Is it better to have a 10 year gap or a bad reference?Side-stepping age discrimination with graduation...

Super Regeneration Detector

When will the last unambiguous evidence of mankind disappear?

Quickest way to move a line in a text file before another line in a text file?

How does mathematics work?

Soft constraints and hard constraints

What is the difference between uniform velocity and constant velocity?

How was Luke's prosthetic hand in Episode V filmed?

Linearize or approximate a square root constraint

Project Euler # 25 The 1000 digit Fibonacci index

What does a Nintendo Game Boy do when turned on without a game cartridge inserted?

Improving an O(N^2) function (all entities iterating over all other entities)

Is art a form of communication?

Do gauntlets count as armor?

How to split the polynomial .

ISCSI, multiple initiaros for the same lun

Killing a star safely

Brute-force the switchboard

I want light controlled by one switch, not two

Trivial non-dark twist in dark fantasy

Is it better to have a 10 year gap or a bad reference?

What's so great about Shalantha's Delicate Disk?

What's the physical meaning of the statement that "photons don't have positions"?

Manager is asking me to eat breakfast from now on

Satellite in orbit in front of and behind the Moon



Is it better to have a 10 year gap or a bad reference?


Side-stepping age discrimination with graduation yearHow should I list a single role spanning two employers?A bad reference from my internship managerWhat can I do about a malicious previous employer giving bad references?Non-manager referenceHow to write a resume using bad bosses as referencesWill I be able to find a programming job even with a 5 year gapremedy for academic gap year in interviewWould it look bad if I take 4.5 years to complete a 3 year degree?What looks better on resume: bankrupt startup or unemployment gap?






.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}







4















I made a mistake and was let go from a job I held for 10 years.



How should I handle this on my resume? Do I omit my last 10 years of employment or list them when I think they will give me a bad reference?










share|improve this question









New contributor



Cathy S is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 3





    Hi Cathy, I've edited your post to try and flesh it out and make the question clearer, as it was attracting close votes. Please revert my edit if you don't agree with how I've rephrased your question.

    – Player One
    7 hours ago











  • What country are you located in?

    – John Eisbrener
    4 hours ago











  • Never leave a gap of 10 years on your resume. You'll have to list something there, or 9/10 people will immediately put your resume on the discard pile.

    – Mast
    10 mins ago











  • Don't lie... You will eventually get caught, and then have to explain two terminations. Depending on the country you may be able to provide the lone narrative (and the company may only be able to verify employment dates, job descriptions, etc).

    – jww
    9 mins ago








  • 1





    Leaving 10 (especially the most recent) years off your resume will definitely raise questions, it also wipes any experience or skills you may also have accumulated. You must have done something right to remain there 10 years. Seems like it would be harder to convince someone you are qualified w/o that experience. Depending on your situation, your former employer may be prepared to provide confirmation of employment only (start date, end date, positions), leaving the rest as a matter between you and the ex-employer. If term'd for cause, maybe a generic 'violation of company policy' suffices?

    – Ian W
    7 mins ago


















4















I made a mistake and was let go from a job I held for 10 years.



How should I handle this on my resume? Do I omit my last 10 years of employment or list them when I think they will give me a bad reference?










share|improve this question









New contributor



Cathy S is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 3





    Hi Cathy, I've edited your post to try and flesh it out and make the question clearer, as it was attracting close votes. Please revert my edit if you don't agree with how I've rephrased your question.

    – Player One
    7 hours ago











  • What country are you located in?

    – John Eisbrener
    4 hours ago











  • Never leave a gap of 10 years on your resume. You'll have to list something there, or 9/10 people will immediately put your resume on the discard pile.

    – Mast
    10 mins ago











  • Don't lie... You will eventually get caught, and then have to explain two terminations. Depending on the country you may be able to provide the lone narrative (and the company may only be able to verify employment dates, job descriptions, etc).

    – jww
    9 mins ago








  • 1





    Leaving 10 (especially the most recent) years off your resume will definitely raise questions, it also wipes any experience or skills you may also have accumulated. You must have done something right to remain there 10 years. Seems like it would be harder to convince someone you are qualified w/o that experience. Depending on your situation, your former employer may be prepared to provide confirmation of employment only (start date, end date, positions), leaving the rest as a matter between you and the ex-employer. If term'd for cause, maybe a generic 'violation of company policy' suffices?

