No Bad Experiences on Resumes

Stop immediately with the thinking that your past experiences are bad. Experience isn’t good or bad, it doesn’t have a personality, nor does it have an opinion. Experience is just that, what took place. Employers aren’t searching for candidates by “negative” experiences; they are looking for qualities that can translate into benefits for their company. Don’t be afraid to put down your employers or experiences where challenges occurred. In fact, I strongly suggest you do. Write down as a quick description for those companies what you learned and how you grew from the experience. Every situation that happens can have a positive outcome toward your future working environment.

Here is a scenario. You have been working for a company for six months and you are given a new boss. Your old boss knew your schedule and that you attended classes every Tuesday night. Your new boss is not willing to work with you and keeps you too late on those nights to the point where you quit.

You could look at this and define your experience in two outlooks. First, the “bad” way. I can’t put this on my resume because I was only there for a limited time and I hated my boss. Or, you could try a second option. In this position I gained valuable experience in the importance of leadership and working as a team truly generates the best results. I also worked closely with my supervisor to assure optimal outcomes and work productivity. (Of course the last line refers to the first boss)

Do you see how changing your view on an experience can get you in the door or shut a door? I suggest you choose getting in the door.

The real key to turning the situation around from a “bad” experience is to look at what skills your future employer would want you to have and extract those experiences from your previous position and explain how you obtained that skill. Take the time now to go back through your experiences you feel you have labeled “bad” and remove all the skill-based pieces you can to help create a new resume. A resume built on your current knowledge of I have the ability, not the lack of ability.

When you accomplish this task and write your resume you will be armed with the answers you need to provide in your interview as well. This is the benefit of taking the time to write a well written resume, it answer the hard questions for you allowing you to know what you are capable of doing for your new employer.

Good luck and stay focused on the positive outcome.