Closing the Gap

Many of us, for one reason or another, have left the workforce. There are unforeseen circumstances and major life events that may interrupt our place in the business world. The good news is that a company cannot ethically ask you to explain the gap. You will, however, have to explain it in an interview as there may be some holes on your resume.

If you left the workforce by choice, simply explain the reason. Do not dive into every minute detail. It simply is not necessary. You may have had to take care of a critically ill family member or you may have a medical reason for leaving the workforce. Explain the gap factually but brief.

It can be little more complicated if you were let go from a job. Stay focused on the positive. A brief tenure at a company often signals a “red flag” to the hiring manager. Explain facts only. What did you accomplish while on that job? You might not have been there long enough to have real accomplishments. If you were laid off as part of a business decision to cut expenses, turn that into a positive by explaining how the layoff caused you to rethink your career goals and how your skills and background will be a good fit for the job that you are interviewing for. If you are looking for areas that are positive, possibly use old evaluations that identify your positive work traits. You may have been laid off or fired, but maybe the reason your employment gap is a little long is because you were looking for a long-term opportunity, not just another paycheck. Show your determination in staying focused on your chosen career path.

One thing that can be used on your resume to fill the gaps is volunteer information. Include any volunteer work or work done for the community. Second, avoid a strictly chronological resume and instead switch to a hybrid that emphasizes your skills/job functions at the top. A hybrid resume lists your skills and accomplishments. The next section places those accomplishments into context in a chronological section of job descriptions. It is a good idea to emphasize classes or training you took or possibly describe side projects or group involvements. The term sabbatical should never have been used to cover up employment gaps.

There is no need to bare your soul. If your job search in a tough economy left you jobless for a lengthy amount of time, avoid looking desperate or acting defensive. If you took time off to simply figure out your life and career, show how you set goals and made specific steps to achieve them. Prove that you continued to do your homework and keep up with industry trends by attending seminars, reading news, and browsing industry related journals and magazines.

Source: Finance Job Lag: Explaining Employment Gaps on Your Resume and in Interviews.” – Finance and Accounting Jobs News and Advice. Web. 07 Apr. 2013.