How To Handle Short Term Jobs On Your Resume

Based on today’s ever-changing and tight job market, it is not
unusual to see short term jobs on a resume. Short term jobs might raise
a red flag for employers. Short term jobs could be contract positions
or permanent jobs.

Don’t Lie

The first rule of thumb when applying for a job is to never lie
on your resume. If you put information on a document and submit it for
consideration for employment, it better be valid information. There is
nothing worse than being offered a job only to have that offer
rescinded when your background is thoroughly checked.

Don’t Bad Mouth

The second rule of thumb when applying for a job is to never bad
mouth a previous employer or company. Bad mouthing creates negative
feelings in an interview or conversation and will almost always cost
you the job offer. Keep your negative opinions to yourself.

Leave it off

With these rules in mind, let’s look at the various ways you can
allay an employer’s fear about short term positions on your resume. One
oft forgotten method of avoiding concerns over short term employment is
to leave that job off of your resume. While not always the best
solution, this is one possible way to avoid any concerns.

If asked about the gap in employment you can say that you
worked a short-term contract job that did not contribute to your
overall experience and you did not want to record it on your
resume.

Short term contracts

Short term contracts are easily explained by either mentioning
that you took the position to get experience in a certain area or by
explaining that no matter what, you must always work and this was the
only position available at the time. You can further qualify the second
reason by saying that you are responsible for providing for your family
and will do that no matter what. While not the greatest way to explain
a short term contract, it does allow you to demonstrate to the
prospective employer that you are willing to do whatever it takes to
get the job done.

Short term permanent jobs

While these types of jobs are harder to explain away with a
simple statement, there is almost always something you can come with
about the job that would warrant you leaving. Things like software
piracy, illegal activities and sexually abusive superiors are reasons
that any employer will understand. However, do not use them lightly.

You can also use reasons like: after evaluating their business
model, I was sure they would be out of business in six months, the
corporate culture was one that did not coincide with my attitude of
teamwork and mutual achievement, and my job responsibilities did not
match what I was hired for and I did not sign up for a secretarial
position.

All in all, you need to evaluate the position in question and
find the most viable and least offensive reason why you left the
company. Once you decide, use that excuse consistently in all of your
correspondence with potential employers. You never know when one hiring
manager might know another from a different company.