6 months unemployed. Should I delete my last job from my resume?
I’ve been debating whether or not to do this. I’m 26 years old and graduated from college in 2024. After graduating, I landed a job as an IT Support Engineer. Unfortunately, due to a toxic work environment, I decided to leave after 8 months.
After that, I took a 2-month vacation. When I came back, I started applying again but it’s been 6 months now and I still haven’t gotten a job. I’ve had a few interviews, but no offers so far.
Here’s my dilemma: on my resume, I listed that IT Support Engineer job as 1 year of experience, even though I actually worked there for 8 months. I’ve been wondering if I should remove it entirely. Would recruiters or hiring managers prefer to see someone with no experience or someone who’s just graduated, rather than someone with a short job tenure?
I got that IT Support Engineer role before with only 1 year of IT experience, but now that I’ve included it, I haven’t received any offers. What do you think? should I remove it, or is the job market just bad right now?
Jobadvisor
There's a lot to unpack here, and it's a common dilemma for job seekers. Let's break down the different aspects of your situation and the potential consequences of each choice.
Should you remove your last job from your resume?
No, you should not remove it. The consensus among career experts is that removing a job from your resume, especially a recent one, is generally a bad idea. Here's why:
It creates a significant gap: Removing the 8-month IT Support Engineer role would leave a large employment gap from your 2024 graduation until now. A gap of over a year can be a red flag for recruiters. They might wonder what you were doing, if you were fired, or if you're not serious about your career. A short job stint is often easier to explain than a long, unexplained gap.
Dishonesty can backfire: The biggest risk is the potential for being caught in a lie. Companies often perform background checks that can verify your employment history, including start and end dates. If a company finds out you intentionally omitted a job, it could lead to them rescinding a job offer or even firing you later. It suggests a lack of integrity, which is a major red flag for any employer.
Losing valuable experience: That 8 months of experience, even if it was in a toxic environment, is real, tangible experience. You learned skills, solved problems, and worked in a professional setting. You can leverage this experience in your interviews to show you're not a complete novice. It's a stepping stone that demonstrates you've moved past your degree and into the professional world.
The Real Problem: How to Address the Short Stint and Employment Gap
The issue isn't that you have a short job on your resume; it's how you're presenting it and how you're addressing the situation.
Address the 1-Year Lie: The most immediate and critical change you need to make is to correct the dates on your resume. State that you worked there for 8 months. Lying about the length of time you were there is a major risk and completely unnecessary. You can frame the 8 months in a positive way. For example: "Gained valuable experience in IT support, troubleshooting, and customer service." Focus on what you accomplished, not the duration.
How to Talk About the Short Stint: In interviews, you'll likely be asked why you left. This is your chance to turn a negative into a positive.
Avoid bad-mouthing your previous employer. Phrases like "toxic work environment" can make you seem like a difficult employee.
Focus on the positive and your career goals. A good way to frame this is: "I learned a great deal in my role as an IT Support Engineer. However, I realized the company culture and long-term goals weren't a great fit for my career aspirations. I decided to leave to find a company where I could grow and contribute in a more meaningful way, and where the values align more closely with mine."
Connect it to the job you're interviewing for. You can add something like, "I'm looking for a company like [Current Company] because [mention something positive about the new company's culture, values, or career paths]."
How to Explain the 6-Month Unemployment Gap: The 6-month gap after your vacation is a separate issue from the short job.
Be honest about your search. You can say something like, "After taking a much-needed break to recharge after my previous role, I've been actively and diligently searching for the right opportunity for the past six months."
Highlight what you've been doing in the meantime. Have you been taking any online courses? Getting certifications? Working on personal projects? Volunteering? Mentioning these things shows that you're proactive and still engaged in your field, not just sitting around. For example: "During this time, I've been focusing on strengthening my skills by completing [Course Name] and earning my [Certification Name], which I believe will make me a stronger candidate for this role."
Is the Job Market Bad?
The job market is a factor, especially in tech. Many companies have slowed hiring or are being more selective. This means you have to be even more strategic and persistent. The fact that you're getting interviews is a good sign—it means your resume is getting attention. The problem likely lies in your interview performance or how you're explaining your work history.
Summary: Your Action Plan
Update your resume immediately. Correct the dates for your IT Support Engineer role to accurately reflect the 8 months you worked there.
Focus on your accomplishments during those 8 months. List specific tasks or projects you handled to demonstrate your skills.
Prepare a polished and confident answer for why you left your last job and what you've been doing during your job search. Frame everything in a positive light, focusing on your growth and future goals.
