Kevin writes:
In your article about getting fired, you advise to not include a job that resulted in a firing if it did not last more than three months. I recently got fired from a job after only two months of employment, appealed the decision, and then lost the appeal. This was my first “real” full-time position after college, and I have decided not to include it on my resume.
As I search for a new job, can employers somehow do research and discover that I omitted this job? Also, how did you arrive at the three-month figure?
The Career Doctor responds:
Job-hunting — for job-seekers — is about showcasing all the positives about what you can offer prospective employers. Even if you have had some bumps in the road — and who has not — your goal as a job-seeker is to downplay them as much as possible so that the employer sees you as the ideal candidate to fill a position.
Please let me emphasize that I say downplay and not lie or hide the truth. I never support any efforts by job-seekers to lie on resumes, cover letters, or job applications.
First, let me ease your mind a bit. Many, many college grads have bad first-job-after-college experiences, so please do not be too hard on yourself. Only a small handful are lucky enough to find a job in their ideal career with their perfect employer.
Can a prospective employer find out about your short first job? If you are looking for a job in the same industry or same small geographic area, it is slightly more likely that at some point — not necessarily as you are searching for a job — that it could be found out. And again, as long as you never lied about it — such as on a job application where some ask if you have ever been fired from a job — you have nothing to worry about. And many employers don’t give out negative information about former employees for fear of legal action.
Why the three-month number? Because a three-month (or less) gap in employment history is not likely to raise too many eyebrows, especially in the current job market. A longer gap, however, begs the question of what you have been doing all that time. You again have an advantage over other job-seekers because many college grads take a few months after college to catch their breath and recharge their batteries before heading to work.
Here’s the article Kevin is talking about: Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.
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