Tips to Address Employment Gaps in a Resume

Tips to Address Employment Gaps in a Resume

Source: http://www.ayushveda.com/tipson/tips-to-address-employment-gaps-in-a-resume/

Resume is a paper that represents the individual for the job. It is through the resume a future employer sees you. If you have a missing year in your career history then the employer will take it as a negative mark and it may adversely affect your chance of getting a job.

There are many reasons for missing years in your resume. It can be due to pregnancy, for raising your baby, an accident, higher education, to look after your elderly parents etc and what ever the reasons you have to address it tactfully. This will help you to avoid the bad impression.

1. While writing your resume use a skill based format rather than using a chronological format. Make a heading and group relevant skills under the heading. With this you can highlight your achievements and skills instead of the highlighting the time you did it. This will help you to hide the gaps.

2. Instead of listing dates on your resume like Feb, 2005 to May 2008 you can write 2005 to 2008. This will help you to cover the gaps of months in your resume.

3. If you are a person who is working for years then you can set your experience as fifteen years in technical job and ten years in managerial job etc.

4. Make a list of the things that you did in the year when you were not employed and categorize them. This will help you to find things that can be included in your resume. You might have volunteered events, might have worked as a consultant or freelance writer, sometimes you might have taken classes for kids etc. Then you can list such things in your resume as you did with other jobs.

5. If you are not able to cover the gaps then you can keep a covering letter along with your resume which explains the reason for the gap. You can explain that you were raising twins, were writing a novel, were caring your aged parents etc. If you had a serious accident and you were in trauma then you can offer medical certificate also.

6. If you can tell the truths then it will the best. This is because the employer may cross check your information on the resume and if they find anything incorrect they may expel you from the job.

INTERVIEW WEEK: How To Nail The HR Interview by Tim Tyrell-Smith

Article Source:  http://tinyurl.com/yb9dy67

During your interview process, the odds are you will spend a decent amount of time talking with people in HR.  For most jobs, you will at least have a screening or phone interview with someone in HR prior to being invited for an in-person interview.

Once on-site there is also a really good chance that you will interview with an HR manager or director during your interview day.  Depends on the level of your interview.

But why worry so much about the HR interview? 

Well, if you are thinking that the HR interview is the least important of all. Or if you think that it will be simply a time to fill out the basic application and review benefits.  I got news for you.

The HR interview is not a walk-off and is not the time in the day where you relax or coast.  In my experience, it is a key time when you need to be on top of your game.

Do not underestimate the value of your on-site HR interview.  And do not assume it is yet another screening interview.  Or do so at your own peril.

If the HR interview is first up on the list and you are expecting an easy start, you may be jolted out of your chair and end up on the defensive for the rest of the day.  How does that sound?

So, here are my 5 tips for nailing the HR interview (and they may not be what you were expecting to hear):

1.  Prepare the same way for the HR interview as you do for any other interview. 

Use the same vigor and same attention to detail. This shows respect and consideration of their role within the company.  Vet them and get to know their background.  Can you add some unique prep just for HR related issues?  Of course.  But if that is all you ask of the HR group, you are missing out on a significant learning opportunity.

2.  Ask HR the same questions you ask those in sales, marketing, finance and purchasing. 

Ask a smart HR person about plans for the next company picnic and you may see the eyes roll back.  Not that building and managing a positive culture isn’t part of the HR role, but it is not the way to the HR heart.  Many HR staffers are keenly aware of the company’s compensation programs which are often tied to company performance and stock price.  So as long as you are not asking the “look how smart I am” question, assume HR is in the loop on company strategy.  And by asking each question to every person on your dance card, you get a better research result.  A better N or sample size.

3.  Assume HR is a key influencer in the decision process. 

At the very least, the HR person will be a part of the end of day round-up where your next steps get decided.  More likely, HR will be the one compiling the larger group’s comments for the hiring manager.  And if they don’t get all the comments they need, they may fill in a few extra of their own to fill the gap.  And you get to influence those comments by being a strong interview.  Finally, many hiring managers use the HR team as a deciding opinion.  After all, they do a lot of interviewing and can compare you with a lot of others.

