Question:
I applied for similar positions at "Company A" and "Company B." I quickly received and accepted a job offer from "Company A." I worked there for a week when I received a job offer from "Company B." Because I didn't like the work at "Company A," I gave them one week's notice and then started working for "Company B." My boss at Company A was very upset and I'm sure will not be a good reference for me. I'm happy at Company B but concerned about what to tell future employers about Company A. Do I include them on my resume even though I was only been there for a week? If I don't include them on my resume but am asked whether I worked for anyone else, do I lie and say no?
First Answer:
MY ANSWER IS NO TO BOTH OF YOUR QUESTIONS!!! Do not lie about the job and do no include it on a resume. Remember, a resume is an advertisement of your abilities and skills for the position you are applying for. It is not your work autobiography. Include only those employers and positions that relevant to the position you are applying for. It is a good rule of thumb to never lie to an employer. Most employers will have someplace on their application or other paperwork that if they find the information you gave them to be false they can terminate you. If you are asked that question, you could give an answer similar to this:
Several years ago when I was in the job market, I applied at Company B, which is my last employer and Company A. Company A offered me the position and I accepted. After only a few days at Company A both myself and the employer could tell that the position was not a good match for me. When Company B offered me my last position I accepted it and gave Company A my notice.
This is easier to explain if you are relatively new to the job market and did not have a lot of experience accessing job offers and positions.
-- Linda Wyatt, Career Center Director, Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Second Answer:
Consider your plight a learning experience and put it behind you. No, you do not have to mention a one-week position on your resume. However, if your prospective employer does ask if you have had any other positions, you must be truthful and explain the circumstances to him/her. If you lie to the employer, you will forever be haunted by the fear that somehow your new employer will discover the truth and you may lose your job.
-- James Aure, A and A Resume
