OK to leave firm off resume? Forum

[sun511]

I resigned from my law firm job after 3 months. I was wondering if I still have to include it in my resume? Am I ethically obligated to include it in my resume? I am going in for an interview at a law firm that doesn't work in the same area of law as my former law firm so there shouldn't be any conflict issue. Both firms are located in NYC.

I would like to be honest and address it head-on instead of avoiding it by giving them an updated resume at the time of the interview, but I don't want them to get the wrong impression about me.

Any advice is much appreciated!

[Anonymous User]

What is the reason you left? You may want to avoid a gap in your resume if anything.

[Anonymous User]

yeah unfortunately i think you have to list it. You can just say 2018-2018.

[bruinfan10]

the responses above are not very nuanced. if you google this question, you'll notice that almost all the articles that come up draw a distinction between a resume and a job application. it appears that the consensus is you can leave a job off your resume for any number of reasons, but you don't want to lie on the job application---if it asks for all jobs held in the past x years, and you leave one off, you're clearly lying.

[sun511]

Thanks bruinfan10 for the distinction!

[Anonymous User]

I agree with bruin10, but also think even with different practice area there still might be conflict issues. Just make sure at some point during conflicts check I would disclose.

[ur_hero]

In addition to what everyone else has said, 3 months doesn't seem like a terribly long gap to need to explain. I mean, don't lie if you're asked. But many people very easily could have just been searching for the right job in that time.