As such, it\u2019s usually better to be upfront and explain any periods of unemployment on your resume. More than anything else, this shows you are an honest person \u2013 a trait which most employers look for in new recruits.<\/p>\n
You should avoid \u201cover-sharing\u201d information on your resume. Honesty is the best policy but presenting yourself in the best possible light is also essential. Ideally, when writing your resume, you should strike a balance between being open and being discreet.<\/p>\n
Negative Assumptions About Employment Gaps<\/h3>\n
Imagine an employer has a stack of 50 resumes to review, and they need to shortlist five candidates as quickly as possible. Although they\u2019ll use objective criteria to select candidates (i.e. \u2018Is this person qualified?\u2019), they\u2019ll also rely on \u201cgut feelings\u201d and automatic assumptions. So, if you have an unexplained gap on your resume, what kind of assumptions are employers making about you?<\/p>\n
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- \n
You\u2019re Lazy<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you\u2019ve been out of work for a long time, employers may worry that you\u2019re not suited to the 9-5 office lifestyle<\/strong><\/a>. At best, they might assume you\u2019re flaky, and at worst they may think you\u2019re downright lazy.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, this is an assumption that can be challenged, because many other \u201croles\u201d require us to commit to regular routines. For example, if you\u2019re a parent or a member of a sports team, you\u2019ll know a thing or two about the importance of routine. You can allude to this on your resume or cover letter.<\/p>\n
Also, if you don\u2019t specify what you were doing during a career break, this could also come across as lazy. It suggests you don\u2019t pay much attention to detail in your written work. Many employers won\u2019t bother calling you to an interview to try and fill in the gaps. As such, it\u2019s critical to make your resume as clear and user-friendly as possible.<\/p>\n
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You Don\u2019t Have a Strong Work Ethic<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Every employer wants to select a candidate who has a strong work ethic. If you hop from one job to the next, or you\u2019ve been unemployed for a long stretch, employers might assume you have no burning desire to work.<\/p>\n
Of course, this assumption is often a false one, because many job seekers are desperate to find work.<\/p>\n
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You\u2019ve Been Fired by a Previous Employer<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
There are two reasons why employers could make this assumption. Firstly, employers assume that no worker would intentionally leave a job unless they\u2019ve got another job to go to. It\u2019s generally expected that people will work their way up a career ladder throughout their lifetime. As such, if someone leaves a company, it\u2019s usually because they\u2019ve secured a better position elsewhere. So, if someone leaves a good job, but then doesn\u2019t start working anywhere else, this suggests they did not leave the previous company out of choice.<\/p>\n
![\"unemployed](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Employment-Gap-on-a-Resume.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSecondly, an employer might assume that your employment \u201cgap\u201d was not a gap at all. They might assume you were working for a company, got fired, and now wish to erase them from your work history. Both of these assumptions are flawed, but it just goes to show how quickly recruiters jump to conclusions if you don\u2019t explain employment gaps clearly on your resume.<\/p>\n
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You Don\u2019t Need to Make an Income<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you go several years without working, you might give employers the impression that you don\u2019t need the money. If you don\u2019t have any bills to pay, some companies might be reluctant to hire you in case you leave them in the lurch when you get bored of the job.<\/p>\n
This is the reason why it\u2019s important for people with unconventional work histories to write a compelling \u201csummary\u201d on their resume. In this section, you can talk about your motivations to work, and alleviate any concerns employers might have about your commitment to working.<\/p>\n
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You Have a Physical or Mental Health Condition<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Employers may assume that you\u2019ve been diagnosed with a physical or mental health condition and that this stopped you from working. They may worry is whether it still affects you and whether it would prevent you from performing the job effectively.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not uncommon for employment gaps to be caused by health conditions or disabilities. If this applies to your situation, you can seek advice from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission<\/a><\/strong> if you think a recruiter is discriminating against you on this basis.<\/p>\n
