Resume Tips and Tools - The Advance Group

Want to Move Your Resume to the Top of the Pile? Use These Tips!

Raza Rauf on March 18, 2016

It’s been estimated that for each and every job posting advertised that recruiters can receive as many as 300 – 500 resumes from eager candidates. That’s a lot of reading and screening! Unfortunately, most recruiters have very little time to spend on each resume, so they skim through them looking for specific things, make a pile out of about 1/10th of the original resumes, and start calling people in for interviews. In other cases, the applicant tracking system may scan resumes first and only kick out those that meet the job descriptions.

Sadly, your resume could end up at the bottom of the pile, or worse yet, in the bottom of a garbage can – that is, if you don’t know the secrets of success (that we are about to share with you now). If you want to move your resume to the top of the pile, read on.

Use a standard resume template

Any recruiter will tell you that they cannot stand it when people try to ‘reinvent the wheel’ with their resumes. They don’t want to see a resume that’s super creative (unless they are hiring for a creative role), with fancy colors and head photos of the candidate. Instead, stick to the rules and use a simple format with defined headings for Skills, Education, Career History, etc. These will have a better chance of being read properly by the ATS, and by the recruiters.

Try a nicer paper

If you plan to mail your resume in (who uses snail mail anymore?) be sure to invest in high-quality paper that has a nice texture and is slightly off-white. Your local office supply store can help you pick out the best paper and matching envelopes for this purpose. Have your resume professionally printed out. Don’t turn your resume in on brightly colored paper or poorly printed from an at-home machine.

Call the recruiter

It may seem simple, but taking the extra step to call the recruitment office 48 hours after sending in your resume can alert the hiring team that you are an interested candidate. Provide the recruiter with your full name spelled out, the job title you are applying for, and your contact phone number where they can reach you. Don’t ask them to interview you on the spot or take up too much of their time. Just say thanks and that you hope to hear back at their convenience.

Get recommended

Another way to ensure that your resume makes it to the top of the hiring pile is to ask for a direct employee referral from a colleague who works there. If you can, send this person a copy of your resume and ask them to walk a copy down to the HR office in person. If you don’t know anyone who works there, you can also reach out to the staffing agency you are registered with and ask if they are recruiting for the job, then get them to send the employer your resume. This can be a very effective way to get called in for a job interview sooner.

The last secret to success in a job search is to partner with a staffing agency like Advance Staffing Solutions. We have staffing experts on hand in Michigan and Ohio to help you land whatever career you’re aiming for!

Job Search Tips for December New Grads

Raza Rauf on January 25, 2016

Congratulations! You are one of the few lucky college students who have made it through and earned your dream degree. After the celebrations are over, it’s time to start taking a hard look at how you will accomplish getting a new job. While you may get a lot of well-meaning advice from friends and family members, there are some sure ways to get a job if you follow the tips from our professional recruitment team.

#1 – Create a great resume and cover letter

Your very first step in the journey to earning a career in the New Year as a December college graduate is to create an outstanding resume and cover letter. There are many resources for finding information and templates for building a quality resume and cover letter set. You are encouraged to visit online and library resources to accomplish this. You will also want to consider reaching out to a professional resume writer and career coach to help you along the way.

#2 – Develop a strong professional brand

The next move you should make as a new college grad is to create a brand new online professional presents for yourself. Ditch your old social media accounts and start from scratch. One good way to accomplish this is to create a free online portfolio of your college assignments, such as your written work and/or any creative or video work that you have developed. Then create brand new social media accounts that link back to your portfolio. Remember, only show off your most professional work that you will be proud to discuss with a potential employer.

#3 – Connect with staffing agencies

The next smart move for your career search as a new grad is to get registered with your local staffing agencies. Why is this important? In many regions companies only hire through temporary staffing agencies. This is a measure used by companies to save on the cost and time of recruitment. Select a staffing agency that is in your particular area of industry. For example, if you are seeking an information technology job then you will reach out to staffing agencies in the IT and technical markets.

