Job Hopper Seeks Resume for Steady Employment

Question
When I was 15, I began working for a fast food place and stayed there for a total of four years before I left for another job to gain more experience in the workforce. I was at my second job for 18 months before I quit because of a medical issue.

I focused solely on my education for a while until I had to go back to work for financial reasons. I returned to the same fast food job I had at 15, working on and off for short stints (three to nine months) in various locations over a period of 4 years. I finally just gave up because my medical condition was getting worse and I was miserable when at that job.

How should I list that experience on my resume? I'm trying to get some type of clerical/administrative position.

Answer
Here are some suggestions for creating a resume that highlights your relevant experience and downplays your short-term jobs in an unrelated field.

1. Use a chronological resume format.

2. In your Experience section, start with a current activity (paid or unpaid) that's relevant to your clerical/administrative support job objective and which truthfully represents what you've been doing since you left your fast food job. List that activity as a "job title" for the current span of time, 2010-present.

For example, maybe you're doing some clerical volunteer work (Clerical Support) or you're helping a friend reorganize her home office (Office Assistant). Under this "job title" write bullet point statements that refer to specific clerical projects that demonstrate your admininstrative skills and qualifications.

Don't worry about whether or not you are paid for this work. What's important is that you have experience in your new field. By the way, if you don't have any experience to list, start volunteering or helping someone right away so you can put it on your resume.

3. Next, list your job at the fast food restaurant with a parenthetical phrase after the job title, something like this:

SWZ Restaurant, Waitperson, 2006-2010 (short-term positions mostly concurrent with education)

There's no need to put bullet point statements for this position unless you did something on that job that supports your job objective.

Note: Only list the most recent four years of work at the fast food restaurant. Do not go back to age 15 on your resume as it will make you look much older than you actually are, and it will give the impression that your heart is really in the fast food business.

Listing your 18-month job is optional. Consider leaving it off to avoid bringing up your medical issue in the interview.

Best of luck with your transition into steady employment in the administrative support field.

True Confessions: Problem with Employment Background Checks

When filling out a job application, you must include all jobs (short- and long-term), especially if the company conducts employment background checks. Although omitting a job is not the same as lying, on an application it's considered not telling the whole truth. Here's how one job seeker corrected his mistake of omitting a job on his application, which saved the day. Continue reading...

5 Ways to Spotlight Transferable Skills on Your Resume

Spotlighting transferable skills on your resume is always a good idea, especially if you're making a career change, upgrading your professional image, or have a less-than-perfect work history. Do all you can to make your transferable skills pop out during an employer's initial eight-second scan of your resume. Here are a few techniques for making that happen. Continue reading....

How Much Are You Really Worth?

How much money will you be making at your next job? That could depend on a few pieces of personal information the hiring manager won't ask you about directly (because it's illegal for him to do so) but which he'll take into account when making a salary offer.

Want to know how much you're worth once an employer discovers your personal info? Job Search Intelligence is a free online salary calculator that crunches more than just the job title and geographic location of your prospective job. Before spitting out salary data, it asks you to respond to the following prompts:

1. Select gender
2. Select ethnicity
3. Are you a veteran of the US Armed Forces?
4. Select the state where you are seeking employment
5. Select the highest level of education that you have achieved
6. How many years of work experience do you have, that is relevant to the job description for which you are seeking employment?
7. How many jobs have you held in the last 7 years?
8. Do you speak more than one language fluently?
9. What is your FICO score (credit rating)?
10. What is your current annual salary?
11. What is the annual salary you will request?

According to Paul Hill, President of Job Search Intelligence, these things matter when it comes to determining how big or small your paycheck will be. I asked Paul a few questions about the survey. I should point out that by producing this calculator and answering my questions, Paul isn't saying this criteria is ethical or legal. He's simply saying this is the way it is.

My Question
Does a "Yes" answer to question #3, "Are you a veteran of the US Armed Forces?" increase or decrease the salary offered for a job?
Paul's Answer
It's actually somewhat of a complex dynamic. What our data shows is that persons straight out of the service will have a longer time securing employment than those without recent Armed Forces experience. Those who have Armed Forces experience, and have followed that up with civilian employment will have roughly the same, or slightly better prospects than those without the Armed Forces experience. It is a function of how the employer perceives the value of the experience, and when that experience landed on the job seeker's resume.

