A common challenge for many women and men going through a divorce is looking for a job after having been away from the workforce for an extended period of time. In many cases, their spouse was the main breadwinner while s/he was the primary caregiver of their children. As you can imagine, the specter of finding a job or even being considered for a job can be a bit discouraging if you are in competition with other job seekers who are devoid of such employment gaps on your resume.
So how do you go about handling those dreaded employment gaps on your resume?
Here’s the answer – fill them in!
Barbara was 51 years old, separated from her husband, and facing this dilemma when she came to me for help. She had been away from the workplace for 10+ years and needed to have a clear strategy for finding a job as quickly as possible. She decided she wanted to target a job as an Administrative Assistant.
Look for “relevant” job experience to include on your resume –
It is a fact that employers are most interested in employees who have kept their skills up-to-date. Part of her job search strategy was to take adult education classes on computer programs she would need to know in order to be considered for the job. We then looked for any unpaid work experience she had that related to being an Administrative Assistant. I was happy to discover that she had quite a bit of volunteer experience and had been actively involved in her local women’s club and even served as president for a term. This experience showed leadership ability and that she took initiative. We made note of the work she performed that related to being an administrative assistant such as organizing events, creating flyers, sending out invitations, writing and distributing press releases, and negotiating with vendors. We then included this experience under the heading “relevant and professional work experience” within her job history section.
After a few months of consistently looking for a position, she started receiving offers for interviews and was offered a part-time position with a commercial maintenance company. It wasn’t exactly what she was looking for but she thought it was a good way to build up her resume and become gradually acclimated to the workplace after having been away for so long. She worked there for 6 months when she heard about a full- time position with a real estate agency that offered much needed benefits. She interviewed for the job and was hired on the spot.
Barbara’s story demonstrates the steps you need to take to handle employment gaps and re-enter the workplace after a lengthy absence:
1) Choose a specific job target – it’s important to have clarity about the job you want. Keep in mind you can have more than one job target as long as you qualify for each position.
2) Make sure your skills are up-to-date – determine the skills you will need for your targeted position, then get that training.
3) Get a professionally written resume – your resume should showcase your accomplishments in relation to the job you’re targeting and include relevant work experience to fill in any employment period gaps
4) Get support – there will inevitably be times when you will feel stuck or unsure about your next steps in the process. Don’t be a lone ranger! Find a job search buddy or hire a professional coach who can guide you during those times when you need feedback and solutions.
Finally, it is important to be persistent and consistent in your efforts and to cultivate an optimistic attitude so that you can stay with the program regardless of whether or not you see immediate results.
If you follow the above steps you will effectively handle those dreaded employment gaps on your resume and like Barbara, you will eventually start lining up interviews and be well on the road to getting the job you want.
Donna Bradshaw is a Career Reinvention Coach, Job Search Strategist & Resume Writer. She works with individuals who want to makeover their careers and explore new and exciting possibilities to find a career they can feel passionate about. For a free evaluation of your current resume and free report on the 8 Essential Steps to Reinventing Your Career, go to www.CACoaching.com or e-mail her at Donna@CACoaching.com.
