Dear Sam: I recently chose to leave my job because I no longer saw a fit with my skills. I was hired 18 months ago, and there have been several layoffs since then. As a result of those layoffs, I have been asked to assume more and more responsibilities. I don’t mind adding functions to my plate, but what I have been asked to do doesn’t, in any way, resemble what I was hired to do. I was to the point that the job I performed had very little to do with my desired career path and the skills I hoped to develop. In addition, due to all of those layoffs, our corporate culture has taken a dramatic hit, and the workplace isn’t a positive environment. Due to these reasons, I decided to resign, and I am now engaged in a full-time job search.

I am concerned, however, that I have only been in that position for 18 months, and potential employers might see me as a flight risk. How do I communicate the situation without being seen as negative toward my past employer? Should I include the reason for my departure on my resume? – Confused & Concerned

Dear Confused & Concerned: I am so sorry you were in the situation; unfortunately, it is not uncommon. You can succinctly explain some of what you told me to a potential employer. While I would not include the reason for your departure on your resume, I would absolutely include it toward the end of your cover letter. You do not have to go into a terrific amount of detail in writing — save a little more of the explanation for an interview — but you can simply say that due to several recent reductions in force and extensive dilution and change of your role, you decided to pursue an opportunity that better aligned with your strengths, experience, education and career development goals. As this is not uncommon, someone in your hiring audience will likely have gone through a very similar situation or, at the very least, understand exactly what you are explaining.

You can provide more detail during an interview without disparaging your past employer. It would be commendable for someone to decide to exit an employer to conduct a thoughtful, full-time job search in alignment with their career goals. That shows a potential employer that you understand who you are, what skills you possess, and how you can truly add value to an organization.

As a side note, when looking at your resume, I noticed that you are presenting months and years of employment. You do not need to show the months of your employment — as you are no longer an entry-level candidate — and removing the months can help alleviate the appearance of shorter-term tenure. Take a critical look at the roles you are presenting also, as I am not sure all of the positions you have included actually need to be on your resume. It looks like you are still including college jobs from 10+ years ago, and you have included an entrepreneurial venture you are currently engaged in that doesn’t have anything to do with your career path. If you feel the need to include that, I would likely move it to an additional experience section that follows your main professional career history. I would not want an employer to think you left your most recent job to pursue your entrepreneurial endeavor because that could cause concern about how committed you would be to a new engagement.

I wish you success in finding a role that better aligns with your career intentions! All the best.

Samantha Nolan is an Advanced Personal Branding Strategist and Career Expert, founder and CEO of Nolan Branding. Do you have a resume, career, or job search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at [email protected]. For information on Nolan Branding’s services, visit www.nolanbranding.com or call 888-9-MY-BRAND or 614-570-3442.