4. Kick off your day with a big burst of energy.

Since HR interviews are often first, it is the pace setter for your day.  Stumble early and you may have trouble catching up by lunch time. If you nail this interview, you not only have created early momentum.  You have created an informal sponsor of your candidacy.  Someone who can help you quietly work your way to the top of the list.  Your positive energy combined with a strong skill set and experience match reconfirms the decision to invite you for an interview in the first place.  You move on to round 2 and HR looks good for finding you.

5. Clearly highlight or reinforce your qualifying and memorable accomplishments.

Remember, of all the people you meet during the interview day, the HR team is going to be most schooled on what the hiring manager is targeting.  Often, they are also the most knowledgeable of the company’s desired personality or work-style fit.  So be clear on who you are, what you’ve done and how it will benefit the company.  And how you can drive or support its future growth.

So, be aware of the possibilities when interviewing.  It is possible that the HR interview will include filling out the application and the sharing  of company information.

It is also possible that during your HR interview you will earn every ounce of the complementary bottled water you got on your way in the door.

And wouldn’t you rather be prepared for the latter?  I thought so.

Desperately seeking a job

By Miriam Salpeter

Stop. Deep breath. You’ve been looking for a job for a long time. Maybe it’s been longer than the “average 25-week search reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.” What should you NOT do? You should, absolutely NOT, under any circumstances act desperate for a job. Even if you are. No matter how you feel, act like the confident, competent professional you know you are. Why?

A Forbes post by Susan Adams recently revealed data from a survey of 500 executive recruiters that suggested executive level job seekers are “are preparing poorly for interviews, putting together weak resumes and appearing too desperate to take any job that comes their way.”

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What To Look And Listen For On Interview Day

Article Source:  http://tinyurl.com/ye5f59v

Interview days are big days in job search.  You worked hard to get it, arranged a day to be available, took time to prepare and likely sacrificed something to be there.  And while not quite as big as your wedding day or the birth of your first child, one piece of advice remains the same.  Pay attention to what is happening around you.  Be especially conscious.  It will fly by so fast that, if not careful, you will be left tired and without much memory of what just happened.

From the second you leave the house, forget about trying to memorize key questions and answers and begin paying attention.  Paying attention to the sights and sounds of the day.  Because someone you love, at the end of the day, will say:  “How did it go?”  And you’ll need to have some sort of answer for them.  But more important, your reason for interviewing is not just to impress.  You are there to understand if there is a fit from your standpoint.  The company, those people, that culture. 

And if you spend all of your preparation time on how you will impress, you will be left without any of your own data regarding the fit question.

And if you get an offer at the end of the process, it will largely be because the company sees you as a great fit.  But as you evaluate the job offer – objective and subjective aspects – you’ll need a good memory of the sights and sounds of the day.  You’ll need to separate your desire to find a job with your total response to the experience.

So, what can you look and listen for on interview day?

Well, here’s where knowing yourself a bit prior to arriving really helps:

• Are you a social or introverted person?
• Do you like a busy or calm office environment?
• Are you a team player or more of an independent?

And if you know these things, you can even have “a few things to look for” in the back of your mind.

Here are my thoughts:

1. The Parking Lot.  From the second you exit the car and head toward the front door, there are things to observe. How big is the parking lot?  Is it full?  If visible, what can you see by looking through the exterior office windows?  Are there product posters or other signs of life?  How about the grounds?  Well manicured and attractive?  Does that matter to you?
2. The Lobby.  How is it furnished?  Are there company products out and available to touch?  If there is a receptionist, how are you greeted?  Do you feel welcome or do you feel like you’ve just disrupted something important?  While you wait, is the phone ringing off the hook?  And how is the phone answered?  With authority or with a real desire to help?
3. The Hallways.  On the walk to your first interview, you have a unique opportunity to get a sense for the culture and energy of the office.  As you pass people in the hallway, do the smile and say hello to you?  Do they say hello to your escort and ignore you?  
4. The Offices.  If you walk by offices, how are they furnished?  Lots of personal effects?  Are there meetings going on there or is it mostly just people on computers?  Are the office doors open or shut?  These are all signs. If you choose to notice them.
5. The Conference Rooms.  How about the conference rooms?  Are they being used?  Do people look up when you walk by?  Yearning to be in the hallway with you?  Or are they animated and focused?  Having fun or getting frustrated?
6. The Total Office Environment.  What noises are you hearing?  Dead quiet?  Loud banter?  Joking?  Laughing?  Is that what you’d like to be a part of everyday?  Is this a thriving and growing company?  Or one struggling to figure itself out?  Of all the people you meet, how many smiled at you?

