So, here you are again. For whatever reason, you are back in the market for a job. The first thing to do is get your resume together for prospective employers. As you write your resume, how should you handle employment gaps? Here are a few suggestions.
Resumes are designed to give employers a sense of your qualifications for a particular job. The perfect resume should be one page in length and easy to read, with personal, work, and education information under separate headings. This piece of paper is an interviewer’s first impression of you.
Gaps in work history can occur for any number of reasons. An illness in the family that required you to leave your place of employment would not be explained in your resume. A company lay-off is an example of unemployment that is out of your control. In a lot of cases, termination on the part of the employer is the reason for the employment gap. Finding new work in your respective field may not be instant, so the gap could be as little as a few months or as much as a year or more.
The first thing not to do is become nervous. An employer will ask about the gap simply because it is very visible on a well-prepared resume. Don’t go into an interview with preconceived notions about what the employer is thinking. Wait until you are asked about the length of unemployment instead of volunteering information.
A gap in employment history does not mean that you won’t get hired for the job. Remember that your application interested them, which is why you are getting an interview in the first place. Relax and breathe deeply. When you are asked, answer the question in as few words as possible. Detail about the situation is not important. If you want, rehearse your response ahead of time to make sure that you are not overstating the event.
For those who are currently out of work, fill the time by staying current in your chosen field. Taking classes at the local college in a new aspect of your field will keep you updated on new technologies. Visit websites affiliated with your area of expertise and read up on new issues. Subscribe to magazines and newsletters put out by organizations associated with your field. This information can be added to your resume under a new heading.
Gaps in your resume are not an interview nightmare so don’t act like it. Keep a level head when you enter the interview room and confidently answer any questions that are asked of you. Let the potential employer know how interested you are in their open position. Your enthusiasm will speak highly of you.
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