Bridging The Gaps

In a perfect world, we would never need a resume. We would find a great job as soon as school was over and work at it until retirement. The next best thing would be finding a string of great jobs and moving from one to the next without any time lapse. In the real world, however, most of us have at least one gap in our resume whether we planned it or not. Let’s face it, the days of working for the same company for 30 years are over. At some point in our lives, whether by choice or unavoidable circumstance, we will find ourselves looking for a new job. While the ideal might be to go from one job to another and avoid any resume gaps, sometimes that simply isn’t possible. Here are some creative and constructive ways to bridge the gaps. Settling for a “warm body job” just to have something to fill a slot on a resume might seem like a good idea, but unless you are desperate for money, it could show an unstable work history to a prospective employer. Not to mention, it won’t provide for a very good reference from your previous employer if you kept your intentions to leave as soon as you found something better a secret. One of the best gap fillers out there is volunteerism. Volunteers are in high demand so there are immediate openings with nonprofit organizations and local charities. Of course, the downside is the lack of pay, but if you aren’t working, you aren’t getting paid anyway. The upside – which is priceless – is maintaining the flow of work and experience that can help you land the next job. Anyone can volunteer and there is a large variety of volunteer choices to fit every lifestyle, interest, and schedule. Are you a writer looking for a list of credits? Volunteer your writing skills for brochures, web site content, and other donor correspondence. Marketing students can volunteer to help with fundraising campaigns or event promotions. Stay-at-home moms can assist with mass mailings or make donor solicitations from their home telephones. Are you interested in working in retail? Volunteer at the local thrift store. There is a never-ending list of opportunities. A benefit for college students is the chance to find out if their intended major is truly what they want to do for the rest of their lives. For instance, if a college student is considering a career in law, volunteering for the local Legal Aid office might offer some valuable insight beyond what would be offered in law school. A student who considers a career in medicine can volunteer at a clinic before deciding whether or not medical school is really the right choice. For some students, their experiences with volunteering might cement their beliefs, but for others, it may let them know their original career choice was not the right choice before they waste a lot of time and money on classes they will never use. The best way to become a volunteer is to research the nonprofit organizations in your area and contact them directly. Some of the larger nonprofits employ a volunteer coordinator, but anyone answering the telephone when you call should be able to direct you to the right person to sign you up to volunteer. Don’t be afraid to ask to work in a certain area, but also be open-minded about trying new things. It is important to the organization to get the most out of your talents so speak up about what you do best. If you can only work for a certain amount of time, be sure to mention that up front. That way the time you do have to spare can be maximized to give both you and the organization the most benefit. Some employers encourage their employees to volunteer in the community on behalf of the company to increase public relations. If your resume shows that you already have a deep commitment to volunteerism, it could help you land a job because it shows that your ethics match that of the potential employer. So even though volunteerism doesn’t pay up front, the benefits it can provide to a potential job seeker can be absolutely priceless.