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You Lack Skills<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you\u2019ve been out of work for several years, employers might worry that you\u2019ve \u201cfallen behind\u201d concerning IT skills and industry knowledge. You can challenge this by including evidence of voluntary work, internships, schooling, or relevant online courses on your resume.<\/p>\n
Also, focusing on what you can offer (rather than what you can\u2019t) will help you stand out amongst your peers. Your IT skills might have dwindled over the last few years, but perhaps you\u2019ve developed strong organizational skills through caring for your relative.<\/p>\n
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You\u2019re Not a Good Catch<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you\u2019ve been unemployed for a while, employers might assume you\u2019ve been eagerly job-seeking all this time<\/a><\/strong>, but no job offers have come your way. This assumption is a double-edged sword; while they don\u2019t believe you\u2019re lazy, they do think you\u2019ve been left on the shelf by other recruiters.<\/p>\n
Employers want candidates who are desirable, and they don\u2019t want to hire someone that\u2019s just choosing them because they have no other options. If you show employers that you were doing something constructive during your employment gap, and weren\u2019t necessarily desperate to find work, you might suddenly become more desirable to them.<\/p>\n
Good Reasons for Gaps in Employment<\/h3>\n
Everyone\u2019s circumstances are different, so there\u2019s not necessarily a \u201cgood\u201d or a \u201cbad\u201d reason for taking a break from work.<\/p>\n
The following explanations are more likely to be acceptable to potential employers:<\/p>\n
[su_list icon=”icon: check-circle”]<\/p>\n
- \n
- You were raising a young family.<\/li>\n
- You were caring for someone very close to you.<\/li>\n
- You had an injury or health condition that stopped you from working.<\/li>\n
- You were studying for a degree, a certificate, or a short course (particularly if the course is relevant to the job you\u2019re applying for!)<\/li>\n
- You were traveling. This can work in your favor but can also work against you depending on how you frame it on your resume.<\/li>\n
- You were volunteering or interning because you wanted a career change.<\/li>\n
- You were laid-off from a previous employer (this is especially relevant if you received severance pay, as this explains why you may not have sought a new job immediately).<\/li>\n
- You were trying to start your own business or enterprise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/su_list]<\/p>\n
All of these explanations are reasonable and could help to alleviate a recruiter\u2019s concerns. It\u2019s best not to lie if you truly weren\u2019t in one of these situations. However, sometimes we don\u2019t recognize or acknowledge the limits we had on us during periods of unemployment.<\/p>\n
Perhaps you had a family to look after, and you did try to apply for jobs, but you couldn\u2019t put much effort into the applications because you were running around after your kids. As such, you didn\u2019t receive many responses from employers and remained unemployed for two years.<\/p>\n
Instead of telling an employer that you were looking for work and couldn\u2019t find it, it would be better to tell them that you were focused on your family during that time.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The Wrong Ways to Explain Gaps in Your Work History<\/h3>\n
Although honesty is usually the best policy, some personal revelations do not belong on your resume.<\/p>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/good-reasons-for-gaps-in-employment.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAvoid using any of the following excuses to explain gaps in your work history:<\/p>\n
[su_list icon=”icon: check-circle”]<\/p>\n
- \n
- I wanted a break from working<\/strong> \u2013 This makes you seem unpredictable.<\/li>\n
- I was job seeking<\/strong> \u2013 If your gap is less than three months, this would be reasonable. However, if you were actively job seeking for more than three months with no success, this might put some employers off.<\/li>\n
- I left to go on another overseas adventure <\/strong>\u2013 If you\u2019re regularly traveling overseas for extended trips, employers will doubt your commitment to hard work. They may be frightened you\u2019ll up-and-leave-them as soon as the job becomes too stressful.<\/li>\n
- Telling a blatant lie<\/strong> \u2013 If you tell a recruiter you were caring for a sick relative, but you weren\u2019t – and then the company hires you \u2013 be prepared to sustain this lie. The longer you work for a company, the closer you get to your colleagues, so this type of lie could easily be exposed at a later date.<\/li>\n
