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Resume & Job History Questions

I have a question that always makes me wonder whenever I edit my resume.

I worked in customer service right out of college for 7 months, then quit to go to a temp-to-hire job as a receptionist. I lasted at temp-to-hire job for 3 months because they couldn't hire me on (company got bought out). Whenever I have put that on my resume I get the question "why would you leave that job to be a temp receptionist?" The real answer is the working environment was horrible and the pay was equally as bad. I usually answer "well, there were more opportunities at the new job so I wanted to pursue that."

2 questions - Is there a better answer for that? And should I even be including that job on there?

Re: Resume & Job History Questions

  • If the customer service job is not relevant to the jobs you're looking for, just leave it off.
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    Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
    Don't drink the water.
    Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
  • First, I think you should include the job on your resume.  Most of the time employers are going to be looking for gaps in employment.  If they see that you have a gap between the customer service job and now they are going to wonder why.

     Also, just be honest with them.  Let them know that you left the previous job because of the reasons you stated.  I don't think they would hold that against you.

  • imageanniebethvc:

    First, I think you should include the job on your resume.  Most of the time employers are going to be looking for gaps in employment.  If they see that you have a gap between the customer service job and now they are going to wonder why.

     Also, just be honest with them.  Let them know that you left the previous job because of the reasons you stated.  I don't think they would hold that against you.

    I disagree about including the customer service job especially if it isn't relevant to what you are currently looking for. Besides, you were right out of college, they will probably assume it took you time to find a job or you opted to backpack around Europe for a bit.

  • imageanniebethvc:

    First, I think you should include the job on your resume.  Most of the time employers are going to be looking for gaps in employment.  If they see that you have a gap between the customer service job and now they are going to wonder why.

     Also, just be honest with them.  Let them know that you left the previous job because of the reasons you stated.  I don't think they would hold that against you.

    Disagree as well. A gap of less than 1 year won't merit a huge side-eye. You can always address it in your CL.

    You have to be carefiul about saying the working environment was bad. They may think of you as a whiner. Better to be more vague.

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    Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
    Don't drink the water.
    Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
  • I thought the question was whether or not to include the temp job, not the customer service position? ...I could be wrong

     Anyway, I don't think you should straight out say that the job was crap but I do think you should try to be as honest as possible. 

  • imageanniebethvc:

    I thought the question was whether or not to include the temp job, not the customer service position? ...I could be wrong

     Anyway, I don't think you should straight out say that the job was crap but I do think you should try to be as honest as possible. 

    The way it was worded, she said she's asked why she left the customer service job to go to the temp job, so I thought the OP was asking about the customer service job. In either case, they were both short-term jobs not necessarily relevant to what she's looking for now, and she's not required to put every job she's had on a resume.

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    Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
    Don't drink the water.
    Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
  • Thanks everyone. Yeah the original question was if I should include the temp job but really it could go either way. Now with your input, I'm thinking keep the temp job there and drop the customer service job. The experience I gained there isn't hugely valuable anyway. And yeah, I don't think it's ever good to say that your working environment was bad because then it does look like I'm a whiner or can't get along with people.

    It's good to know I don't have to put every job on my resume!

  • This reply has been removed by a moderator
    because it violates the Nest's TOS

    PLEASE STOP SPAMMING THE BOARDS
  • This reply has been removed by a moderator
    because it violates the Nest's TOS

    PLEASE STOP SPAMMING THE BOARDS
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