Returning to Work How to Handle the Employment Gap

Returning to Work How to Handle the Employment GapReturning to Work How to Handle the Employment GapUtilize your volunteer experience to boost your resume and expand your network during the job search.QI havent worked outside the home except to volunteer for many years and cant even get an interview. I know I can do the job but how do you get that across? Doreen M.AIt can be so frustrating when you know you have value to add to a company but cant get your foot in the door. Your story is very common with full-time parents who left the corporate world to raise their families and now want (or need) to reenter the workforce, and with those who were laid off and were forced to take on a string of lower-paying jobs to pay the bills. In these situations, I recommend doing two thingsUpdate your brandIts so important to have a resume and online profile that showcase your relevant skill sets and accomplishments, while also showing that you havent been twiddling your thumbs since you left the corporate world. Heres the dealIf your volunteer work (or other recent work experience) can be directly tied back to your targeted job goals, then use a traditional chronological resume format. I dont care if they didnt pay you for the work I care if the experience helped you gain relevant industry experience or build skills that are important to the roles youre targeting today. Make sure you frame the job description and selected accomplishments with your job goals in mind the anthroponym of the game is relevancy.If your recent work experience doesnt support your job goals or you have an employment gap due to educational pursuits, sabbaticals, etc., then your best bet is to switch to what we call a functional (also known as hybrid or results-oriented) resume format. In a functional resume, the focus is placed on your relevant experience and the results or accomplishments of that work. You include chronological information and other roles, but those take a back seat so the attenti on stays on the skill sets and expertise thats directly related to your targeted job.Ill be honest Im bedrngnis the biggest fan of functional resumes, mostly because recruiters seem to prefer the chronological format. However, in this type of situation a functional format will do a much better job at positioning your skills and experience as they relate to your job goals. Click on the following link to learn more about different resume formats.Invest in your networkWhenever youre facing challenges in the job search due to unemployment, career changes, and so forth networking becomes even more important to your strategy.The more people you can meet within your desired line of work, the more information you will gain about the marketplace, its main players, and the potential opportunities that are out there. It will help you fine-tune your search to target companies that have the most potential and would be the best fit for you.Youll learn how the market has changed since you last w orked in it, and if there are any skill gaps you need to fill in order to be more attractive to potential employers. For instance, I worked with a client who was a senior marketing professional in the 90s. When she began looking for work again, it became apparent that shed need to gain a better understanding of online marketing and ecommerce to compete with other job seekers in her space.Your contacts can advocate on your behalf and help you by-pass any gatekeepers in the application process. The 2012 CareerXroads Source of Hire Survey found that you are 10 times more likely to land an interview if your application includes an employee referral. The more networking you do, the more likely you are to find people who are willing to pass your application along or allow you to include their name in the application process. And dont discount the people youve met while volunteering While they may not work in your targeted line of work, whos to say they dont have friends or family members who do?