Ask a Resume Writer: Can I Leave a Job Off My Resume?

You started a new job, and the company closed a month later. You changed careers a few years back, and your resume is getting long. You left a position because the work environment became toxic. You have a history of short-term contract roles and are now looking for a permanent gig.

These are just a few scenarios that have job seekers wondering, “Can I leave a job off my resume?” As you’re putting your resume together and trying to keep it within one or two pages, it can be hard to decide if omitting certain positions from your career timeline will help or hurt your chances of getting your next job.

Jenna Sylvester, Certified Resume Writer at iHire, shared their thoughts on this common question.

Is It Okay to Leave Jobs Off Your Resume?

“Yes! You can leave jobs off your resume. Your resume is a marketing document, not a personal history. You have the freedom to include what matters and leave off what doesn’t, but be strategic about it,” Sylvester said. “For example, will omitting a job leave a large gap in your career history? If so, consider including it to avoid raising red flags.”

It's better to show a consistent career history than to leave hiring managers wondering why you were out of the workforce. You don’t have to include significant detail for every job or your reason for leaving – save that for the interview if it’s brought up.

“A lot of job seekers ask, ‘Should I leave a job off my resume if I quit?’ and the answer is it depends. If you quit after a month, the job probably doesn’t deserve space on your resume, but be ready to talk about it if the job shows up on your background check. This applies to any position you leave off your resume,” Sylvester added.

What Jobs Should I Not Put on My Resume?

“When deciding what to include on your resume, be it a job, skill, degree, or other detail, the key is to ask yourself whether or not it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for,” explained Sylvester.

Consider omitting jobs you held more than 10 years ago, irrelevant positions, and short-term roles if they won’t help you make your next career move. If you’ve held several jobs simultaneously, like part-time or contract roles, you can pick and choose which ones to include on your resume based on their relevance.

“Before taking a job off your resume that seems irrelevant to your current goals, ask yourself whether any skills or accomplishments from that position are transferable,” Sylvester continued. “Additionally, if there’s an achievement from that role that you’re particularly proud of and represents you well as a worker, consider keeping it on your document.”

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Now that you know when you should leave a job off your resume, you may be wondering how long you should work at a job before putting it on your resume.

“It’s definitely a good idea to keep your resume continually updated,” advised Sylvester. “After a month or two, when you have a clear understanding of your new role and responsibilities, put it on your resume and leave space for adding key achievements, projects, and contributions in the future.”

Get even more advice from our resume writers in our Resource Center, use our Resume Builder to create an interview-winning document in minutes, or explore our resume and cover letter writing services to learn how we can help you apply to your next job with confidence.