employment gaps - reframing your experiences

ADDRESSING EMPLOYMENT GAPS: REFRAMING YOUR EXPERIENCES

Judy SunUGA Alumni Career Services

Today’s Webinar Speaker

Judy SunGraduate Intern

UGA Alumni Career ServicesAtlanta Alumni Center

[email protected]

Overview

1. Employment Gaps & the HR Perspective2. Addressing the Employment Gap Resume Cover Letter Interview

3. Next Steps for Bridging the Gap

Reality Check

Reasons you may have an employment gap: Personal health crisis or care for a loved one Raising a family Termination/Laid offOther (travel, service, etc.)

9.8 million Americans are unemployed(U.S. Department of Labor, April 2015)

The average job search takes 4-6 months

Reality Check: The Hiring Manager’s Perspective

Costs associated with the loss of an employee

Direct: interviewing, on-boarding, training Indirect: lost productivity, low employee morale $3,328 to replace a $10/hr retail employee $8,000 to replace a $40,000 manager $213,000 to replace a $100,000 executive

Red flags on a resume

Appearing overqualified Gaps in employment Short job stints Dates that trigger age discrimination

“What have you been doing since you left your last job?”

ADDRESSING THE GAP

Skills Developed During the Gap

Personal Branding “What do you do?” Tactfully reference your field of expertise Looking for new opportunities in ____

Skills Developed During the Gap

Tolerance for Ambiguity/Change

Adaptable

Resilience

Explaining Your Gap

Be prepared Be confident Be honest Be concise Be positive Be strategic

Experiences to Bridge the Gap

Self-Employment/Consulting/Freelance Temporary/Contract/Part Time Work Volunteering Professional Development Speaking/Writing Engagements

ADDRESSING THE GAPON RESUMES

Resume Do’s for Employment Gaps

Use annual date ranges instead of months

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Marketing Manager January 2014 – February 2015Marketing Assistant March 2010 – April 2013

Marketing Manager 2014 – 2015Marketing Assistant 2010 – 2013


Use a chronological resume format (with most recent experiences first) rather than functional

Order your resume sections by importance/relevance Use relevant job titles and descriptions

Human Resources Experience

Red Cross, Human Resources Administrative Assistant 2015

Bridgestone, Management Trainee 2010 – 2011

Customer Service Experience

C2 Education, Tutor 2012 – 2014

Walgreens, Pharmacy Technician 2006 – 2009


Provide relevant experiences from the past 10-15 years

Relevant Experience

ABC Nonprofit 2008 – 2015

JFK Company 2005 – 2008

RST Company 2002 – 2004

XYZ Company 2000 – 2002

Education

University of Georgia Athens, GA

Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Economics

Resume Don’ts for Employment Gaps

Don’t write your reason for leaving prior jobs Don’t list “to present” if it’s not true


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

An organized and motivated Customer Service professional with over 8 years of experience in customer relations…

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Online Retailer Atlanta, GA

Owner 2010 – Present

• Launch and manage online retail shop with average of $10,000 in monthly sales

• Market business through forums, social media, and personal networks

• Resolve customer concerns in regards to questions, complaints, and product returns.

• Research products, manufacturers, competitors, and online retail shop best practices

Stay at home parent with some experience


Household Manager, Atlanta, GA 2010 – Present

• Manage household daily operations including family finances, logistics, scheduling, and prioritization of duties

• Advise family members in planning, purchasing, and preparation of nutritious meals

• Assign and schedule housekeeping duties and teach good study habits to children

• Maintain cleanliness of home and promote fundamental hygiene principles

• Provide transportation to schools, team sports, music lessons, and more

Stay at home parent with limited work experience

Get involved and gain more experience (stay current)

Contexts & Potential Skills Developed

Managed a household

Trekked across the globe

Co-chaired an event to raise funds for a worthy cause

Organization Time management

Patience Teaching

Persuasion Event planning Team work

Budgeting

Adaptable to unknown situations Problem solving


1-2 short term stints

The Smith Company Atlanta, GA

Office Receptionist 2014

Oversaw reception area…

Greeted new clients…

The Jones Company Atlanta, GA

Front Desk Assistant 2013

Managed schedule of…

Redirected phone calls…


ABC Consulting Atlanta, GA

Assisted with multiple marketing-related projects for a diverse range of companies with a particular emphasis on further developing nascent social media outreach efforts and online community building.

Marketing Assistant, Package Shipping Company 2014

Increased efforts for…

Assisted with social media…

Social Media Specialist, Independent Coffee House 2014

Revamped existing strategy…

Spearheaded new initiative…

Marketing Coordinator, Local Bank 2014

Coordinated logistics for…

Collaborated with…

2+ short- term stints under an agency or own consulting business

ADDRESSING THE GAPON COVER LETTERS

Cover Letter Tips

Briefly explain your circumstances for employment gaps Demonstrate how your previous achievements translate

“As you may have read, (company name) announced a round of layoffs, and my position was eliminated. Although saddened to leave this company, where my performance has consistently been rated as outstanding, I am looking forward to repeating my same record of success for my next employer...”

Relate what you have done with what they want

Restate interest and state how you intend to follow up

Brief introduction; address any red flags and make clarifications

Writing a Cover Letter

ADDRESSING THE GAPIN INTERVIEWS

Interview Tips

Make positive first impression Be prepared to explain circumstances of employment gaps,

job hopping, etc. when asked Frame a less than ideal situation as a learning experience How is what you learned valuable to your next employer?

Prepare anecdotes to illustrate your abilities and answer behavioral interview questions

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Discrimination based on the following is ILLEGAL

Age Race Religion Nationality Disability

Gender Marital & Family Status Residence Criminal Record Military Service

NEXT STEPS

Find Opportunities To Bridge the Gap

Self-Employment/Consulting/Freelance Temporary/Contract/Part Time Work Volunteering Professional Development

Speaking/Writing Engagements

Demonstrating Your Skills

Assess and highlight your contributions and skillsWhat responsibilities did you have? How did your performance benefit the organization or cause?What positive feedback did you receive from others?

Quantify your impact with measurable outcomes Use relevant titles and descriptions

When you are at a crossroad in your career, it can help to talk with your Alumni Career Counselor. Alumni have access to FREE career counseling, and can

schedule appointments Monday-Friday between 9 am – 4 pm.

UPCOMING WORKSHOP

Finding a Meaningful Career

MBTI & Strong Career Assessments & Interpretation, $65

Tuesday, August 4th @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Please contact Bethany Mills at [email protected] for more information

UGA Alumni Career Services

References

Center for American Progress (2012). There Are Significant Business Costs to Replacing Employees. Retrieved from: https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CostofTurnover.pdf

Job-Hunt. How to Manage the Red Flags on Your Resume. Retrieved from: http://www.job-hunt.org/resumes/managing-resume-red-flags.shtml

The Muse. How to Explain the Gap in Your Resume With Ease. Retrieved from: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-explain-the-gap-in-your-resume-with-ease

The Muse. The Surprising Experience You Gain When You Take Time Off from Work. Retrieved from: https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-surprising-experience-you-gain-when-you-take-time-off-from-work

employment gaps - reframing your experiences

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