My Question
How does the answer to question #6, "How many jobs have you held in the last 7 years?" affect the salary offer?
Paul's Answer
Clearly employers are being very critical in interviewing and hiring now. What employers do not want are "opportunists" who jump ship frequently. They want talent, they'll pay for talent, but they want stability. Job seekers should make every effort to demonstrate this quality.

My Question
Why does someone's FICO score (question #8) affect his or her earning potential? Do employers actually check a job candidate's FICO score before making a job offer?
Paul's Answer
This function in our program applies only to certain occupations. Of course your FICO score is a proxy for fiscal responsibility. People would be surprised if they knew the various occupations where employers are checking FICO scores. The short answer is that if you are anywhere near: money, trade secrets, or privileged information, employers will want to protect themselves from their information being misappropriated for personal gain.

While on the site, play with the calculator as if you were an employer looking for salary info about your job objective. Understanding an employer's perspective can help you negotiate your new salary.

Resume for Project Work

When the economy tightens up, employers look for ways to trim costs. Aside from laying off workers and downsizing operations, they tend to hire people for whom they don't have to pay benefits (healthcare, social security, retirement, vacation pay... all that good stuff). Here are some examples of consulting resumes. Continue reading...

P.O. Box vs. Street Address on Resume

In the heading of your resume, list a street address rather than a P.O. box, if possible. An employer won't hold it against you for using your P.O. box on your resume, but he may give you extra points for using a street address because it presents a more stable image. This is especially true if your work history shows job hopping, current unemployment, or gaps in your employment history.

If, however, you have any hesitation about giving out your home address, do one of the following:
- List a P.O. box.
- Rent a P.O. box at a location where you can list the street address of that P.O. box.

Quit Over Boss's Verbal Abuse

Question
I quit my last job because the boss/partner was making inappropriate remarks to me (along with remarks and looks about a certain feature of mine). I was enduring these remarks because I needed the job. I was an excellent employee (during my seven months there I had three raises) and was well liked by my co-workers. Continue reading...

Fired for Health Issue

Question
Today I was fired without any knowledge or even inkling that something was wrong. There were never any warnings (verbal or written) and in fact, I had a conversation with my Supervisor just a week ago, telling me I was doing a great job. There was only one comment made that I had been tardy on a few occasions, which I had called ahead to say I was running late. It's never an excuse, but I didn't have a choice in the matter when they were digging up our roadway and there was no prior notice to any of the residents that this was being done. It was never an issue again.

I was brought into the conference room and was told that there were personality conflicts between me and the "community" (there were only 7 people working in the company) as well as other issues. And then all of these issues that I couldn't believe I was hearing started to come out of left field - I was tardy on a regular basis (which I wasn't), I was rude to others in the workplace (which I wasn't and would never be as I wasn't raised that way), I rifled through people's trash without their consent (I was collecting the bottles and cans for recycling that the employees would throw out because they refused to recycle as it was "too much work"), I was on the Internet looking at social networking or sports sites.

I just sat there, stunned out of my mind because I had never been told that anything was a problem. My work was getting done, I had sales calls coming into me left and right, everything seemed to be going fine. What I found out is the Assistant in the office who befriended me was accessing my social website pages and using this information against me (such as uploading photos, surveys, etc) that were done at night and on weekends. What most upset me is that besides myself, another woman was hired who was a friend of the Assistant already working there. She comes in late, leaves early, takes extended lunches, watches DVDs and accesses full-length television shows on her PC and nothing was ever said or done to her, yet I am the one being forced out.

Something that did come up when I first started was that a routine medical test came back saying I might have cancer. I was upset and consulted my boss to see if I could get on the health plan earlier than the 3-month time frame with my paying 100% up to that 3-month window. This request was denied and my boss said to go ahead with the testing, and that "the cost was not her concern, but that we would work it out when it came to that point." It seems very coincidental that they've created all these reasons for my departure when my results are due back this week and the bill arrived for the testing today. So that I don't raise their insurance premiums, cut me off now!