- I was fired<\/strong> \u2013 It\u2019s not necessary to disclose this information on your resume. If the job lasted longer than three months, list the job on your resume, but don\u2019t state a reason for leaving. If you\u2019re explicitly asked whether you\u2019ve ever been fired from a job, then be honest and frame the situation as a learning experience. However, don\u2019t initiate this awkward conversation by stating that you were fired on your resume. Also, don\u2019t erase this job from your resume altogether if it lasted longer than three months, because the gap may look fishy to potential employers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/su_list]<\/p>\n
How Long is Too Long for an Employment Gap?<\/h3>\n
According to popular opinion, a gap of more than one year looks very suspicious on a resume. But is it that simple? Well, it depends on your chosen industry (amongst other factors).<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re applying for a skilled job such as a doctor, engineer or teacher, employers will generally expect you to show commitment towards your career over your lifetime. These careers require many years of study, so it\u2019s generally expected that candidates will work their way up the career ladder and won\u2019t take any unnecessary breaks. Moreover, many skilled occupations require you to take continuing education classes to keep your skills up-to-date. So, it\u2019s fair to say that if you\u2019re applying for a skilled job, employment gaps of more than one year probably will raise some eyebrows from recruiters.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, if you\u2019re applying for an unskilled job in the retail sector, an employer is not necessarily expecting you to stick with this job for your whole life. These jobs are not \u201ccareer professions\u201d so your work history does not necessarily need to demonstrate a strong commitment to the retail sector. As such, if you\u2019ve been unemployed for a couple of years, employers might not be too concerned.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no such thing as a gap that\u2019s \u201ctoo long\u201d because it depends on many factors, but we can predict that the longer the gap, the more questions you\u2019ll face from recruiters.<\/p>\n
How Many Gaps Is Too Many?<\/h3>\n
Again, this depends on several factors, such as how old you are, and how close together the gaps were. It\u2019s protocol to list the last ten years of work history on your resume. If you recently left school, and you only have three years of work history in total, two short employment gaps in a 3-year period might seem suspicious. However, two short employment gaps over a period of 10 years would probably be more acceptable.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a job-hopper, and you have many employment gaps that are close together, this might suggest you\u2019re not very committed to the employers you work for. However, there are several reasons why jobs come to an end, and some of these reasons do not reflect poorly on the candidate. For example, if you were hired on a fixed-term or seasonal contract, it\u2019s crucial to state this on your resume so employers can understand why you weren\u2019t employed for long.<\/p>\n
Do Women Have It Easier than Men?<\/h3>\n
Whether you\u2019re applying for a skilled or unskilled job, most recruiters would accept motherhood as a reasonable explanation for a career-break. Indeed, it\u2019s quite common for moms to take several years away from the workplace<\/strong><\/a> to raise their family, and then return to work when their children are older.<\/p>\n
Fathers might want to look after their children too, but would recruiters be more suspicious of a man who has a 5 or 10-year gap in his work history? According to a recent study published by the \u00a0Academy of Management Journal<\/a><\/strong>, managers who had several gaps in their work history had lower incomes and less career satisfaction than managers who worked continuously. Not only that, male managers experienced this consequence much more severely than females, presumably because it\u2019s more acceptable for women to take a career break.<\/p>\n
So, it\u2019s probably easier for women to follow a non-traditional career path than men.\u00a0 This could be because there is more support for women returning to work after a career break. Also, it could be because employers are more likely to overlook a lengthy career break if it has been taken by a woman.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not to say that recruiters wouldn\u2019t employ a man who\u2019d spent time away from work to care for his family. Instead, a recruiter is less likely to assume he\u2019s been away from work for family reasons unless it has been spelled out on his resume or cover letter.<\/p>\n
How to Handle Employment Gaps on your Resume<\/h3>\n
As we\u2019ve discussed, it\u2019s possible that employers will make wrongful assumptions about you, based on the gaps in your resume. You can challenge these wrongful assumptions by writing a clear and informative resume.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t know where to start, consider the following tips:<\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
Use the Three-Month Rule<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
