Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How to Address Gaps in Your Work History

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GapDo you have gaps in your work history? Perhaps you were unemployed or took time off to spend with your family? No matter the reason for the gap, the best way to handle it is to address it on your resume so it does not raise a red flag for the employer.

Consider the following approaches to address gaps in your resume.

Avoid Gaps

Perhaps you weren’t working for an organization during a particular time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t include something to cover the time period. If you don’t already capture the “empty” dates via continuing education or a degree program, fill in the time slots by listing volunteer work or consulting. Describe what you did in terms most relevant to target employers, and they may not even notice the section technically covers a gap in work history. For example, if organizational skills are key for the job you want, and you served on your local school’s Parent-Teacher Organization running special events, include the information as you would any job.

In general, employers are most interested in knowing you’ve been active and involved in using key skills for the gap periods. Think back to times when you may not have been working and do the best you can to fill in those dates with descriptions on your resume.

Take Classes

Education and continuing education is a great reason for a work gap. If you think it won’t be clear why you have some otherwise unaccounted time on your resume, list your degree program or other classes in your experience section in addition to your education section. Provide detailed information about projects, especially group projects, and don’t forget to include skills you used to accomplish those goals.

Include Details in Your Descriptions

If you left a job for a specific reason, include some type of description in bullet points about that job. For example, if a company eliminated your entire department due to financial considerations, you may list it as a bullet point: “Company closed publication department due to budget issues.” It isn’t necessary to include this type of description unless you believe it absolutely necessary to explain an otherwise unexplainable gap in your resume.

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Be Prepared to Discuss Gaps

Sometimes, the best way to address a gap is to wait for someone to ask about it and to have a good story to tell. Keep in mind; if you have a gap in your resume, you are in very good company. Millions of people overcome this challenge, and so can you. Even if you were fired, you can explain away the situation in a positive way. Do not allow any negative feelings from the situation to come through when you’re connecting with a networking contact or potential employer. You don’t even need to specify you were fired. Instead, you may explain, “My employer and I had divergent ideas about how to handle the problems facing our organization, so I moved on.”

You’ll have explained the gap without raising any concerns.

How have you addressed you work history gaps? 

 

Make social networking work for your job search

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tree-1090854_1920When research shows 93 percent of recruiters use social networking tools to help them identify and hire qualified applicants, it makes sense to create profiles on networks where you expect people in your industry to spend time. This raises the question: how can you really make the most of time you spend using social media?

Identify the best networks for your industry. Where are you most likely to “meet” people in your field? Search the networks you enjoy and see if your colleagues and contacts are using those networks. LinkedIn is a natural fit for professional use, but you could be surprised to find an active Twitter chat or Google+ hangout.

Create amazing profiles. You wouldn’t go to a networking event without getting dressed, would you? Likewise, don’t start stepping out on social media until you’ve put together profiles and bios that articulate your value proposition. People should easily understand what you offer when they click through to learn more about you.

Post useful content. Be a resource to your community. While you want to feature your story and your skills, be sure you’re providing value to the people who follow you. Don’t share too much self-referential information, and make a point to pay attention to what interests your community the most. What “goes viral” (is most popular) in groups where you are a member? What attracts the most comments and shares? Put your “researcher” hat on and take action accordingly.

Consider what hiring managers want to see. Jobvite’s survey said employers are looking for the following information when they check you out online:

  • professional experience
  • length of professional tenure
  • industry-related posts
  • mutual connections
  • specific hard skills
  • cultural fit
  • examples of work

Illustrate your passion for the work. Illustrate your commitment by keeping up with the news affecting your business. This is easy to do via social media tools.

Be active. Don’t dabble — fully commit! If you see a community you think is worth your time, jump in with both feet and get engaged. Follow thought leaders and demonstrate how you belong among their ranks. Show that you’re interested in company profiles of organizations where you might want to work, too.

