is it necessary to list EVERY job I've ever had on my resumé?

Question

-k- loves, I'm sprucing up my resumé (getting ready to hand it into a potential employer) and I'm wondering if it's necessary to list every job I've ever worked in? I've had a few jobs that I hated and walked out on after a few weeks.

Do hirers usually go into your background and try to uncover stuff like that or am I just being paranoid? I think it looks bad if I put one or two jobs on my resumé where I only had them for a week or two?

Any thoughts?

Sorry that I asked this same question in two different subcategories, but I didn't think I'd get any answers so quick, but I was wrong!! Thanks for all the fabulous advice guys!! Love you all!!

Answer 1

I have left out some short-term ones that I didn't want to put on my resume. For those periods sometimes stretched the times by a month or so to fill up the gap, figuring that if anyone asked, I would say I forgot, as anyone could be off by a month, but nobody ever asked. Sometimes, if it was a long gap, I would just say job-hunting; and sometimes, for a gap of a month or two, I would just leave it blank. Then if anyone asked I could say jobhunting, or moving & househunting & getting settled or helping my mother with some family business or whatever seemed most appropriate. I, too, think it looks bad to have certain jobs on one's resume because it might give a misleading impression, and its sometimes best to avoid mentioning them. The odds are greatly against hirer ever uncovering things of that kind, and it's not likely they would care, anyway. When they do a background check, they are mainly far more interested in verifying that you really do have the jobs and experiences that you claim to. I have fudged a little on lots of resumes (but never anything really dishonest, if you don't count a little fib here & there) and never regretted it or had any problem. Good luck.

Answer 2

Any lengthy gaps between jobs should be explained, otherwise employers would question it. Most jobs otherwise just go by what you say a far as checking references. Background checks don't usually include work history. I left a job after 3 months without notice and I never put it on my resume because I was in school at the time and that explained the break in employment. Also jobs that I held that are not relevant to my career such as bartender and pizza girl are left off in the interest of keeping my resume short and sweet so it actually get read. Good Luck!

Answer 3

It's not necessary to list every job you've ever done. Just show the ones that seem most relevant to the job for which you're applying. They need to see that you have skills that are either directly applicable to the job, or skills that can be transferred.

I probably wouldn't show every tiny job that you had, especially if you parted on bad terms.

But don't be too quick to leave out jobs that you had a good experience with, especially if you're just starting your career out. Think about what skills and personal qualities it took for you to do a job that you don't think is really related to the job you're apply for. For example, if you are applying for a job at a department store that has a strong customer service component and you worked at a fast food store, show that, because at the fast food store you had to learn about your products to be able to explain them and you had to learn how to interact with your customer to keep them happy. Those are customer service skills that can be transferred to the other job!

On the other hand, if you leave out a job, you should be prepared to explain what you were doing during that period of time, even if it is to say that you had an unrelated job.

Employers do do a background check and they may call any of your previous employers, but they'll usually ask you to give them a list of the people whom they may call. So you can control that.

The purpose of the resume is to get you the interview! When you're in the interview, you can tell them about different job IF they ask about them!

Good luck!

Answer 4

You're being paranoid. Unless you are going for some high profile government job they probably won't go into your work history much. Provide some references that include former supervisors at jobs that pertain to the field you are interested in. Your references will most likely be called. Former employers are bound by law as to what information they can provide if contacted. Adapt your resume to what you are applying for.

Answer 5

No, you don't have to list every single job. Only the jobs you want them to know about. Cater your resume to fit what they are looking for but don't lie too much about it. Usually employers don't do a background check unless it's a security job or bank etc... Otherwise they only call the references you list. Good Luck!

Answer 6

No more than the last 5 years. I used to have to read those suckers. Sum your work experience in a short coversheet, than do the detail. Unless the cover letter is read, the job sheet is skimmed. Now if you call up a company that you have worked for all they can say is that you worked for them. Even if you were a lousy or exceptional they can not say that.
If you can get any references that works best.
-m

Answer 7

no! you want to shape your resume to fit into what types of jobs or fields you are applying in. you want to try to keep it to one page and be prepared either on the resume or when questioned to say why you left the jobs you listed.

personally if you only had a job for 2 weeks I wouldn't list it, but be prepared to explain why you have gaps in your employment history. whether it is you were looking for a new job going to school medical issues.

as far as employers going into your background it depends on what you are going for, something like walmart probably wouldn't look at as much as say a bank

Answer 8

if you had numerous jobs... i suggest you only list past jobs that are related to the position you are applying for. this is advisable bec long resume is a bore to read. it is also a fact that frequent changing of jobs will be a disadvantage for you but when a prospective employer is interested to hire you, he/she will often ask you to explain the reason behind the frequent changing of jobs. just make sure your resume is informative yet concise, avoid unnecessary details. yes employers check background particularly if the position is critical and involves confidential and money matters..

Answer 9

From what I've learned, they only go to the people you list as references. Normally, only list the one's you've had in the past 10 years, and only those relevant to the job you are applying to.

Answer 10

No it is not necessary to put all your jobs on your resume. However, you will need to explain any lapses of employement should the potential employer ask.