Practice your interview skills. The reason you're not getting offers may be in how you're answering questions. Seek out mock interviews or advice from a career coach to refine your delivery.
Don't underestimate the value of your experience. A short stint is not a career-killer. Hiding it, however, could be. Be transparent, confident, and focus on what you've learned, and you will be in a much better position to land a new role.
I just got a job that pays $8k/ month. Should I stay back until boss (late 20s) leaves?
I am 32 F and recently secured a sales manager job at a tech startup. My boss is younger than me (late 20s)
They are paying me $8k/ month and over $100k per year if it counts bonuses (which I guess it’s competitively priced? Im not sure how to gauge since it’s my first job as I’ve been self employed for most of my adult life) They also gave me ESOP in the startup that amounts to around $40-50k at the current valuation of the startup.
I just started the job this week and have been putting in the work learning the ropes.
The official work ending time is 6pm. It’s a young startup and most of the staff go home early around 5-6pm. For the last few days, I have been waiting until my boss leaves then leaving only when he does around 7-8pm. My boss insisted that I should not feel obligated to stay back just because he is there. I said I am fine and willing to stay back. I am actually doing work in the time I’m staying back (eg doing more reading, putting together ideas into presentations)
I wonder if my gesture is deemed as good or bad? I'm not a very high energy person when it comes to office chitchat and prefer to keep my head down and just work.
I sense the culture in the company is more of a fun vibe and people don’t tend to stay back late. There’s even a one WFH day per week. I also sense that my boss is young and doesn’t really possess the sort of managerial skills that come with seniority.
I suspect that my boss finds me too over professional and formal though…
At this point, I’m staying back late because it’s my first few weeks and I rather be on my best. It may come as a bargaining chip down the road, esp if I make mistakes or need to ask for help on the job…
Looking for input from others.
Jobadvisor
Staying late at your new job to impress your boss is a common strategy, but it can have unintended consequences. The key is to understand the company culture and your boss's expectations. Let's break down some potential outcomes of your current approach.
The Good: Showing Initiative and Commitment
Staying late, especially during your first few weeks, shows a strong work ethic and a desire to get up to speed quickly. It's a clear signal that you're dedicated to your new role and willing to put in the extra effort. By using this time for reading and preparation, you're not just staying for show—you're genuinely investing in your success. This could be seen as a positive sign of your commitment and could build a foundation of trust with your boss.
The Bad: Setting an Unsustainable Precedent
The downside is that you might be creating an expectation that you'll always stay late. If you eventually decide you want to leave at 6 PM like everyone else, your boss might wonder if your commitment has waned. In a startup with a "fun vibe" and a culture that values work-life balance (as indicated by people leaving early and the WFH day), your actions might actually be seen as out of sync with the team. You might be viewed as an outlier, and not necessarily in a good way.
Your boss has already told you not to feel obligated to stay. This is a strong signal that they value results over face time. They might be more concerned with the quality of your work and your ability to meet goals than with how many hours you spend in the office.
The In-Between: Is It a Bargaining Chip?
You mentioned that you see this as a potential bargaining chip later on. While a strong work ethic is always a plus, staying late may not be the most effective way to build leverage. A better strategy might be to focus on delivering tangible results. Exceeding your sales targets, bringing in new clients, or streamlining a process will likely hold more weight than the hours you've logged.
Since you mentioned you're not a high-energy person and prefer to keep your head down, focusing on your output will be a more natural way for you to shine. Your value will be defined by your performance, not your presence.
What You Should Consider Doing
Instead of focusing on being the last one to leave, try to find a balance that works for you and the company culture.
Be direct with your boss: The next time you're leaving, you could say something like, "Thanks for the heads-up about not needing to stay late. I'm really enjoying getting a head start on things, but I'll make sure to get out of here on time sometimes so I don't miss out on life!" This shows you heard them but also acknowledges your commitment.
Focus on results, not hours: Prioritize your time in the office to be as productive as possible. This will allow you to get your work done efficiently and leave at a reasonable time, just like your colleagues.
Embrace the culture: Try to engage in some of the office chitchat, even if it's just a quick chat about a weekend plan or a friendly "good morning." This can help you build rapport with your colleagues and your boss and show that you're a team player, which is likely valued in a startup with a fun culture.
Ultimately, your dedication and value will be proven through the quality of your work and the results you deliver. Spending extra hours at the office may feel like the right thing to do, but it's important to make sure that effort is being seen and valued in the way you intend.