Should You Put a One-Month Job on a Resume — The Answer

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There are many reasons that someone may have been in a job for only a month.

It may have been a shorter internship, a seasonal or limited-time job, or perhaps they thought this job was not a good fit for them.

While it may be true that any experience is good experience, it is not necessarily the case on a resume. So how do you know whether or not you should include a one-month job?

 

Should You Put a One-Month Job on a Resume?

There are a few cases where a one-month job should be listed on a resume. If you have very limited job experience, you may need to include it. If it was a particularly interesting or relevant job experience, then it should also be included.

You could also make a one-month job sound impressive by listing it in the skills section on your resume.

If it was a job that you were fired from or quit after one month, then it should not be listed on your resume. 

 

Why wouldn’t you include a one-month job on a resume?

Simply put, having a job for only a month does not show dedication or loyalty to a company.

You should typically only list jobs that you have held for at least six months, as this shows you were able to fully learn the job, work efficiently, and gain experience.

If the duration is any shorter than this, expect a potential employer to question your reasoning.

 

When should you list a one-month job on a resume?

If your job experience was an interesting one, or you feel as if you truly learned a lot of valuable skills there, then it might be acceptable to put it on your resume.

For example, an employer might see a one-month volunteer job in a different light than a regular job.

Including volunteering on your resume might turn the tides in your favor with a potential employer!  

If you have very limited working experience, you might need to list a one-month job.

Showing an employer that you have some work experience is better than none, and it gives you something to talk about during an interview. Be sure to detail your responsibilities in a way that makes them sound useful to your future employer. 

 

How could you word a one-month work experience to look more impressive?

If there is a good reason that your job only lasted one month, you should start there. 

As with listing academic research on a resume, you could also put a one-month job in the skills section. You do not always need to list the employer, the dates, and the specifics.

If you were employed to survey attendants of the Summer Olympics, you could list this as a public surveying skill. Briefly describe the experience in your skills section instead of trying to expand on it in the job experience section.

This takes away the risk of an employer feeling anxiety over seeing a one-month job in your experience section.

If a job was seasonal or was only intended to be a one-month job, explain that in the job title.

For example, writing a job title as “Seasonal part-time cashier” instead of “Part-time cashier” reassures the employer that the short work duration was not due to any non-compliance or incompetence on your part. 

 

How long should you work at a job before putting it on a resume?

Working professionals should be at a job for at least 6 months before putting it on a resume in most cases. For shorter term relevant work experiences, include them in the skills section instead of work history. For those with little experience or new graduates, shorter work periods are acceptable. 

Does a short-term job look bad on a resume?

Short-term or temporary jobs on a resume are typically frowned upon by potential employers, so they should be included only if they are extremely relevant or impressive. 

Short work periods can make you look like a flaky or un-dedicated employee, so don’t feel like you need to list all jobs on your resume (especially if one is a new job).

If your previous short-term job is not relevant to the new job you are seeking, it is best to not include it at all. 

Can those with little experience put short-term jobs on a resume?

Those who do not have many job experiences or new graduates can include short-term jobs on their resumes because this is to be expected of someone their age.

A potential employer hiring someone of little experience will understand the lack of job experience. In fact, they may even hire someone who has never had a job!

Short-term work only looks bad when an employee has deliberately shuffled from job to job for reasons unknown to the job recruiter.