    – Ian W
    7 mins ago














4












4








4








I made a mistake and was let go from a job I held for 10 years.



How should I handle this on my resume? Do I omit my last 10 years of employment or list them when I think they will give me a bad reference?










share|improve this question









New contributor



Cathy S is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











I made a mistake and was let go from a job I held for 10 years.



How should I handle this on my resume? Do I omit my last 10 years of employment or list them when I think they will give me a bad reference?







resume






share|improve this question









New contributor



Cathy S is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.










share|improve this question









New contributor



Cathy S is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 8 hours ago









Player One

7,2686 gold badges24 silver badges38 bronze badges




7,2686 gold badges24 silver badges38 bronze badges






New contributor



Cathy S is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








asked 9 hours ago









Cathy SCathy S

301 bronze badge




301 bronze badge




New contributor



Cathy S is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




New contributor




Cathy S is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.










  • 3





    Hi Cathy, I've edited your post to try and flesh it out and make the question clearer, as it was attracting close votes. Please revert my edit if you don't agree with how I've rephrased your question.

    – Player One
    7 hours ago











  • What country are you located in?

    – John Eisbrener
    4 hours ago











  • Never leave a gap of 10 years on your resume. You'll have to list something there, or 9/10 people will immediately put your resume on the discard pile.

    – Mast
    10 mins ago











  • Don't lie... You will eventually get caught, and then have to explain two terminations. Depending on the country you may be able to provide the lone narrative (and the company may only be able to verify employment dates, job descriptions, etc).

    – jww
    9 mins ago








  • 1





    Leaving 10 (especially the most recent) years off your resume will definitely raise questions, it also wipes any experience or skills you may also have accumulated. You must have done something right to remain there 10 years. Seems like it would be harder to convince someone you are qualified w/o that experience. Depending on your situation, your former employer may be prepared to provide confirmation of employment only (start date, end date, positions), leaving the rest as a matter between you and the ex-employer. If term'd for cause, maybe a generic 'violation of company policy' suffices?

    – Ian W
    7 mins ago














  • 3





    Hi Cathy, I've edited your post to try and flesh it out and make the question clearer, as it was attracting close votes. Please revert my edit if you don't agree with how I've rephrased your question.

    – Player One
    7 hours ago











  • What country are you located in?

    – John Eisbrener
    4 hours ago











  • Never leave a gap of 10 years on your resume. You'll have to list something there, or 9/10 people will immediately put your resume on the discard pile.

    – Mast
    10 mins ago











  • Don't lie... You will eventually get caught, and then have to explain two terminations. Depending on the country you may be able to provide the lone narrative (and the company may only be able to verify employment dates, job descriptions, etc).

    – jww
    9 mins ago








  • 1





    Leaving 10 (especially the most recent) years off your resume will definitely raise questions, it also wipes any experience or skills you may also have accumulated. You must have done something right to remain there 10 years. Seems like it would be harder to convince someone you are qualified w/o that experience. Depending on your situation, your former employer may be prepared to provide confirmation of employment only (start date, end date, positions), leaving the rest as a matter between you and the ex-employer. If term'd for cause, maybe a generic 'violation of company policy' suffices?

    – Ian W
    7 mins ago








3




3





Hi Cathy, I've edited your post to try and flesh it out and make the question clearer, as it was attracting close votes. Please revert my edit if you don't agree with how I've rephrased your question.

– Player One
7 hours ago





Hi Cathy, I've edited your post to try and flesh it out and make the question clearer, as it was attracting close votes. Please revert my edit if you don't agree with how I've rephrased your question.

– Player One
7 hours ago













What country are you located in?

– John Eisbrener
4 hours ago





What country are you located in?

– John Eisbrener
4 hours ago













Never leave a gap of 10 years on your resume. You'll have to list something there, or 9/10 people will immediately put your resume on the discard pile.

– Mast
10 mins ago





Never leave a gap of 10 years on your resume. You'll have to list something there, or 9/10 people will immediately put your resume on the discard pile.

– Mast
10 mins ago













Don't lie... You will eventually get caught, and then have to explain two terminations. Depending on the country you may be able to provide the lone narrative (and the company may only be able to verify employment dates, job descriptions, etc).

– jww
9 mins ago







Don't lie... You will eventually get caught, and then have to explain two terminations. Depending on the country you may be able to provide the lone narrative (and the company may only be able to verify employment dates, job descriptions, etc).

