If you have been out of the workforce for awhile, or even during several periods in your life, it can be hard to know how to address that on your resume. You know that they are going to notice and will probably ask you about it at an interview. So, do you lie? Do you just hope they don't do the math? Or, do you just give them the elaborate story with all of the details? How you handle it will depend on your personal situation, but I can tell you that lying or hoping they don't notice aren't good choices. Believe me when I say that you are not alone in this dilemma. A recent article at the New York Public library dealt with this very topic, and it seems that many people are re-entering the workforce due, in part, to the tougher economic situation.
So, what are some strategies to help you deal with gaps on your resume? Here are some tips that may help:
- List what you have been doing- During your most recent employment gap did you volunteer? Chair any committees? Coach Little League? Anything you have been doing can be listed as job experience. Employers aren't as concerned about your employment gaps as they are about finding out the sort of person you are lately. So list the things that show that you are still a motivated, active person.
- Don't give them any medical information- You can tell them that you were out of work in order to care for a sick family member or while dealing with an illness. Anything more than that is too much information and is frankly, borrowing trouble. If you tell them about your personal challenges or the health problems in your family that you have been dealing with it may cause them to wonder if you are able to commit to a full time job.
- Don't lie- Employers routinely check out the work history you listed on your resume, so don't try to fudge the dates. It may not come back on you, but if it did, you wouldn't want to be looked at as a person with no integrity. Think of it this way, if the employer isn't willing to understand about your employment gaps, then they probably aren't the right fit for you anyway. Don't compromise your professional integrity for that.
- Use creative formatting- There are many resume formats that can help you make the gaps not so glaringly obvious. You don't have to list the month and year, just the year is sufficent. Keep in mind that you don't have to cover your entire job history, just the past 10 years is good enough for most employers. There has been a recent trend of just listing the relevant information and grouping all of the non-related experience under a heading of other employment. When you have a large employment gap that is recent, or several over the years, doing it this way looks suspicious, so stick with a traditional resume.
- Address your situation in the cover letter- A cover letter is one of the best ways to explain your breaks in a positive way. Acknowledge the employment gaps, briefly state why without any justification and assure them that you are ready to get back into the workforce.
Employment gaps happen to many of us, and it isn't anything to be ashamed of. For women, especially, taking time off to care for a sick relative or to raise a family doesn't have to be a death sentence for your career. It may make it a bit more of a challenge, but if you have been taking care of others full time for the past few years, you are no stranger to challenges.
How have you dealt with employment gaps? Let me know in the comments.
Are you looking for a job in Education? Take a look at EducationJobSite.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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