Listing Multiple Jobs on Your Resume? Avoid these Mistakes.

This is very good and helpful advice. I am guilty of doing just that.

It’s important to make sure that all your achievements don’t sound the same, even if they are all essentially the same. When you vary your words and sentences, your resume becomes an interesting read. If you have years of experience and need to include a lot of information on your resume, then it becomes even more important to engage the hiring manager with your words.

@Katharine thanks for your comment. Leaving gaps is going to make them wonder what you are hiding. You can use one line to cover - such as Resume Writer, XYZ Company, 1/2015-3/2016 and then move on. Try to only include the past 10 years on your resume. I usually use a catch-all such as Additional job information available upon request for anything that is older than 10 years or is not applicable. Personally, I would still include your current position and tasks/accomplishments, even if it's not applicable. That's just me. Current wisdom says that you should only include pertinent information but I feel that it's important that they know where my head has been for x years.

If your most relevant experience to a particular job isn't necessary your most recent, and you can't fit everything, is it OK to leave gaps? I struggle with this question a lot because I really try to tailor my resume to each job I apply for. I don't want gaps to give the impression that I was out of work, but I don't want to waste the real estate on less relevant work experience.

I was unaware of the role that computer software now plays in the application process. It's already challenging to draw up a resume that will pass muster with human hiring managers, but knowing that I have to keep an unknown set algorithms in mind as well is a little overwhelming. The increasing role software plays in the application process also strikes me as another good reason to save one's endearing quirks for the interview.

I agree with Mike. I think adding too many quirky things to your resume can potentially hurt your chances for getting a job because it doesn't seem very professional or like you are taking the application process seriously. Furthermore, these words or sayings may also hurt your chances when your resume is run through screening software.

@Jay thanks for your question. One way that you could do this is to include maybe a line entry such as ABC Company, Copywriter, SEO Analyst Oct 2012 - Oct 2014. That still keeps those gaps from causing issues but doesn't add extraneous tasks and positions that are not applicable to the position for which you are applying. Anyone else have suggestions for Jay?

William, I wouldn't risk putting quirky stuff on a resume simply because you don't know the kind of person who's going to be looking over your paperwork. As the article recommends, I'd save the quirky stuff for an in-person interview where the hiring manger can get a feel of who you are as a person. At least there if you feel like you're in the room with a stiff, you can tone down your quirkiness to a more acceptable level.

If I choose to omit certain jobs because they're not relevant to the job I'm applying for, or because I didn't spend much time with the previous employer, how can I best explain employment gaps in my interview? Do gaps in employment make a bad impression to recruiters? Is there a best practice for situations like these?

@Jacob I am in that same boat. I worked one full-time and one part-time job at the same time. I simply include each one along with the dates - even if the dates are the same. Sure it would be great if I didn't have overlapping dates and jobs but it's the reality today. Now, having said that, if one of those overlapping positions has nothing to do with the position for which I am applying, I will not include it at all. Is it wrong not to include everything? Maybe. But if I am applying for a technical writing position, why does the hiring manager care about my retail experience?

I'm not sure I'm on board with having no dates that overlap. If you legitimately worked a position or two that occurred at the same time, how do you convey that? Especially with the proliferation of smaller companies and online based positions, it seems like chronological overlap is exceptionally likely.

I find it a bit funny for me to include descriptions of professional experience in a rather informal language. While I concur that if the quirky language should come, if necessary, during the one on one interview, I am not very sure about the specifics of such a language. Is there a limit to how informal the quirky part can be in case I decide to include a bit of it in my resume.

I can appreciate the idea of only listing the relevant experience on your resume to save space. However, you have to be careful with this as many companies use applicant tracking software. When the ATS finds employment gaps, it may cause a red flag, which might land your resume at the bottom of the pile. Ensure that you have included the necessary information to pass through the ATS without sacrificing the quality of your resume. This may take a bit of effort, but will be worth it in the end.

I agree about avoiding quirky comments on the resume. In the example you gave, the quirky comment shows a potentially fun personality, but it lacks the specifics of the professional example. As the resume is a place for "just the facts," I agree it should be written in an exclusively professional manner.

I think you have to add the quirky stuff in somewhere. Job titles such as "ninja" or "guru" don't necessarily detract from your resume, so long as you explain exactly what those positions entailed. The applicant tracking system may not like a quirky job title, but you can list a synonym easily enough to get the keyword in your document.

@Shannon in the past companies didn't care if you did a 2 or more page resume because you typed it, printed it and mailed it - they didn't have to do anything but read it. Today things are different. With the advent of ATS, resumes are getting shorter which is why they now recommend that you only list the company once and then list your achievements after that. Keeping it short, sweet, to the point and covering only about the past 10 years - especially if you are working in technology. Hopefully the employer will question it as that could give you an opening to interview.

When you have multiple positions at one company, I've always thought that listing these individually on your resume shows that you have the skills to climb the ladder/promote. I understand why it is necessary to list only relevant positions, too, but doesn't this lead the employer to question gaps in your employment?