In most cases, the three-month rule will serve you well. If your employment gap was less than three months, there\u2019s no need to explain it on your resume. A gap of three months or less should not raise too many eyebrows because three months is an acceptable timeframe to be job-seeking or taking a vacation between contracts.<\/p>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/What-Does-Having-a-Gap-in-Employment-Mean-to-Employers.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSimilarly, if you were fired from a job that lasted less than three months, consider leaving this off your resume. If the job lasted longer than three months, it\u2019s often better to include it rather than erase it, because a more significant gap could look suspicious. Alternatively, see if the following technique could help to \u201ccover\u201d this part of your work history.<\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
Use Years Instead of Months<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Most people tend to format their work history like this:<\/p>\n
Administrator – June 2014 \u2013 September 2017 <\/strong><\/p>\n
To allow yourself breathing space between jobs, try reporting it like this instead:<\/p>\n
Administrator \u2013 2014 \u2013 2017 <\/strong><\/p>\n
This kind of reporting allows you a bit of leeway. It enables you to hide a gap in your employment history, but you\u2019re not providing any false information. This technique works best if you have several years of work experience to play with, and if most of your jobs have lasted for at least one year.<\/p>\n
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- \n
Be Honest (But Brief) About Challenges You\u2019ve Faced<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you were unemployed due to bad health or you were caring for someone else, it may help to disclose this information on your resume. Everyone\u2019s situation is different, and some people prefer to reveal this information during an interview, rather than on paper. This is a perfectly valid approach, too.<\/p>\n
However, if you\u2019ve been sending out lots of resumes without disclosing this information, and you\u2019re not receiving any positive responses, try sending out some resumes that do disclose this information, and see if it makes a difference. You might find employers are more willing to give you a chance when they know the full story.<\/p>\n
If you decide to reveal this information on your resume, you should be brief and factual. Don\u2019t offer any unnecessary personal details about your situation and emphasize personal strength rather than suffering. For example, in your resume summary, you could state: \u201cHaving recovered from a severe illness, I\u2019ve become more resilient, and I\u2019m excited to return to the workplace.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- \n
Add Voluntary Work and Internships<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you\u2019ve volunteered or completed an internship, add this experience to the main body of your employment history. So, if you volunteered as a classroom assistant, write \u201cClassroom Assistant (Voluntary)\u201d in the place you would report your work history.<\/p>\n
Of course, the primary benefit of adding a voluntary placement directly to your work history is that it helps you to fill a gap in your employment history. Also, this will encourage the employer to take your voluntary experience more seriously; they won\u2019t assume you\u2019ve just fabricated it to bulk out your resume.<\/p>\n
Finally, because the voluntary placement is formatted like a regular job, you can easily include your \u2018responsibilities\u2019 and \u2018key achievements.\u2019 This is your chance to highlight your skills and convince an employer you are \u201cjob ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
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- \n
Clarify Lay-offs<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
As we\u2019ve already discussed, it\u2019s best not to mention your reason for leaving if you were fired from a job. However, if you were laid-off, it\u2019s essential to make this clear on your resume.<\/p>\n
Some employers may assume that \u201clay-off\u201d is code for \u201cfired\u201d so be specific about the reasons behind the lay-off. Was the company downsizing? Was there a re-structure? How many other employees were affected? Did you receive a severance package? If you include this information, employers are less likely to jump to the wrong conclusion.<\/p>\n
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Frame Travel Positively<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Travel is not necessarily a bad thing from an employer\u2019s perspective, especially if they can see you\u2019ve treated it as a learning experience. If you did something altruistic on your travels, such as volunteering, you could include this in the main body of your employment history (as mentioned above).<\/p>\n
