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"I kept seeing electronic resumes wanted by companies I was applying to. Not being computer-smart, I had no idea what that meant. I searched the sites and used you guys since you seemed professional and affordable. The electronic resume you prepared for me looks better than my regular resume. I didn’t know you could make regular text so appealing. I owe you my job." |
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Dealing With Extended
Unemployment
In a job market that's becoming more unpredictable every day, there are plenty of horror stories. The woman who left to raise her children returns two years later, only to find that her position has been downsized into oblivion; an executive swept away with the dotcom tide; a sick family member who was important to you but not to your last employer. Whatever your reason for spending time unemployed, it's important to put a positive spin on your experience. The worst thing you can do is apologize; the tone of the interview, resume, or cover letter becomes immediately negative when you do.
Begin by analyzing the skills you used in your previous job, and whether employment in the same field is an option. If you want to change careers entirely, look at the more general advice on this website and others. If your mission is merely to find a job in the same field as the one you left, job fairs are often a good place to start. Try to find out from friends who might still be employed in your old workplace if positions are open; if they're not, don't give up. Send in your resume anyway, and call your old boss if he or she is still with the company.
When you write your resume, utilizing a few standard strategies can airbrush any potential gaps. If the period of your unemployment was less than a year, don't use months in your job chronology at all. It's a small omission that only a very careful observer will notice. Parents who stayed home with children or those who took sabbaticals in particular will want to address any volunteer work they did in the interim, whether it was spending a few hours in a library or managing a full scale charity project. Treat it like you would any other job description; list the dates you worked, your responsibilities, and the official position you held. You will want to avoid misrepresenting your employment status; if you aren't with a company, indicating "to present" is a lie that can be easily refuted by a phone call.
Employers caution that they are suspicious of functional resumes, because they are often used to hide gaps. If you have an unusual history, it might be wise to still adopt a chronological format-you are free to omit any short, temporary jobs that you held if they're not relevant to what you want to do. Be aware, however, that if you are hired and are required to fill out an employment history, you are obligated under the law to include every job you've ever had. If a functional resume is a must given your experience level, try to be as specific as possible about the responsibilities that you've had both as an employee and even as a volunteer.
Your cover letter should address, very briefly, your reason for returning to the workforce if you left voluntarily. If you were fired, don't mention it here, but be prepared to discuss the subject in your interview. If the job you're applying for now is significantly different from the one you left, you might want to explain what changed your mind about your career, and what your expectations are of the new position. If you're returning to the same field, indicate how you've kept up with changes in the profession-if you've attended seminars or conferences, or pursued another relevant degree in the meantime, be sure to mention this in your cover letter and in the appropriate location on your resume. Coaches who train people to re-enter the workforce are often more willing to work hard for an applicant who has displayed a clear commitment to development between jobs. Even a computer course from a community education program can vastly increase the chances that your resume will receive a favorable glance from a placement agency or a human relations officer.
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