Leaving job off resume

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Specializes in L&D.

I worked full time L&D for over 3 years then took 2 years off to stay home with my son. When I was ready to go back I was hired by a new hospital (we had relocated) PRN but only stayed there 3 months. It wasn't a good fit but the main problem was nights. While there I was hired by a nursing school to teach a maternity clinical so have been doing that since Jan.

I worry the 3 month PRN job looks bad on an application.

I'm applying for new PRN jobs (only days!) and on the latest application I just left it off.

The employment gap is covered by staying home with my baby and my teaching job.

But I don't want to seem deceptive!

My plan is if I get an interview explain that I had a 3 month PRN job at X hospital but had to resign because nights wasn't working for my family.

And because it was so short I decided to leave it off my résumé.

Does that sound like a good plan?

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

It is not deceptive to leave it off your resume. Your resume is not a rap sheet. It's an advertisement and you are the product.

I'm wondering what your reason is for telling about it during an interview. If you want them to know, tell them. If you don't, then don't.

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Specializes in L&D.

I guess I'm concerned that it would show up when they ran a background check and then it would look like I'm hiding something.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
It is not deceptive to leave it off your resume. Your resume is not a rap sheet. It's an advertisement and you are the product.

I'm wondering what your reason is for telling about it during an interview. If you want them to know, tell them. If you don't, then don't.

I agree, and it isn't likely to be discovered in a background check, where they focus more on criminal history and check references. Good luck!

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Um, background checks are more for looking to see if you've committed a crime, etc. And NO, the BON does not keep track of your work history either.

I guess I'm concerned that it would show up when they ran a background check and then it would look like I'm hiding something.
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Specializes in L&D.

Ok good. I've heard mixed messages on this board about leaving things off of resumes and how the potential employer could find out and disqualify you for dishonesty.

I guess I'm just compulsively honest so I'm nervous about it, but I do think that 3 month job is doing more harm than good on my résumé.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I feel a bit differently than the previous posters. I think you should list the job on your resume -- and if given a reasonable opportunity, you should mention it in your interview. Don't make a big deal of it or make a big, guilty-sounding confession that will raise suspicions. Don't even mention it unless a nice opportunity arises. But include it in future resumes and prepare a very brief explanation for holding a very brief job while you were in that period of life transition that had a schedule that just didn't work out for your family.

As someone who has been involved in hiring, I consider anything deception on a resume to be a big strike against an applicant.

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Specializes in Med-Surg; Infectious Diseases; Research.

It's not deceptive. Ninety days or less doesn't have to be reported on a resume in any field. The 90 day probation thing is for both parties. It didn't work for you, so you left. I wouldn't worry about it.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Put it on your resume. Everyone knows that PRN jobs serve as stop-gap, interim job solutions when we're between full-time gigs. It's not unusual at all. Potential employers would be interested to know that you took action to keep your skills fresh. PRN jobs are not expected to last forever, so no one would even raise an eyebrow about a 3 month stint.

As far as the background check goes... if you had the usual deductions on your PRN payroll checks, this means that the job is connected to your SSN. ... and checking SSN activity is always part of the Federally mandated background check for healthcare providers in the US. Therefore, that job will show up when the HR folks compare your background info to your application data.

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I have multiple short term jobs on my resume and have no problem getting hired. As long as you have a valid reason for leaving after a short period, and you do, you may as well go ahead and put it on there. It doesn't hurt anything. That way there's no reason to feel guilty about leaving it off.

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Specializes in ob.

I left a 4month job off of my resume. I was constantly getting cancelled and did not want to pay for elder care for my dad when ended up not working. They were angry that I quit, so I just did not want to deal with them being called and giving it a negative spin. I am not barred from rehire per their HR. Was this a bad idea?

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