Last week, a seminar participant asked me this question: “Why have you never worked full-time?” My counter-question was, “How did the HR person even know about that?” I found out that the applicant had listed “part-time” alongside her position (project staff) on her resume. Don’t do that; it only diminishes your profile!
Words like “minor,” “part-time,” or “reduced hours” have no place on a resume, in my opinion. They might create a potentially negative image in the mind of the reader and lead to awkward questions. For instance, someone might view “part-time” as insufficient work experience. Honestly, I don’t know any part-time employee who takes nearly as many coffee breaks as someone who works full-time. Moreover, I wouldn’t claim that simply working more hours automatically means having more skills. Besides, a mother who places her child in full-day care wouldn’t list herself as a “part-time mother.”
So, only include your professional experience, not the hours worked. This isn’t about lying. If you are asked about your working hours during an interview, you can explain the details then.
If you notice that a point on your resume is causing problematic questions, adjust it to avoid walking into a trap.
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