Got a fantastic question this week from an Executive Assistant in Boston who has been an Admin for 8 years and is on the job market becuase she was let go a few weeks ago:
âI was let go from my last role after only five months. How do I address this in interviews without scaring off employers?â
In the grand circus of the last several years, short stints have just simply become the norm. I have two on my resume, and I come to any interview prepared to discuss them before the topic ever arises. In my research about this question, I asked a couple trusted confidants that have short stints and since secured amazing jobs how they handle this scenario. Here's the common denominator:
đč Step One: Just Own the Damn Thing.
Seriously. Donât dance around it. Donât try to âbury itâ in your rĂ©sumĂ© like a bad decision from 2019. If it was a short stint, call it what it was. No sob stories, no blaming Chad from sales. Take radical ownership and move on.
So it wasnât the right fitâcool. What did it teach you? What are you looking for now that you werenât clear on then? The goal is clarity, not perfection.
đč Step Two: Flip the Script.
What did go well? Did you pull off a miracle in month two? Did you clean up a chaotic calendar? Lead with that.
Wins still countâeven in short bursts. Show that you showed up. Talk about what you learned, what you improved, and how you kept your energy right even when it wasnât your dream job. (Shoutout to JJ for the gold: "Effort and attitude are always in your control." Tattoo it somewhere.)
đč Step Three: Bring Receipts.
Even if the job was a dumpster fire, was there one person who still thought you crushed it? Great. Use them. Thatâs your reference.
Not every job will last, but if you leave people saying, âDamn, she was good,â youâre doing it right.
How you say it matters just as much as what you say. Confidence changes the whole game. Practice your story, say it like you mean it, and for the love of cleared inboxes â OWN đ THAT đ SH*T.