About Andy Expertise I can help prepare candidates for job interviews; assist in discussing problems with your supervisors or peers; help in creating a resume that gets results; answer general work related questions.
Experience I have been in a management leadership role for the past 30 years. I have extensive knowledge re: the interview process, problem solving, team building, communcation with executive management, company mergers, downsizing, outsourcing of jobs, project management, disaster recovery, office politics, management consulting, business ethics,career changes, job relocation to another part of the country & becoming an agent for change within a corporation.
Question I left a job off of my resume because I didn't want to look like a job hopper. I had, had three different jobs in a little over a year. I left the first job because they didn't have enough work to make me full time. I was let go from the second job after the boss told me I wasn’t working out. The third company let me go after telling me they didn't have enough work to keep me employed.
In my defense, three of the jobs were internships and therefore were somewhat temporary by their very nature. Also, I'm switching to a different line of work that I expect to be more suited to my skills.
The job that I left off of my resume was the second job. My boss and I at the second job parted under reasonably good terms, but it is fair to say that I was fired.
Right now there is a new company that wants to hire me, but they want to do a background check first. They have emailed me a form that tells me to list all the companies I've worked for in the past 5 years and the contact information for my supervisors.
I feel stuck. I'd like to list that second job on the form because I feel like leaving it off would be like lying. But, I'm afraid if I put the job on the form they will make a comparison between the form and my resume and will see that the two don't match.
What do you think? My instinct is to come clean and put the job on the form. This company really does want to hire me. I'd hate to be fired five years from now after they find out I lied on their form. Of course, they could always refuse to hire me now and accuse me of lying on my resume.
If I’m asked why my resume and the form don't match I can say that I viewed my resume as simply an overview of my experience, but since their form wanted me to list all the companies I've worked for, I wanted to comply 100% to their request. Also, if I included that extra job on my resume it would have been over two pages, which would have been less practical.
Thanks in advance for your help
Answer Steven,
“If you always tell the truth you won’t have to remember what you said.” That is some sage advice my Dad gave me many years ago.
Right off the bat, I have to say that you must alert your prospective employer of the “error” in your resume. “Job hopping” is no longer as frowned upon as it had been in the past especially if there are valid reasons. In your case, two of the positions did not have enough work to keep you busy & in the 3rd position, things just did not work out as planned. You’ll need to stress the positives of the jobs you’ve held & you obviously have marketable skills as proven by the fact 3 different companies wanted to hire you.
Employers understand that in today’s economy business needs change & companies are quick to reduce staff when business is slow. Regarding your 2nd position, I wouldn’t be too concerned with the employer giving negative feedback to your prospective employer. Former employers are smart to provide just the dates you were employed as well as the compensation you received. From a legal point of view, employers are hesitant to give negative feedback regarding a former employee in fear of a possible lawsuit.
Background checks & drug tests are quite common when anyone applies for a position. If there is anything else you need to disclose, now is the time to do it. Employers do not like surprises when performing these background checks. First of all, not being completely honest on your application is indeed grounds for termination if learned after you were hired. This needs to be rectified immediately.
Your instinct to come clean is exactly what you need to do. Do not try to explain why your 2nd job is missing from your original resume. Just clearly & succinctly explain you made a mistake on your resume & you want to provide them a correct copy. Employers are not concerned if your resume is one or two pages. They are concerned about it being truthful.
Life is all about experiences & whether you get the job or do not, you’ve learned a very valuable lesson. What’s important is that you have marketable skills that will help you land many other jobs throughout your career. Steven, I wish you all the best & please let me know if I can further assist you.
