11:33 am

hi, i was laid off in May 2011, worked with another company(x) from Aug 2011 – April 2012, i resigned becsue i was not happy there and found a new job but it is not what i am looking for and they are moving to different location that is far from where i live . i am applying for jobs now but saying that i am still working with my previuos company(x) . i am not sure if that is right and what should i put in my resume?