Is it ok to leave a job off your CV?

LateMumma · 25/05/2023 15:28

I would as long as it doesn't leave any inexplicable gaps in your work history

MindatWork · 25/05/2023 15:32

When you say 'not long at all' are you talking weeks, months? I think it depends on how much of a gap it's left on your CV and what you would say if asked?

Original poster

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 15:33

Well, it was 11 weeks to be exact. So not sure if that’s too long to consider leaving it off. I just feel it looks really bad now with it on.

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Original poster

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 15:33

MindatWork · 25/05/2023 15:32

When you say 'not long at all' are you talking weeks, months? I think it depends on how much of a gap it's left on your CV and what you would say if asked?

Well, it was 11 weeks to be exact. So not sure if that’s too long to consider leaving it off. I just feel it looks really bad now with it on.

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KnickerlessParsons · 25/05/2023 15:34

Wont the new employer know when you hand them your P45? (though maybe they won't be that observant)

MindatWork · 25/05/2023 15:36

Would you be able to articulate why you left in an interview situation? Is it a company that's well known?

Assuming you don't need a reference from that job, you could leave it off and say you took a short career break?

The other alternative is to leave it on but have an answer ready as to why you left (eg it looked like a great opportunity but job wasn't as described / difficult working environment etc). It's a tough one and also depends on how small your industry is - would any future recruiter know the company?

(NB - am not a recruiter but husband has moved jobs a lot and was at one place 4 months before he got a better offer).

Original poster

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 15:40

KnickerlessParsons · 25/05/2023 15:34

Wont the new employer know when you hand them your P45? (though maybe they won't be that observant)

I don’t mean leave this job off, I mean my last one. Just for in the future when I’m job hunting x

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Original poster

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 15:41

MindatWork · 25/05/2023 15:36

Would you be able to articulate why you left in an interview situation? Is it a company that's well known?

Assuming you don't need a reference from that job, you could leave it off and say you took a short career break?

The other alternative is to leave it on but have an answer ready as to why you left (eg it looked like a great opportunity but job wasn't as described / difficult working environment etc). It's a tough one and also depends on how small your industry is - would any future recruiter know the company?

(NB - am not a recruiter but husband has moved jobs a lot and was at one place 4 months before he got a better offer).

Sorry, I don’t know what you mean by in an interview situation? The company isn’t massive no… obviously I’ve managed to get a job since then with leaving the job on my CV. But this isn’t my forever job

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Original poster

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 15:44

KnickerlessParsons · 25/05/2023 15:34

Wont the new employer know when you hand them your P45? (though maybe they won't be that observant)

I’ve since started a new job, which I plan to add to my CV so the p45 wouldn’t be an issue as this job would be down on my CV. It was just my last one I wasn’t at for long

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MindatWork · 25/05/2023 15:50

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 15:41

Sorry, I don’t know what you mean by in an interview situation? The company isn’t massive no… obviously I’ve managed to get a job since then with leaving the job on my CV. But this isn’t my forever job

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Sorry I wasn't very clear - I mean, if you left the 11-week job on your CV and then got an interview for a new job, would you feel comfortable explaining why you left after such a short time if the interviewer asked you? I realise you said in your OP you don't think you could, but if there were genuine reasons that you can set out without sounding like you're slagging your old employer off it might be ok?

Did you get asked about it when interviewing for your current job?

I think you'll be fine either way - you said you were in a v long term job before, so you obviously are a good employee, you've just not found the right fit yet.

FirstFallopians · 25/05/2023 15:52

I do this- I took a job which was a terrible fit in haste, and moved on quickly.

I was only there about 10 weeks.

I leave it out and if anyone asks just say the gap was for caring responsibilities- no one has ever enquired further.

Original poster

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 15:53

MindatWork · 25/05/2023 15:50

Sorry I wasn't very clear - I mean, if you left the 11-week job on your CV and then got an interview for a new job, would you feel comfortable explaining why you left after such a short time if the interviewer asked you? I realise you said in your OP you don't think you could, but if there were genuine reasons that you can set out without sounding like you're slagging your old employer off it might be ok?

