How to explain a gap in your work history
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Peggy McKee provides advice on addressing gaps in work history during a job search. She suggests explaining gaps in a way that reassures hiring managers, such as being part of a mass layoff or taking time off for family or education reasons. Practice explaining gaps confidently. Provide strong references, focus interviews on contributions to the role, and maintain networks to find opportunities. While gaps cannot be hidden, staying positive and selling qualifications for the role can help overcome concerns from gaps in work history.
How to explain a gap in your work history
- 1. Total Access Club Career Confidential Coaching Club with Peggy McKee
- 2. Today’s Agenda Presentation – How to Explain a Gap in Your Work History Questions & Answers – Live Feedback – How to Contact Us Accessing this Webinar – The Archives
- 3. If you’re looking for a job, you already know that some hiring managers… May see a gap in your work history as a liability.
- 4. While a gap in Your Work History Never Looks Great… • There are a few ways you can easily address it and reassure hiring managers that – You’re a Good Bet You Will Add Value to Their Company It’s still an issue to be dealt with, but it CAN be dealt with.
- 5. First, put yourself in the shoes of a potential manager. • Then think about what will make them feel better: – If you were laid off, it will help if you can tell them that you were part of a mass layoff. – If you can truthfully say that you took time off to – • Deal with a Family Emergency • Take Care of Your Children • Go Back to School – If you can provide strong references from people you have worked for, that is a big help, too.
- 6. Come up with an explanation that makes sense to them… • And be confident when you explain it. • If you’re OK with it, it makes it easier for them to be OK with it. • If you’re nervous or apologetic, it makes them wonder what it is that you have to be guilty about. Practice that explanation on another hiring manager.
- 7. You have to make sure your references are outstanding. • Former managers are the best. – It Doesn’t Have to be Your Last Boss – It Can be From a Job or Two Back • Someone in management who wasn’t your direct boss. That person can speak the same language as the hiring manager.
- 8. I placed a candidate who’d been out of work for 18 months. • He’d been part of a big layoff, and didn’t look for work for 8 or 9 months because of family issues. • He phrased it in such a way that showed that he had opportunities, but he wasn’t interested in taking those. • The attitude was: – I’m Confident in My Abilities – I’m Waiting for the Right Opportunity – I’m Not Desperate – I’m a Great Candidate
- 9. In The Interview… • Keep the conversation focused on what you can do for them in THIS job. • You have to address the gap, but be brief and then bring it back around to the topic at hand. You’ve looked at different opportunities, but haven’t really been interested until this one because it’s such a perfect fit because of your skills in X, Y, and Z.
- 10. If There Was Something… • That kept you out of the workforce like – – Taking Care of Your Small Children – Health Issues – Illness of a Family Member Mention it, and then show how that’s no longer an issue for you.
- 11. It’s Always Nice to Talk About Something Constructive… • That you’ve done while you’ve been out of the workforce. Maybe you’ve - – Been Consulting – Spent Time Volunteering – Taken Some Courses – Completed Your Degree Those kinds of things always make hiring mangers feel better about you, your work ethic, and your skills.
- 12. Here Are Some Other Ideas: • Write articles for trade journals or other publications in your field. • In addition to demonstrating your knowledge and skills on a resume, you might be able to make some extra money. All of these are great things to be able to add to your resume, or discuss during a job interview.
- 13. Don’t rule out the possibility of temporary work. • Look at contract work and consulting assignments. • Market yourself as a freelancer while you look for a permanent position. • These assignments can fill the gap in between full-time jobs on your resume. They’re a great way to get to know people in your industry and expand your network.
- 14. Your Network • Continue to maintain the network you do have, and connect with new people whenever possible. • These are people who will give you job references. • They may refer you for a job opportunity. Let members of your network know you’re looking for work… they may know just the right position for you.
- 15. Job Shadowing • If you’re trying to change careers, job shadowing is a great option. • It gives you a better idea of – – What a Job Entails – The Keywords and Skills to Put on Your Resume – Experience in the Industry Observe another professional for a day at their regular job.
- 16. What do you do with the gap on your resume? • Resist the temptation to try to hide your work gap with a functional resume. • It’s always better to submit a resume in reverse chronological format - 1. It makes it easier for the person reading your resume. 2. Recruiters and hiring managers usually see a functional resume as an attempt to cover up an employment gap.
- 17. Be upfront… but you don’t necessarily have to be brutally honest. • If you have an employment gap of a few months, disguise that by leaving off the months of your employment and just including the years. • If you worked for a company from November 2004 to January 2005, you would just say 2004-2005. If the gap is bigger, there’s no way to disguise that - you just have to be straightforward.
- 18. Explain why you were out of work in your cover letter. • Keep it brief - something like: – “In 2002, I took a year off of work following the birth of my daughter.” – “I was let go during a mass layoff in 2009, and have been looking for new opportunities in the industry since then.” • Address why whatever kept you out of the workforce is no longer an issue. Overall, keep the focus on selling yourself for the job.
- 19. So what do you do with that empty spot on your resume? • If you were at home with • If you spent that time small children or taking care doing anything that can of your elderly parents – be related to work – Leave it Out of Your Resume experience or skills, Entirely absolutely put that in – Address that in Your Cover there – Letter – Volunteering – PTA leadership – Classes to Further Your Education
- 20. Overall, be confident. Just come up with a good explanation that addresses the underlying fears of hiring managers… And then keep the focus on selling yourself for the job.
- 21. Best of Luck!
- 22. Q & A with Peggy McKee (LIVE)
- 23. We'd love to have your input! All feedback from this call and all questions for future calls should be emailed to: TAC@CareerConfidential.com
- 24. Accessing Webinars Webinars are available on the Career Confidential Coaching Club website: www.CareerConfidential.com/members/ As long as you are a member of the club you will be able to access any of the webinars that have been presented during the time you were a member.
- 25. Thank you for attending!