#4 – Network online and offline

A great way to speed up your job search is to become very active in networking with others in your industry and in your local area. You will want to become involved with some of the local business associations so that you get a chance to meet leaders and find out about positions before they are advertised. Use social networking sites like LinkedIn and Twitter to learn about brand new openings at companies. Connect with a few mentors in your area of interest and let everyone know that you are looking for a position now that you have graduated.

Graduating in December? 10 Tips to Kick Start Your Job Search

Raza Rauf on December 10, 2015

If you’re graduating thіѕ December, you’re рrоbаblу feeling thе pressure аnd stress оf knowing thаt nоw уоu nееd tо tаkе thаt degree аnd figure оut whаt kind оf job уоu саn gеt wіth it. Bеlоw аrе 10 tips tо aid іn уоur decision making process.

Select а Job title
Thіѕ means уоu nееd tо bе ѕurе оf thе kind оr type оf job уоu аrе lооkіng for. Arе уоu steering іn thе ѕаmе career direction оr dо уоu nееd tо steer tо а whоlе nеw field аnd direction аnd find ѕоmеthіng new? In case уоu аrе making сhаngеѕ tо уоur field, tаkе time tо list activities уоu enjoy dоіng including mental, social аnd physical activities.

Highlight Yоur Skills
It wіll аlѕо hеlр tо write thе skills уоu possess including education level аnd аnу abilities tо operate machinery. Unique skills аnd уоur areas оf knowledge ѕhоuld nоt bе left behind. Analyze skills аnd interests уоu personally possess аnd thеn determine thе kinds оf jobs thаt wоuld bе mоѕt suitable fоr thе characteristics уоu have. Yоu саn narrow іt dоwn bу targeting аt lеаѕt twо descriptions уоu lіkе holding.

Find open positions
Local newspapers аrе ѕоmе оf thе bеѕt whеn іt соmеѕ tо finding open positions уоu саn apply for. Write аll thе potential positions dоwn аѕ long аѕ thеу аrе relevant tо уоur job search. Yоu саn аlѕо find thе position frоm job postings оn dіffеrеnt websites аnd уоu саn list thеm down.Anоthеr great option tо hеlр уоu find open positions іѕ tо contact temporary employment agencies like Advance Staffing in Detroit, MI оr еvеn state agencies wіthіn уоur locality.

Prepare Yоur Resume аnd Cover Letter
Aftеr уоu hаvе prepared а list оf аll openings, уоu саn gо аhеаd tо prepare cover letters bеfоrе thеn sending thеm аlоng wіth а wеll prepared resume tо аll thе potential employers. It іѕ important tо follow thе guidelines gіvеn bу potential employers whеn sending оut thе letters аnd resume tо increase уоur chances оf making it.Thе fіrѕt thіng tо remember іѕ thаt уоur fіrѕt impression wіll mаkе а huge difference аnd іn case оf а job search іt іѕ mаdе thrоugh аn effective resume. Mаkе уоur resume clear аnd precise уеt expressive аnd communicative. Ensure thаt іt іѕ free оf errors аnd full оf key essentials lіkе уоur credibility, уоur worth, уоur skills, аnd уоur years оf experience.

Reach оut tо уоur network
Lеt уоur friends аnd families (and thеіr friends аnd families) knоw thаt уоu аrе actively lооkіng fоr work, аѕ уоu nеvеr knоw whаt connections thеу mау hаvе оr іf thеу hаvе heard оf аnу vacancies thаt mау suit you. Thе companies thеу work fоr mау еvеn hаvе unadvertised job opportunities thаt оnlу “insiders” knоw аbоut аnd thеу mау bе аblе put а good word іn fоr you.

Learn hоw tо search fоr jobs effectively
Nowadays, уоu саn find information аbоut аnуthіng online. If уоu аrе nоt ѕurе hоw tо write а cover letter оr а resume, the staffing experts at Advance Staffing Solutions can help you!If іn doubt, аѕk fоr help. Chances аrе thаt nеаrlу еvеrу person уоu knоw whо hаѕ bееn employed аt ѕоmе point іn thеіr life hаѕ рrоbаblу hаd tо write а cover letter аnd resume before, ѕо there’s bound tо bе ѕоmеоnе whо саn lend уоu а hand.

