Whether you’re applying for jobs through a recruitment agency in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich or Norwich or directly to an employer, you may have concerns if you have one or two short-term jobs on your CV. But it really doesn’t have to be a huge problem.

Before our economy took its downturn, employers used to be cautious of anyone who’d spent a short time in employment. After a few years of austerity and many redundancies, recruiters have become less critical about this since it’s now something lots of workers have experienced – some for the first time in their careers.

But that’s not to say that these savvy recruiters will simply overlook a short-term job on your CV. They still expect job applicants to explain any short stints!

So read these secrets to help you navigate your way around any potential obstacles:

Nothing but the truth

This is the first rule of job hunting whatever the circumstances! But in this case you may need to work harder than usual to show a recruiter that you’re a reliable and trustworthy employee who can commit to a role. After all, a short period of time in a job might still be a warning sign to some employers. Be aware that a good recruiter will probably find out if you’re not being totally upfront.

What to put on your CV

Some career experts say it’s fine to leave the short-term job off your CV. But this is probably only suitable if the role isn’t relevant to the one you’re applying for. For instance, if you’re applying for a marketing job and your previous position was in accountancy, then it’s fine to exclude it. Whatever you decide, be ready to explain gaps in your CV.

What if you were in employment for just a few weeks? Well, you might also want to leave it off the CV. But if it was a period of a few months, you probably gave your skills a good boost so it’s well worth including.

Type of job

In some industries working in a role for a few weeks or months is totally normal. Take the creative industry as an example where it is typical for professionals to spend their career jumping from one job or project to the next. So, freelancing or contract work is rarely seen as a disadvantage. At senior level roles, interim positions are also seen as the norm, so, be clear about this on your CV - leaving no room for misunderstanding!

You’ve been fired

Be frank about the reason for losing your job; it could be the first step towards winning a recruiter’s trust. If not, then they will probably get to the bottom of the issue anyway! A good employer will probably understand if you lost your job as a result of an honest mistake. For example, if you failed to deal with a difficult customer as well as you could have done but you’ve learned important lessons, then say so.

If you also do well in the interview or tests, then you might have just done enough to get a job offer.

Positivity pays off!

If you left a job after a short while because you were unhappy, then you’re probably now feeling a bit uninspired.

When you’re meeting people on your job hunt it’s vital that you keep positive -recruiters pick up on candidates who aren’t exactly enthused about a job! If you need to, take some time out – it will give you some time to recuperate, review your choices and a chance to get enthusiastic about your future pathway.. Then, get back out there!

So, despite the short-term role on your CV your career is alive and kicking! The key is not to make it a habit of job-hopping - especially if it’s not the norm in your industry. Commitment is crucial, so if you’re willing you’ll find an employer who’s able to take you on!