– jww
9 mins ago






1




1





Leaving 10 (especially the most recent) years off your resume will definitely raise questions, it also wipes any experience or skills you may also have accumulated. You must have done something right to remain there 10 years. Seems like it would be harder to convince someone you are qualified w/o that experience. Depending on your situation, your former employer may be prepared to provide confirmation of employment only (start date, end date, positions), leaving the rest as a matter between you and the ex-employer. If term'd for cause, maybe a generic 'violation of company policy' suffices?

– Ian W
7 mins ago





Leaving 10 (especially the most recent) years off your resume will definitely raise questions, it also wipes any experience or skills you may also have accumulated. You must have done something right to remain there 10 years. Seems like it would be harder to convince someone you are qualified w/o that experience. Depending on your situation, your former employer may be prepared to provide confirmation of employment only (start date, end date, positions), leaving the rest as a matter between you and the ex-employer. If term'd for cause, maybe a generic 'violation of company policy' suffices?

– Ian W
7 mins ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















9














It would be better to list the job.



You'll face questions in any interview about what you've been doing for the last ten years. If you've left it off, your options will be to lie (which is bad - never lie in interviews), or tell the truth that you left the job off your resume (which is also bad - it will likely give the correct impression that you lied by omission on your resume to get into the interview room).



Additionally, if the new job requires a background check you'll need to list your old job for that (or lie again, still bad, and fatal to your application when the background check uncovers it anyway).



Depending on your area (this site has taught me that some locales expect a reference to be from "the company", but wherever I've worked it's been from individual people), it would be better to get a former manager there to supply a reference. Someone you reported to at some point in the last ten years, preferably who has left the company so has no stake in the politics of why you were dismissed.






share|improve this answer

































    6














    In the 10 years that you worked there do you not have a single person who could provide a good reference for you?



    I'd mention the job on my resume and just use a current or former employee that I trust would say good things about me as a reference.



    If you're asked why you're leaving or why you left you could just say something like "I'm ready for a change of pace" or something.






    share|improve this answer































      1














      It is very difficult to spin this without more information.



      If you were let go for something that was your fault (and even worse it was very recent) then you're not going to want to highlight that at all.



      On the other hand people can be let go for things that are not their fault.



      10 years is too big a gap to leave it blank on your resume. It is one of the worst kinds of red flags you can have. You're applications will get passed over every time by someone who doesn't have a gap.



      Best bet is to put the job down and hope for the best. as suggested you could put a colleague or someone you trust as a reference. You could ask your old boss to see if you can gauge what kind of reference you might get but its hard to say without knowing what the cause was or what his/her temperament is like.






      share|improve this answer


























        Your Answer








        StackExchange.ready(function() {
        var channelOptions = {
        tags: "".split(" "),
        id: "423"
        };
        initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

        StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
        // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
        if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
        StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
        createEditor();
        });
        }
        else {
        createEditor();
        }
        });

        function createEditor() {
        StackExchange.prepareEditor({
        heartbeatType: 'answer',
        autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
        convertImagesToLinks: false,
        noModals: true,
        showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
        reputationToPostImages: null,
        bindNavPrevention: true,
        postfix: "",
        imageUploader: {
        brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
        contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
        allowUrls: true
        },
        noCode: true, onDemand: false,
        discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
        ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
        });


        }
        });






        Cathy S is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










        draft saved

        draft discarded


















        StackExchange.ready(
        function () {
        StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f140831%2fis-it-better-to-have-a-10-year-gap-or-a-bad-reference%23new-answer', 'question_page');
        }
        );

        Post as a guest















        Required, but never shown




















        StackExchange.ready(function () {
        $("#show-editor-button input, #show-editor-button button").click(function () {
        var showEditor = function() {
        $("#show-editor-button").hide();
        $("#post-form").removeClass("dno");
        StackExchange.editor.finallyInit();
        };

        var useFancy = $(this).data('confirm-use-fancy');
        if(useFancy == 'True') {
        var popupTitle = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-title');
        var popupBody = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-body');
        var popupAccept = $(this).data('confirm-fancy-accept-button');

        $(this).loadPopup({
        url: '/post/self-answer-popup',
        loaded: function(popup) {
        var pTitle = $(popup).find('h2');
        var pBody = $(popup).find('.popup-body');
        var pSubmit = $(popup).find('.popup-submit');

        pTitle.text(popupTitle);
        pBody.html(popupBody);
        pSubmit.val(popupAccept).click(showEditor);
        }
        })
        } else{
        var confirmText = $(this).data('confirm-text');
        if (confirmText ? confirm(confirmText) : true) {
        showEditor();
        }
        }
        });
        });






        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        9














        It would be better to list the job.



