© 2010 Ugur Akinci
The gaps in your resume must be handled skillfully in order not to raise any unnecessary doubts about your qualifications.
Such gaps in employment history happen due to a number of reasons including giving birth to a child and illness.
When my wife gave birth to our son she took a few years off to take care of him. She switched to a less-demanding career track to be able to do that.
Members of the U.S. National Guard, for example, have found themselves serving in battle fronts for extended periods, creating a “gap” in their employment history.
In the aftermath of the Crisis of 2008-2009, a number of retirees felt the need to get back in the labor force to make ends meet. Since they had not worked for a number of years, their comeback created a similar “gap” in the resume, by default.
There is an increasing number of people who go back to school full-time to weather the economic storm. When they return to the job market, there will be a break in the flow of their employment pattern that needs to be explained.
To work your resume around such gaps you need to employ two basic methods:
1) Switch from a chronological to functional type of resume (despite the fact that most recruiting managers prefer straight forward chronological resumes).
2) Find something both positive and relevant to emphasize about the “gap experience.”
Example (for a woman who had to quit her job as an engineer and became a stay-home mom taking care of 3 kids and volunteering):
QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY:
YOUTH ORGANIZING & SCHEDULING — Planned, implemented, and enforced time-schedules for 5 years for 3 kids ages 6 through 12, including their home-assignments, soccer practices, music lessons and medical appointments.
VOLUNTEERING & LIFE-STYLE CONSULTANCY — Worked as a volunteer at two different assisted-living communities, helping the elderly with their daily chores and shopping trips, acting as tour guide on trips to Philadelphia and New York City, organizing their personal papers and assisting them with their finance and payment schedules.
LITERACY ADVOCACY — Helped the Public Library of Rockville develop community outreach programs for the 2,500 school-aged children in Rockville, Maryland and helped as Volunteer Assistant Librarian during the weekends and peak usage hours.