But what if you didn\u2019t do any volunteering during your trip? Is it still worth mentioning on your resume? If you traveled for more than three months, you should say it on your resume. Clearly, in this case, it\u2019s best not to record it under the employment history subheading. Some resume templates have subheadings such as \u201cCareer Breaks\u201d or \u201cGaps in Career History\u201d where you can briefly give details of a career break.<\/p>\n
Subheadings like these can help you record periods of travel. If you report a period of extended travel on your resume, try to emphasize what you learned from your experience. It doesn\u2019t matter if you didn\u2019t do anything altruistic or groundbreaking, be honest. Summaries help to show employers you didn\u2019t waste your time.<\/p>\n
For example:<\/p>\n
Gaps in Career History<\/strong> –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 September 2016 \u2013 September 2017 \u2013<\/strong> Traveled around New Zealand.<\/strong> \u00a0Learned how to lead a mountain hike at high altitude, achieved an open water diving certificate, and coordinated my year\u2019s travel on a shoestring budget.<\/p>\n
A short statement like this demonstrates leadership ability, an energetic personality, and strong organization skills. More than that, it shows you can reflect upon your experiences, and appraise your development. Most employers don\u2019t want to second guess what you\u2019ve been doing for a year, so they\u2019d appreciate a short statement like this.<\/p>\n
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Put Referees\u2019 Contact Details on Your Resume<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Gaps on your resume can make you look unreliable. To counteract this assumption, provide details of your referees on your resume. References can dramatically enhance your credibility. If you\u2019re willing to provide your referees\u2019 contact details before even being asked, this suggests you\u2019ve got nothing to hide.<\/p>\n
Ideally, provide details of two previous employers on your resume. If you\u2019re struggling to find suitable referees, you could include details of someone who knows you in a formal capacity (former teacher\/professor, former co-worker, voluntary placement supervisor). Always provide a professional email address and telephone number that can be verified by the recruiter.<\/p>\n
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Write a Cover Letter<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you have a complicated work history, a resume might not do it justice. As such, it\u2019s always a good idea to attach a cover letter, because letters enable you to explain things in a bit more detail.<\/p>\n
A cover letter allows you to discuss your motivations for working. This is particularly important if you\u2019ve been out of work for a long time because employers might doubt your work ethic. Remember, tailor each cover letter to the job you are applying for and avoid using templates.<\/p>\n
![\"jobs](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/how-long-is-too-long-of-an-employment-gap.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI\u2019ve Been Unemployed for So Long – Will I Ever Be Hired?<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019ve been unemployed for many years and you\u2019re trying to re-enter the workplace, you\u2019ll be dealing with one huge employment \u201cgap\u201d on your resume. For some people, this gap could be 10, 20, or even 30 years. Perhaps you\u2019ve never worked at all. One of the barriers you might face is convincing employers you\u2019re \u201cjob ready.\u201d Over time, workplaces and industries do change, so companies need candidates who are adaptable.<\/p>\n
Long stretches of unemployment don\u2019t preclude you from being employed, especially if you\u2019ve developed some useful skills during your time away from work. As we\u2019ve already mentioned, becoming a parent, or becoming ill, are common reasons for taking a career break.<\/p>\n
Undoubtedly, becoming a parent, or coping with a long-term illness, affords you specific skills that some recruiters will admire. These are the sorts of skills you could talk about in an interview, but it\u2019s hard to write them down on a professional resume.<\/p>\n
You could get some training for a new career or look at jobs that are less popular<\/strong><\/a> to improve your chances of finding work.<\/p>\n
So, how can you fill that space on your resume if you\u2019ve been unemployed for many years?<\/p>\n
How to Write a Resume When You Lack Recent Work Experience<\/h3>\n
If you don\u2019t have any recent work experience, that doesn\u2019t mean you should avoid writing a resume altogether. Resumes come in many different formats, so there\u2019s one to suit every type of candidate.<\/p>\n
Here are a few useful tips to get you started:<\/p>\n
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- \n
Write a Compelling Summary<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The summary is the small paragraph at the top of your resume that highlights your skills and experiences. It also states what kind of job you are looking for. If your employment history is very sparse, employers will rely heavily on your summary to try and understand your profile. As such, it\u2019s important to make sure your summary presents you in the best possible light.<\/p>\n
