Job Question - Hackettstown,NJ

Updated on July 16, 2012
E.S. asks from Hackettstown, NJ
13 answers

If you held a job for only six months, would you list it on your resume? I'm leaning toward no since that would open up a can of worms about why I left. Then again, I'm leaning toward yes because it would help fill in a half-year gap. Prospective employers might find out through a background check, too.

I could not use this job as a reference as it was a really bad fit and I had a very hard time.

Sigh..

Thoughts.

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So What Happened?

@Dawn: I believe the law says that you can only call a former employer to verify that you worked there. I would have to just explain why I can't use them as a reference...

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

i would probably use it and just put down some innocuous reason. If they do call and check there are very limited questions they can ask.

BUT! The tone the person uses to answer the question and the phrases they use can make and entirely different impression.

For example:

"Hi, this is Jim from XX designs calling to verify the employment of a E. S. Doe. Can you confirm that person worked at this business?".

"Who? You mean E Doe? You want to know if she "worked" here, (they start laughing) um yeah, she "worked" a "lot"...(Still snickering and laughing)".

Jim " Can you confirm the dates she was employed by the company"?

"Um, hang on, I'll have to look that up..............I had to look all over the office, everyone has been "looking" at this file".

So you can see that even though they did not say anything illegal they did imply that E. S. Doe was a lazy employee who did nothing during the time they were employed and that there may be issues still pending from there leaving since everyone is still reading their files.

So it this past company has hard feelings towards you I might just skip them and not say anything. But if they are professional in any way I would go ahead and put them down.

Also, if the job is no way related to the type of company this new possible employer is then I might leave them off anyway.

I had 2 different resumes. One that the cover letter, education awards and special programs focused on Child care and a totally different one that focused on working with people who have developmental disabilities.

I have had so many jobs that were so related to my areas of work that i just could not have put them all down. If you are doing a background check for a job such as a police officer then I would put down each and every one of them with all the gory details of why they didn't work out. But for just a normal job I did not list all of them each time.

4 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Yes!! Include it! if your next employer does a background check and sees it? they will most likely not hire you for not telling the truth.

If you list it - it's OKAY to say "this job was NOT the right fit for me" and leave it at that. There have been plenty of times when a person takes a job and it's NOT what they thought it would be. Or the position changed to something they didn't do (example - I'm NOT an account, I had an office manager position and after they hired me? I was given the accounting role as well. I could do it - but it was NOT me. therefore, NOT a fit).

It's OKAY to tell the truth. It's just easier. Tell future employers 'this job was NOT a fit for me and before I failed or had major problems? I resigned."

GOOD LUCK!!

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

yes. include it.

3 moms found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

Getting caught in a lie, is worse then explaining why and how a job wasn't the right fit. Include the job on your resume.

3 moms found this helpful
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C.R.

answers from Seattle on

I would include it... Better to be up front from the get-go, I'd say. Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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A.A.

answers from Tulsa on

If you don't include it and it shows in your background check you will (rightfully) look like you aren't being honest. That's hardly a quality potential employers are looking for. Include it, and if asked why you left tell the truth. That's better than not being considered because it looks like you were hiding something.

3 moms found this helpful
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D..

answers from Charlotte on

I don't think I would if I were you. I haven't ever had to make this decision, but if you can't use the job as a reference, you should leave it out. So MANY people nowadays have gaps in their resumes due to the bad economy, that I think it will hurt more to get a bad remark when they call them, than to have been out of work like so many others are.

Dawn

2 moms found this helpful
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K..

answers from Phoenix on

List it and if you are asked about it, just say that you were looking for room to grow and the job didn't allow for it, or something to that nature.

If the old job was at a place with an HR dept, then the potential employer may not even talk to someone at the 6 month job, they may email or send a letter. Even if they do call, I'm sure it will be fine.

IMO, it looks better to have worked for 6 months than to not have worked for a year.

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, you should include it, but don't use it as a reference. Sometimes jobs just don't work out. Plan in advance what you are going to say about the job and the working environment if you happened to get asked during a job interview. Try to keep it positive. Did you learn any new skills or have exposure to new types of organizations? Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

T.M.

answers from Redding on

Honesty is he best policy.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.R.

answers from Orlando on

Background checks are for criminal activity, not past employment. The only way for them to find out about that job, is if you tell them. If you can't explain the separation positively, then I would consider leaving it off. Here is a list of Red Flag answers and Green Flag answers for leaving a job. Take a look, and see where you fit in, then decide.. Good Luck! (you may have to copy and paste link into b)rowser. It ends with: leaving_a_job.html
http://www.career-advantage.net/Training/reasons_for_leav...

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S.B.

answers from Houston on

You need to out it on. Some employers do in depth employment verifications. Most companies will only verify your dates of employment. Also, if you are not completely honest with future employers, they will wonder what you are hiding. Telling a potential employer that "it's not the right fit" is a very honest answer.

U.5.

answers from Wichita on

I would disclose everything. Chalk it up to mutual agreement or quitting after being told you would be fired OR that you resigned and instead of the company giving you the two weeks you gave they terminated you on the spot. Obviously I don't know the circumstances but I always disclosed as much as I can. That being said, I work for and apply to federal government jobs so it's very important that I disclose everything I can. 6 months is 6 months of experience another candidate might not have. Just because the employer and yourself weren't a good match you still gained something in that amount of time. Best of luck!

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