What To Do About An Employment Gap -

What To Do About An Employment Gap -Historically, having a significant gap in your professional employment has been seen as a huge negative on a resume. However, given that a May Gallup poll showed that 19% of the American bevlkerung is underemployed (either not working or working part-time instead of full-time), there are many, many job seekers out there wondering how to handle this resume issue. The good news is that there are ways to present gaps in employment that minimize their impact on your resume.Fill your time any way you can Hiring managers receive dozens of applications for every job they post these days. They know as well as anyone how tough the current job market is. Because of this, employers are far less likely to stigmatize a job seeker who shows a recent gap in their employment historythe key is to fill that gap with something that shows that you care about your career.Take a classOne simple way to keep yourself sharp as a professional is to take a class while youre looking for work. Depending on your financial situation and available time, there are many options for professional development. Many universities offer continuing education classes in subjects like writing grants or preparing taxes. There are also erreichbar training programs for licensed professions such as real estate sales. If finances are a concern, you can take affordable classes through your local parks and recreation department or library system.Do consulting workWorking less than full time doesnt mean you automatically forget all the expertise youve gained from working in your field. Using your network to obtain consulting gigs not only allows you to earn some income, but it gives you recent experience to discuss on your resume and in interviews.Work as a freelancerI know a copy editor who has been unemployed for 15 months now. Hes been working as a freelancer over the Internet while hes been searching for a full-time position. Given the current economic conditions, he know s that its a logical alternative to doing nothing at all. And should this year-long gap even come up at an interview, he knows that his freelancing experience will not only provide a reasonable explanation but also show the potenzial employer his initiative and ability to persevere under adverse conditions.VolunteerVolunteering is particularly helpful to those who are hoping their next job will be in a field different from their last one. If you dont have professional experience in something like marketing, volunteer to promote a fund-raiser for a local nonprofittheyd love the help, and you instantly possess some marketing experience.If youre currently paying your bills by working a job for which youre overqualified, its OK to mention it when applying for a new position. Employers appreciate the honesty. Im waiting tables right now while I look for full-time work, is a meinung that shows youre flexible, humble, and willing to get your hands dirty when its neededJessica Holbrook Hern andez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class, resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit http//www.greatresumesfast.com or call 1.800.991.5187.