Be ready to address these four resume red flags

No matter how much effort you put into your carefully crafted resume, there may be areas that cause concern for employers. If you have any of the following issues with your resume, be prepared to explain your situation in further detail.

1. Gaps in work history
If you are missing information for anything other than a month or two, you can expect a specific question about what you did during that period of time. Your best answer would be the pursuit of schooling full time or anything else that contributes to your working skills. If you were unemployed for a time, state that fact and explain all the things you did in that time to sharpen your skills and research your industry. Do not say you took time off to be with your children or take care of an ill relative. This will be seen as a liability.

2. Switch in career fields
If you have a recent change in career fields, especially ones not particularly related, prepare to explain why you switched. Be careful not to expose any weaknesses or negative information when talking about this. Don’t talk about how much you hated the travel in your old industry or how you didn’t like being cooped up in the office all day. Focus on the positives.

3. Appearance of a job hopper
If you have had more than one job you were only in for a year or two, expect to answer questions about your longevity. Employers don’t want to invest the time and money getting you proficient in your job to have you leave as soon as that is achieved. Get specific about why you left a job if it was to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, or maybe you were young and just starting in your career. It is more acceptable to change jobs frequently in the beginning of your career as you try to decide what professional path to pursue.

 

4. Disjointed education
If you attended more than one college to get your degree you might have to provide a few words of explanation. This is more important when a particular degree is required for the position, but you should always be prepared to talk about your education path. If you changed your major, or degree path altogether, be ready to explain why. Consider excluding any schooling from your resume that is not relevant to the job you are applying for to avoid unnecessary questions. You don’t have to list all your education on your resume if it is not pertinent.

By Becky Papp

Becky Papp has been a professional writer for 20 years, working for newspapers, magazines and corporate communications. She currently contracts for clients all over the world, writing online and print articles, newsletters, blogs, and e-books. She resides in Phoenix, Arizona.