I was only in the position a month. Is this something that I should put on my resume? Is it appropriate to write an exit letter to your former boss as I was not able to present any type of defense or my side of the story? I understand that their minds are made up and I would not want to go back to a company that I do not trust, but I feel that there should be some sort of closer there.
--Angie

Answer
I'm not a lawyer so I can't comment on your legal rights in this situation or whether you should write an exit letter. I'll stick to what I do best: resumes.

Is it possible to speak with the employer and ask to have your employment status listed as a temporary job? If they're agreeable to that, you could list the position like this:

Sept. 2008, Job Title (temporary assignment), Company Name

If they don't want to do that, then I suggest leaving the job off your resume all together. Hopefully you had another job in 2008 that you can list in your work history, and by using years (no months), it will not be noticeable that this one-month disaster happened.

When you fill out your job application, you must list the one-month job, so practise how you'll talk about that in the job interview.

Recent Short-Term Job on Resume

Question
I am an administrative professional who recently left a five-month position because of a verbally abusive boss. I'm not sure whether to include this on my resume as this is my most recent position and I'm currently looking for work.

My dilemma is I left my previous position of seven months because I was recruited by this last employer. All other employment on my resume has been at least three years. I'm afraid if I don't list it on my resume and then have to list it on a job application, it will look like I lied on my resume. On the other hand, if I don't list it on my resume, how do I bring it up in my interview?
--Jill

Answer
You should definitely put your most recent position on your resume. Don't list months, just put years for all positions in your work history. That means for your most recent job you'll put simply "2008."

If your last two jobs were in the administrative line, here's another way to handle the short-term positions on your resume:

2007-2008, Administrative positions
ABC Company, Job Title
- An accomplishment statement that's relevant to your job objective.
- Another accomplishment that's relevant to your job objective.
- Another accomplishment that's relevant to your job objective.

DEF Company, Job Title
- An accomplishment statement that's relevant to your job objective.
- Another accomplishment that's relevant to your job objective.
- Another accomplishment that's relevant to your job objective.

On your application you'll be required to give the months along with the years. When the employer looks at the application and resume together, he or she will see that the dates are in sync and you'll be fine.

On your resume, there's no need to say why you left your last job. In today's economic climate, many people are experiencing short-term employment. But the "Why did you leave?" question will most certainly come up in your interview, so practise your explanation before the interview so you answer it confidently.

Replaced by Owner's Son as Manager

Question
I was hired three months ago to replace the manager of the company, who also happens to be the owner’s son. The son was suppose to go out on his own and work for another company... (Continue reading)

Frequent Job Changer

Question
How should I respond to "reason for leaving" on a job application and in an interview? I was not fired from my last job nor did I have poor performance. In fact, I received a very good performance review. I left because I could not get along with two of my co-workers. I couldn't complain to my boss because both of those individuals are her friends and have worked for the company three and five years.

I have lots of short-term jobs (one and two years each) so I guess to most employers I look like a job hopper. How can I emphasize that I am a hard worker and de-emphasize the short-term jobs in my work history?

Answer
Actually, in today's job market it's not that unusually for someone to change jobs once every two years. So maybe your rate of job change isn't out of the norm in your occupation. However, from your question, it sounds as if you'd like to stop job hopping, starting with your next job. I suggest you take some time to work with a career counselor or coach who can help you understand why jobs aren't sticking for you. Is it possible you would be happier in a different line of work? Or might you be happier in a profession that focuses on short-term assignments, perhaps even something that takes you to different locations as part of your job description?

As far as how to discuss why you left your last eight-month position, here are my thoughts:
- On your resume, list dates in your work history section, using years only (no months). There's no need to mention why you left the job.
- On the job application, if you're asked why you left your last job, say something brief, such as, "not a good fit."
- In the interview, use the statement from your application form to springboard from. Keep it brief and moving forward to why you want to work for the company you're interviewing with. If it turns out that your work with a career counselor leads you to a career change, then that's exactly the direction to take your conversation in the job interview. If, however, you decide to stay in the same occupation, say something like "It became clear to me that I could be more productive in a different environment, which is why I'm applying to ABC Company. Can you please tell me more about the team project I'd be working on here?"

In any case, be honest without blaming anyone. Take responsibility for your decision to leave your former employer and ensure the new employer that you're now focused on an exciting launch into this new job.