Don’t leave оut уоur work experience
Aѕ а nеw grad, employers don’t expect tо find аn enormous amount оf work experience оn уоur resume. However, don’t leave thіѕ section empty. If уоu rеаllу don’t hаvе аnу work experience, include аnу unpaid experience, ѕuсh аѕ volunteer experience, tо highlight уоur skills. Kеер іn mind thаt ѕоmеtіmеѕ уоur academic achievements mау nоt bе уоur strongest qualification іn thе business world. Mаnу employers vаluе work experience, еvеn іf thе work іѕ nоt іn уоur field, mоrе thаn уоur academic results

Connect wіth people whо work іn thе field
If уоu knоw people whо work іn thе field thаt уоu wаnt tо work in, tаkе thеm оut fоr lunch оr coffee аnd аѕk thеm fоr advice. If уоu don’t knоw аnуоnе іn thе field, seek thеm оut оn social media, ѕuсh аѕ LinkedIn аnd Twitter, оr attend industry events. You’ll bе surprised tо knоw hоw mаnу professionals аrе wіllіng tо hеlр аnd thеу mау еvеn bе аblе tо give уоu а recommendation.

Get prepared
Part оf thе preparations іѕ tо gеt ready fоr thе interviews. Thе preparation ѕhоuld include choosing thе mоѕt suitable outfits аррrорrіаtе fоr thе jobs уоu hаvе applied for. Cosmetic work аnd haircuts ѕhоuld аlѕо bе dоnе іn advance ѕіnсе уоu dо nоt knоw whеn thе potential employers wіll start calling. Sоmе wіll give уоu vеrу short notices аnd уоu muѕt ensure уоu аrе ready.

Look аnd act professional
Onсе уоu graduate, уоu аrе nоt а college student anymore, ѕо don’t act lіkе one. Aѕ а start, sign uр fоr а professional email address іf уоur current email address lооkѕ ѕоmеthіng lіkе youngriders@email.com. Whеn уоu gо fоr job interviews, leave уоur t-shirt аnd shorts аt home аnd wear ѕоmеthіng mоrе appropriate.

Need more help landing a career as a new grad? Click here to let Advance Staffing Solutions guide you through the job search process!

How to Avoid Adding These Red Flags to Your Resume

Raza Rauf on October 20, 2015

Your professional resume speaks loudly to recruiters, even if it’s not a human being. What you put on a resume, what you leave off, and how you present your career and educational history impacts the way that recruiters will react. Does your resume include any potential red flags that could be blocking your way to success? Here are some of the top no-no’s that have no place on your resume.

1. The resume lacks excitement.

Your resume is written out neatly on a standard resume format, so what’s wrong with it? It’s boring and lacks any kind of attention-grabbing elements. Recruiters spend literally 10 seconds or less looking at each resume, even less when they have a large stack to go through. If your resume bores them, you can bet it’s saying you are also a boring person and probably won’t be a good hire. Spice it up with powerful words and a fun-to-read format.

2. No clear career direction.

If you have held a number of jobs over the last couple of years, how do they show that you are progressing in your career? If you are all over the place, we suggest you work with a career coach to determine what your goals will be and how you can best present them on your resume. Make sure you can highlight your growth as a professional, taking on more responsibilities and achieving your goals.

3. Big gaps between jobs.

Many recruiters are still fairly “old school” when it comes to evaluating candidate resumes. If they see large gaps in time between jobs, or dates of employment and education that don’t make sense, this is a huge red flag. Make sure you indicate on your resume what you were doing in between jobs (for example: attending college, volunteering, caring for a child, etc.)

