Here's a rule that took me too long to learn:
**When in doubt, leave it off. Let them ask.**
Say a job description says "3+ years of experience" and you have one. The instinct is to dress up what you have to make it look like three years. Don't. Instead, describe your actual experience clearly, and let the interviewer decide whether to bring it up.
Why? Because if they ask in the interview, you get to have a real conversation about it. You get to explain your experience, what you did with it, and why you'd still be a good fit. You control the framing.
But if you try to pre-emptively fluff it on your resume, you've now lied on paper, and an interviewer who notices will never trust anything else you've said.
**The same principle applies to:**
- **Gaps in your work history.** A short gap doesn't need a label. Don't highlight it. Be ready to explain it if asked.
- **Short stints at jobs.** Left somewhere after four months? That's awkward. Don't open the conversation on your resume. Be ready to handle it in the interview.
- **Things you're not sure how to frame.** If you're not sure how to describe something, it's usually better to leave it off than to phrase it badly.
The general principle: lead with your strongest stuff. Minimize or omit anything that could be a question mark. And prepare a solid, honest, two-sentence answer for every question you know they might ask.
"What did you do in 2024?" Have an answer.
"Why did you leave that role after three months?" Have an answer.
The answer doesn't have to be impressive. It just has to be clear, confident, and not make them worry about you.
You don't have to volunteer your weaknesses. You just have to handle them well when they come up.
