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Employment Gaps Resume

There is a lot of controversy when it comes to an employment gaps resume because there will be periods of time when the applicant was apparently without work. Depending on the length of time between jobs, and the number of gaps in the resume, it may be better to use a functional resume as opposed to the preferable chronological format. However, this also becomes problematic as it tends to send up a red flag to the person reviewing the resume. Most often, functional resumes only list job functions and skills without specific places of employment in relation to dates and locations. It is the consensus among experts that it is better to use the widely accepted chronological resume and deal with gaps in the objective statement at the beginning.

Employment Gaps Resume – Objective Statement

Because there will be a gap between dates of employment, the objective statement is an ideal place to address the issue. Many people find that it is best to be as honest as possible by saying something to the effect of, “Seeking to reenter the workforce after taking leave for personal growth and development.” Perhaps there was an illness in the family that necessitated the applicant to remain home to care for a loved one, or the place of employment closed down due to financial losses. These types of issues can be stated succinctly in the objective statement, and the person reviewing the resume will be ready for the gaps in employment when reading the professional experience section.

Employment Gaps Resume – Qualifications and Skills

This area of an employment gaps resume would be the same as it would be if there were no breaks between jobs. Any skills or qualifications the applicant brought to previous jobs, or can offer prospective employers would be listed here. For example, a candidate seeking work as a receptionist would highlight qualifications such as having great communication skills, well organized, familiar with MS Office and phone systems. This is not an area to list actual responsibilities that were carried out as part of previous employment; rather, it is an area where the candidate can list personal assets that would be beneficial to an employer.

Professional Experience for an Employment Gaps Resume

Unfortunately, this is the one area of an employment gaps resume that most job seekers don’t like to deal with. However, quite often there is no need to worry about a gap in employment if there were bona fide reasons for being without a job for a specified period of time. Unless the reasons for unemployment were directly related to job performance, there should be no reason for undue concern. Just list the most recent job first and work backwards chronologically as if there had been no breaks in employment history. The company name, location and dates of employment are listed, immediately followed by responsibilities that were carried out as part of the job in question. While not altogether orthodox, some job seekers leave out dates on this portion of the resume so that they can explain gaps in employment on the interview.

Educational Requirements for the Employment Gaps Resume

Here again, this portion of the resume will be like any other resume where there were no gaps in employment. List the highest degree, or level of education, followed by each previous degree in reverse chronological order. Depending on the job being sought, educational requirements will vary. Some positions such as a high school math teacher might require a B.S. in mathematics, while a position as a receptionist might only require a high school diploma and perhaps some typing and office machinery classes. This portion of the resume should list schools attended, years of attendance and degrees/certificates awarded.

Especially in today’s fluctuating economy, many people have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Within the past few years many businesses have gone under, and prospective employers are well aware of the fact that jobs have been few and far between. It is always best to be as honest as possible while presenting yourself in a favorable light. For guidance on formatting this type of resume, there are employment gaps resume samples online that can offer tips on how to go about tailoring a resume of this type.