Re: Should I leave my first "job" off my resume?
[#permalink]
07 Dec 2013, 22:04
trinko -
Yes, they will mostly likely see it as a gap . . . using the year-only versus month-year format to hide stuff is a relatively well-known technique in admissions circles. If I was looking at your application and saw your resume the way you described it (graduated in 2008, first job starting in 2009), the next thing I would probably do would be to flip to your optional essay to see if you wrote anything about a gap. I'd probably expect to see something along the lines of backpacking in Europe after graduating, challenges finding a position during that time, etc. - not a big deal. But when you didn't say anything in the optional, my interest would be piqued, but not in a positive way. If they eventually decide that you're trying to hide something, that can throw everything else into question, too. As for leaving jobs off of your resume, I would generally say that's only acceptable for people who have tons of work experience (think decades).
Personally, I don't see the fact that you considered the priesthood as that big of a deal. I can actually think of a bunch of ways where that background could be positively spun into an asset. I hear what you're saying about possibly conveying a lack of direction, but have you showed solid direction and progression since then? That's the more important thing. You haven't provided many details about your profile, but I don't see something like this negatively impacting your candidacy.
If you do end up putting this experience on your resume, I'd be quite sure it'll come up in your interviews just because it's so out of the ordinary. However, knowing that you're going to get a question or two about it is empowering because you can prepare for it and come up with effective responses that shift the focus back to the great work you've been doing more recently.
I hope this helps a bit, and good luck finishing up your applications!
Regards,
Jon