Now I’m not here to suggest you look for Utopia.  And the culture of some offices are not so easy to predict based on a walk through on interview day.  But, unless you know someone who has worked there and can share their experiences, your walk through is the best evidence you have.

If you get a break.  Even a short bathroom break.  Take some notes that can help you remember HOW YOU FELT as you walked through the office area.  Especially important is to remember how you felt as you walked through what would be your department.  If those people weren’t smiling, well now you’ve learned something, right?

And of course, in addition to your open ears and eyes, you can ask some questions to get a sense for those who work there.  Open ended questions are best here.  Such as: “How do you like working here?”.

So, on your big day, make sure to bring big ears and big eyes.  Pay attention and allow the hours in that environment to burn a solid impression.  One that will remain well into the week in which you need to decide if it is the company for you.

Or if you’ll be running from the altar in a matter of weeks.

Know Your References Well. It Isn’t What They Say, It’s How They Say It.

Article Source: http://tinyurl.com/yeqachg

We often do one-on-one job search coaching with candidates. This is a three month program where we cover all aspects of a person’s search, and work weekly to ensure that everything is being done to expedite their search. We cover issues that might arise before they arise, discuss areas of conflict, develop a marketing plan, perform interviews, review resumes and tough interview questions, compensation negotiations and check references. It is very comprehensive, and often hidden issues that would keep the candidate from getting an interview or job are discovered and addressed before they become an issue. Too often the candidate never finds out why they didn’t get an interview or offer, when a little up front work would have solved the problem before it became a problem.

As part of this coaching, the candidate develops a complete set of references. The candidate always assures us that the reference has told them “They would give me a good reference.” A CEO I was working with had a board member as one of their references. I called to talk with this reference and make sure that all was well. It didn’t take long to realize that the reference, although not bad, was only average to barely passing. This is not something the candidate would want a company to hear. We went back to candidate and asked to talk to the other board members (at least two). They both had great things to say, and in fact, one was going to recommend the candidate for another position. It turned out the first person had a grudge to bear against the CEO. These two board members then became the references. Had we not done this, the candidate would have never found out why he didn’t get a particular position.

I don’t believe we were deceiving the company in any way. They asked for one board member and instead we offered two. We did not prep the references in any way. All we did was try and get the real picture of the CEO’s abilities without bias or from a person with a grudge.

This is just one of many very easy things to deal with before they become a problem. Do you pre-qualify your references before you give them out? You should.

When talking to a reference it isn’t always what they say, but how they say it that counts.

You can learn a lot more about references and the complete job search process in our job search workbook, “This is NOT The Position I Accepted.” We will send you the book to review for only the $5 cost of shipping. It will reduce the time you spend in search. CLICK HERE to review the books contents.

Join our Linkedin Job Search Networking group. The news articles, connections, networking, and discussions are a great resource for anyone looking for a position. CLICK HERE to join.

Get your Linkedin Profile Self-Assessment for Free on our Web site and make sure your profile is the best it can be. Go to http://www.impacthiringsolutions.com and scroll down to the WHAT’S NEW section and click the link.

Stimulus Package to Increase Government Hiring

Article Source:  http://tinyurl.com/y9k5mvo

By Dona DeZube, Monster Finance Careers Expert

The federal government will need to hire an additional 200,000 workers over the next three years as a result of President Obama’s stimulus plan and additional spending included in his budget plan.

That may sound like a lot of jobs, but it’s just slightly less than half of the 384,000 additional employees Uncle Sam already needed to pick up between 2009 and 2012 just to replace existing federal employees expected to leave their jobs. “That 384,000 is a projection for retirements, voluntary separations, reductions in force and a few folks who will die on the job,” says John Palguta, vice president of policy for the Partnership for Public Service, a Washington, DC, advocacy group working to advance public-sector careers.

With a total of nearly 600,000 openings over the next three years, what options could there be for you?

About 85 percent of federal jobs are located outside Washington, DC. But, since many stimulus-related jobs involve command, control, tracking or oversight, a sizable proportion — up to 22 percent — could be located in the District of Columbia itself, Palguta says.

