Latest / The Resume Room with Fexingo: Resume Writing, Cover Letters, and Application Strategy / How to Explain a Job You Took Out of Necessity
Transcript
- Lucas: So, let's talk about the job you took because you needed the money. Not the dream job, not the stepping stone, the one that pays the bills while you figure things out. Luna: The survival job. I think we've all been there at some point. Lucas: Exactly. And yet, when it comes to the resume, people either hide it, or they over-explain it, and neither works. Today I want to get into how you actually put that experience on paper without feeling like you're apologizing for it. Luna: What's the worst way you've seen someone handle it? Lucas: The worst is when they leave it off entirely, because then there's a gap, and the gap becomes a bigger question than the job ever would have been. Or they list it but bury it at the bottom with one line, like they're embarrassed. That reads as shame, and hiring managers pick up on that. Luna: So what's the right way? Lucas: It starts with a reframe. You're not hiding that you worked retail or drove for a ride-share service or took a temp admin role. You're showing that you're willing to do what it takes. That's actually a signal of resilience and adaptability, which are real assets. Luna: But how do you translate, say, a retail associate role into something relevant for an office job? Lucas: Let's use a concrete example. A marketing manager got laid off, and after six months of searching, they took a part-time retail associate job at a bookstore. On paper, that looks like a step down. But when they wrote the bullet points, they didn't say 'operated cash register.' They said 'managed point of sale transactions and resolved customer issues in a fast-paced environment.' Luna: Okay, that's smart. It's honest, but it's framed around skills, not tasks. Lucas: Right. And the key is to pull out the transferable pieces. Did you train new employees? That's leadership. Did you help with inventory? That's logistics. Did you upsell? That's revenue. You're not making things up, you're just describing your experience in the language of the job you want. Luna: What about the title? Should they change it to something like 'Customer Experience Specialist'? Lucas: No, don't invent a title. That's a lie, and it's easy to check. Use the real title, but if it's something like 'Sales Associate', that's fine. What matters is the bullets. Luna: And in the interview, how do you explain it without sounding defensive? Lucas: You own it. You say, 'During my search, I took a part-time role to stay active and bring in income. It kept me close to customers and sharpened my communication skills.' That takes the sting out. It shows you're not lazy, and it turns the 'why did you do this' into 'what did you learn.' Luna: That's a huge shift. It's not about hiding, it's about framing. Lucas: And that's the core of this episode. But before we go deeper, I want to mention something that's been on my mind. We get a lot of messages from listeners saying the show has helped them prepare for interviews or rethink their resume. If you've gotten something out of these episodes, a couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these going. You can find us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: It's a small gesture that makes a real difference. We're not a big network, we're just two people who care about career advice. Lucas: Exactly. So, back to the resume. Let's talk about where this job sits on the page. Luna: Right, because if it's not relevant, do you put it before or after your relevant experience? Lucas: I'd put it after your relevant experience, under a separate heading like 'Additional Experience' or 'Other Work History.' That way, you're not giving it equal billing, but you're not hiding it either. Luna: And what about the dates? Some people worry about seeing a recent retail job and thinking you've given up on your career. Lucas: That's a real fear. But the dates are honest, and if you've got a solid cover letter or a summary at the top of your resume that explains your overall narrative, the hiring manager will see that this was a stopgap, not a career change. The key is to control the narrative. Luna: So, what's one concrete phrase you'd recommend for a bullet point under a survival job? Lucas: For a retail job, something like 'Delivered consistent customer service, resolving issues and maintaining a positive store environment during peak hours.' It's specific, it shows you handled pressure, and it's completely true. Luna: What if the job was manual labor, like warehouse work? Lucas: Same idea. You might say 'Coordinated with team members to meet daily shipping targets, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.' That's teamwork, that's operations, that's reliability. Luna: And if you're applying for a job that's completely different, like you were in finance and now you're applying for a project management role, does the survival job still help? Lucas: Absolutely. Because project management is about coordination and communication. If you can show that you did that in a retail or warehouse setting, it's evidence that you have the skills, just in a different context. Luna: So the listener walks away with a framework, not just a template. Lucas: Exactly. And the last piece is the emotional side. It's easy to feel like you've failed because you took a job 'beneath' you. But that's not how it looks to a good hiring manager. It looks like you're willing to work, you're not precious, and you're practical. Luna: That's a really encouraging way to think about it. Lucas: I want to leave you with this: Your resume is not a confession, it's a marketing document. You're not hiding anything, but you're also not volunteering information that doesn't help you. The survival job is part of your story, and you get to shape how it's told. Luna: And if you're in the middle of that job right now and feeling stuck, just remember, this is temporary, and it's building something. Lucas: Yeah. So next time you update your resume, don't skip that section. Give it the same care you'd give any other job, and you'll be surprised how much it can work for you.