How to avoid damage to resume
How to avoid damage to resume
(OP)
Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer here to my predicament. The questions I placed first, the explanation to it is shown below for those curious to know the backstory.
Questions:
- Would my resume be damaged if it showed a steady job for several years, a different company for "2 years" (based on calendar years), followed by a return to that original company for only 1 year?
- Would a horizontal transfer to a different department (becoming a Sr. Designer or Design Engineer, rather then the catch-all Project Engineer) be seen as a detriment to my career progression?
- If these are detriments, is their anyway to soften them when searching for a job?
Back Story:
I worked at a company for several years before leaving to do similar work but in a different industry. I left on excellent terms with my old company and kept in contact with my old co-workers.
After a little more then a year at the newer company, corporate policies changed to the point where my employment was uncertain. More importantly, the growth of the local branch was being halted in favor for global priorities. This change left the local branch in a weak state as it would not stay competitive against fully staffed competitors. After a discussion with my manager, who was very understanding, I parted ways with the new company.
In talking with my old co-workers, my position had not been filled since I left, and I was offered a similar job formally. They were willing to pay me more, and my prior manager was indicated to be leaving the company, both positives for me.
Shortly after returning, I was given several projects by this manager that were already "late" from a schedule standpoint. I was told (paraphrased), "we have no idea how your going to complete this work given our resources, but here are 3 projects you now own." After reviewing the scoping documents, most of them vaguely large, I had approximately 4 months to do several thousand man-hours worth of work, not including the other work to be preformed by others. When I spoke to this manager about setting up a meeting to discuss the overload, I was officially reprimanded and told no support was available at the time, and to work overtime as needed.
Fast forward to around a year later, things are still on shifting ground. The projects were thankfully delayed by outside forces, so we did manage to free up design resources and mobilize on the project. So far we have met client expectations the best we could given our resources. The "manager" has not left, however, but has also unofficially vacated themselves from their position in favor of a different title that is more to their liking. This leaves me (and the rest of the team) without any day to day supervisor or technical lead. The gap is known in management, however they have not been able to hire a replacement despite trying for months to fill this void in our hierarchy. (Generally we have also been unable to hire qualified people so we are still understaffed.)
As much as my manager infuriates me, and our personalities clash, I can only wish them the best. They are a brilliant engineer, however lacking some social / managerial graces, but they longer want this position and made no reservation about making that known.
I know at this point I cannot stay where I am. The stress is becoming apparent in my health. The outlook and the morale of the entire company is sinking as well. People openly joke about it on the production floor.
Questions:
- Would my resume be damaged if it showed a steady job for several years, a different company for "2 years" (based on calendar years), followed by a return to that original company for only 1 year?
- Would a horizontal transfer to a different department (becoming a Sr. Designer or Design Engineer, rather then the catch-all Project Engineer) be seen as a detriment to my career progression?
- If these are detriments, is their anyway to soften them when searching for a job?
Back Story:
I worked at a company for several years before leaving to do similar work but in a different industry. I left on excellent terms with my old company and kept in contact with my old co-workers.
After a little more then a year at the newer company, corporate policies changed to the point where my employment was uncertain. More importantly, the growth of the local branch was being halted in favor for global priorities. This change left the local branch in a weak state as it would not stay competitive against fully staffed competitors. After a discussion with my manager, who was very understanding, I parted ways with the new company.
In talking with my old co-workers, my position had not been filled since I left, and I was offered a similar job formally. They were willing to pay me more, and my prior manager was indicated to be leaving the company, both positives for me.
Shortly after returning, I was given several projects by this manager that were already "late" from a schedule standpoint. I was told (paraphrased), "we have no idea how your going to complete this work given our resources, but here are 3 projects you now own." After reviewing the scoping documents, most of them vaguely large, I had approximately 4 months to do several thousand man-hours worth of work, not including the other work to be preformed by others. When I spoke to this manager about setting up a meeting to discuss the overload, I was officially reprimanded and told no support was available at the time, and to work overtime as needed.