4. Careless mistakes.

If your resume contains spelling mistakes, errors in grammar, and odd sentence structures you can bet that a hiring manager will note this as a sign you are also careless about your work. Make sure to go over your resume with a fine-tooth comb, use a spell checker software, and have another set of eyes on your resume before you send it (and your cover letter) to a company.

There’s No Guarantee You’ll Get the Job — But This Will Help!

Raza Rauf on October 6, 2015

Have you gone weeks and even months without so much as a response to the hundreds of applications you’ve been submitting to employers? Unfortunately, just as in life, there are no guarantees with getting a job. However, there are some factors that can put you ahead of the game in terms of landing work sooner. The smart job seeker goes after jobs like a savvy marketer, using every opportunity to pitch their worth to the organization. When you approach your job search in this way, it can certainly help you get a job offer. Here’s how to go about it.

Make a strong pitch from the start.

You’ve only got mere seconds from the moment a hiring manager looks at your resume. Take a look at yours. Does it “wow” you? If not, it’s probably not doing a good job impressing any hiring managers either. Take the time to boost the top half of your resume (above the fold) and include power words that speak to your true value. Look at the company website and the job listings for ideas. Use bold headings for your name and contact information, and include a web link to your portfolio.

Get your applications to stand out.

A job application can be a dull and tedious process, but it doesn’t have to land at the bottom of the pile. Use the additional space for comments and other information for writing an outstanding cover letter, sharing more details about your abilities, or inviting the hiring manager to connect with you. This often grabs the attention of the recruitment team faster. You will also want to update your online applications weekly as most applicant tracking systems list people by the date they are active in the system.

Prove to hiring managers you are a good investment.

Your goal as a candidate is to make sure that any hiring managers and recruitment professionals you meet understand and can see your value in a matter of minutes. How can you do this? Take the time to share your skills and how they are relevant to the job, but go a step further. Dig into the corporate goals and find a direct link between your skills and the direction the company is going. Check for any recent press that indicates what the company is focused on.

If you use the above tips, you’ll soon be getting a job offer and being able to prove your worth to the company.

How to Stay Off a Recruiter’s Blacklist

Raza Rauf on September 28, 2015

Trying to find a job today is not easy. Even with the help of the Internet and social media, landing a job you want can take months because hundreds of people apply for the same jobs as you. Turning your job search into a success can be done by working with a recruiter. One thing you must know when working with a recruiter is that you need to stay off of their blacklist. Being on a recruiter’s blacklist can ruin your job search, so follow these tips to stay off this list!

Exaggerating Skills or Claims

One of the biggest reasons why a recruiter will put you on their blacklist is because you have been caught exaggerating your skills or claims on your resume. It is understandable that people exaggerate a little bit on their resumes, but it can be very detrimental their job search. Recruiters will be able to see through lies on your resume because they read thousands of resumes per year. Avoid exaggerating about your skills or claims on your resume to stay off a recruiter’s blacklist.

Self-Employed Viewed as Unemployed

Even though this seems a little harsh, many recruiters view self-employed job seekers as unemployed job seekers, even if the job seeker has been running a successful business independently. It is difficult to change this perception in front of recruiters, but it can be done. Make sure you include some stats about your independently owned business that proves you have been working for the past five-to-ten years, and not just sitting around the house.

Aggression Does Not Work

Even though being an aggressive job seeker can be better than being a passive one, it can get you blacklisted by a recruiter if you work with one. Contacting a recruiter multiple times per week via phone or email will get you blacklisted for sure. There is no need to constantly bother a recruiter about an open job or an interview you had with a company. If the company liked you, the recruiter will reach out to you when necessary.

Failure to Fit the Culture

Job seekers could have an incredible resume and all the references in the world, but not fitting in with a company’s culture could cause you to hit the blacklist. This can be determined through screening processes, an interview with the company and much more. If this happens more than once, a recruiter might have to blacklist you to avoid wasting anyone else’s time.

Stay off of a recruiter’s blacklist by keeping aggression to a minimum, avoiding exaggeration on your resume and by fitting into a company’s culture.

