How do I show this in my CV

Question

I worked at a start-up from September 2021- september 2023. Left to take a role at this small digital transformation consultancy because the pay was good. Eventually, it started taking up digital transformation projects for crypto companies and those projects didn't seem ethical to me personally, and I mentioned it to my MD and was fired in a week's time (June 2024, was paid till july 2025) despite being a top performer.

It took me until Oct 2024 to find a decent role and then I joined a real esate company in november 2024.

I personally do not wanna show my second company. How do I tackle this? I was interviewing at a firm and they outright rejected me bc my work at the mentioned company seemed shady. Later on, I was able to express and got hired at a better firm

Answer 1

You should be transparent in your CV as it might work against you if you aren't. Mention the above, include that you worked for that company. However, make a note under that when working in that role you 'voiced your concerns about the ethicality of the firm' and was subsequently laid off. Mention that you were a top performer. No company/employer will look down on your for holding the moral high-ground, especially if you were performing in that firm.

Answer 2

Hello there,

If you prefer not to list/name your second company, you can structure your CV as follows:

Start-up (Sept 2021 – Sept 2023) – Highlight key achievements and skills gained.
Consulting Firm (Short tenure in 2024, optional to list/name) – If you choose to include it, keep the description neutral and focused on your contributions. If you believe the company’s name might be a disadvantage, you can list it anonymously as “Mid-sized digital consultancy” or something similar. I’d strongly recommend avoiding any negative framing (e.g., ethical concerns) on your CV—you can always share more context during interviews if needed.
What matters most is that you were a top performer and gained valuable experience, even if the role wasn’t the right long-term fit.
Alternatively, you can label the entire period from Sept 2023 to Nov 2024 as a career break, framing it as a career transition where you explored opportunities, upskilled, or worked on personal projects. This approach helps maintain a cleaner narrative while allowing you to address the experience transparently in interviews.
Real Estate Company (Nov 2024 – Present) – Showcase your impact in the role.

If asked about the gap, be honest but focus on what you learned—for example, refining your career priorities and seeking the right cultural fit. No need to dwell on the details. Every experience, even short ones, adds to your growth.

Happy to help fine-tune your CV wording! 🙂

Best wishes,

Johannes