Who’s Hiring?

The federal government currently employs 1.9 million civilians — about the same number it did during the Kennedy administration. Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton downsized the federal bureaucracy, while Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush increased it, Palguta says.

Some of this administration’s 200,000 extra workers will be added thanks to changing priorities. For example, President Obama’s 2010 budget increases funding for the Social Security Administration  (SSA), so it can hire additional employees to work through a backlog of cases. The agency will hire more than 5,000 people by September 2009, says Kia S. Green, an SSA spokesperson. “These include front-line positions in the local field offices and Teleservice Centers as well as legal support positions in our hearing offices,” she says.

Another budget priority — better care for veterans — resulted in a $25 billion increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs. “A good part of that will go into hiring more medical and health professionals in the VA,” Palguta says.

Jacque Simon, public policy director for the American Federation of Government Employees, says agencies expected to add staff due directly to the stimulus include the Environmental Protection Agency; the Department of Defense; the Food and Drug Administration; the Border Patrol; the Small Business Administration; the departments of Labor, Education, Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development; and the National Science Foundation.

Many agencies are still toting up the numbers. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates it will take tens of thousands of contractors and employees to handle clean up, assessments, design and monitoring of the projects in the areas it will target with stimulus money. These areas include Superfund sites, brownfields, leaking underground storage tanks, clean water, drinking water and reducing diesel emissions.

Bring on the Watchdogs

With so much stimulus money flowing out of Washington, DC, virtually every agency will have to hire additional auditors, attorneys and investigators to handle the fraud that will inevitably follow. In government, those positions are part of the Inspector General’s office within each agency or department.

“The Inspectors General are going to be beefing up staff,” Palguta says. The Department of Health & Human Services, for example, has $27 million for increased oversight. In addition, Congress slotted $50 million to create the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board, a group of Inspectors General that will watch over stimulus spending.

Given the talk about tighter regulatory scrutiny of the financial markets, there will also likely be jobs openings at the Treasury Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Government Accountability Office planned to start hiring 100 people familiar with government auditing by mid-March 2009, says Patrina Clark, deputy chief human capital officer.

Prior federal government auditing experience is great, but it’s not the only way to qualify for these positions. “If they’ve done any kind of state or government auditing, or they’ve audited public entities or nonprofits, that would be qualifying experience,” Clark says.

Focus on the Mission

If a federal job is your best career move, don’t look for a stimulus job — look for a government job, Palguta says. “Look at who’s got a job to fill and which agencies have a mission that you’re interested in,” he suggests. Gather career information by visiting the official federal government hiring site as well as the individual agency Web sites.

Expect to have a lot of company when you apply. In January 2009, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it wanted to hire 2,100 professional staffers, it received 230,000 applications. “There are a lot of people vying for those jobs,” an FBI spokesperson says.

As long as you’re not working in retail, chances are the federal government hires people from your profession, Simon says. For example, a VA hospital hires everyone from food-service workers right up to brain surgeons. Even at an advanced career level, professionals from information technology, legal, law enforcement, healthcare, science, engineering, program management, purchasing and education are all in demand.

And, working for the federal government often means swapping a bottom-line focus for a public-interest one. “You’re concerned with what’s in the best interest of your fellow citizens and how to best serve them,” she says.

Talk about this article and other employment news related to the stimulus on our Stimulus Jobs Discussion board.

The Street Smart Job Changing System

The Street Smart Job Changing System.  We thought their job search tips video would be good for sharing –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgQ6aHg9B1Y

Obsess Much? How Staying Busy Keeps You Sane During Job Search by Tim Tyrell-Smith

Article Source:  http://tinyurl.com/y8otcj3

I write a lot about the psychology of job search.  For me it is one of the top keys to finding a job in this or any market.  If you have your head on straight, you come across differently than those who don’t.  Your mannerisms deliver you in a confident way.  You avoid the smell of desperation.

It allows you to focus less on over-pursuing job leads and more on pursuing with confidence the next wave of opportunities. 

But even the most confident of us obsess a bit in job search.  Why?  Because “how is it possible that a smart person like me (with my background) isn’t being called for interviews”?  Once the job search moves into months not weeks, you start to wonder.  And wondering becomes worry. Especially if you begin spending your savings to fund your search.