All Resumes Must Answer This One Question

Raza Rauf on September 22, 2015

The next time you sit down to write a resume, you need to look at one important question and see if it answers the question. In fact, instead of waiting to write a new resume, edit your current one to make sure it answers the important question discussed here. If you can answer the one question all resumes should answer, it will help you stand out from the rest of the crowd, and this is important in such a tough business world.

Goal of the Resume

The ultimate goal of your resume, no matter which version, is to entice a company to contact you for one of their open jobs. You can put as much work experience and skills as you want on your resume, but these alone will not get a company to contact you about their open job. You must be able to turn all of your work experience and skills learned in previous jobs into the reason why companies call you. You must paint a picture.

The Question That Must be Answered

The question that all resumes must answer is, “What makes you a better candidate than all others who have applied for this job?” As mentioned above, you need to paint a picture in order to answer this question appropriately. The picture you paint must tell the company why you are the best pick for the open job and not someone else.

What Answers This Question?

So, what is it about you that can provide a stellar answer to this question? You need to think past the mundane tasks you perform each day, from the minute you arrive to the minute you leave. You need to think about your biggest career accomplishments, achievements, accolades, articles and awards. When you put all of these items on your resume, in an appropriate manner and location, you should have no problem answering the question and getting a company to contact you about their open job.

Hundreds of people apply for the same open jobs at companies across the country. Because of this, HR managers and recruiters come across mediocre resumes and applicants who are not worth a second look. This means that you will need to work extra hard to get your resume noticed. Make sure you answer this question as thoroughly as possible to get noticed.

Get Your Resume Ready for Autumn — But Avoid these Pitfalls!

Raza Rauf on August 11, 2015

The cooler months of autumn can be the perfect time to launch a new job search, starting with whipping a resume into shape. A well-designed resume can help you get in front of the best hiring companies. But, before you go through all this effort, make sure your resume doesn’t include any of these common resume pitfalls that can turn off recruiters before they’ve had a chance to meet you.

Pitfall #1 – Your resume is boring

If you fall into the trap of writing your resume on a dull over-used resume template, you can be sure that the recruiters will pass it by. This is because they read through so many resumes daily, so the boring ones get ignored. Take the time to develop your resume on an updated resume template that includes nice use of text, white space, and call-out sections for maximum reader appeal.

Pitfall #2 – Your forgot to include achievements

If your resume reads like a long list of job requirements and responsibilities, without any real accomplishments, it’s missing the mark big time. Make sure you explain briefly what you did in each role and then add a list of at least 2-3 achievements or recognition you had in each job. Even if they were temp assignments, find something. Use financials and percentages whenever you can.

Pitfall #3 – Where is the cover letter?

A good resume includes a cover letter that acts as a quick introduction of your value to hiring managers. Use a similar template to build your cover letter, include a strong opening statement, a list of your top 5 skills you bring to the table, and wrap it up by inviting the recruiter to read your resume and contact you for a job interview.

Pitfall #4 – Your spelling and grammar leave much to be desired

Always take the time to do a spelling and grammar check of your resume, and any written materials you send out to recruiters. If you have issues in this area you can get a friend to proof-read your resume before it goes out for all to see. Poor grammar and spelling tell a company that you are not concerned with the with the quality of your work, and you don’t want to develop this relationship.

Pitfall #5 – Overuse of keywords

In an effort to sound amazing to hiring managers, it’s easy to include a bunch of industry power words in a resume. However, most recruiters are wise to this and they find it annoying. Avoid using too many keywords that make you look like an amateur, instead focus on marketable job skills and knowledge you have.

Follow the above tips to avoid making these common resume pitfalls, and you should look a lot better to hiring companies out there looking for great people this fall.

3 Signs You’ve Got the Wrong Career

Raza Rauf on June 24, 2015

Do you often dread going into work on Monday mornings? Do you find yourself looking at the clock waiting to go home? Does the very thought of completing the same dull tasks or dealing with the same people bore you? These are some of the many signs that you could be in the wrong career. When you are not working to your full capacity in a job that you love, or one where you can use all your talents, it’s very draining. It could be time for you to move on and find a career that will inspire you again.

