Poll of the Day > Does it hurt to include job experience unrelated to the job I'm applying for?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Note: This is for a job in an office setting, see.

I'm worried the employer will assume that I've just been doing nothing these past five months, and was wondering if I should correct that impression. Should I? It would save the trouble of correcting the lot over the phone, over e-mail, or in-person. On the other hand, though, the company might look at it and see that I've occupied my resume with stuff that only wastes space for more important things I could have added instead of that job experience.

I must have these answers.
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I don't think it hurts or helps, ok?

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No, and you can often find ways to relate what you did in another field and how it could translate into you doing well in a new role.

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It can probably help. You can probably tie it to your new job somehow. And if not, you never know what extra job you may have to do...
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I'd say it helps as it could show skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Also showing you've been doing something when unemployed is a lot more better than leaving a gap with no explanation.

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wwinterj25 posted...

showing you've been doing something when unemployed is a lot more better than leaving a gap with no explanation

Aye, that makes sense, sonny.
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What are you going to be doing in this position?

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From the job description, I gather that I will be:

(1) Doing data analysis and something to do with Medicaid "wrap-around payment submission"
(2) Generating graphs and reports from data for analysis, presentation, and interpretation
(3) Gathering data into spreadsheets for analysis
(4) Submit data error reports and fix databases as necessary

I didn't exactly look over the degree and experience requirements, though, which I now see would probably be an immediate disqualifer for my hastily sent application.

https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=757780f46dc99f2e
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Gaps in employment look bad on resumes (not fair to people I know, but) and also having more employers speak well of you is never bad. So not only would it help, but omitting it could hurt you.

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No. It shows that you are serious about looking for work and are willing to let your perspective employers to check your professional background.

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Covering 2 months out of 5 with something unrelated doesn't seem like much of a benefit and unrelated items can cause a hiring manager to zone out. Alternatively, you could just take the months out of your resume and just list year-to-year, but that would only work if you've only had a few employers over the past decade.

Keep in mind that HR and hiring managers are looking for anything to immediately disqualify you just to trim down the applicant pool.

But if you have any doubts, just run an A/B split with your resume. Personally, though, I would just try to figure out who the hiring manager is and contact them directly.

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Never leave employment gaps.
Also if you were at the other place a long time, it can show "loyalty".

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If there is a gap in your resume some employers will ask about it.

Most will just toss your resume when they see that.

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captpackrat posted...

Most will just toss your resume when they see that.

I always felt this was really dumb. That you can't have any gaps. I feel like it shouldn't be a deal breaker. And I also feel like it would cause more people to lie about stuff...
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I would think it looks better to have an unrelated job on there instead of looking like you were unemployed

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Don't add is for filler, you need to take parts of that job and relate it to the job you are applying for.