When the pandemic struck I was swamped with calls by clients who have lost jobs. And, now with the pandemic still lingering on, I continue to get frantic calls from clients who have been out of work for a while and don’t know how to showcase this employment gap on their resume & in the interview.
The world has changed since the pandemic and so has the job market. As much as it was a stigma in the pre-pandemic era, the unemployed or those with a gap in their career are no longer stereotyped.
If you are applying for jobs under such circumstances, here are a few tips you may want to consider:
✅Your first step to addressing this issue is to be open and honest about it.
✅Show that you used this time productively by upskilling with learning programs, freelance work, volunteer work, or internships, and highlight it on your resume.
✅Proactively provide the context in the cover letter (don’t skip this) and in the initial interview.
✅Adopt a hybrid resume format that is part functional and part chronological.
✅Remember an employment gap isn’t a deal-breaker and don’t let it boggle your self-confidence.
✅Be prepared to explain why you’ve got gaps, reassure, why it will not affect your performance, and share the value you picked up along the way.
✅Keep your explanation short. Have a finish line so you don’t trail off into an embarrassing silence.
✅Explain the situation clearly with facts but briefly without bad-mouthing anyone, especially your ex-company and/or boss.
✅Reiterate your interest in their position and bring the focus back onto this job interview & role.
✅Don’t show fret or show negativity towards the gap rather talk about it as an opportunity to learn a new skill or move to a new industry or geography.
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