Dates on resume (employment, 2014, unemployed, job)

[chgodon]

I'm updating my resume. I've got the years indicated next to my work experience. Should I include the months too. Such has 4/2014 to present or 3/2013 - 11/2013. If I just keep the years, one job ended in 2013 and the next job began in 2014. On paper, it may look like I was not working for a year instead of only 2 months. Any thoughts?

[MrsBunny]

If you only have 2 months of unemployemrnt, I would suggest you to put month and year.

[chgodon]

Actually, I was unemployed for 5 months but I get your point. I don't want my resume to appear to be unemployed from 2013 to 2014. It was actually 8/2013 to 1/2014. Thanks.

[davenj08]

Yes, always use month and year.

[DrEarth]

I use only years for mine, but it covers some longer gaps.

Only 5 months in 2013 is not such a big deal, so I would put the months too.

[fishbrains]

Put the months in. If you omit them, the HM will assume that you are trying to hide a gap. I would assume that you had been unemployed for 22 months, from 01/13-12/14.

[jghorton]

So, are you unemployed again (now), following a 5-month unemployment period at the end of 2013? If that's the case, your stability may be questioned, whether you calibrate your employment in months or years.

If the overall credibility of your resume hinges on 'months' worked, rather than years, you should probably focus on emphasizing real, meaningful accomplishments (to offset any time-increment questions).

[chgodon]

I'm not currently unemployed. Should months be 4/2014, 9/2014 or 04/2014, 09/2014?

[davenj08]

Originally Posted by chgodon

I'm not currently unemployed. Should months be 4/2014, 9/2014 or 04/2014, 09/2014?

You could use either. I would use Apr 2014 to Sept 2014.

[MrsBunny]

Originally Posted by davenj08

You could use either. I would use Apr 2014 to Sept 2014.

+1 I would also use April 2014 to September 2014 or Apr 2014 to Sept 2014