Five-Month Gap in Employment

Question
I worked at a company for 5 years, left for 5 months, and then returned to the same company. On my resume I have listed just years, thus leaving out the 5-month gap (because the gap happened within the same year). Continue reading...

Short-Term Job on Resume?

Question
I am an Executive Assistant presently looking for my next job opportunity. I have extensive experience in this field. Since my last experience was short-lived (6 months), I would like to hear your comments whether or not I should keep it in my resume (even though it is relevant experience)?

So far I went through several interviews, and I haven’t had any offers yet. Do you feel that one of the “red flags” is the fact that I worked at my last employment only 6 months? The reason for leaving the company was the fact that my manager was working out of different location (long-distance boss), and it was very difficult to build a really good working relationship.

One of the other reasons I think is my age even though I don’t look or feel my age (I am 51 years old).
--Asya

Answer
Hello Asya,
Don't put the recent six-month job on your resume for the following reasons:

Because the job before your six-monther ended in 2008 and you wisely used only years (not months), there is no red flag in your work history. It looks as if you might have recently left that job (even though you left it at the beginning of the year), and are just embarking on your new job search.

On the job application, you'll have to list the recent six-month job, but for your resume, leave it off, as you have been.

Your resume is doing its job of winning you interviews; perhaps you need help with your interviewing skills. Try to get some coaching to see how you can tackle the age issue (if that's the problem), how to explain why your last job was short-lived, and polish your interview style.

Good luck in landing your new job!

Job Hopper's Resume

Question
I recently quit a job after 3 months of employment because I felt it was unprofessional. I do not want to put this on my resume as it adds to the many short-term jobs already listed. None of the jobs pertinent to my job field (administrative assistant) lasted longer than 8 months. I have a few about 6 months long, one 8-month position, and the aforementioned 3-month stint. With the exception of the last job, it was not my fault that I was let go. I quit a part-time job, was laid off due to a slow market, fired after a car accident and again, quit the most recent job. I want my resume to stand out, Continue reading...

Shaky Work History on Resume

Question
I've been in the workforce for 12 years. I had a tumultuous period of time between 2001-2004 where I was very depressed and couldn't hold down a job for very long. One year I had to file six W-2's for my taxes. Continue reading...

Four-Month Job on Resume?

Question
At the end of last year I decided to change jobs. Unfortunately the new position was not what I had hoped for and I decided to go back to my previous employer after four months. How do I handle this on a resume? Do I have to include the job I was at for only four months?

Answer
No, you do not have to put the four-month job on your resume. Here's how I suggest you list that span of time:

Your Job Title, Name of Company, 2004-2006, 2006-present

(I used a starting date of 2004 only because I don't know when you actually started working for your current employer.) Notice that this technique is honest, although admittedly mysterious.

On your resume, you never have to refer to that mysterious span of time (2006, 2006), however, on the job application you must reveal the four-month job. Hopefully, by the time you fill out the application form you will have won the job interview and you'll have a chance to explain the short-term employment in person.

To see how others have handled this sort of situation, check out 22 Sample Resumes for Job Seekers Who Have Had Short-Term Jobs.

Good luck with it!

Sample Resumes that Solve Problems

Learning by example is sometimes one of the best ways to solve a problem. If you have an issue you need to resolve on your resume, click on one of these links to my collection of 90 Sample Resumes to see how others handled a situation similar to yours.

Corporate Staffer Seeks Part-time Waitress Gig

Question
I have a question about resumes. I currently work full time and need a part-time job as a food server or hostess. My resume looks good as far as full-time corporate work, but I do not have any long-term steady restaurant jobs. I have had many short-term ones over the years. How should I list this information on my resume? My objective is to get a part-time evening position in the service industry.
Thanks,
Maryellen

Answer
by Jan Melnik, MRW, CCM, CPRW, President, Absolute Advantage

You’re thinking along the right lines, Maryellen. The resume that serves you well in the corporate arena probably won’t impress the general manager at your local upscale bistro.

