Should I Include a Step Backward?

by Stephen
(Atlanta, Ga)

I was an RVP for a company for about 4 years and the company reorganized after closing over 100 stores and I was asked to be a District Manager again. When the company went through bankruptcy, I left and went to a department store as a General Manager to "take a break and enjoy my family".

Now I want to get back into multi-store management, however, I feel that putting the RVP position on my resume makes it look like I went way backwards. Should I include it or just stick with the District Manager position?

Comments for Should I Include a Step Backward?

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Sep 23, 2009

Shouldn't Really Be an Issue
by: Kathi

With today's challenging job market, I imagine there are many people who have moved into lower level positions, simply because they could not find something at their previous level. I don't really think you're going to stand out, Stephen.

So I would definitely NOT omit your most recent job experience. An employment gap would be far more difficult to explain and would require lying if you were to hide your current job. If you feel you must explain the "step back" at the time of your job applications, then do it in the cover letter, explaining just what you did here. Better, though, might be to just wait for the question to come up at an interview. Whatever you do, be honest. Lies have a way of coming back to bite you!

To your success,
Kathi

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