Whether you're coming off of a rough period or returning to the workforce after time away, job gaps on your professional resume can be a difficult hurdle. By facing the positive and negative realities of your situation, you can devise a strategy and get a new job in less time.
Resume Realities
The way you present job gaps on your resume can affect whether or not you get past the application stage. As a person with an inconsistent job history, your resume must be as good or better than other candidates' resumes. Choose a format that highlights your most important qualifications, such as advanced degrees, unique experiences or significant professional accomplishments. Ensure that the document is readable and typo-free, and select a simple but appealing design. If you're applying to large companies that use screening software, ensure that the text includes key words and phrases from the job description.
Potential Gap Fillers
One way to explain job gaps is to include filler activities such as volunteering, consulting and long-term travel. Tread carefully when adding these items to your professional resume. If you were out of work for six months and completed one freelance assignment, don't fill the entire gap with claims of "consulting" — when exposed, this half-truth can put you out of the running for a job. Instead, be truthful and connect your gap activities to your professional goals when possible. If you spent time volunteering, for example, focus on transferable skills such as grant writing, managing a team or organizing large-scale events.
Prepare an Explanation
No matter what the reason for your job gaps, it's crucial to prepare an explanation in advance to ensure that you're not caught off guard during job interviews. When the reason for a gap is personal, such as a family illness, keep your statement short and succinct. If you can relate the absence to your career, focus on the most compelling connections. Practice the explanation until you can deliver it quickly and with confidence. Then, come up with answers to the inevitable follow-up questions. Confidence and enthusiasm are always better than apologies and embarrassment.
Leverage Personal Connections
In some cases, there's no way to make job gaps seem like a career strategy. The reality is, if you were unemployed for a long stretch of time, or if you took several years off to focus on your kids, you're automatically at a disadvantage. This doesn't mean you'll never work again — if your resume doesn't get you in the door, you simply need to take a more personal route. Locate places where industry influencers gather: non-profit boards, volunteer organizations, small business associations and professional organizations are great places to start. Join, and put your abilities to work. If you're in marketing, revamp the group branding and put out a killer campaign. If you're an accountant, offer to manage the budget. This process is time-intensive, but it increases name recognition and gives you a strong reputation among people who can offer jobs or personal recommendations.
Job gaps can be challenging to overcome, but they don't need to mean the end of your career. With awareness and adequate preparation, you can explain gaps and convince employers that you're the best person for the job.
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