Here are the top 3 big signs that you’ve got the wrong career

Learn what the signs are that you need a new job, and fast! Here they are:

1. Your workload is out of control

When a job no longer appeals to a person, they tend to procrastinate a lot about job duties. Time management becomes a thing of the past. Project deadlines go by without as so much as a wink. The workload is so out of control that you no longer care if anything gets done. You are just going through the motions.

2. You are not part of the team anymore

When people are happy in their jobs, they are excited to be part of something bigger – like team collaboration. But, when someone is burnt out and tired of their career, they tend to withdraw from others. If you dint yourself in this situation, it’s time to evaluate if a career change is in your future soon.

3. You haven’t had a promotion or raise in a long time

Another reason you may be falling behind in your career and growing weary of it because you are not getting the raises or promotions you once did. This can either be a lack of performance on your behalf, or it could be that the company no longer values your skills so they don’t give you what you need. It’s time to move onto a job that will provide you with more upward mobility and respect.

If you find yourself in any of these circumstances, there are some things you can do now. First, take an inventory of your current work skills, your interests, and the achievements you have made. Then, take the time to take a career personality assessment to discover the types of careers you may be better suited for. Following, brush up your resume, focus on getting some training in your area of interest, and find a new job. A temporary job can provide a chance to see if you really need a career change because you can try before you buy.

Massive Mistakes to Avoid While Job Seeking

Raza Rauf on June 2, 2015

No matter how much of a “veteran” you are of the job market, a job search can still be filled with worries. Not only are you fighting possibly hundreds of people for the same job, but you could also be fighting against yourself. Those who make mistakes while searching for a job will find it difficult to land an offer. Today, we will discuss massive mistakes you should avoid while job seeking so you can be successful.

Providing Too Much Information Too Soon

One of the biggest mistakes you can make during a job search is to provide too much information. No matter how long you have been in the professional world, you do not need to provide every single detail to potential employers. This goes for writing your resume, your cover letter and answering questions on job applications. Employers want to know what you can do to help their company, so focus on how you helped previous employers when providing information. You need to make sure each piece of information on your resume tells employers why you are the right person for the job.

Failing to Have a Digital Footprint

Even though it has been discussed in the past that a digital footprint can be detrimental to your job search, because of what is included in it, it is still important to have one. You need to have a digital footprint, which includes Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. You should also search for your name online to find out what is posted about you on the Internet. You might come across content posted by you that is unsavory or content posted by others that is unsavory. Failing to clean up your social media profiles is also a massive mistake that can hurt your job search.

Treating a Job Search as a Battle

Another major mistake you need to avoid during a job search is treating it like a battle. How do people do this? They turn a job search into a battle by trying to outsmart recruiters or hiring managers during interviews or other discussions. Even though it might be a fight to find a job, you do not want to battle with a recruiter. A recruiter is someone who is looking out for you and trying to get you placed in a job that matches your skills and experience. This means you need an open mind to accept part-time and temporary assignments, if needed to get your foot in the door with a great company.

Failing to Request Help from Networks

Professional networking is very important today, so why would you fail to request help from your network when searching for a job? This is a massive mistake that must be avoided at all costs. Your network is there for a reason; to expand your professional knowledge and help you with career moves. Remember, your network also includes the temporary staffing agency that you choose to work with. Select one that is geared for your industry and ask for a recruiter who knows about the companies you are targeting in your job search.

If you avoid making at least some of the massive mistakes outlined above, you should have fewer troubles with your next job search.

A Short Work Experience Doesn’t Keep You Out of the Race!

Raza Rauf on May 5, 2015

Are you a new college grad with limited career experience? Have you been working a series of short term jobs with no real direction? Do not let a short work experience keep you from landing a new job. Short work experience should not prevent you from landing the job of your dreams in your industry, but it can hurt if you do not know how to sell that experience to potential employers.

