Too Many Contracts/Dates On Resume
Advice On Listing Contracts In Work Experience
A reader asks what she can do with her contract work, as the short work is often taken as a negative aspect on her Resume.
Q. If I am working per-diem (as needed, not contracted) at a company for seven months or less, do I have to list them as previous employer? Is there a hard and fast rule? As a nurse I have worked at many places here and there for short periods of time. I am finding that even though it is not an uncommon practice in the industry, if I list them on my resume or application - it is a big turn off and has been the topic of discussion of two prospective employers (I asked them specifically about their hesitation to hire me) that I am aware of. I was also told that many companies’ on-line application software will automatically put you in a category of “not desirable hire” if it picks up that you have been working at many different places for short periods of time. What is the best approach to this situation? I do not want to be accused of omitting pertinent information, but I don’t personally feel if I am working per-diem that I have to list the employer-unless of course I worked for them in the past. Thanks in advanced for your reply.
Best Regards, J
A. First of all, you GOT the interview, so that's a feather in your cap right there!
This question is a perfect example of what is happening to many people in today's contract world. This is also an excellent example to use a functional resume or a hybrid resume rather than a standard chronological resume. Create a heading under Work Experience - call it Contract Work, and give the dates as a range - from your first contract to the present (ie - 2001 - to the present). Now, list all your skills, responsibilities, work duties, etc. that pertain to your contract work - whether you have used all these skills in one place or twenty places. You might want to use short sentences or paragraphs, depending on your own style - or bullets. Add in a line "clients include" - and list some of the clients. Or you can actually list ALL the clients, with a quick qualifying note as to your work date with them. For example:
Red Cross - Sept 2001-Nov 2001.
Another way is to just list your clients under your Contract Work heading - no individual dates. This way will also avoid any rejection from a pre-set programmed software or scanner.
It's not that you have worked for short periods of time, but how you promote those facts that makes the difference! If you feel guilty or concerned about it, that's what is coming through. Remember, you did get the interview(s) - so they saw something in your Resume they wanted. Their fear was you might be only looking for short term, and you did not allay their fears. You should be proud to be in the health industry and caring for others - taking on short contracts that others will not do because they are short contracts and may not look good on a resume.
Advertise thepositive aspect of this fact: you are a health care professional that takes on contracts on an as-need basis: you decide based on the need of the client and if you match that need. No one would argue you'd be a definite asset to their company - you are looking at the needs of the clients - long or short term. (Feel free to use the last line when in future interviews!)
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Copyright November 12, 2007. Paym Bergson & Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright
