This week's job searching tip deals with gaps in employment on your resume. If, by looking at your resume, an interviewer can see an obvious gap between recent jobs, their perception of what that gap means could hurt your chances of being considered for a job. This week's tip discusses strategies for dealing with these gaps.

QUESTION FROM A SUBSCRIBER:
What is the best way to handle being away from the job market for an extended period of time (over 2 years) both on the resume and in interviews? My absence was due to medical/psychological difficulties and I want to be honest, but discrete. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

-- T.G..

Dear T.G.,
If an employment gap is short or occurred several years ago, most employers and recruiters won't notice and you probably don't need to bring it up unless they do. However in your case, it sounds like the gap is noticeable. There are several ways you can deal with the situation.

USING A FUNCTIONAL RESUME

A solution many resume writers would recommend is to use a functional resume instead of a chronological one. This can work if you have a complex job where you have achieved many things in various areas. For example, a programmer who has worked with several technologies could legitimately use a functional resume, dividing up the resume by technologies worked with instead of time periods. This can also work with other technical professions like engineers, attorneys, etc. If the work you do is rather straightforward and you work with a fairly limited range of skills, using a functional resume could make it seem like you're trying to hide your dates of employment.

If you do use a functional resume, many people looking at it will still want to know what kinds of companies you've worked for and what the most recent employer's line of business was. You can deal with this by including a note above your list of experiences indicating the most recent employer's name, location and line of business. In this same section you can list other employer names and lines of business you have worked in.

INCLUDING AN EXPLANATION OF THE GAP

Another approach is to include an explanation of the gap on the resume itself. This makes sense to do if using a functional resume instead of a chronological one would seem odd because your profession doesn't lend itself to such a resume format. It's also important to note that most people reading resumes prefer the chronological format. If you have a legitimate story as to why you have a gap in your employment dates that most people could sympathize with and understand easily, just being forthright and listing it on your resume is fine.

If you have a noticeable gap in employment dates but don't explain it on your resume, many recruiters will either just discard your resume and move on to the next one, or come up with their own theory about why you weren't working. Although you might still be considered for the job, the recruiter's (probably false and somewhat subconscious) story about why you weren't working could put you at a disadvantage in their mind compared to other candidates they're considering.

If you had a medical condition that has since been resolved completely or nearly completely, my sense is you're better off explaining that briefly on the resume instead of not mentioning anything at all. For example:
Dec 2002 to Nov 2004: Took sabbatical from work to deal with a medical problem. The issue has been completely resolved and the doctors feel it will not reoccur.

If it's a minor problem that most people could understand, like a problem with back pain, you could even bring it up in the interview. An employer might not feel comfortable bringing up the subject - especially because if they asked about it, it could look like they were discriminating against you illegally - but if you think you can make them feel more comfortable with the fact that the problem has been solved by explaining it, you could give it a try. The biggest concern an employer will have about a gap in employment is whether it is any indication of your likely future performance.

If it was a medical problem, they could be concerned that it could happen again and that they'd be stuck with having to find a replacement for you. If you don't provide any explanation, the employer might think you couldn't find a job and were unemployed because your skills were not up to par.

I would recommend leaving out the psychological aspect since psychological illnesses are rarely understood by the general public.

Another alternative would be if you did some other things during your time off which could be mentioned while leaving out the part about the medical condition. For example, if you spent more time with your kids, you could put down:

Dec 2002 to Present: Left work to spend more time with children. Children are now older and I'm ready to return to the workforce.

The bottom line is you're best off having some kind of story to tell that the employer will find palatable. You don't want to tell an outright lie, but you may want to emphasize certain things more than others depending on what you find gets the most favorable response (in terms of replies to resumes and in interviews).

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The first thing you need to do before you write your resume is learn how to format it. Just as if you were cooking a new dish you would follow a recipe, so too should you follow a specific format when you type your resume.

There are three different types of resume formats you can use. First, we will talk about the Chronological resume. The chronological format is the most popular and widely used of the three resume formats. This format keeps you connected to one specific job.

There are four requirements to the Chronological resume. First is your work history. This should show it correlates to your current objectives. Working in the same field, even though you have changed companies, proves you are consistent and dedicated to a specific career path.

The next requirement of the chronologically formatted resume is the number of years you've worked in the same field. Showing you are experienced tells the employer that you have an asset to bring to the table.

Thirdly, you will state your present employer, or, if you are currently unemployed, you want to show that you have been out of a job for a short period of time.

Last, but very important is the length of time you have spent at each company. You will definitely want your resume to shout, “I'm not a job jumper!”