        You'll face questions in any interview about what you've been doing for the last ten years. If you've left it off, your options will be to lie (which is bad - never lie in interviews), or tell the truth that you left the job off your resume (which is also bad - it will likely give the correct impression that you lied by omission on your resume to get into the interview room).



        Additionally, if the new job requires a background check you'll need to list your old job for that (or lie again, still bad, and fatal to your application when the background check uncovers it anyway).



        Depending on your area (this site has taught me that some locales expect a reference to be from "the company", but wherever I've worked it's been from individual people), it would be better to get a former manager there to supply a reference. Someone you reported to at some point in the last ten years, preferably who has left the company so has no stake in the politics of why you were dismissed.






        share|improve this answer






























          9














          It would be better to list the job.



          You'll face questions in any interview about what you've been doing for the last ten years. If you've left it off, your options will be to lie (which is bad - never lie in interviews), or tell the truth that you left the job off your resume (which is also bad - it will likely give the correct impression that you lied by omission on your resume to get into the interview room).



          Additionally, if the new job requires a background check you'll need to list your old job for that (or lie again, still bad, and fatal to your application when the background check uncovers it anyway).



          Depending on your area (this site has taught me that some locales expect a reference to be from "the company", but wherever I've worked it's been from individual people), it would be better to get a former manager there to supply a reference. Someone you reported to at some point in the last ten years, preferably who has left the company so has no stake in the politics of why you were dismissed.






          share|improve this answer




























            9












            9








            9







            It would be better to list the job.



            You'll face questions in any interview about what you've been doing for the last ten years. If you've left it off, your options will be to lie (which is bad - never lie in interviews), or tell the truth that you left the job off your resume (which is also bad - it will likely give the correct impression that you lied by omission on your resume to get into the interview room).



            Additionally, if the new job requires a background check you'll need to list your old job for that (or lie again, still bad, and fatal to your application when the background check uncovers it anyway).



            Depending on your area (this site has taught me that some locales expect a reference to be from "the company", but wherever I've worked it's been from individual people), it would be better to get a former manager there to supply a reference. Someone you reported to at some point in the last ten years, preferably who has left the company so has no stake in the politics of why you were dismissed.






            share|improve this answer















            It would be better to list the job.



            You'll face questions in any interview about what you've been doing for the last ten years. If you've left it off, your options will be to lie (which is bad - never lie in interviews), or tell the truth that you left the job off your resume (which is also bad - it will likely give the correct impression that you lied by omission on your resume to get into the interview room).



            Additionally, if the new job requires a background check you'll need to list your old job for that (or lie again, still bad, and fatal to your application when the background check uncovers it anyway).



            Depending on your area (this site has taught me that some locales expect a reference to be from "the company", but wherever I've worked it's been from individual people), it would be better to get a former manager there to supply a reference. Someone you reported to at some point in the last ten years, preferably who has left the company so has no stake in the politics of why you were dismissed.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 9 mins ago

























            answered 7 hours ago









            Player OnePlayer One

            7,2686 gold badges24 silver badges38 bronze badges




            7,2686 gold badges24 silver badges38 bronze badges

























                6














                In the 10 years that you worked there do you not have a single person who could provide a good reference for you?



                I'd mention the job on my resume and just use a current or former employee that I trust would say good things about me as a reference.



                If you're asked why you're leaving or why you left you could just say something like "I'm ready for a change of pace" or something.






                share|improve this answer




























                  6














                  In the 10 years that you worked there do you not have a single person who could provide a good reference for you?



                  I'd mention the job on my resume and just use a current or former employee that I trust would say good things about me as a reference.



                  If you're asked why you're leaving or why you left you could just say something like "I'm ready for a change of pace" or something.






                  share|improve this answer


























                    6












                    6








                    6







                    In the 10 years that you worked there do you not have a single person who could provide a good reference for you?



                    I'd mention the job on my resume and just use a current or former employee that I trust would say good things about me as a reference.



