If I can't say anything negative...

[Zookeeper44, RN]

on a resume or in an interview, how would I explain the following situation in the most positive way possible:

Graduated from nursing school about a year ago. First job was part-time/no benefits, employer knew I wanted full-time & hired me anyway. Left that job after a short time for a full-time position which paid well, good place to work overall, etc. After there about 6 months, I was recruited by another company which promised me the moon & stars, even better pay, much less travel, family-friendly schedule, good training, etc. After several weeks of being recruited by them I took the job (stupid, stupid, stupid!!!!). It turned out to be the worst disaster EVER and I have since resigned from there and I am currently unemployed. (It happened to be Amedisys who I should have known not to go to work for but that is for another thread I guess...)

So I have 3 months at one job, changed jobs for a much better position and was there about 6 months, but now have this 3rd job I either have to completely leave off my resume (I was only there a few weeks) or find myself having to explain what happened and I don't see ANY way to explain it even vaguely and not say negative things about them. It involved an extreme bully who sets out to utterly ruin nurses she decides she has a problem with which apparently has been the majority of nurses they have hired.

So I have a lot of good references but not a great-looking work history so far. Should I leave Amedisys off my resume and just forego the couple months' experience I gained there, so that I don't have to juggle trying to explain that place?? So far I have just been saying I quit job #2 for a better position which "fell through" and have not been to any interviews yet so I have not had to explain details of what "fell through" means.

WWYD??? Thanks for your input

[Feistn]

Is there any possibility of seeing if the places you left are hiring? They've already put money into training you, and you said you really enjoyed your last job. Sometimes they'd rather have someone who's already trained in. What about picking up shifts? I say you apply for everything, and if it comes up in the interview, you frame it as a learning process. As in, as a new graduate, you had no idea what you wanted, but now you've had several job experiences and have a more defined career path, you anticipate staying in your position for several years. I would also put "other experience" on your resume if say, you had that one job in college that you worked at for YEARS.

From my experience, that type of job hopping isn't that uncommon in health care. Folks work two part time jobs, or one full time job and pick up shifts elsewhere.

Honestly, if someone is going to not hire you because of your employment history, they're probably also not going to interview you.