The longer you have stayed at each job, the more committed and loyal you will come across to your perspective employer.

Next, there is the Functional resume. The functional resume will work best for you if the following three points relate to your situation.

First, the functional resume format is great for people with little or no job experience.
Secondly, this format works well if the last job you worked at is not in the same field as the position in which you are currently applying.
Thirdly, this specific format will work best for you if you have been out of work for a long time, but now you truly want to start working again.

The last of the three formats is the Combination resume. This type of resume combines the chronological and the functional formats by joining your skills, experience and job history together. The combination resume works well by letting a strong area make up for a weaker area. For example, if your job history is limited, but you have tremendous skill at the task you will perform if hired. The skills you possess may sway the employer to overlook your lack of employment history.

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You finally did it. You made the decision to leave a career that makes you dread every Monday morning and pursue one that you feel is your true calling. Congratulations! Making the decision was the hard part, right? Unfortunately, no. You’ve convinced yourself that this is the right move…how do you convince everyone else? It’s time to work on your resume.

Resume writing for this situation can be challenging, to say the least. Why? Think about it for a moment – how do you go from a retail manager to a purchasing agent in a corporate environment? Or from an accountant to a salesperson? Not all career changes are that drastic, but you get the picture. Once you look at it from this point of view though, it makes you wonder how in the world you’ll get a job in a new field.

There are a number of things your resume has to portray to the reader:

• The skills that you learned and honed in your past jobs transfer to the one you are applying for.

• Your strengths and accomplishments compliment the field and position (or type) of position you are seeking.

• You can do something other than what you are currently doing.

So how exactly do you do this? How do you convince a potential employer that you have what it takes to meet and exceed the expectations for the job – no matter what previous jobs you’ve held in the past? One way is by writing a functional resume.

A functional resume is one that you don’t see nearly as often as the tradition chronological and combination ones. That’s because they are used when the situation for the job seeker is not ideal. Other instances may be returning to the workforce after a long period of time or job hopping. A functional resume is used when it wouldn’t be as effective as if you had a solid work history, no gaps in employment and are looking for a job similar to the one you are currently in, if not a step-up.

Your resume may start out with an executive profile or summary of what you have done in the past and what you are looking to do in the future. This is the time to really “talk yourself up”. You do not want to modest.

An example might be:
Accomplished and experienced professional with a 10-year proven record of developing accurate sales plans based on intensive analysis and communication with integral departments. Combines astute strategic and business skills with an impeccable work ethic and drive for success. Self-starter that is enthusiastic, forward-thinking and recognized as a peak performer.

How do you begin to write the body of your resume? Take all your achievements, strengths, education and/or training and write them down. Which ones can you group together under one heading? Headings could include:

• Leadership
• Financial Management
• Account Management
• Goal Setting & Achievement

Of course, these headings are just examples to get your own wheels turning. They will differ depending on your own experience and achievements.

As you are compiling your lists, keep in mind that you are writing for you new career, not your present or past ones. Present this valuable information in a compelling manner that shows how you can be a benefit to a company in your desired career. Use strong adjectives, verbs and keywords to really get your point across.

Now that you have the difficult part done, the next steps are easy. Include your work history, education and any other special training and/or skills that you deem important at the end of your resume. Even though the focus is on the main body of your resume, the other information needs to be on there for reference sake.

And that’s it! You’re done writing your resume. Hard work – yes, but well worth it when you consider what you are now able to tackle – a new job, a new career…a new life!

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When applying for a position in today’s market, do you ever wonder, “Is my resume really directed to the decision maker?” Are you concerned that your resume never reaches the true “hiring manger” or decision maker? Worse yet, are you being "auto-disqualified” because your resume doesn't speak to the decision makers needs and never makes it passed his or her screening process?

How would you know if your resume did or didn’t reach the appropriate decision maker? You can truly never know for certain. However, there are steps you can take to ensure that your resume does not get "auto-disqualified", or provide obvious reasons not to be hired.

There are several “mistakes” commonly made in resumes that give immediate reasons why you will not be offered the opportunity to go to the next step in the hiring process.

The usual first step in obtaining a position is the submission of your resume. Typically that is to the staff in a Human Resources department.

Often, HR is given a specific group of parameters the hiring manager is seeking in a particular applicant. If a resume does not reflect those parameters it is often filed away and never given to the decision maker.

