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Question:

Dear Donna,

I was let go from a job because of performance. I was told I was not a good fit for the position, but I was never evaluated. I am in the process of applying for a new position. I have decided not to include this job in my résumé. Is this wise?

Donna

Dear Donna replies:

Dear Donna,

It is challenging to respond to your question without knowing all the details. For example, you don’t mention how long you were in the last job. I also don’t know what you did before or how long ago. And I don’t know the specifics of any challenges you may have had there. That could influence how I answer your question.

That being said, if you were at the job a very short time and while still on probation —less than 3 months, it might be OK to eliminate the position from your résumé. However, some states have laws requiring full disclosure of any employment, including provisionary employment, so you might have to include it on your application when you get to that part of the process. If possible, consult a local career coach/counselor about your situation and how to discuss this position if it comes up on an interview or background check.

My best wishes,
Donna

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Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek’s “Dear Donna” and author of “Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional” and “The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career.” Information about the books is available at www.Nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.Nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.Nurse.com/asktheexperts/deardonna. Find a “Dear Donna” seminar near you: Call 800-866-0919 or visit http://events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.