Here’s what I recommend: So that you don’t have to totally reinvent the wheel, take a copy of the corporate resume on your PC and do the easiest things first, starting at the bottom of the resume. Shrink the responsibilities and accomplishments for your professional jobs to just 2-3 lines each. For instance, an entry might read:

ABACUS EQUIPMENT, INC. – Troy, NY Jan. 2005-Present
Senior Account Executive
Grew institutional account territory throughout Upstate New York by 40% in 2 years, generating $300K in incremental revenues. Managed sales of sophisticated packaging equipment.

Moving up the page, insert a new category before your traditional corporate experience entitled “Professional Service Industry/Restaurant Experience.” (If your specialty/target is hotel restaurants, add the word hotel; if it’s in casinos, substitute casino for restaurant, and so forth.)

Now build an entry for each of the more recent positions you have held (I’ll address the summary up in your profile last). Because you mention having held many short-term positions, you might try grouping them by category and including a short descriptor, such as this:

Family Restaurants
Was competent member of wait staff at such Phoenix area restaurants as Chili’s (2 years), Outback (9 months), and TGIF (1.5 years).

Fine Dining Venues
Handled both ala carte dining and banquet service for several upscale restaurants along shoreline/Connecticut River area, including Copper Beech Inn (2 years), Water’s Edge (1 year), and Café Routier (1.5 years).

Now, for the final (and most important) part of your resume, go to your existing profile/qualifications summary section. Whatever you’ve used for the corporate world will need to be almost entirely replaced. Here is where you will describe your distinguishing characteristics as a professional server. Things to consider:
- Do you have a sparkling personality and highly adaptive style?
- Do you always deliver service above-and-beyond?
- Are your tips (for finer restaurants) generally in excess of 20 or 25%?
- Do you have regular customers who always request you as their server?
- Are you called by the restaurant on your days off to fill in for special events and parties—because you are reliable and “do the best job?”

If so, you can say in your profile such things as:

Professional server/wait staff member for more than 15 years at range of venues including both upscale, fine dining establishments and popular family restaurants. Earned reputation for consistently delivering exceptional service—frequently requested as a server by repeat customers. Highly flexible, dependable, and reliable. Signature strengths include:
• Ability to professionally manage large number of tables
• Equally skilled in menu and banquet service
• Regularly place in top 5% for promotions sold (from higher priced entree features, appetizers, and desserts to wine and after-dinner beverages)
• Distinguished for ability to exude grace under pressure while providing outstanding customer service
• Tapped to train new staff and provide shadowing to less-experienced servers

Good luck, Maryellen! As you know in this industry, it’s important to make a great impression in person – always deliver your resume face-to-face and be sure to let that sparkling “customer service” personality shine in the interview! This is the place for explaining that you’re seeking a part-time opportunity to augment your corporate day job. You know your enthusiasm and love for this work sets you above the rest of your competitors – so sell yourself with gusto!

Jan Melnik is a job-search coach and resume writer; she has operated her own practice, Absolute Advantage, for 24 years and works with clients coast-to-coast in the development of exceptional materials and strategies. She is the author of 7 books, including Executive’s Pocket Guide to ROI Resumes & Job Search.

Two-Month Job on Resume

Question
I attended college last year to become a medical assistant. I am currently employed in a job (Job #1) that is not medical related. I work at second job (Job #2) as a part-time medical assistant.

A few months ago, I worked at a third company as a medical assistant (Job #3) almost full-time, and quit because it involved a lot of travel. I left Employer #3 on the best of terms; I know they would hire me back.

All three jobs overlap each other with no time lapses on my resumes. None of the jobs are full time. Why so many jobs? Because nobody would offer full-time work to someone with such little experience. I need to build experience and I'm 40 years old.

Here’s my question: I got hired about 2 months ago as a medical assistant (Job #4). I worked for the company for about 2 months and made under $1,000. I received education but only about 1 day of hands-on training. I believe they over hired! Before the 90-days probation period was up, they let me go, stating my performance was the issue. They said I could give my 2-week notice, which I did.

Job #4 was not the right match. I needed more training in a new facility. Imagine working at a new job with nobody showing you where to find equipment or supplies, and using a new computer system for the first time. That would slow anybody down!

Question, should I bother to list Job #4 on my resume and applications? If I don't list them, what if an employer runs a verification check? I have discussed this with my Employer #4 and they said if someone calls they will only give employment dates.