[su_list icon=”icon: check-circle”]<\/p>\n
- \n
- Limit your summary to 150 words or less. If you write more, it might look like you\u2019re just trying to bulk out your resume.<\/li>\n
- Use phrases such as hard-working, committed, results-driven, conscientious and so on, to dispel employers\u2019 assumptions that you might be lazy.<\/li>\n
- If you\u2019ve been raising a family for several years, you could write something along the lines of \u201cHard-working and compassionate leader seeking a challenging role in the administrative sector\u201d Or \u201cHighly-organized and committed candidate seeking a varied role in X industry.\u201d In this way, you\u2019re leading with your best assets, without lying about your background.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/su_list]<\/p>\n
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- \n
Emphasize Skills Not Job Roles<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you have no official work history to write on your resume, you can start by listing voluntary experience instead. But what if you have none of that either? In that case, you should focus on skills rather than job roles. After you\u2019ve written your summary, start a new subheading entitled Summary of Skills.<\/p>\n
Under this subheading, you should bullet point several vital skills. For example, these could be – Resourceful, Team-oriented, Supportive, and Results-driven. Beside each bullet point, provide one clear example of you demonstrating this skill. This example could be in the context of your family life or extra-curricular activities.<\/p>\n
You might decide to focus on \u201csoft\u201d skills (such as those mentioned above). However, if you have some \u201chard\u201d skills, do mention these, too. For example -Strong Numerical Ability, Good Literacy, Degree Educated, Proficient in Microsoft Office, and so on. Remember to provide an example of each skill you mention. You should aim to have at least six skills in total.<\/p>\n
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Focus on Education<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you have a strong educational background, then make this the centerpiece of your resume. Similarly, if you\u2019ve completed any short courses or online courses that are relevant to the job you\u2019re applying to, make sure they\u2019re listed prominently on your resume. Be specific about where the course was studied and the date it was achieved. This way, employers are more likely to take this information seriously.<\/p>\n
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List 5 Achievements<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Most resumes have space for listing your interests and personal achievements. This section can help employers understand you as a person. When you have no evidence of work experience, you should take the time to offer up additional information (such as achievements), so the person reviewing your resume has a better chance of understanding your suitability for the job.<\/p>\n
Think of your five proudest achievements and list these on your resume. If you lack inspiration, ask a close friend or family member what they think. It doesn\u2019t matter if the five achievements are completely unrelated to work; the most important thing is to show employers that you\u2019re an interesting person who is worth getting to know better.<\/p>\n
How to Explain Employment Gaps in an Interview<\/h3>\n
If an employer has invited you to an interview, they\u2019ve seen something promising in you. They\u2019ve decided that, on paper, you seem to have the skills they require. Take that as a compliment and trust their initial judgment of you.<\/p>\n
If you were honest on your resume from the outset, you can be confident that an employer has acknowledged your complex work history and is still interested in progressing your application. That\u2019s not to say they won\u2019t grill you in the interview room though.<\/p>\n
So, if you\u2019re invited to an interview, consider the following tips:<\/p>\n
[su_list icon=”icon: check-circle”]<\/p>\n
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- Don\u2019t lead with your employment gaps<\/strong> \u2013 Wait for the interviewer to raise the question first. If the employment gaps are relatively short, and you have sufficient work history on your resume, they might not even ask you about them.<\/li>\n
- Be creative<\/strong> \u2013 Always frame employment gaps positively. Before you attend the interview, think of at least one positive thing that has come out of your employment gap, and be prepared to share this with your interviewer.<\/li>\n
