Applying for a new-new job

April 23, 2012 8:07 PM

What do I write on my resume when I'm looking for a new job after being at my current employer a short period of time (a month)?

I'm considering, for various reasons, applying for a new job despite having recently switched places of employment. I've been at my current job for a little over a month. Do I list this current place on my resume? Pretend I'm unemployed? Pretend I'm still employed at the employer beforehand?

(By 'pretend', I mean 'have my resume indicate' -- I'm happy to discuss the absolute full truth in person (and have no intention of doing otherwise) just not sure what to write down. What's the etiquette here?)

posted by anonymous to work & money (8 answers total)

I would include the current job on my resume. And I would be very careful not to criticize your current employer in an interview. There are lots of true things you can say: "It turned out not to be a good fit for me;" " I found I want a different challenge... The culture of the company did not allow me to ______ (fill in the blank)
posted by Altomentis at 8:15 PM on April 23, 2012

As a manager who frequently reviews resumes and does a fair amount of hiring, I would say honesty is the best policy.

If I receive a resume that says one thing, but the candidate tells me something else, I consider them to be at best scatterbrained (resume not updated) or at worst dishonest.

I would just put:
Place I'm at, 2012 - Present
Words about your job there

In an interview, when it comes up that you're looking to leave so soon (and it will), be forthcoming but not blamey. Something like, "Although I've enjoyed my time at Place, I'm not doing the job I was hired to do" or whatever.
posted by dotgirl at 8:17 PM on April 23, 2012 [6 favorites]

You can also explain that you've long been a fan of __, and you couldn't pass up a chance to apply. This won't work if it's a commonly available job, but at a small place that hasn't had openings lately, it'd ring true, particularly if you HAVE been a fan.
posted by salvia at 8:31 PM on April 23, 2012 [2 favorites]

I went through this last year: I had been at a place for a little while and then left the job. I completely omitted that job from my resume and my LinkedIn. No one really questioned it, and I don't think it hurt me at all. In fact, I think in a few of my interviews I had been very honest and told them that I had been previously employed but it didn't work out (I believe it was the "it wasn't a good fit" line), and that was the beginning and end of it.
posted by gchucky at 8:57 PM on April 23, 2012

Think of it from the perspective of your prospective future employer. They're going to wonder what you're looking for in your next job, how long you've been with your current employer, and why you're leaving now.

I think it's reasonable for an employer to ask these things. It helps them figure out if you;d be a good fit for the role. I don't think you should ever flat-out lie on a job application. If this was a three week mistake that happened a year ago, I'd say to leave it off your resume entirely. But since it's your current job, anyone who interviews you is going to ask about it, and you should be honest.

You'll need to convince your next employer that you're not going to pack up and run after a few weeks on the job. Part of that might require that you convince yourself first. What is it you want that you're not getting at your current position? Money? Challenging work? Opportunities for advancement? Are the positions you're applying for likely to make you satisfied where the last job didn't?
posted by deathpanels at 9:34 PM on April 23, 2012

I don't think employers care about gaps of a month or two. If it's closer to a half a year they'd probably ask you about it, especially if you're in a high-employability profession like technology.

So I'd skip the job. If someone at an interview asks, you could be truthful and say that you took a job but it very quickly became obvious that it wasn't the right fit for you. Which is probably true, no matter why you're leaving.
posted by haykinson at 12:13 AM on April 24, 2012

Put your current job on your resume. When you write your cover letter, say "As you'll see from my resume, I have just recently taken a position working at X, but this is such a great opportunity for me, that I've decided to apply anyway." If you leave your current job within 3 months, take it off of your resume going forward.
posted by pazazygeek at 6:14 AM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

Agree with the comments about the "dream job". I actually was at a job for only a little over a month when an opportunity came up that I couldn't pass up. They knew my exact situation during the interview process (which means they understood my schedule wasn't wide open). I didn't dislike my old job, the new one was just much more what I had been looking for. If anything it can show how much you really want that job that you are willing to change after thinking you were settled because it was so "perfect" an opportunity.
posted by UMDirector at 1:09 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]