What If I Have Employment Gaps?

Many people don't have flawless career histories and have gone through a rough patch where

they may lose their jobs by being laid off or fired. There is a very small group of professionals

who actually have undisturbed work histories.

Talented professionals with employment gaps are limited by a chronological resume or work history format and may benefit from a functional resume. A functional resume highlights an applicant's skill and forgoes the detailing of his/her work history.

Advantages

Professionals who are re-careering, as it is now known, or changing from one career path to

another, would find functional resumes very useful. The key is to match relevant job experience and even hobbies to your new career of choice. For example, if you've been working as a

salesperson and are now looking to work as a hospital administrator, highlighting your quota

accomplishments would put you out of sync with your new career objectives. In this case showcasing your attention to detail when performing administrative tasks may make you a more viable candidate.

If your hobby is writing a blog on baking for your friends and your professional experience is as a factory worker, your writing experience becomes relevant if you are interested in being employed as a writer for a print or online publication. Your work as a factory worker may be largely irrelevant. These skills can only be showcased when you use a functional resume.

Disadvantages

Keep in mind that not all potential employers are comfortable with the functional resume and still adhere to the chronological resume.

Solution

Use a combined format that merges the chronological and functional resume in a seamless manner. It starts with a detailed listing of the applicant's skills and ends with a chronological listing of the applicant's work history which is usually enough to satisfy recruiters and employers.

Example

Sue Smith

72 Park Place

San Fernando Drive, CA 00000

suesmith009@somesite.com

OBJECTIVE

Enter in one or two sentences your goal and type of job you want.

Be as specific and clear and concise as possible. This part should get the resume reader's

attention.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Briefly list your accomplishments and awards.

• I am the right candidate because...

• Cite these successes by their importance to the type of position you're seeking.

Discuss your skills, grouping them in three to five functions. Describe one or two of your

former jobs for each skill.

Example of how to showcase your skills:

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS:

Organizer and Creator, Housecleaning Service, Little Rock, Arkansas, 4/2000-7/2000

Instituted a local housecleaning service. Devised advertising scheme. Developed efficient

cleaning routine.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

Public Relations Office Assistant, University of XY, Sleepy Hollow, Alabama, 10/2000-

8/2002

Acquired public relations abilities through alumni communications. Designed reunion

weekend signs and posters.

EDUCATION

School Name, City, State

B.A., Major, Minor: Minor, 19xx

GPA: xx, Major GPA: xx. Briefly note any awards, committees, offices held or affiliations

from school. Do so in a concise way and remember to emphasize any related issues to the

job or field you want to enter.

~ Excellent References Available Upon Request ~