A maternity leave to look after your children, health problems, a gap year to travel the world or simply a long period of unemployment? There are numerous reasons that can explain a gap in your resume. Close to one out of four people have experienced being off work throughout their career. You can ask yourself how to justify your employment gap to a future employer. Recruiters are seeking for operational candidates for which the risks are measured. During the interview, your goal is to reassure the speaker on the following points.
Are your skills still adequate?
If you are the ideal candidate, the recruiter needs to measure how much time it will take you to be operational in the company.
Our advice
Show that you regularly stay informed on what is going on in your business area by reading specialized press, going to conferences or meetups. You can also stay up to date by following free online courses called MOOCs.
Are you up to the task?
Everyone of us can go through an employment gap. However, don't be suprised if the interviewer asks you to explain such a gap.
Our advice
If you have had health problems, you don’t need to go into detail. Simply reassure the employer by explaining to what extent your previous health issues will not interfere with the job the company is offering. If your employment gap was due to maternity leave or a life project, you can find ways of enhancing this gap and remember to focus on your current objectives and motivation.
Inactivity
We all know that a job search can take time as the competition on certain positions can be strong. This being said, try to show how you used this time to make the most of it. Not only is it important to show a recruiter what you did during your job search, it is also important for your own self-bneing to find ways to remain confident.
Our advice
Alternative activites can be carried out during a job search. Voluntarism activities can enable you to create a strong network and even get to master new skills. You can also seek for a short time job or work as an independent.
Why haven’t I been offered a position yet?
Recruiters might want to understand the reasons of a gap in your resume. It is proven that it is more reassuring for a company to hire a candidate which already has a job than someone who is looking for a job. Do keep in mind, that you have a competitive advantage: you are available straight away.
To conclude, the goal of a good employer is to find out the reasons of the gap of the candidate. But don’t forget that an employment gap can happen to anyone, even your recruiter!
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