3 Ways to Address Employment Gaps
Okay, I have a confession to make! I used to be the recruiter who would look at your resume and ask all kinds of questions about experience gaps. If you worked seven years for one company and then worked at the next three for one year or less – I would have plenty of questions for you! Now to be fair, I wasn’t alone here. In the past, in addition to the qualifications of the position, as recruiters, we were also interviewing you to get an idea of how long you might stay at our company. If you had three jobs, in three different companies, in three years, there was a signal that went off – “Red alert! We have a job hopper!” When I think about it in today’s world, it seems less important to me, but it was a potential way to try to measure company loyalty back then.
Fast forward to today, and depending on which article you read, people will likely have anywhere from 7 to 10+ jobs in their career. With layoffs, new opportunities, and new startups, it’s no wonder that people will have multiple positions and potentially gaps in-between those job moves, especially if you were part of a restructure furlough or layoff. While we all hope that today’s recruiters and hiring managers won’t penalize us for being let-go from a company, there’s no guarantee they will understand. With that in mind, I wanted to share three things that you may want to think about when addressing any career gap.
Tell a story
I don’t mean a bed-time story and don’t tell a lie, but rather share your journey. I recently read an article from a colleague who worked for three companies in one and a half years! Can you imagine? I’m being sarcastic with my former self– but imagine being in an interview and explaining the moves. My colleague shared that a story of growth – what led him to each opportunity, why he chose each position, and what he learned from each situation. At the end of it, I realized that he shared a fantastic personal growth journey and understanding. Any company would be lucky to have him as an employee. What impressed me the most is how he took me and others on his journey. It became less about the gap and more about the person.
Reframe the conversation and your resume
When a recruiter or hiring manager is asking you about why you have a gap on your resume, they could be thinking of many things – are you a good employee, are you motivated, are they less attractive (career-wise) being out of a job vs. another applicant who is currently employed, etc. As difficult as those assumptions may be to read here, it is possible that those may be the actual questions you need to answer. As you are asked the questions about career gaps, consider ways to alleviate the recruiter and managers’ concerns by reframing the questions. E.g.
Yes, I was let go by my company, but I have a referral from my boss.
Since I was let go, I’ve added these skills to my background.
Every day I spend 4-5 hours conducting a job search or networking.
The original question was about your career gap, but you reframe the question to answer the questions that weren’t explicitly asked.
Tell it like it is
Besides being a beautiful song by Aaron Neville, it’s the simplest way to address a career gap. “I was let go due to a restructure and am seeking employment with your company because I match X, Y, Z qualifications.” No more. No less. Or something along those lines. The fastest distance between two points is a straight line. While the first two options might require you to be more creative, this one is simple and direct. Depending on who you are speaking with, sometimes recruiters and hiring managers appreciate the candidness. In the end, it’s the truth, and if the company representative and my former self can’t see how qualified and wonderful you are despite the gaps, it’s probably not the right opportunity anyway.
Summary
Whatever you decide, addressing career gaps can be an uncomfortable situation. Taking a few moments, in the beginning, to gather your thoughts and prepare for these questions in advance can make for a smoother interview and hopefully pave the way for your new job!
Coach Ha-Keem
You’re Worth It!
For more tips, check out my book, “You’re Worth It! Navigating Your Career in Corporate America,” or go to my website, CoachHa-Keem.com.
