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Anonymous

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Opinions needed, please.

I'm new to the job hunting game as my past roles were obtained through contacts I already had.

When I was building my resume I decided to leave off a certain job. It was a job at an organization that, before being employed by them, I had been heavily involved with through financial support and volunteerism. I left it off of my resume because during my time there I had discovered unethical behavior. I was working in finance and realized that the founder was funneling money from the non-profit into his for-profit businesses. There was a lot more to it than that (grant money obtained and used for other purposes, PPP loan fraud, etc) His actions affect a lot of individuals who are working for very little pay, thinking it is benefitting humanitarian work.

Anyway, I wanted to put it behind me and I definitely didn't want to associate myself with that organization. If I put it on my resume I felt I needed to put it on LinkedIn, plus talk about it in an interview which would only create an awkward situation. It was a traumatizing experience and I just wanted to bury it and move on.

Its absence didn’t affect my resume because it was part time and I had other part time employment during that time.

Here’s my dilemma. I have a second interview (the first one was a quick 15 minute interview) for a job I am hoping to get. The job I left off my resume was essentially the same as the one I applied for. I have other financial experience but there are some very specific tasks related to this job that I did at the other job but I currently can’t talk about them because of omitting it from my resume. The person I worked most closely with at that job also left for the same reasons. His current employment makes him a fantastic reference for me and he has told me to use him as a reference.

I'm thinking about coming clean with it all during my interview and just telling them it was just a foolish mistake to leave it off. It just seems like if I end up getting the job it's going to create even more weird scenarios where I feel like I am hiding something. Is this a horrible idea?

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  1. Anonymous

    I think you did the right thing in leaving the problematic job off your resume.

    During your next interview you can mention that you performed relevant tasks during a very brief part-time stint with Bad Non-Profit, but that you didn’t want to clutter your resume with such a brief experience.

    Definitely use your friend from Bad Non-Profit as a reference.

  2. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    It doesn't have to be weird if you don't make it weird.

    I don't think it was a "foolish mistake" leaving it off your resume. And I wouldn't approach it as such if i were you.

    Personally, as a recruiter, I have no problem whatsoever with someone resigning for ethical reasons - although I get why you may not want to discuss those specific reasons in this upcoming interview.

    I don't think it's anything you have to apologize for - just say that because it was a part-time position, you didn't list it on your resume. I don't know why you think you can't talking about that position just because it's not on your resume - a resume isn't a legal document, there are no resume police that are going to come after you.

    I would not be afraid to discuss this position - especially since that experience sounds particularly relevant to the one you're interviewing for - and to say you have an excellent reference if needed (many companies don't check references these days) from a co-worker from that job.

    If you do use him as a reference, I strongly recommend you discuss with him what he should say if he's asked why you left or why he left.

    Just remember - you did the right thing. That's not something you should feel you have to apologize for.

    GOOD LUCK - please keep us posted!

  3. Anonymous

    Excellent advice and I have nothing to add.

  4. GirlBossanova934974

    Unless the activity of the past organization somehow became public knowledge, I would avoid even discussing it in the future. I would also put that organization back on your resume in the future for future jobs. KEEP to what you did, your tasks, accomplishments etc.. There is NO need to tell the world about the crooked CEO. For in fact, the world is NOT fair nor will some people automatically assume you yourself acted ethically. I myself had something like that happen to me around a decade ago. But I was a little higher up and reported a corrupt plant manager to our plant HR and our Corporate HR. He was involved in all sorts of accounting FRAUD, some of it just downright blatant. I was forced out in 60 days. Doi I bring up these days? No way! Just a layoff if someone asks. The plant manager was removed around a year later by the corporate audit team. He someone found a job with some private high school as Treasurer/CFO. Boy, if only they knew............Good Luck!

  5. Jonna Ferguson, ACC

    Our choices (more than our abilities), reveal our character and who we are. Your choice to leave shows you are ethical, honest, caring, reliable and lead with your values.

    Instead of viewing this as a mistake, feeling like you have to bury this part of your history or admit that it happened if backed into a corner, explain what you learned from it, how it made you stronger and how it shaped your decisions going forward.

    Since this was a volunteer role you weren't paid for, you didn't list it among your "Work Experience." When answering questions about challenges or transferrable skills in an interview, remember this role. In advance of the interview, think about this position and prepare by considering the questions:

    "Describe a significant challenge you've had to overcome."

    "Tell me about a time when your opinion differed from your leader's opinion, and how you handled it."

    (Remember: Leave employee names or the company name out of your responses to show your professionalism.)

    There's no need to feel guilty for being connected to a company before you knew what was occurring. You made a strong choice when faced with a difficult situation. Own it. Best of luck!

  6. Tamara G

    I would inform them of the experience, and be honest only if they ask. I would also offer the reference.

    I think you did the right thing by leaving it off. I think that it truly shows your character and legal ramifications aside, I wouldn't allow it to feel awkward because you did the right thing. Can you weave the experience that is valuable from that role into other roles you've had in the past so that you can still use the reference in the future without having to mention the company?