Fast forward to around a year later, things are still on shifting ground. The projects were thankfully delayed by outside forces, so we did manage to free up design resources and mobilize on the project. So far we have met client expectations the best we could given our resources. The "manager" has not left, however, but has also unofficially vacated themselves from their position in favor of a different title that is more to their liking. This leaves me (and the rest of the team) without any day to day supervisor or technical lead. The gap is known in management, however they have not been able to hire a replacement despite trying for months to fill this void in our hierarchy. (Generally we have also been unable to hire qualified people so we are still understaffed.)
As much as my manager infuriates me, and our personalities clash, I can only wish them the best. They are a brilliant engineer, however lacking some social / managerial graces, but they longer want this position and made no reservation about making that known.
I know at this point I cannot stay where I am. The stress is becoming apparent in my health. The outlook and the morale of the entire company is sinking as well. People openly joke about it on the production floor.





RE: How to avoid damage to resume
... except that you are being defensive about a career of which you need not be ashamed.
Don't let some damn HR weenie erode your self-confidence.
In fact, don't talk to HR weenies if at all possible; just go direct to hiring managers.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
Also, a resume is a summary, not a blow-by-blow detail.
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
When applying for positions, should my cover letter directly address the shorter term positions; or is it best to wait until a face-to-face (or telephone call) and have them ask? Generally, should I be pro-active about this or simply see where the cards fall?
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
While not providing a direct answer, Ill take it to mean I should use the cover letter to briefly address what my Resume shows, and to apply a positive spin to the situation. Thank you.
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
A. This does not equate to you being an employment rabbit (i.e. job hopper).
B. A good few employers don't seem to care about recruiting employment rabbits.
I probably wouldn't bring it up in a cover letter, but be ready with an explanation if asked at an interview.
As Mike suggests, if you're able to find a route around HR that may serve you better.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
My timeline was 7 years at Company A, 1.5yr at Company B (completely different industry), then another 1yr at Company A (best people I ever worked for) and then I wanted to move to another state for personal reasons. I was interviewing while working for Company A just coming up on my 1 yr anniversary 'of my return'.
Frame it however you want; you're a human being, not a machine component. These aren't notes in a maintenance log about wear and tear on your life. This is just living. Anyone judging you poorly because your career has transitions or moves within reason is not a person you want to work with/for. You have a pretty healthy job history.
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
Darrell Hambley P.E.
SENTEK Engineering, LLC
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
Alternate plan - you fill the void in management, then tell whoever was doing your (vacant for 2 years) job that it's back on them. Kick your feet up and relax.
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
If I could ask one other question, how damaging to my resume would it be to take off 6 months to "pursue other ventures?". In actuality, to just study for both my FE and PE full time. My specific profession does not strictly require licensure, however most job openings are asking for multiple years of experience PLUS the PE license. Something to do with all the gray hairs retiring en-masse, or so I'm told.
I understand people have managed to work and study for these tests since the dawn of engineering, so my expectation is this idea will not be received positively. However everyone I have spoken to about the process proceeds to tell me how they became a hermit for 6 to 12 months, how they were physically and mentally exhausted all the time, how family ties became strained, and generally how much it "sucked".
To me this indicates that while it may be the standard way of achieving the license, it is certainly not the best.
With the smallest violin playing in the background, I could also use the change of pace after the past few years. But please, share with me your thoughts on the matter if you can spare the time.
Thank you again.
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: How to avoid damage to resume
The primary issue I see is the FE, more so then the PE. The PE is practical and based on what I do for a living. I believe I can handle the PE, work or not.
The FE covers subjects I did not learn in school or has been over a decade since I studied academically. Even Maths have become rusty over time. There has been no need at work to preform integration by parts or simplify a trigonometric fiction.
The purpose would be to study for the FE exam, and since I would already be free from work obligations, jump to the PE exam immediately after.