ADDRESSING EMPLOYMENT GAPS: REFRAMING YOUR EXPERIENCES
Judy SunUGA Alumni Career Services
Today’s Webinar Speaker
Judy SunGraduate Intern
UGA Alumni Career ServicesAtlanta Alumni Center
Overview
1. Employment Gaps & the HR Perspective2. Addressing the Employment Gap Resume Cover Letter Interview
3. Next Steps for Bridging the Gap
Reality Check
Reasons you may have an employment gap: Personal health crisis or care for a loved one Raising a family Termination/Laid offOther (travel, service, etc.)
9.8 million Americans are unemployed(U.S. Department of Labor, April 2015)
The average job search takes 4-6 months
Reality Check: The Hiring Manager’s Perspective
Costs associated with the loss of an employee
Direct: interviewing, on-boarding, training Indirect: lost productivity, low employee morale $3,328 to replace a $10/hr retail employee $8,000 to replace a $40,000 manager $213,000 to replace a $100,000 executive
Red flags on a resume
Appearing overqualified Gaps in employment Short job stints Dates that trigger age discrimination
“What have you been doing since you left your last job?”
ADDRESSING THE GAP
Skills Developed During the Gap
Personal Branding “What do you do?” Tactfully reference your field of expertise Looking for new opportunities in ____
Skills Developed During the Gap
Tolerance for Ambiguity/Change
Adaptable
Resilience
Explaining Your Gap
Be prepared Be confident Be honest Be concise Be positive Be strategic
Experiences to Bridge the Gap
Self-Employment/Consulting/Freelance Temporary/Contract/Part Time Work Volunteering Professional Development Speaking/Writing Engagements
ADDRESSING THE GAPON RESUMES
Resume Do’s for Employment Gaps
Use annual date ranges instead of months
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Marketing Manager January 2014 – February 2015Marketing Assistant March 2010 – April 2013
Marketing Manager 2014 – 2015Marketing Assistant 2010 – 2013
Resume Do’s for Employment Gaps
Use a chronological resume format (with most recent experiences first) rather than functional
Order your resume sections by importance/relevance Use relevant job titles and descriptions
Human Resources Experience
Red Cross, Human Resources Administrative Assistant 2015
Bridgestone, Management Trainee 2010 – 2011
Customer Service Experience
C2 Education, Tutor 2012 – 2014
Walgreens, Pharmacy Technician 2006 – 2009
Resume Do’s for Employment Gaps
Provide relevant experiences from the past 10-15 years
Relevant Experience
ABC Nonprofit 2008 – 2015
JFK Company 2005 – 2008
RST Company 2002 – 2004
XYZ Company 2000 – 2002
Education
University of Georgia Athens, GA
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Economics
Resume Don’ts for Employment Gaps
Don’t write your reason for leaving prior jobs Don’t list “to present” if it’s not true
Resume Do’s for Employment Gaps
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
An organized and motivated Customer Service professional with over 8 years of experience in customer relations…
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Online Retailer Atlanta, GA
Owner 2010 – Present
• Launch and manage online retail shop with average of $10,000 in monthly sales
• Market business through forums, social media, and personal networks
• Resolve customer concerns in regards to questions, complaints, and product returns.
• Research products, manufacturers, competitors, and online retail shop best practices
Stay at home parent with some experience
Resume Do’s for Employment Gaps
Household Manager, Atlanta, GA 2010 – Present
• Manage household daily operations including family finances, logistics, scheduling, and prioritization of duties
• Advise family members in planning, purchasing, and preparation of nutritious meals
• Assign and schedule housekeeping duties and teach good study habits to children
• Maintain cleanliness of home and promote fundamental hygiene principles
• Provide transportation to schools, team sports, music lessons, and more
Stay at home parent with limited work experience
Get involved and gain more experience (stay current)
Contexts & Potential Skills Developed
Managed a household
Trekked across the globe
Co-chaired an event to raise funds for a worthy cause
Organization Time management
Patience Teaching
Persuasion Event planning Team work
Budgeting
Adaptable to unknown situations Problem solving
Resume Do’s for Employment Gaps
1-2 short term stints
The Smith Company Atlanta, GA
Office Receptionist 2014
Oversaw reception area…
Greeted new clients…
The Jones Company Atlanta, GA
Front Desk Assistant 2013
Managed schedule of…
Redirected phone calls…
Resume Do’s for Employment Gaps
ABC Consulting Atlanta, GA
Assisted with multiple marketing-related projects for a diverse range of companies with a particular emphasis on further developing nascent social media outreach efforts and online community building.
Marketing Assistant, Package Shipping Company 2014
Increased efforts for…
Assisted with social media…
Social Media Specialist, Independent Coffee House 2014
Revamped existing strategy…
Spearheaded new initiative…
Marketing Coordinator, Local Bank 2014
Coordinated logistics for…
Collaborated with…
2+ short- term stints under an agency or own consulting business
ADDRESSING THE GAPON COVER LETTERS
Cover Letter Tips
Briefly explain your circumstances for employment gaps Demonstrate how your previous achievements translate
“As you may have read, (company name) announced a round of layoffs, and my position was eliminated. Although saddened to leave this company, where my performance has consistently been rated as outstanding, I am looking forward to repeating my same record of success for my next employer...”
Relate what you have done with what they want
Restate interest and state how you intend to follow up
Brief introduction; address any red flags and make clarifications
Writing a Cover Letter
ADDRESSING THE GAPIN INTERVIEWS
Interview Tips
Make positive first impression Be prepared to explain circumstances of employment gaps,
job hopping, etc. when asked Frame a less than ideal situation as a learning experience How is what you learned valuable to your next employer?
Prepare anecdotes to illustrate your abilities and answer behavioral interview questions
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Discrimination based on the following is ILLEGAL
Age Race Religion Nationality Disability
Gender Marital & Family Status Residence Criminal Record Military Service
NEXT STEPS
Find Opportunities To Bridge the Gap
Self-Employment/Consulting/Freelance Temporary/Contract/Part Time Work Volunteering Professional Development
Speaking/Writing Engagements
Demonstrating Your Skills
Assess and highlight your contributions and skillsWhat responsibilities did you have? How did your performance benefit the organization or cause?What positive feedback did you receive from others?
Quantify your impact with measurable outcomes Use relevant titles and descriptions
When you are at a crossroad in your career, it can help to talk with your Alumni Career Counselor. Alumni have access to FREE career counseling, and can
schedule appointments Monday-Friday between 9 am – 4 pm.
UPCOMING WORKSHOP
Finding a Meaningful Career
MBTI & Strong Career Assessments & Interpretation, $65
Tuesday, August 4th @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Please contact Bethany Mills at [email protected] for more information
UGA Alumni Career Services
References
Center for American Progress (2012). There Are Significant Business Costs to Replacing Employees. Retrieved from: https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CostofTurnover.pdf
Job-Hunt. How to Manage the Red Flags on Your Resume. Retrieved from: http://www.job-hunt.org/resumes/managing-resume-red-flags.shtml
The Muse. How to Explain the Gap in Your Resume With Ease. Retrieved from: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-explain-the-gap-in-your-resume-with-ease
The Muse. The Surprising Experience You Gain When You Take Time Off from Work. Retrieved from: https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-surprising-experience-you-gain-when-you-take-time-off-from-work
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