  7. Peter Edelson

    I knew many people that worked at Arthur Andersen years ago, who went through a major scandal and I believe closed their doors shortly after. None of them left it off their resume since none of them were involved in the scandal. Bad news [if you consider the fact you worked somewhere like that bad news] does not get better with age. I would think there is nothing wrong with including it. Invite the conversation, be prepared for the conversation, use it as a point of interest that you can frame in advance. Hiding it, to me, makes it seems like you actually do "have something to hide"

  8. Chrishogg

    My opinion?

    1) Going forward, put it on your resume, for several reasons.

    2) Don't try to explain away why you were working there or go on and on and on about how you weren't involved and how much you wanted to distance yourself (Methinks she doth protest too much).

    3) Check out John 8:32 in the Bible.

    4) You ask, is this a horrible idea? And the answer is, who knows? Handle it the best and most honest way you can, and don't let it happen again (and there will be another again).

  9. Focused931221

    Any experience that speaks to your skillset should be on your resume. I'm sorry to hear that your first job was entangled with unethical behavior but that's really not a reflection of you or your capabilities. If you feel uncomfortable talking about it, you can say just that... ' i decided to pursue other opportunities once I realized there was unethical practices'. I think that 1. shows your professionalism without badmouthing anyone and 2. shows that you have a moral compass. Don't be afraid to put down roles you've had because of someone else's poor behavior. Good luck!

  10. Cheryl Wilburg

    Very well said and I agree 100%. Put it on the resume, but it's perfectly fine to tell them little to nothing about the business, only about your skills.

  11. Afo Ogbeyalu Kalu

    So long as you were not implicated in the unethical behavior, there is no need to feel compelled to omit the work you did with the organization. Your talking points regarding your time there should focus on your role, responsibilities, and any projects/initiatives you executed, etc.

    It is becoming more common practice for interviewers to ask why one left an organization, or how one responded in a difficult, or challenging situation on the job. Your truth may be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ethics, your ability to utilize an organization's chain of command and code of conduct policies for the good of said organization, and follow up with referencing the glowing reviews you received from your supervisor there.

  12. Kathy

    The less you 'explain' the better. You are not at fault for unethical dealings by others.

    If the subject comes up just talk about your work experience at this job and what ever positives that be ported to the job that you are being interviewed.

    I would keep the job on your resume as the experience is important in your current job quest.

    Good luck!

  13. Anita Satkiewicz

    This is, in my opinion, the perfect answer.

  14. Anonymous

    I would suggest you come to the interview with a full and complete resume. Explain to them that there was unethical behavior there about financial things and that there are legal ties that bind you to not discussing this and for that reason your career advisor had told you to leave this out. Let them know that you realized this was not the right approach and you want them to know what happened in a snapshot but cannot speak more in depth. You left on your own and was not fired. Be sure to say that. Then let them know you are referenceable. Be sure that you name that reference in the conversation and say that they can corroborate your story. Be sure that you prep your reference to let them know how limited stuff they can say and not to say too much. Though, if they disclose the guy was a thief it's on them and you remain a diplomat.

  15. Tami L Cannizzaro

    If it were me, I would include this experience on my resume. Sounds like it's good work experience that showcases skills relevant to jobs for which you are applying. When asked about this job during interviews, stick to your "wins" that showcase your relevant skills. That's what the hiring manager is interested in. No need to bring up the drama you experienced. If asked why you left, it's a simple "I left to pursue another opportunity" (assuming you did, since I'm unclear here). If you just left that company, then you can say, "While I learned a lot at XYZ, I have decided it was time to pursue new opportunities" - or something similar. If asked to expand - which they should not -turn it back towards the interview at hand: "I'm just ready to try something new and your company is one I've been interested in, especially the job of X, where I can make an immediate contribution".

  16. asmith13

    Depending on the background check they do (should you get hired) that job could show up in your employment history and that could make things much more awkward. I worked at a company once who would rescind offers when that type of thing happened.

  17. CMT

    I would just come clean and I would explain that I left this job off my résumé because of xyz

    I think being honest shows great virtue

  18. Anonymous

    You could simply state due to NDA you have further experience which you could verbally discuss without company specifics but you did not include on your resume. I wouldn't "come clean" as such because over explanations often sound like excuses to me.

    Good luck!!

  19. LORI-ANN BURLINGAME

    How long were you with the organization? Unfortunately, leaving it off you resume may come back to bite you in the behind.

    You could have left it on your resume and not discuss details if asked. Remember, not all cultures are for all people.

  20. Anonymous
    It’s strange how certain experiences stay with you long after you’ve moved on. While sorting through old roles and deciding what to leave behind, I ended up taking short breaks from scrolling job boards by diving into small online games just to clear my head. During one of those evenings, I came across https://wg-casinos.uk/ and it turned out to be a pretty engaging platform with casino games and a simple layout that doesn’t overwhelm you. It felt like a quick reset — the kind of place where you can jump into a game, make a tiny deposit if you want, and switch off the stress for a moment. Not a fix for anything in life, obviously, but a decent distraction when you’re trying to rebuild your routine and stay focused on the next step.
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