Did you get asked about it when interviewing for your current job?

I think you'll be fine either way - you said you were in a v long term job before, so you obviously are a good employee, you've just not found the right fit yet.

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Sorry, after I re read it I realised it was me not reading it properly and understood what you meant.
I had a good few interviews at the time of job hunting, offered them all and not one person asked me why I was leaving or why I was leaving so soon. I had prepared for it if they had asked though.
I think I will just leave it off going forward, everything else looks ok I just feel like that short job on my cv lets me down.

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LysHastighed · 25/05/2023 15:53

It’s fine on a CV. Not ok on an application form that explicitly asks for every job to be listed.

KnickerlessParsons · 25/05/2023 15:54

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 15:44

I’ve since started a new job, which I plan to add to my CV so the p45 wouldn’t be an issue as this job would be down on my CV. It was just my last one I wasn’t at for long

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In that case, I'd leave it off then, and have a story prepared in case it comes up in a future interview - took time off to care for elderly parent/go traveling/train new dog etc.

DitherDother · 25/05/2023 15:57

You need to explain the gap. If it's your only short term post it won't go against you, put something about the job not being what you expected as a reason for leaving. I'd rather do that than have to lie about what I was doing during that time.

maddiemookins16mum · 25/05/2023 15:58

I had this issue, I put it on my CV as temp role/position.

OCarumba · 25/05/2023 16:00

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 14:55

I recently left my very long term job for another one where I stayed at for just under a year. From there I went to a job which was so toxic I didn’t stay for long, at all. It totally knocked me as I don’t move from job to job. I have since started a new job. Happy to stick at this job but until something back in the area I want to be in comes up, and I knew that in my head when I accepted the role. Is it ok to leave my previous short term job off my CV? I have the fear that it may hold me back from recruiters, and obviously I can’t sit and mention all the bad points about why I left the role if I left it on my CV.

I wouldn’t sweat it - if anyone asks just say you took a short time off for whatever reason is most expedient. An interview is to understand if you’d be a good fit, not a court trial. Good luck!

BluebellBlueballs · 25/05/2023 16:05

Yes it's ok to leave it off your CV but if you have to fill in an application form at any point either pre or post offer I wouldn't leave it off then.
I had a short lived job once, I think most of us have, I left it off my CV (it was only a month) but when I had to be vetted for employment history I put it on and it was never raised as an issue!

powerrangers · 25/05/2023 16:07

11weeks? I doubt anyone would care. It's not unusual to have a break and it's not very long

Original poster

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 16:17

powerrangers · 25/05/2023 16:07

11weeks? I doubt anyone would care. It's not unusual to have a break and it's not very long

Yeah, I get you. I think I’m overthinking it because going forward I know I want to keep my options open and I’m just worried it will hold me back. I’m the type of person now who doesn’t really actively look for a new job, but if I see something I really fancy, I’ll go for it

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Whenitrainslookforme · 25/05/2023 17:06

I have had 2 short jobs in a long history of long fern jobs between 12 and 2 years. The 2 short term jobs were 7 months and 11 months. Both were jobs I were in I knew weren't the right fit and they were one after another. Nobody has queried. I think in this day and age particularly post pandemic (?) people move around a lot move. I personally wouldn't worry.

familyissues12345 · 25/05/2023 17:10

I left off a short (less than 10 weeks) job that I had which was between me going back to work from being a SAHM and Covid hitting, so there's no reason anyone would question it. There's nothing to hide, I only left as the work dwindled due to Covid, I just feel a bit daft asking them for a reference.

Niceseasidetown · 25/05/2023 17:13

I've been told to leave off anything under 6 months as any experience gained would be minor. That's by my sister in law who is a global HR Director.

If challenged I'd use this argument. Unless you were fired or hiding something major it's really not relevant what you did for 55 days.

Original poster

Crazydaisy21 · 25/05/2023 18:31

That’s great thank you! Feels better knowing it’s coming from someone high up in HR haha. Not sacked.. just very toxic!!

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hugefanofcheese · 25/05/2023 18:41

I think it's ok to leave off your CV unless you learnt anything really applicable there to your future application.