If you’re one of those who face unemployment gaps repeatedly, then you sure know what I am speaking about. Unemployment gaps in the resume, a real fear factor. Imagine facing these gaps and on a repetitive scale! Let me tell you, I sure know what it means. You can just sit and wonder I am ever going to ever explain these gaps to my future Employers.

Of course, unforeseen circumstances forces cannot be helped but the Companies wouldn’t understand that, would they? So, what do you when you are unemployed? Here are some suggestions –

1. On the Resume, list only the month/year on your work history. This helps achieves two things – a) it makes it easier for the reader to quickly ballpark the length of time you stayed at each job and b) it conceals gaps that happened within a span of two calendar years.

Example:

04/08 – 07/12, Travel Manager, Sumi Travels, Mumbai

01/07 - 01/08, Travel Executive, Samarth Tours, Pune

If you use only years and eliminate the months, there is no apparent gap:

2008 – 2012, Travel Manager, Sumi Travels, Mumbai

2007 - 2008, Travel Executive, Samarth Tours, Pune

Note the difference! Remember, this is especially helpful in short gaps of unemployment

1. If the Gap has been more for a longer period, consider explaining everything you were during that time(hobbies taken up, skills you picked up, classes enrolled, looking after ailing parents, travel) especially if it is relevant to your job objective.

Example:

Someone applying for a position as a travel agent might list his vacation destinations:

2007-2009, Travel: Bahamas, South America

1. If the Gap is not relevant to your job objective, always explain with Honesty. Explain about something you did during that time. On the resume you could write, “unpaid job titles” under the Work History –

Full time parent

Personal Travel

Family Management

But, Remember don’t blab on and on giving long, drawn out explanation about why you left your last position. Keep it crisp, full of positivity even though you have been resentful of your last job.

Lastly, steer towards your goal and stay focused, explaining how well you can contribute to your prospective employer and how excited you are to have the opportunity.

Keep in mind, though, to STAY ACTIVE, do something productive while you are unemployed. Some suggestions before I sign off -

Take up some classes – You are good at dancing, teaching, cooking then why not start up on a small scale. You need not invest yet give in to your passion

Sign up for classes – Never stop learning should be the motto. Sign up for those classes which fuels up your mind, where you feel will add value to your career

Blog – You love to write? Why not start blogging your thoughts?

Make connections – This is what I learned when I was unemployed for a very long time. Make right connections through social networking & professional sites. Who know, you could end up starting up your own recruitment agency right from the confines of your homes.

And Lastly,

Follow Up - Never ever forget to follow up repeatedly on your applications, with recruiters, job portals job posting

I am sure the next time that the next time you are there explaining the “GAP”, you will be better prepared and hardly wince. All the best!