do I have to list maternity/medical leave on resume?

FLmomof5 · Feb 23, 2012

A resume is a highlight of your job accomplishments. NO you do not list medical leave.

netglow, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

First of all, a resume is not a legal document. There is nothing that legally has to be on a resume or left off a resume. Never put very personal information on a resume. A resume reflects your education and your work history. If you have gaps, you can explain, if asked, during a interview.

NEVER "chat" on a resume. NEVER put personal or medical information on a resume. NEVER begin a conversation about your health during an interview. Your employer should not ask, but if you start talking about stuff like that, you do at your own peril.

Altra, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

If you were on medical "leave" ... then you were still employed. Your employment dates for xyz organization include the leave time, so there is no gap.

AnonRNC · Feb 23, 2012

First of all, a resume isn't a legal document; you can put whatever you want on there. However, in the interest of not shooting yourself in the foot, it should be a positive, but fairly accurate representation of your work history.

Secondly, I've never heard of listing a medical (or other) leave on a resume.

Thirdly, did you return to the same employer after your leave? If so you have no problem. Just list your dates of employment and ignore the leave. If you did not return that employer (i.e. your baby is 3 months old), then it's a little different. If that's the case, I would list the actuall month and year you terminated employment - even if that was in the middle of your leave. If you last worked 6 months ago and are looking for work now, that's probably not a big deal. If asked in the interview "Why are you looking for work now, not 3 months ago or 6 months ago?" You can lie and say you have been looking for work all this time (and they'll wonder why you haven't been hired). Or you can say, "I took some time off to care for personal matters and I'm now looking forward to resuming my career track, which is what lead to apply with you here at LMNOP hospital. You have such a great...."

Remember too, the older the work history, the more room you have to fudge dates. For example, if I left ABC hospital in September, 2008 and didn't get a job at XYZ hospital until June, 2009, I would want to smooth over that gap in employment, and would put on my resume: ABC Hospital 2005-2008, and XYZ hospital 2009-present.

Good luck and congratuations on carrying your baby to (or close to) full term! (said the NICU nurse.)

littlegreenfrog · Feb 23, 2012

thanks, ladies! Yes - carried baby to 39 weeks and he is now a fat, healthy 8 month old :) And yes, I returned to the same job.

RNmage · Feb 23, 2012

If you returned to the same job then you did not quit.so no your resume, you just put form march 2009 to date without leaving space for maternity leave.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Feb 24, 2012

I took time off from working to raise my kids. When I went back to the job force, a few employers asked me to explain the lapses in my employment. I simply said I was home raising my kids.....end of story.....and it was a lot longer than 6 months.