Is it worth putting a 1 month job on my CV?

hadettuvy

A while back I walked out of a 12 month temporary administrative position in the first several weeks and I'm not sure whether or not to put it on my CV. Without it they'd be a gap, but I'd struggle to explain my departure to a new employer. The job itself was very strange, there wasn't any meaningful work or training, I was more or less abandoned in an empty office to guess what to do, couldn't take it seriously left. My previous job before that lasted 2 years. What would be the best course of action?

JayRitchie

What were you doing before and after the job? How big a gap in employment is there?

TELLIT01

Put it in. Where there is a section for reason for leaving put something like "Lack of training or direction from those who were tasked with doing so"

BrassicWoman

put it in and call it a temp job

jonnygee2

Put it in. Where there is a section for reason for leaving put something like "Lack of training or direction from those who were tasked with doing so"

I don't think writing snipes at your old managers/companies into your CV is a very good idea! If I saw that on a CV I think I'd laugh a bit at the naivety and then put it straight in the 'no' pile.

I wouldn't put it in at all myself. I doubt they will notice a one month gap, and there's nothing that says you have to put every employer into your CV. If they do ask, just say you started a job but it wasn't the right fit for you, so you moved onto something else.

hadettuvy

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BrassicWoman wrote: »

put it in and call it a temp job

Tempting, but I want to be as honest as possible really.

JayRitchie wrote: »

What were you doing before and after the job? How big a gap in employment is there?

Had some time off for personal reasons. At present I'm out of work. It would leave a 3-4 month gap which would be more difficult to explain than not declaring the position.

jonnygee2 wrote: »

I don't think writing snipes at your old managers/companies into your CV is a very good idea! If I saw that on a CV I think I'd laugh a bit at the naivety and then put it straight in the 'no' pile.

Absolutely agree, badmouthing people gets you nowhere and I have little good to say about the company. Above all else it was my fault completely for taking on the job even though I couldn't stick with it.

BrassicWoman

but it WAS a temp job!

[Deleted User]

Currently something I'm challenged with so thanks for the thread.
I wondered whether I should be a bum from early November or do you get into a right old song and dance of I made a mistake 2nd week into my new job which saw me out at week 6 which is effectively what happened as if I didn't leave them they would only be looking for the next occasion by the way it was handled and sadly I received a medical diagnosis days later so it looks doubly awful - I've no idea if I'm even entitled to a reference of dates only and I'm only being cautious now of not putting them simply because a lot of employers are now asking can we get reference as if that is all they care about it.

I have to say from an Employer and Recruitment Consultant I have spoken to in the past week, neither read my CV as both approached a conversation as if I were still in work which is very distracting in itself.

At the moment it seems Employers are ok with Nov, didn't want it to be this way, might have got a bit bumpy when my now ex, ex employer at the start of this week posted ironically my old job as they now have someone who has gone sick so potentially may cause a problem or not, because as I say I've yet to speak to an Employer who gets that I'm out of work. (Despite showing clearly dates to and from).

hadettuvy

BrassicWoman wrote: »

but it WAS a temp job!

Well you're certainly right it was. Also the company did lose some business from their customer during my period there, at least for the contract I was working on. I could easily just say they let me go for all intensive purposes.

Deleted%20User wrote: »

Currently something I'm challenged with so thanks for the thread.
I wondered whether I should be a bum from early November or do you get into a right old song and dance of I made a mistake 2nd week into my new job which saw me out at week 6 which is effectively what happened as if I didn't leave them they would only be looking for the next occasion by the way it was handled and sadly I received a medical diagnosis days later so it looks doubly awful - I've no idea if I'm even entitled to a reference of dates only and I'm only being cautious now of not putting them simply because a lot of employers are now asking can we get reference as if that is all they care about it.

In my experience, previous employers will only offer dates of employment. I've been sacked once (something I don't agree with, but a long time ago now) and that never seemed to bother my following employer. I guess from what the wiser here are saying, spin what you've got rather than leave a large gap.

yksi

(Ex-recruiter here)

Generally speaking I would advise not to include any job that lasted less than three months. It makes people question why you're a "job hopper" (whether you did or didn't quit makes no difference). You don't want employers to have any concerns with what they see. A short gap won't concern people.

The problem is that without it you have a 4 month gap, so in your case I would include it with (temp) written after it. I realise you were not employed on a temporary basis, but it is correct that it was a temporary position. Employers do not generally gather extensive references from previous empoyers at all unless you specify that they are your employment reference or it's an unusual situation such as needing high security clearance.

I am currently applying for work and do not have my current employer listed, so my CV seems to show me as unemployed since November. It doesn't seem to be deterring employers as I'm progressing in application status and getting interviews. Less than three months seems to be a "comfortable" gap for most employers.

hadettuvy

yksi wrote: »

(Ex-recruiter here)

Generally speaking I would advise not to include any job that lasted less than three months. It makes people question why you're a "job hopper" (whether you did or didn't quit makes no difference). You don't want employers to have any concerns with what they see. A short gap won't concern people.

The problem is that without it you have a 4 month gap, so in your case I would include it with (temp) written after it. I realise you were not employed on a temporary basis, but it is correct that it was a temporary position. Employers do not generally gather extensive references from previous empoyers at all unless you specify that they are your employment reference or it's an unusual situation such as needing high security clearance.

I am currently applying for work and do not have my current employer listed, so my CV seems to show me as unemployed since November. It doesn't seem to be deterring employers as I'm progressing in application status and getting interviews. Less than three months seems to be a "comfortable" gap for most employers.

Thank you. I really appreciate your advice and insight.