Mind The Gap Dont Let Missing Work Experience Hamper Your Career

Mind The Gap Dont Let Missing Work Experience Hamper Your Career Do you have any gaps in your resume? Im talking about the big, red-flag kind of gaps. Maybe your resume gap is due to unexpected downsizing, extended travel, or health  family issues. Having a resume gap  can be quite common, especially these days. Theyre not as eyebrow-raising as they used to be, but you still  have to be accountable for them. Prospective employers want to know what was going on behind the scenes. As a job seeker, you will have to answer this question. So be prepared. How do you deal with it? Here’s how. Be Honest It’s essential to be honest. There is no point in telling a lie; bluffing your way is not an option. The risk is high if a hiring manager sees straight through you. Explain the  circumstance that led to the compulsive gap on your resume, with no excuses. In the words of James Caan, serial entrepreneur Personally, I am always more interested in the abilities and characteristics of an individual if they havent been in work for a while but have the quality my company needs, I will hire them. Think Outside the Box If youre currently between jobs and worry that it might lead to a lengthy gap in your resume, consider performing  some volunteering work. Non-profits are always seeking volunteers, and you never know who youll meet while on a project. You could learn of a new opportunity while donating your time. And even if you dont, your volunteer gig closes that resume gap nicely. Even if youre seeking a structured, full-time job to replace your old one, doing  contract or part-time work can minimize or close entirely  a resume gap. Freelance work is available in a variety of industries via sites like  ODesk, Elance, Vworker, Freelancer.com and Guru. Focus On  Your New Skills Some people tend to think that schools, colleges and office spaces are the only places where learning takes place. Well, this is definitely not true. Let’s take an example. Maybe you took time off from your work in order to travel and write. In such a scenario, you learned  how to deal with hardships, coping with  different people from various cultures and backgrounds. Such an experience enhances your tolerance, and your abilities to deal with different types of people and make you more culturally sound. This kind of an experience can be useful for any business, global or local. Or let’s consider another situation where you have taken time off in order to raise your children. You are bound to have sharpened skills like organization, multitasking and discipline. Try and make the hiring manager aware of all your skills; justify how relevant are they in your new job and how can you actually apply them. Reflect and Skew Positively Maybe you took time off to explore your options, start a business, or pursue your passion. But it failed, and youre headed back to a real job. No worries in explaining this one. What did you learn? Ponder over how this can help you in your present times and your future job. How did this “gap period” help you? What challenges did you face? How have you grown? Reflect on questions like  these, be sincere in your responses, and practice to ensure you  sound natural and confident about shifting gears again. Let Your Talents Be Your Guide Fortunately, in our  current economic  job markets, the focus lies more on finding the right kind of talent for the job at hand. So, even though you might feel concern about your resume gap, sometimes they arent as big  an issue as you expect them to be. In these cases, as long as your resume reflects a strong skillset for the position, you have a positive attitude, and are proactive in your approach, a gap in resume isnt the red flag that it used to be. About the Author:  Sampurna Majumder is a blogger and a professional career author with proven expertise in writing for topics related to jobs, job trends, different job opportunities, various workplace and industry information, tips and strategies for job seekers. Image courtesy of ciscopa.