Demonstrate good judgement. Show you know better than to spout off on social about something that bothers you. Illustrate what you know about your field, don’t use your social media feeds as a complaint outlet. Jobvite’s Social Recruiting Survey featured a number of items particularly irksome to employers. Numbers represent the percentage of employers bothered by the item:

  • illegal drug mentions: 83 percent
  • sexual posts: 70 percent
  • poor spelling and grammar: 66 percent
  • profanity: 60 percent
  • guns: over 50 percent
  • mentions relating to alcohol: 44 percent
  • political updates 17 percent

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

Read the whole post on Vault.com.

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How social networking helps you get a job

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ComputerDo you consider your job search a marketing effort? Ultimately, you must market (or sell) yourself. Social networking tools provide great resources to allow you to market on your skills and accomplishments as your “product.” As more people join what’s known as the “gig” economy, in which jobs resemble a series of short-term stints instead of dedicated work to one organization, it will become even more important to learn how to market yourself.

Some ways social networking may help you land a job:

  • Your social media streams can demonstrate your good judgement. Focus on professional photos and content.
  • Demonstrate your expertise. People who wouldn’t otherwise know you can learn about what you know.
  • Grow your network and meet new people.
  • Learn new information.
  • Tell your story so no one can steal your thunder.
  • Use social media to sharpen your message.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

Read the whole post on Vault.com.

How to be loved at work: be a better communicator

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communication at work imageWant to be loved at work? Consider how you can improve your communication skills, which are as important in the workplace as they are in relationships. Comparisons between landing a job and dating aren’t lost on anyone who has looked for a mate or a position. A study by TINYpulse asked 400 U.S. employees what encouraged them to either stay in their jobs or to seek new employment. Whether employees were asked about their bosses or colleagues, the study found strong communication was key to compelling them to stay in their jobs.

It’s hardly surprising that strong communication improves the workplace and enhances the experiences of everyone in open, transparent environments. Research shows you can improve your standings in the workplace when you have strong communication skills.

What can you do to improve your ability to communicate well at work?

Keep people in the loop. No one likes to be left out. Make a point to be inclusive when you’re sharing information.

Recognize a job well done. Recognition is one aspect of communication often forgotten in the workplace. 

Be a good listener. Communication isn’t only about what you say; it’s a two-way street. Listening is a crucial piece of communicating well, and many people do not spend enough time on this important skill.

Be specific. Often, poor communication results from vague directions. If you want something at a certain time, say so. The more specific you are, the better chance you’ll have of people following through in the way you expect.

Check your body language. Clenching your teeth through your fake smile isn’t fooling anyone! Keep in mind, a majority of in-person communication is passed on via body language.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

Read the whole post on the Elevated Careers blog.

How to use social networks to get a job

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http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-people-social-networking-computer-network-concepts-image41603635Your resume isn’t the only important document employers consider when it comes to hiring decisions. What you post on social media can help or hurt you in your quest to land a new job. Your goal should be to ensure you do what is necessary to create profiles that potential employers will appreciate on networks where you expect people in your industry to spend time.

How can you really make the most of time you spend using social media?

Identify the best networks for your industry. If you’re putting out amazing content on networks where no one will see it, the value is questionable. Identify where your network spends time online and share content there. Options include LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Periscope — the list is endless. It’s up to you to decide where you’ll find your audience.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

Create magnetic profiles. You want to attract your audience to your online profiles. What can you include in your profiles to make sure people are both drawn to it and impressed once they get there. Start by creating a LinkedIn headline with the important elements of key words and a direct pitch. Don’t use your job title!

Decide what you should post online. What do you want people to know about you and your expertise? That’s what you should share.

Be active on social media. Having a profile isn’t enough. If you want to impress and engage, you can’t have stale and dull profiles.

Showcase your critical thinking and writing skills. These are important for just about any job, and it’s easy to let people know you have this skillset.

Pay attention to what organizations that interest you post online. Follow their accounts and keep up with what they post so you can use that to your advantage.

Don’t post anything that will give employers pause. If you’re mentioning your illegal drug use, just assume you’ve missed an opportunity with most employers who notice it.

Read the entire post on Vault.com.