Age is often a factor in this process. Age discrimination happens. It happens to applicants that are too old for a position or too young. Companies are not allowed to ask an applicant’s age, but often times they don’t have to. Many people reflect this information voluntarily in their resume. By giving a high school graduation year, college graduation year, or even the dates you attended schools gives the reader ample information to decide if you are too young or too old for the position. Age is never a reason you will be hired, but it certainly could be a reason you are not hired. Why give them this information?

Many applicants are concerned that they have worked for only one company or in only one industry and that their skills are not transferable to other industries. This is when your marketing skills are truly tested. Marketing yourself is very similar to marketing a product. Find out what is going to make you attractive to the employer as a potential employee and showcase those skills in your resume.

So, how can you avoid "Auto-Disqualifying"

Example: If you are applying for a management position but have never held a manager’s “title,” showcase the fact that you have managed others or supervised projects so the person reading your resume understands that you have the necessary skills even though you have not held the title. If your resume is not reflecting your skills, then it is probably being disqualified before it reaches a true decision maker. This is commonly known in the employment industry as “auto-disqualifying.”

Education, or lack of, is a tougher hurdle to overcome. Many positions have an educational requirement that some people have not achieved. This again brings us to marketing yourself. Showcase, through your resume, that you have the skills and knowledge to succeed at the position they are trying to fill. There are very few “perfect applicants” for any particular position, as a result decision makers typically must choose whom they feel is right for the job based on skills, experience and you’re your ability to fit into their team.

Do you know if your resume is reaching decision makers? Market your skills through your resume to ensure your resume is actually reaching the true decision maker and increase your chances of landing that interview!

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When writing your resume or CV you should always remember that you are trying to convince the employer that YOU are the best person for the job. In order to do this your CV/Resume is your personal ‘sales letter’. It must be written from the perspective that it is not ‘what can the employer do for you’ but a case of ‘what you can do for the employer.’

Keep this in mind when creating your CV and ensure that every point you make is one that will highlight how the employers business might benefit from having you on board.

Employers want all the cogs in their machine to be working efficiently and running on time and working towards maximum output. They want to know that you will assist them in keeping that machine (their business) running smoothly.

Don’t be afraid to be bold and state ‘this is what I will do for you’.

Not all employers know what the intricate aspects are of every vacancy that exists within their organisation. Thus they rely on ‘results’ that are observable and feedback from their workforce as well as job descriptions that they may have created themselves, had help to create or obtained from an outside source as a standardised document.

What do most employers want?

In addition to technical skills and competencies that relate to the job most employers want transferable skills, i.e.:

• Good written and communication/interpersonal skills
• Ability to listen and follow instructions, apply knowledge.
• Willingness and ability to work with others – team work
• Administrative/computer skills
• Time management
• Personal Management skills
• Problem solving
• Able to find and use information

These skills while not necessarily achieving immediately observable results do contribute to the overall effectiveness of the organisation. So mentioning and demonstrating your transferable skills is as important as highlighting your technical skills.

Identify your employer’s needs, and convince them that they need YOU!

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As discussed in financial value of a resume article, job titles are essential in a resume. Think and act as people in the job you are aspiring for do, rather than the job you have now.

The key is to monitor the jobs advertised in the industry over a period of 1 or 2 months and note the pay scale that is associated with each job description. This is vital information to learn if you want to advance in your career.

This way, you can also find better job titles for the jobs you have or roles you previously occupied. An employer will give your resume more consideration if a job title you used is associated with more responsibility or is closer to the job you are applying for. This will result directly in your interviewer considering you for a position with more responsibility, which will again result in an increase in your salary.

These job descriptions are also a key to writing your career objective. You should be able to create a lot of keywords and ideas that can be used when defining your career objective.

These job adverts can also provide you with a lot of key skills that you can include in your resume, especially skills you already have but didn't know the technical name for.

Warning

Be aware though that this can work both ways, just as you may be tinkering with your job title to ‘big yourself up’ employers will be ‘bigging up’ the job title in the Ads to make the job sound more appealing. For example a vacancy for a cleaner may be advertised as ‘Environment and hygiene technician’. Ok, perhaps an exaggeration, but you get the point. Every other job these days, the post is for a Consultant this, Manager of that.

Also how they describe themselves may not be as you expect either. For example a’ fast growing dynamic new business’ could in fact be a one man business operating from the back bedroom.

The Adverts do not lie they just exaggerate, as they want you to be as interested in working for them as you are keen to apply. So do your research before you apply for the job. Look up the company details on the web.

Watch out for Adverts, which say things like: ‘pay is subject to qualifications/experience’ as this usually means they'll pay you as little as they think you’ll accept when they hire you.

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