Here, we will discuss how you can sell your skills and take the focus off the short work experience to employers so you can land a job.

Explain Your Skills Learned

One of the first things you need to do when interviewing for a job with a short work experience is to explain the skills learned in that short period. After explaining the skills learned, talk about how they will be useful to the company if you are hired. You should also talk about any training received while at previous companies or if you are planning to return to school for an advanced degree. You can also share other experience like volunteer work, special projects completed, and freelance work performed. All of this information will only help your case when interviewing for a job.

Discuss Your Responsibilities

Another good idea when trying to land a job with short work experience is to talk about the responsibilities you held at prior companies. Maybe you worked for one year or more as a department manager. Maybe you were put in charge of payroll at a smaller company. Both of these items will help you land a new job even if you have short work experience during your career. The more responsibilities you have to discuss, the better chance you have at the job.

Stress Your Educational Background

For most people with a short work background, many of them are just out of college or returning to the workforce after raising a family. Because of these two reasons, you must stress your education background. Be prepared to inform the company about the degree you earned, which classes were most important to your major, any internships you worked and any clubs you were involved in that would help you learn about your profession. By talking about your education, you show the employer how dedicated you were while in school to land a job such as the one you are interviewing for right now.

Explain the Short-Term Jobs

If your short work experience includes temporary jobs or a lot of job hopping, you need to disclose these positions to the employer. Instead of trying to hide these jobs, you must talk to the employer about them and explain why you worked temporary jobs or moved around a lot. Reasons could include you wanted to gain as much experience in a short period of time as possible or that you were laid off from your permanent job and wanted something to hold you over until a new full-time job came along.
The bottom line here is that having a short work experience should not hold you back from landing a new job so long as you take advantage of the tips outlined above. You can fast-track your way to career success by taking on temporary assignments through Advance Staffing and earning more career experience at the same time as getting paid.

Gap in Your Resume? How to Make it No Big Deal!

Raza Rauf on April 3, 2015

Trying to find a new job can be difficult, but it can be even more stressful if you have a glaring gap in employment appearing on your resume. This gap could have occurred due to a period of unemployment, the choice of returning to school, taking time off to raise a family, dealing with an illness, or any number of other reasons.

In the recruitment world, a large gap on a resume is defined as anything that is six months to one year or longer. So, how do you turn the gap in your resume into a nonissue? Read this post to find out what to do about it.

Explain the Gap Briefly

Instead of putting a sentence or two at the top or bottom of your resume, put them right where the gap actually occurs. This will ensure that the employer sees it. You do not have to go into too much detail, but make sure you tell the employer the reason why there is a gap.

Utilize a Powerful Cover Letter

Avoid going into too much detail, but make sure there is some sort of understandable explanation provided for why you have the gap in employment. Then, if the employer calls you to schedule an interview, or ask questions, you can tell them more if it warrants.

Edit the Dates on Your Resume

You can edit all of the dates of employment on your resume so that they do not show the months employed, only the years. For example, change all of your jobs listed so they look like the following:

Customer Service Attendant: 2010-2012
Sales Rep: 2012-2015

There might have been a large gap of unemployment between the two jobs, but potential employers won’t notice it because everything flows. When being interviewed, you can explain that there was a tiny gap and then give the reason for it.

Include Temporary Employment

Even if you work in communications, but have to work in retail to pay the bills between career jobs, make sure you put temporary employment on your resume. It shows the employer that you worked hard to make ends meet while searching for a new job within your field of expertise.

Gaps in a resume do not have to hinder your job search. Use one or more of the tips outlined above and you can downplay those gaps easily.

How to Avoid Adding These Red Flags to Your Resume

There’s No Guarantee You’ll Get the Job — But This Will Help!

All Resumes Must Answer This One Question

3 Signs You’ve Got the Wrong Career

Massive Mistakes to Avoid While Job Seeking

Gap in Your Resume? How to Make it No Big Deal!

EMPLOYERS

JOB SEEKERS

COMPANY