Our clients often ask us this question and I was recently interviewed for a great article for Forbes.com titled “How To Deal With That Hole In Your Resume”. Read the entire article here.
…The best way to address an employment gap of four months or longer is by including a brief explanation in your cover letter. Save touchy conversations for phone calls and in-person interviews with prospective employers. "You don't want to write a novel," says Hallie Crawford, a career coach in Atlanta. "Mention it briefly, and then elaborate in person."
You also can experiment with different résumé formats and styles to downplay gaps in your employment. If you write a résumé that lists your work history with the most recent job first, mention only the years of employment, not the months and years. Another résumé format, the "functional résumé," groups together similar activities under headings like "Teaching Experience" or "Financial Experience." That keeps your succession of jobs from being immediately noticeable. However, "people have to be careful with this format, because it can sometimes be a red flag for employers," Crawford warns. Another option is to create a "Selected Accomplishments" section near the top of your résumé and in it itemize your most impressive achievements regardless of when they occurred…
Contact us if you need help with your resume or job search.
Here’s to having a career you love,
Hallie Crawford
Career Expert
