Is there ever a good time to put reasons for leaving a job in your resume? You may have been headhunted to a more senior role and want to put this into your resume, but what about the time you left your job because of the personality clash with your boss? Or the job you left (or had to leave) because the company closed - not your fault you say, but this is the third time has happened to you in your career and its beginning to look like a bit of a trend in your employment history! What's the reader to think - you've either been very unlucky or not very good at choosing stable/ profitable organisations! Consistency in a resume is very important; so you can't include some reasons for leaving (the good ones) and omit the less impressive ones. Most reasons require some explanation and it just gets too complicated and messy if you try and include the whole story in your resume. Leave that to the interview. Furthermore including too much information serves only to take the focus away from your achievements, skills, education and experience. Of course though, not everyone shares this view.

Those for (including reasons for leaving):

Many recruiters and employers want to see the reasons for leaving in your resume. Why? - Because it gives them a full picture of the person before deciding whether to interview them or not. Nothing wrong with that - but what if you've had health issues and had to step out of the workforce for a while, or had that personality clash with superiors; chances are you diminish the attractiveness of you as a potential interviewee. If you've crafted a strong resume with lots of achievements and skills you'll have plenty of time to explain in a professional positive way why you left the various jobs you've held in the past at the interview stage.

Those against:

Unless you are explicitly asked for these- most professional career practitioners agree that it is best not to include reasons for leaving. This is based on the assumption that a resume should be a selling document, well presented and succinct. There should be just enough information contained within to entice the reader to invite you in for interview. It's a bit like a first date really - if you spill your guts on the first date, you've taken away the mystery and probably the chance of a second date!! Also remember a resume is used as a method of screening out candidates, because after all it's easier to screen people out in the first instance. A bit like shopping really - it's always easier to decide what you don't want and then choose from what's left! It's up to you to go through your resume thoroughly and ask yourself what's in this document that could potentially put off prospective employers and if you find something - get rid of it!

Is it ever appropriate to include them?

Well yes - if you're specifically asked to include them then you should; but try and be as positive as you can. Additionally if you've taken time out of the workforce to study/have children/travel etc then it is useful to fill in the gaps where possible. A brief explanation such as "Between 2004 and 2005 travelled around Europe" would be sufficient.

Finally, remember if you're a great candidate for a job you'll be invited in for an interview regardless of whether or not you've included your reasons for leaving each job. But at interview be prepared to explain the reasons you left each job you've had and be positive. Even if the circumstances were not great, you can at least explain what you've learned from the experience and how you've grown from that!