Hello,

16 Comments

1. KatMarch 9,2026 at 5:34PM UTC

   Since you've been working for those five years, don't leave them off your resume. It's not a gap, so don't treat it as one. It would be too confusing otherwise. Skills matter more than the industry you're in. it makes you a more versatile candidate by showing you can adapt and learn quickly. When writing your resume, focus on the skills you've learned in the new industry. Think of how this current job connects with past ones. That's the narrative you want to focus on. If people ask why you moved into a different area, tell them how this area built on skills you had and what new things you've learned, or what about the industry change appealed to you.

2. AnonymousMarch 9,2026 at 8:16PM UTC

   Thank you so much for your reply!I'm not sure how spinning half a decade of touring & singing for money into an accompaniment of my office skills would work, but my main concern is HOW to list it on my resume. In those 5 years I worked for over a dozen different productions for short-term recording contracts, performances, etc. Do I list all of them?

3. Alexis GladstoneMarch 10,2026 at 12:47PM UTC

   You'll probably get other opinions but I would create some type of generic title - Independent Entertainment Professional, or something like that. I would keep the description brief and emphasize things such as organizations skills (keeping things organized when traveling, etc), communication, adaptability, managing priorities, confidentiality.

4. KatMarch 12,2026 at 3:57PM UTC

   Don't list every production. Create a title like Independent Contractor, Professional singer/entertainer or something similar. If you're going back into admin/office work, emphasize the skills you learned and used that are transferable. Time and project management, communication skills, contract negotiation, bookkeeping, event planning, travel arrangements are all great skills for a resume and transferable from your current industry back to the old one. Look at job descriptions and see what skills they are looking for. Pull those out of your current job. Think skills and results and how they match up with the description. A professional resume writer might help you organize your skills and experience into a cohesive narrative. You don't have to spend money on that if you don't want to. There are plenty of books, a JobService center (state/charity funded career services), or if you're an alum of a college/uni, go to their career center (or alumni services) for assistance.

5. AnonymousMarch 10,2026 at 4:08PM UTC

   Don't leave out any employment on your resume. If the company does a background check it could show up and then you would have issues about truthfulness. Tailor the details of the role you had for the past 5 years to show the skills you have that are aligned with and transferable to where you want to be now. That should solve the problem. Being that COVID made many folks take roles that were to pay the bills if being employed through that period has a factor in things use that in some way in your conversations. It is valid information and showing that you are consistently employed is far better than a big gap with explaining to do. And no, exp and skills from another industry shows breadth and the ability to do many things across disciplines. Make it your superpower and your bonus for new employers.

6. AnonymousMarch 10,2026 at 8:21PM UTC

   You can just lock your WorkNumber and other credit reports so they won't show up on a background check. If they ask you can say you are concerned about identity theft, but most use a third part service anyway and won't question it. You should be allowed to leave things off your resume if you want without a company sleuthing it out, and this was standard practice until recently. It's not untruthful. The company doesn't have to tell you why the laid off every single person they have let go, they don't have a right to pilfer through every detail of each employee's work history with a fine tooth comb. That is a wild imbalance of power.

   I do agree the poster should not leave 5 years off their resume though even if it's not directly applicable.

7. AnonymousMarch 11,2026 at 4:05PM UTC

   I think you are wrong here. The company is in the power position as they have the open role and can do whatever (legally) they want to assess and reference potential employees. I once worked for a company that actually had an entire team that did nothing but backchannel references. They would specifically look for dirt on potential employees and they are a Fortune 100 company. I did not stay there past 3 months because I thought this was a pretty crap way to do things. Also worked at another company also in the F100 that paid a 3rd party to review all your social media stuff. They did this because they had someone posting bad stuff about previous and then them as employers. Anything is up for go these day since there is a lot of bad juju on both sides of the decision in some situations. Nothing surprises me any more...

8. AnonymousMarch 11,2026 at 6:37PM UTC

   Yeah, but they shouldn't be able to. The U.S. is one of the only first world nations that gives employers these kinds of protections with no equivalent for the employees. Don't you think that legally, the party with less power (aka the employee) should be the one that's more protected, not less? At this point companies can literally fire you for no reason and then can deny you unemployment by making up a reason, and you have to fight them for months and even then the unemployment office will not lift a finger to help you. You don't think checking someone's credit report is maybe a huge overstep of power they shouldn't be allowed to do through The Work Number? I think people have every right to lock those reports. If they are locked the company has to call the prior businesses and check employee records that way, but at least then they can't ask about salary. 