- If your employment gap was due to a health condition<\/strong> \u2013 past or present \u2013 you should know that you don\u2019t have to provide employers with detailed information about your condition. Employers are allowed to ask you how you would perform a job (with or without reasonable adjustments), but they cannot ask you information about your health condition or disability \u2013 past or present. As such, if the conversation approaches this territory, focus on how you would perform the job rather than going into any personal details about your health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/su_list]<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t get disheartened if an interview doesn\u2019t lead to recruitment \u2013 especially if you\u2019ve been out of work for a long time. Instead, focus on developing your interview skills, and see each interview as a learning opportunity.<\/p>\n
How Do Employers View Self-Employment on a Resume?<\/h3>\n
Some people are reluctant to record self-employment on their resume, at the risk of alienating an employer. For example, employers might assume you\u2019d be tough to manage if you\u2019ve been self-employed. Alternatively, an employer might think that \u201cself-employed\u201d is just code for \u201cunemployed.\u201d<\/p>\n
When including self-employment on your resume, consider the following tips:<\/p>\n
[su_list icon=”icon: check-circle”]<\/p>\n
- \n
- Be very specific about the type of self-employment you were engaged in and what your day-to-day tasks were. List your key achievements.<\/li>\n
- If your business has a website, provide a link on your resume to enhance your credibility.<\/li>\n
- Provide references from your period of self-employment.<\/li>\n
- In your resume summary, focus on keywords such as \u201cTeam-oriented\u201d to demonstrate you\u2019d be able to work well in a team.<\/li>\n
- Some people prefer to wait until the interview to disclose that they were self-employed. In this case, they may state their job title was \u201cManager,\u201d but not state that they were the owner of the company. This would only work for certain types of self-employment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/su_list]<\/p>\n
Whatever you decide, you shouldn\u2019t erase self-employment from your resume because an empty gap will be a lot more concerning to employers.<\/p>\n
Can Employment Gaps Work in Your Favor?<\/h3>\n
A discontinuous work history can raise suspicion amongst employers. As we\u2019ve explored, this usually happens because employers often make negative assumptions about people who\u2019ve been out of work. However, employers do hire people with gaps in their work history, which suggests they can be persuaded and convinced to hire candidates with unconventional work histories.<\/p>\n
If an employer decides to pursue a candidate with a messy work history, this suggests that the candidate has convinced them that they\u2019re worth the risk. In other words, the candidate has shown great \u201csales skills,\u201d and the employer has recognized that. So, if you\u2019re able to frame your work history in a favorable light, you\u2019ll show yourself to be a creative, persuasive, and resilient candidate. Ultimately, this can help you become more desirable to employers.<\/p>\n
Employment gaps can have a detrimental impact on your career, so it\u2019s advisable to avoid them as much as possible. This is particularly true if you\u2019re a skilled professional who needs to keep up-to-date with developments in your industry. Having said that, if you need to take a break from the workplace, it\u2019s not going to destroy your chances of re-employment \u2013 no matter how long your break is.<\/p>\n
If you sense that your employment history is putting employers off, take a good look at your resume and make sure you’re clear about your situation. If you\u2019re over-sharing or under-sharing details about your work history, now is the time to fix it.<\/p>\n
Utilize these tips on how to use the Internet to find work<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and watch out for fake jobs<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Employers prefer to receive resumes that are clear and uncomplicated. If there\u2019s an unexplained employment gap on your resume, you\u2019re likely to be at a disadvantage. However, that\u2019s not to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2684,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2682"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2682"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2682\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Be creative<\/strong> \u2013 Always frame employment gaps positively. Before you attend the interview, think of at least one positive thing that has come out of your employment gap, and be prepared to share this with your interviewer.<\/li>\n
- Don\u2019t lead with your employment gaps<\/strong> \u2013 Wait for the interviewer to raise the question first. If the employment gaps are relatively short, and you have sufficient work history on your resume, they might not even ask you about them.<\/li>\n
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- I was job seeking<\/strong> \u2013 If your gap is less than three months, this would be reasonable. However, if you were actively job seeking for more than three months with no success, this might put some employers off.<\/li>\n
- I wanted a break from working<\/strong> \u2013 This makes you seem unpredictable.<\/li>\n
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