One of the biggest concerns you may have about your resume and work history is your career gaps. Whether short- or long-term gaps, you probably fear these could hurt you and you’re right. But there’s a solution: address them head-on during your job search and you will have a better chance of securing an interview or even a job offer.
There are a number of ways you can be transparent and speak to those gaps, which are outlined below. Find those that sound most comfortable to you and use them when applying for jobs!
[See: Famous CEOs and Executives Share Their Best Career Advice.]
Resume. A lot of people are afraid to mention they’ve taken time off to care for children, a personal illness or sick family members. While you shouldn’t divulge all of your personal information, include an explanation for each period. Describe each gap directly where it falls in your resume with a short explanation about why you exited the workforce and the dates. If you did volunteer work for a few years in schools, hospitals or elsewhere, or engaged in professional development activities or courses, include those details under the gap period. Remember that all paid and unpaid volunteer work and internships should be on your resume.
Another thing people fear is how to explain short periods spent at employers, which are often followed by gaps. If you have reasonable explanations for each, e.g., you were laid off because the team was restructured or you had to move due to your partner’s relocation, consider including this information. You can do this by including a one-line explanation below each job description that applies with an italicized explanation like: ” Reason for leaving: laid off due to organizational restructuring.”
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
Cover letter. The cover letter provides additional real estate for describing periods of unemployment. Again, you don’t need to delve into the details of your personal life, but explain in general why you were out of the workforce and why you are re-entering. Any professional development or volunteer work counts, so mention what you’ve done in the interim. In addition, be sure to talk about the skills you have from past work experience that align directly with what the company seeks according to the job posting. Provide specific examples of where you’ve demonstrated those skills in your work, and explicitly state that because of the similar industry or job you’ve worked in, you will successfully solve the same issues for their company.
LinkedIn. Similar to your resume, include any gaps on LinkedIn so that you don’t have lingering questions among headhunters or employers who view your profile. In other words, you’re reducing the barrier to them reaching out to you!
Interviews. During a phone screen, don’t be afraid to address your gaps. Explain them clearly and confidently if they arise, ensuring the employer that you are prepared and motivated to work hard and apply X and Y skills to their company. They may be concerned that you don’t have current knowledge of your field or up-to-date skills. When asked about your breaks, tell them how you worked in the past for X company and give them a specific example of where you addressed a challenge that may be similar to one faced by the company where you’re interviewing.
Another way to assuage concerns is to ask at the conclusion of an in-person interview if they have doubts about you as a candidate. If you do this, be sure you’ve thought about what they may say and that you’ve practiced responses so you are prepared to answer as effectively as possible.
[See: The 10 Most Common Interview Questions.]
Post-interview thank-you email or note. There’s no reason to bring up career gaps at this point unless you have a strong sense that the employer remains concerned about them. If that’s the case, make a brief statement about why you feel you are a strong candidate for the role, having done X and Y in the past for Z company. Emphasize your excitement about the company and role and how you’re ready to get started right away.
In summary, don’t try to hide your gaps; explain them thoughtfully. If you don’t, you run the risk of an employer being left out to dry with too many questions, and you may lose out on opportunities to interview or even get a job offer.
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5 Ways to Address Career Gaps originally appeared on usnews.com