9. AnonymousMarch 12,2026 at 3:49PM UTC

   OP above: Well what I think does not matter. And employees (though pre-hire your rights have limits) do have rights. Most states have become at-will for employment. If you are denied UI benefits because of untruths then you should seek legal counsel or the EEOC. Credit reports are checked in employment situations usually when the potential hire is either touching money or large budgets, or controlling some financial decisions which may injure the company if misused. You don't have to share salary details in the search process if you choose not to. The response in that situation is : my company does not allow me to share that information publicly per our employee handbook. Instead give a range as to what you hope to get in terms of compensation. In some states they are required to share salary information in the job postings now. Check your state to see what is required where you are.

   Essentially, the rule of law is what prevails here. Gaming it might work for some but instead being truthful and finding the employers that don't disrespect those who are just trying to get a good job with a good employer is what really matters. Doing the homework a job seeker can find the winners!

10. AnonymousMarch 10,2026 at 8:25PM UTC

    I wouldn't leave it off.

    That being said, another poster commented that leaving jobs off your resume is perceived as "untruthful." Up until recently, this was standard resume advice, especially if you had a short tenure or poor experience. It is not untruthful to leave experience off your resume for whatever reason you see fit.

    That being said, many companies run background checks that involve verifying work history now, and they can pull this through a credit report called "the Work Number" or another similar credit reporting site. If you don't want them seeing these you can lock them so they won't show up in a background report (I would lock the top 3). If they ask about it you would just say you had identity theft concerns.

    Reminder: The company doesn't have to share why they have fired and laid off employees. You shouldn't have to share with them every detail of every job you have ever had for your entire life. That is such a huge power imbalance it honestly should be illegal.

11. AnonymousMarch 11,2026 at 12:54PM UTC

    It's not a gap, you were employed. As a hiring manager, I see experience and skills from an unrelated industry as an assets. It means you may have a broader view and be more willing to try things that are different from the norms. in terms of how to position those skills, think in broader, general skill groups rather than focusing on specifics 'contract management, event planning and organization... etc.) Skills are always transferable. Focus on that.

12. AnonymousMarch 11,2026 at 12:54PM UTC

    I agree with the others. Don't leave it off. Think about how things learned at that job can apply to the one you're applying for and tailor your resume and letter to that.

    Think of it that way. Let's say I'm applying to be a project manager for a company, something I once had some experience in. But in the intervening years, I taught at a local university. Totally different?

    Or not...university teaching has taught me how to communicate with a diverse group of people, how to present information in a cohesive way, how to evaluate things, how to quickly and succinctly answer questions about my "product", how to think on my feet, etc.

    I'm sure some skills from the job you've been doing absolutely apply to what you're looking to do. So figure that out and leverage it!

13. Gretchen LorberMarch 11,2026 at 12:55PM UTC

    From my research, show the 'gap' work. I.e. - Related Experience first followed by Other Experience to show you were working and not have the recruiter/hiring manager distracted by the gap. Also, ask chatgpt to rewrite the gap work to better fit with your overall target role.

14. Vicki SullivanMarch 11,2026 at 1:38PM UTC

    Include it! Best option is to show accomplishments that emphasize transferable skills.

15. AnonymousMarch 12,2026 at 12:50PM UTC

    Include it! Try to target your description and accomplishments toward the industry you are targeting. If its not possible definitely showcase them anyway. So much is transferable

16. Katherine AkbarMarch 12,2026 at 11:33PM UTC

    Maybe. Were you a stripper or sex worker? Best not to include. Something more pedestrian, like actor, musician, or magician? Not unprofessional and a fun conversation starter. However, you don't want that to be the top thing on your resume, so if you are going for project management, for example, you could have PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE up top, then OTHER EXPERIENCE on page two.

    If you'll be listing details, be sure to write about them in terms related to your target. For example, if you're going for project management, which seems like the best field of the three you mentioned, you could put "Created and implemented project plan for obtaining work as an actor. This included budgeting and setting and meeting goalposts."

    One more thing: Changing fields is tough at any time, and the job market is brutal right now. If you want professional help to make your job search as short and painless as possible, please feel free to book a free Career Success Consultation at YES Career Coaching & Resume Writing Services. Best wishes!