So always having two or three warm leads is important.  That way what happens with one is less important.  As a result you are less often checking e-mail and more often busy doing something more valuable.  Author and blogger Tim Ferriss says to check e-mail twice a day.  At Noon and at 4:00 PM.  Give it a try.

How do you know if you are obsessing?

1. You are consistently going “off plan” to check in with a recruiter (for the fourth time that week).
2. You are continually e-mailing the HR team to see if they got your resume via Monster.
3. You have Outlook set-up to check for new messages every 5 minutes and to make a noise when they come in.
4. Your Blackberry is set-up to “blink red” when a new message comes in.
5. You berate the HR team for not seeing the value you offer to their organization

Of course this is all wasted time and, importantly, wasted energy.

If you are one of those folks checking e-mail every ten minutes, I have some thoughts for you.

1. Build a communication plan.  Decide who is in your job search network and then build an objective plan to confidently reach out on a periodic basis.  For the most part, try to avoid impulsive actions.
2. Change Outlook and Blackberry settings so that you are not “prompted” to check e-mail throughout the day.  No blinking lights and no “you’ve got mail” during job search (also a Ferriss point).
3. If you think you should call and follow-up with a recruiter, HR person or hiring manager.  Check your communication log if you have one.  More than once a week is too much.  If they want you, they will call.
4. On those days and weeks when you know your expectations will be high.  After a submission, after an interview, after a recruiter meeting.  Plan events, meetings and special projects around the house that will keep you busy.  Away from the e-mail.  Ideally when the call finally comes you will be relaxed with your head in the right place to accept whatever news comes your way.
5. In terms of your mindset, remember that your life is not on the line here.  While finding your next role is a big priority, your ability to balance this effort with other important things in life is also key.  Your role as a parent, spouse, uncle or friend.  Those roles can provide a great and highly rewarding distraction.  Just when you need it.

For other ways to stay busy during job search, check out this post:

101 (Other) Things You Can Do While Looking For A Job

Reasons why writing an interview thank you letter is important

Reasons why writing an interview thank you letter is important

By: Leigh Goessl

In many of today’s industries competition is at a premium. It is not uncommon for many people to be vying for one job. Finding a job is a lot of hard work and the secret to landing a job is to differentiate yourself from the other candidates and make yourself stand out as someone who would be a valuable asset to the company.

How do you successfully accomplish this?

There are three important key pieces to know when applying for a job. The three keys are your resume, interview and a follow-up thank you letter; each of which needs careful attention. Most applicants understand the urgency of the first two components, but often forget the last part of thanking their interviewer and this is a vital piece to remember.

Click here to continue reading this article…

How To Dress For a Job Interview

Walking into a job interview wearing the wrong attire is like showing up at a black-tie event dressed for a costume party. A bad move you’ll instantly regret.

You Will Need

• Tidy, neatly styled hair
• A clean face, hands, and fingernails
• A clean, professional outfit
• A briefcase or portfolio
• And a pair of comfortable closed-toe shoes
• Small, tasteful jewelry
• A light and subtle perfume or aftershave
• A manicure
• Natural-looking makeup
• And a new haircut

Step 1: Find out dress code

Before the big event, find out how the employees dress where you’ll be interviewing. Ask whoever’s arranging the interview for you what the dress code is, and if they have any pointers on what to wear.

Step 2: Choose clothes

Find something in your wardrobe that’s in line with what other employees wear, but kick it up a notch—a sharp tie, a colorful scarf or pocket square. Something to separate you from the pack.

Step 3: Don’t go overboard

But don’t go overboard. You want to make a good impression, not a fashion statement.

Step 4: Keep it tasteful

Go easy on the aftershave or perfume too, or the makeup and jewelry—keep things tasteful.

Step 5: Be neat

Be neat. Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed, your nails are trimmed, and your hair and teeth are brushed.

Step 6: Dress comfortably

Make sure you’ll be comfortable sitting, standing, and walking. Now is not the time to break in a new pair of shoes.

Step 7: Give yourself time

Get prepared early, show up on time and, most importantly, make sure you end up in the right place.

Source: http://www.howcast.com/videos/929-How-To-Dress-For-a-Job-Interview