Explaining Short-Term Employment on a Resume
Minimize the Negatives of a History of Temporary Work
Sep 19, 2009
In a perfect world, there would be full employment with every citizen holding down a permanent job, perhaps with just one or two employers, starting in early adulthood and extending on through to retirement. But, the world is far from perfect. The global economy is struggling to recover as it pulls back from the brink of total disaster, and unemployment rosters show no immediate sign of reverting to pre-recession levels.
For a host of reasons, many people find themselves compelled to move from job to job. Often, they have very little choice when it comes to the type of the work they will accept (providing they are offered work) in an attempt to keep a roof over their heads.
Problem is, when a resume reveals a series of short-term jobs and periodic gaps in employment, a potential employer may raise an eyebrow of doubt. Breaks in long-term employment may send a signal that the job applicant is unreliable and undependable, or that he/she lacks focus and dedication. However, job seekers should not despair of this and should instead use a few handy tips to remove any negative impressions that a history of temporary employment may have on employers.
Be Honest and Up Front
Qualifications displayed on a resume are supposed to highlight valuable worker strengths. A resume should also reveal the truth. One should never lie, try to hide the fact that some job assignments only lasted a few weeks, or shy away from admitting that a short term assignment was terminated because it failed to fulfill expectations or life-long ambitions. If a previous job bears some relevance to the job currently being sought, put it on the resume and honestly explain why that past job lasted for only a short period of time. Speak of that job in a forthcoming manner, and an employer may fully accept the explanation as justifiable.
Ignore Irrelevant Employment
On the other hand, if a past job has absolutely nothing to do with the job currently being applied for, leaving it off the resume is a viable option. The boss at the marketing firm who is looking for a writer does not need to know about a week-long stint last summer as a dog walker. Jobs that are not related to a career path, and are not in line with one’s education or degree, may not be all that important in the long run.
Besides, listing every single job held on a resume is not necessarily good form. Some jobs simply do not contribute to a good impression and may not fully represent beneficial and professional attributes. If a question arises about jobs that have been left out of a resume (or, there is need to explain a time gap in employment), simply state how that period of time, whether spent employed or not, was irrelevant and not worthy of noting on the resume. Chances are, the employer will dismiss it as well.
Be Upbeat About Freelance, Contract, and Interim Assignments
Some people are constantly looking to grow their experience by learning new skills or by taking jobs in areas that will expand their knowledge in different directions. Others take whatever job they are offered because there is simply nothing else available, and income is always necessary. In a down economy, it's never a bad thing to be working and holding a job – any job – when so many people are jobless. Being employed should be a reason to celebrate.
When applying for a new job, tell a potential employer the facts as they relate to contract or interim job assignments, and indicate how it good it was to be working. Although a particular freelance job may have only been held for a month, or stuffing envelopes for minimum wage was not the most thrilling experience, the jobseeker should let it be known that he was the best envelope stuffer or freelance worker there ever was!
Specify Skills Acquired During Short Term Work
Emphasize how each job held contributed to increased learning and greater skills development. Tell potential employers that previous jobs were just pauses on the road to the landing the right job – and how the time devoted to previous positions added to levels of competency and improved abilities. Be precise about the skills acquired, and relate them to the current sought-after job. Reflect on how those short term jobs built upon talents and developed new skills that can now be used to master new job demands. An employer may esteem time devoted to short term jobs as proof of an applicant's resolve and a willingness to acquire new knowledge. This also shows a potential employee to be someone who would do whatever it takes to do a job well.
Short term employment can be explained to employers by putting it all in a framework of necessity and maturity. When someone takes a job that is believed to be below their qualifications and education, or one that pays less than they are accustomed to earning, those actions can be viewed as the acts of someone who is both responsible and realistic.Children need to be fed and bills need to be paid. Employers understand these facts of life, so don’t be ashamed of past periods of short term employment. Simply tell it like it is.
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