Explaining Short Employment Stints On A Resume

Any good hiring manager is going to raise their eyebrows a little bit when they see short employment stints on a job applicant's resume.  They have reason to be skeptical, but there are often good explanations behind this.  It's all a matter of explaining it properly.

You have probably worked somewhere that you left for a simple reason: You hated it.  It may be the truth, but this is one of those times where the truth is going to hurt you.  If you take a much deeper look, you will discover more professional reasons to explain why you left a company.  Instead of ragging on your former employer, use these positive answers and techniques to ease a hiring manager's fears:

• "The job wasn't suited to my needs professionally."
• "I was offered a much better opportunity."
• "X organization was a fantastic place to work, and I enjoyed the short period I was there.  Unfortunately, the direction of the organization changed not long after I got there, and I just felt it was time to move on."
• Here's another good tip: Bring up the issue before the interviewer does, but remember to not be defensive.
• You can also bring this up before the interview by including a detailed explanation in your cover letter.

Job seekers are judged, fairly or unfairly, on the words that come out of their mouths.  Don't ruin a potentially good opportunity by coming off as negative or petty.