Ask a Resume Writer: Should You Put a Reason for Leaving a Job on Your Resume?

Your career history is the heart of your resume. Employers want to see where you’ve worked in the past, what your job duties were, and your top achievements per role.

It’s not uncommon to be asked in an interview why you left one job for another, especially if you have a diverse or extensive background. Should you go ahead and include those details on your resume, too? Or is it a resume mistake to provide reasons for leaving jobs?

Laurie Ballow, Certified Advanced Resume Writer at iHire, provided her advice on this topic.

Do You Have to Include a Reason for Leaving a Job on Your Resume?

“No, you don’t need to include reasons for leaving past positions on your resume. Remember that your resume is not the same as a formal application. It’s a marketing document meant to get you interviews,” Ballow explained. “Only include information on your resume that will help you get a callback.”

It’s better to answer the question, “Why did you quit your last job?” during the interview instead, especially since many people leave jobs for reasons that need careful and strategic explanation.

In our 2025 Talent Retention Report survey, a toxic or negative work environment, poor company leadership, and being unhappy with their manager/supervisor were among the top reasons job seekers left their last jobs voluntarily.

“Putting something like ‘Left job due to a toxic boss’ on your resume could quickly raise red flags,” added Ballow. “The same advice applies if you were fired or let go. It’s not necessary to disclose those details this early in the hiring process. Wait until you’re asked about it in an interview and can elaborate with a positive, forward-looking explanation.”

When and How to Explain Why You Left a Job on Your Resume

There are instances when giving a reason for leaving a job on your resume could work in your favor.

“Sometimes, it can be advantageous to include a brief line that explains a career gap, and in doing so, you also explain why you left your last job,” Ballow mentioned. “This way, employers aren’t left wondering what you were up to.”

For example, if you took time off to care for a family member, you could put this on your resume:

Took hiatus from professional career to provide full-time care for ailing family member from 2022 to 2023.

Another way you might explain why you left a job is to include brief details on your resume about why you were hired for your next role.

“Leaving one company for a role at another that’s a clear step up shows ambition and progress. You could include something like, ‘Recruited by former manager at ACME, Inc., to fill leadership role at new warehouse.’ This tells employers why you left and shows your value,” Ballow explained.

Additionally, using the right labels for short-term or temporary roles can do the trick.

“If you use words like ‘Contractor’ or ‘Freelancer’ when listing past job titles that were for short-term gigs, that should be enough of a signal to the employer that you left a job because it was a temporary assignment and the contract ended,” added Ballow.

To sum up Ballow’s advice, don’t make the resume mistake of including reasons for leaving jobs on your resume – unless it could help you get the interview. Always focus on telling your career story in a way that puts your best foot forward!

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