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Filling Blanks: Employment gaps on a resume need not be a deal breaker
Journal Illustration by Richard Boyd II
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Published: December 14, 2008
If there is a silver lining to the souring job markets, it may be that having an employment gap -- the bane of job seekers and a potential red flag to companies -- is becoming less of a deal breaker.
But that doesn't mean that job applicants can relax, according to economists and employment officials.
In fact, those officials said that employers are expecting job seekers to fill the holes on their resumes by upgrading skill sets, networking, consulting and volunteering.
"Most human-resource managers are very in tune with the state of the economy and realize that more people are re-entering the work force out of necessity," said Archie Hicks, the manager of the Winston-Salem office of the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
"Their view would be what could the person bring to the organization, rather than why they had not been working.
"The job candidates who are going to be successful are those who best communicate their skills, knowledge and abilities to prospective employers," Hicks said.
Kim Isaacs, a resume expert for Monster.com, said that job seekers should not be apologetic if they have been out of work "because you raised a family, continued your education, cared for a sick family member or recovered from an injury."
"There's nothing wrong with being out of work for whatever reason, and a negative attitude might affect your resume's quality," Isaacs said.
Those optimistic opinions, however, were not shared by the majority of 150 executives recently surveyed by OfficeTeam.com, which provides job-placement services to administrative professionals.
About 93 percent of the executives said that "they would be concerned about a candidate's fit for a position if his or her resume showed involuntary periods of unemployment."
"In the current economy, employers are aware that people could be out of work through no fault of their own," said Dave Willmer, the executive director of OfficeTeam.
"But resume gaps can still pose a significant obstacle for job candidates."
That's why having to explain a resume gap remains "one of the things that causes the most stress and fear in the hearts and minds of the job seeker," said Cynthia Wright, a contributor to QuintCareers.com and a human-resources official.
"A gap on a resume glares out at a recruiter or hiring manager," Wright said.
The debate over resume gaps is playing out in a local job market that continues to test the patience and frustration levels of job-seekers.
The Triad's unemployment rate was 7 percent in October, according to the commission.
It is projected to exceed at least 8 percent by mid-2009, considering that the region hasn't absorbed the blows from at least 10 major layoffs affecting more than 3,100 workers that include Hanesbrands Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co. Inc.
Questions remain about how many of Wachovia Corp.'s 2,900 local jobs will be cut or transferred as Wells Fargo & Co. merges bank operations over the next two years.
At the national level, the average time on unemployment benefits is 19 weeks, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., an outplacement company based in Chicago.
And the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week that there were about 3.3 job seekers for every job vacancy during October, compared with 1.9 job seekers in October 2007.
Most economists and employment officials surveyed by the Winston-Salem Journal expressed confidence that employers are taking the sour economy into account.
"Employers are more accepting of gaps in employment from those industries hardest hit such as furniture and textiles, as well as other highly visible advertised dislocations," Hicks said.
"Employers would be more skeptical of accepting a long gap of unemployment in what they may perceive to be a high-demand occupation, which would be defined as any job the employer consistently had difficulty filling."
Adding to challenge of job seeking is the migration of people and families into North Carolina, hopeful of a more plentiful job market than the one they left.
"All applicants are having more difficulty finding work now due to the competition for jobs," Hicks said.
Some local hiring managers view a resume gap as a problem, said Piers Clarkson, the director of client and employee relations for The Clarks Group of Winston-Salem.
"More are starting to realize that they can be brought on by the tough economic times that we have seen since Sept. 11, 2001," Clarkson said.
Clarkson said he tells his clients not to be concerned if the gap in employment is because of a weakened economy. "Now, it is becoming more the norm than the exception," he said.
Successful job hunters are staying up to date with the skills that employers are demanding, said John Challenger, the chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
"Remember that employers remain in the driver's seat because they are hiring for fewer jobs and have more candidates to choose from," Challenger said.
"Standing out means a commitment to lifelong learning."
Employment officials differed on whether it's important to put short-term job positions on a resume, particularly if they are not from the job candidate's career field.
"Short-term positions that don't do anything for you can certainly be omitted," Isaacs said.
"Keep in mind: A resume is a marketing piece, but you will need to provide a complete work history if you are asked to fill out a job application, which is a signed legal document."
Willmer, the executive director of OfficeTeam, said that job-seekers with lengthy periods of unemployment "should focus on quantifying their achievements and emphasizing specific skills and experience."
"Given the concern by hiring managers, job seekers may need to address employment gaps upfront in the cover letter or during interviews."
Wright, the human-resources professional, advises treating any freelance work, consulting or mentoring done during a job search as a regular job on a resume.
"Be sure to list that experience in the professional-experience section of your resume," Wright said. "Include the name of the organization, job functions, dates, and city and state.
"If you have an extensive gap in employment, you may want to address it in your cover letter to the prospective employer. Include a brief one- or two-sentence explanation, but do not go into detail about a long illness or a frustrating job search.
"Rather, state that you were out of the work force for whatever reason, and explain that you are eager to return," Wright said.
■ Richard Craver can be reached at 727-7376 or at rcraver@wsjournal.com.
Job-search advice
Here are some suggestions for staying connected to your career while conducting a job search:
•Find a consulting assignment or project. Many times, employees who are "in between" jobs supplement their knowledge (and income) by taking contract or consulting assignments.
•Take a class in a subject related to your profession.
•Volunteer with an organization or become a mentor.
•Read trade journals and attend seminars in your field of expertise.
•Write an article for a publication in your area of expertise. Many freelance writing assignments pay well.
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