Re: Employment history low points?

Subject: Re: Employment history low points?
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 10:00:56 -0800


art, Geoff wrote:


Saying why you left a previous job is always a delicate dance, particularly
if you left involuntarily. The trick is to tell the truth as much as
possible, but in a light that reflects well upon you. If you screwed up,
admit it

Why?

In the first place, the idea that you should explain on a resume why you left each position is outdated. Three decades ago, when people generally stayed at the same job longer, this practice was commonplace, but it's not any more - especially in high-tech. And, in some jurisdictions, I believe, it's illegal to ask.

True, I can see following this advice if the position establishes your experience in a certain area, or fills an otherwise large gap in your employment history. And Geoff certainly gives good advice on one way to handle the matter if it comes up.

However, if you have plenty of experience, you are not expected to list your complete job history. For the sake of brevity, if nothing else, you are expected to filter it. Some of the more common filters include how relevant the position is to your application, how impressive the company or your duties look on the resume, and how recent the job is. So, if you can afford to, why not filter out jobs that don't present you the best light? When you distribute a resume, you are by no means claiming that you are giving a complete job history.

--
Bruce Byfield bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com 604.421.7177
http://members.axion.net/~bbyfield

"But for just one time I would take a Northwest Passage
To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea,
Tracing one warm line through a land so wide and savage,
And make a Northwest Passage to the sea."
- Stan Rogers



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References:
Employment history low points?: From: Hart, Geoff

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