The issue of gaps in employment history is a thorny one, and one that often gets posed at interviews. A large unexplained gap in your employment history can be a showstopper.
Many of us take time off. Sometimes, it's by choice. Sometimes, it can take time to find a new job. Sometimes it is not even a gap. If you’ve worked for one company for 10 years (something that is uncommon these days), you can be viewed as being complacent or lacking ambition. On the other hand a long unexplained gap in your resume can imply you are not employable. It can also imply you might have been 'dishonourably discharged' from a role and you have not included it in your resume. Even worse is when prospective employers might assume you are simply lazy and don't care much for your career. Honesty is the best policy! The following lists how you should explain these gaps in your resume: 1. Emphasise why it was that you were let go from your previous job. Say your company or department restructured or downsized, or your position was moved overseas and you lost your job or was made redundant. In case this coincided with a period of recession, site that to explain why it has taken time to find new employment. 2. Do not badmouth your previous employer. Do not bag your previous employer. Explanations that scream: “I didn’t like my previous employer” won't look good. Instead you can say the previous role was not a good fit. 3. If you left a job voluntarily, don’t be afraid to mention why. You might have taken the year off to travel, or for family. Perhaps you had a child. Perhaps you went back to University. These reasons are very acceptable to hiring managers. 4. Emphasise any activities you undertook during the gap to improve your professional standing. Make sure you mention any certifications or courses you undertook during the gap. This shows you have the initiative to pursue self-education. Remember to also mention any freelance or voluntary work you’ve done. 5. Use Your Cover Letter to Briefly Explain the Employment Gap When you have employment gaps that don't fit on your resume (you took time off to care for an aged parent or to raise a child) you can use your cover letter to explain the gap. 6. Use Dates to Cover the Employment Gaps in Your Resume When listing dates on your resume, you don't need to list the month/year if you were in a position for over a year or if your position spans multiple years. For example, you could say 2014 - 2016 (rather than May, 2014 - February, 2016) which would give you some room to cover the gaps. Your employment gap can also give you an edge. Surprised? Watch this video and see how you can turn a negative into a positive! Good luck and keep the faith.
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AuthorThe employment market has evolved and social media dictates how we market ourselves - so here we go - another blog - hope to add value with this one though! Archives
December 2016
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