Answer
Joyce Lain Kennedy, Syndicated Columnist, Tribune Media Services

Hi Medical Assistant on Her Way to Job #5,

What you really want to know is whether or not you'll be found out if you omit the two-month job on your resume. Probably not. Even if a potential employer runs a background check, which may include a credit report, unless you opened a new charge account during that time connecting yourself with job #4 data, your short term in your last job is unlikely to be reported.

(But note that one of the newer ways employers are finding out stuff you'd rather they not know opens up when individuals blab way too much on such social networking sites as MySpace and Facebook.)

You say you parted on good terms and that employer #4 will disclose only the dates of your employment. Taking the company at its manager's word, there's a better way to handle your dilemma: Go ahead and put down the dates of job #4 and mark that stint as a "Temporary job." As things turned out, that's what it was. If pressed, briefly reply that #4 was a good learning experience but you are moving on to fill a better fit in a full-time permanent position.

Do yourself a favor: Find out exactly what performance issues precipitated your early departure from Job #4. Go back and ask your former manager; people like to give advice to appreciative individuals. Once informed, make sure that you don't repeat those early mistakes, even if it means seeking additional formal training before you look for a job that you hope will be a keeper.

If you have further questions about preparing your best resume, I recommend you pick up a copy of Susan Ireland's outstanding book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Perfect Resumes," 4th Edition.

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
In her post, Job Surfing’s a Risk, Susan Strayer says:

Job hopping is common--and it's not always bad. But the problem really is twofold. First, people job hop to overcompensate for a bad factor at their old job. They correct that in the new role. but are in such a hurry to hop, they don't assess that new job thoroughly. And before you know it, it's job search time again.

Susan’s post has good advice for how to know when you’re a perpetual job hopper and how you can look at the pattern to turn it around.

Two-Page Resume vs. One-Pager with Gaps

Question
I have been working for about 14 years now, and moved around every few years to a new position. Right now, I am attempting to change careers, so therefore some of my experience would be irrelevant for the position I am seeking.

What I am finding is that to keep a timeline with no gap requires putting so many jobs done that the resume sprawls to a page and a half. This is even with single or only two bullet points for the irrelevant positions.

It seems I can either cut irrelevant jobs to get the resume down to the 'classic' one page which will also leave at least a two-year gap on the resume, OR I can present a two-page resume with no gaps.

Which do you recommend? What bothers the people who will be handling my resume more, gaps or a two-page resume?
Thank you for any advice,
--Duncan

Answer
by Catherine Sutton, Professional Resume Writer

Hi Duncan,
Work gaps should be avoided at nearly all costs as many employers will discount a resume if it has gaps in the work history. On the other hand, a two-page resume is really not a problem unless there's something important on the second page that you want the reader to notice. Employers often don't read the second page carefully, assuming that the applicant has prioritized his information so the most relevant is on page one.

That said, I suggest you try to get your resume down to one page that’s easy to read. That means making your text lean and mean while your formatting allows for lots of white space and font size no smaller than 11 point.

Here are some techniques for paring down your resume:

1. Don’t list months in your work history; years only are sufficient. Using this technique may allow you to drop irrelevant jobs from your work history all together, saving resume real estate and keeping the resume on focus.

2. For jobs that are not relevant to your job objective but you must list in order to avoid gaps in your work history, write simply the job title, employer, location, and year(s). No further explanation or bullet statements are required. For jobs that are relevant, you should write bullet achievement statements – that’s resume real estate well used!

3. To make your work history look more cohesive (and to save space), group redundant employment stints together. For instance, if you held the same job title with a few different employers, lead with your title and overall span of years; then list the employers underneath.

4. Decrease your right and left margins (however, go no smaller than .75 inch on each side) to allow longer line lengths of text.

5. For each job in your work history, try to fit your job title, employer info, and dates on one line.

If, after using these techniques, your resume still spans two pages, that’s okay. Put “Continued” at the bottom of page one, your name and “Page Two” at the top of the second page, and send it off with confidence!

Longer Resumes Gain Ground by Mark Feffer cites a survey that indicates that two-page resumes are quite acceptable in today's job market. Whether your resume is one or two pages long, Feffer says, "Among other things, resumes are an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to prioritize and write clearly and concisely."

Good luck with your career change, Duncan!