Anonymous writes:
I was fired from my last position after only 4 months. I have 4 years of good experience prior to this. I do not want my last employer contacted for a reference. Do I have to include the job on my resume? And what about on an application? Can a prospective employer run a background check using your social security number or by other means that would turn up the omitted job?
The Career Doctor responds:
A resume is a marketing document, not a complete history of the applicant. You should on your resume include only items that will put you in the most favorable light for the position you are applying.
So, no, you do NOT need to put this job on your resume. I would not put it on my job application either, but that is a little trickier because some applications do ask for a complete work history. As for background checks, sure, employers can discover your full work history… but, again, a resume is not a full work history.
Remember, though, if you have this four-month gap on your resume, at least one interviewer is going to ask you why you have this gap and what have you been doing since your last job. Now, the situation becomes trickier. Of course, if you have been doing something else during this time, such as going to school, volunteering, consulting, etc., then you can simply talk about that. If you don’t, then you need to have an explanation about how the job was not the right fit (which is also why you did not put it on your resume).
Also, before you ditch this job, make sure you don’t have valuable experiences that would enhance your resume — even if your tenure at the job was so short.
Finally, being fired can be a traumatic experience, so you may not be thinking too clearly. Your ego may be bruised. It’s only natural - and those feelings will subside; the key for you is to not let those feeling cloud your judgment.
Hang in there! You’ll rebound and get a new job soon!
And if you are bothered by being fired, read this article: Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.