                    If you're asked why you're leaving or why you left you could just say something like "I'm ready for a change of pace" or something.






                    share|improve this answer













                    In the 10 years that you worked there do you not have a single person who could provide a good reference for you?



                    I'd mention the job on my resume and just use a current or former employee that I trust would say good things about me as a reference.



                    If you're asked why you're leaving or why you left you could just say something like "I'm ready for a change of pace" or something.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 8 hours ago









                    neubertneubert

                    1,4424 gold badges19 silver badges28 bronze badges




                    1,4424 gold badges19 silver badges28 bronze badges























                        1














                        It is very difficult to spin this without more information.



                        If you were let go for something that was your fault (and even worse it was very recent) then you're not going to want to highlight that at all.



                        On the other hand people can be let go for things that are not their fault.



                        10 years is too big a gap to leave it blank on your resume. It is one of the worst kinds of red flags you can have. You're applications will get passed over every time by someone who doesn't have a gap.



                        Best bet is to put the job down and hope for the best. as suggested you could put a colleague or someone you trust as a reference. You could ask your old boss to see if you can gauge what kind of reference you might get but its hard to say without knowing what the cause was or what his/her temperament is like.






                        share|improve this answer




























                          1














                          It is very difficult to spin this without more information.



                          If you were let go for something that was your fault (and even worse it was very recent) then you're not going to want to highlight that at all.



                          On the other hand people can be let go for things that are not their fault.



                          10 years is too big a gap to leave it blank on your resume. It is one of the worst kinds of red flags you can have. You're applications will get passed over every time by someone who doesn't have a gap.



                          Best bet is to put the job down and hope for the best. as suggested you could put a colleague or someone you trust as a reference. You could ask your old boss to see if you can gauge what kind of reference you might get but its hard to say without knowing what the cause was or what his/her temperament is like.






                          share|improve this answer


























                            1












                            1








                            1







                            It is very difficult to spin this without more information.



                            If you were let go for something that was your fault (and even worse it was very recent) then you're not going to want to highlight that at all.



                            On the other hand people can be let go for things that are not their fault.



                            10 years is too big a gap to leave it blank on your resume. It is one of the worst kinds of red flags you can have. You're applications will get passed over every time by someone who doesn't have a gap.



                            Best bet is to put the job down and hope for the best. as suggested you could put a colleague or someone you trust as a reference. You could ask your old boss to see if you can gauge what kind of reference you might get but its hard to say without knowing what the cause was or what his/her temperament is like.






                            share|improve this answer













                            It is very difficult to spin this without more information.



                            If you were let go for something that was your fault (and even worse it was very recent) then you're not going to want to highlight that at all.



                            On the other hand people can be let go for things that are not their fault.



                            10 years is too big a gap to leave it blank on your resume. It is one of the worst kinds of red flags you can have. You're applications will get passed over every time by someone who doesn't have a gap.



                            Best bet is to put the job down and hope for the best. as suggested you could put a colleague or someone you trust as a reference. You could ask your old boss to see if you can gauge what kind of reference you might get but its hard to say without knowing what the cause was or what his/her temperament is like.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 6 hours ago









                            solarflaresolarflare

                            13.7k6 gold badges31 silver badges63 bronze badges




                            13.7k6 gold badges31 silver badges63 bronze badges






















                                Cathy S is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










                                draft saved

                                draft discarded


















                                Cathy S is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













                                Cathy S is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












                                Cathy S is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
















                                Thanks for contributing an answer to The Workplace Stack Exchange!


                                • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                                But avoid



                                • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                                • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                                To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                                draft saved


                                draft discarded














                                StackExchange.ready(
                                function () {
                                StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworkplace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f140831%2fis-it-better-to-have-a-10-year-gap-or-a-bad-reference%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                                }
                                );

                                Post as a guest















                                Required, but never shown





















































                                Required, but never shown














                                Required, but never shown












                                Required, but never shown







                                Required, but never shown

































                                Required, but never shown














                                Required, but never shown












                                Required, but never shown







                                Required, but never shown











                                Popular posts from this blog

                                Taj Mahal Inhaltsverzeichnis Aufbau | Geschichte | 350-Jahr-Feier | Heutige Bedeutung | Siehe auch |...

                                Baia Sprie Cuprins Etimologie | Istorie | Demografie | Politică și administrație | Arii naturale...

                                Nicolae Petrescu-Găină Cuprins Biografie | Opera | In memoriam | Varia | Controverse, incertitudini...