Employment Gap on Resume and How to talk about it during Interview

Hi there! Let me take your questions one by one: 

1. Do I have to list the second job on my resume even though it was extremely short? (< 3 months)

No, you do not have to. If you think this role is not supporting your application, you can leave it out. Your CV should be tailored with the experience that best fits your candidacy - of course what you write should actually be true, but omitting something that you think is not relevant is OK. 

2. Will my employment gap be an issue if I am getting contacted by recruiters in consulting for screening? Can I not talk about my second job unless I have been specifically asked?

It does not have to be an issue, but it is very likely you will be asked about the gap. Make sure you have a strong answer for that (why the gap, what did you during this time, how did you continue to develop, etc.). The last thing you want to do is be surprised by the question and give back an ambiguous answer. So yes, you can choose to not talk about the second job if you can stay truthful within your answer and still provide a good story. 

3. Should I list all of my jobs in the employment history section on the background check hopefully when I get an offer later? Will it be a red flag if I didn't talk about my second job but it still shows up in the background check?

Background check is typically done by a separate entity rather than the employer. They usually share back to the company requesting the check a simple answer if everything checks out or whether there are any flags. 
So from similar cases I have heard on this (though no first hand experience here), having a different employment history and CV should not be an issue. 

Best, 

Ariadna 

1) Do I have to list the second job on my resume even though it was extremely short? (< 3 months)

No, you don't need to list that job. 

2) Will my employment gap be an issue if I am getting contacted by recruiters in consulting for screening? Can I not talk about my second job unless I have been specifically asked?

Not necessarily an issue. But make sure it is not really a gap, i.e., you were not employed, but you were doing something during that time (if it can have professional value, the better, but if not, also better to just assume you decided to take a sabbatical. What is a “killer” is the “no-no”. Nothing professional, nothing personal. That's when you have a problem.

So think ahead on how to “tell your story” both within your CV and Cover Letter

3) Should I list all of my jobs in the employment history section on the background check hopefully when I get an offer later? Will it be a red flag if I didn't talk about my second job but it still shows up in the background check?

Yes, you should, but it is fine. It's not the company doing the check, but a third party. Hiding stuff from the third party is not a great idea. But please be aware that real issues are when someone states having worked for a company or within a role when they didn't. I never heard of someone not getting a job because they understated their experience… If any issues, this one is fairly simple to explain, and I don't see why it wouldn't be accepted by the background check firm.

Hi there,

1) Do I have to list the second job on my resume even though it was extremely short? (< 3 months)

You don't need to list every work experience, so if you prefer to, you can omit it (in this case, I would not recommend adding it).

2) Will my employment gap be an issue if I am getting contacted by recruiters in consulting for screening? Can I not talk about my second job unless I have been specifically asked?

An employment gap generally makes a CV weaker, however, it doesn’t mean you cannot get an interview due to that. 

They will most likely ask about the gap during the interviews, so I would recommend preparing an answer for it.

If you don’t add the second job to your CV, they won't have a way to ask about it.

3) Should I list all of my jobs in the employment history section on the background check hopefully when I get an offer later? Will it be a red flag if I didn't talk about my second job but it still shows up in the background check?

For the background check, they will check if the information you have added is correct (job and title) and match your previous application material. If you decide to add the second job just in the background check documents, this should not create any problem, as long as the information provided corresponds to the truth.

Good luck!

Francesco

Hi there,

1. The basic formula is that you structure your CV such that it is the most compelling version it can be for the job you are applying for. Everything listed on there has to be true. But you can also leave out aspects that don't add much value. 
    
2. Gaps are not a bad thing. I think a life that only consisted of non-stop work would actually be a bad setup. Even if you hadn't been laid off but proactively decided to take some time off to pursue personal things, that would be a compelling story to tell if you frame it right. You should address this topic with confidence rather than anxiety
    
3. You might as well list them all. If someone asks about your short job, you can tell them what happened there. But I think you rather want to have HR raise the questions to you about context than have that background check provider approach HR first raising a bunch of “discrepancies” they found in the info you provided

Best of luck

It all comes down to how you communicate it.

In and of itself, the fact that you have a gap in your career is not a problem. 

You are also not obliged to list all your experiences in your CV. 

And if you get questions after a background check, you can be straightforward in explaining that you only worked there for 3 months and didn't consider it critical to show it. 

My strong recommendation is that you get an experienced eye to look at your Cv. You can find this here on the platform or if you have friends in consulting with lots of experience. In your situation, how you communicate your experience in the CV and CL is going to make a huge difference.

Best,

Cristian

Hi there,

Good that you consciously engage with the chance of being asked about CV gaps.
In my experience, candidates regularly place too much of an emphasis on it. It might depend a bit on geography (local culture), but I know stellar candidates who spent months traveling and enjoying life which is 100% legitimate. As long as your CV is otherwise very solid, it should not be a K.O. for screening.
In the interview, I would definitely make sure you have a plausible and compelling narrative for related questions.

Hope that helps!

Best,
Gero

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your negative experience with job transitions recently!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

• First of all, even if you don't have to, I would advise you to list the short-term job on your resume. Transparency is key, and it can also showcase your openness to adapt and change, which is highly valued in consulting.
• Moreover, when discussing your career gap in interviews, focus on what you learned during this period or how you've developed professionally, rather than the gap itself.
• Lastly, the background check is typically carried out on the basis of your application files, not on the basis of a separate document.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

This is a communication challenge. I suggest you get a coach to help you frame your CV and communication.

Happy to keep talking about this in private, just send me a message.

Best,

Alberto

—

Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs