How to Explain Gap on Resume?

[cytoglycerine]

Good Evening, Friends!


I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but I'm trying to get my ducks in a row for mid-late April when I start my job hunt, and this little problem has plagued me since I realized that it was going to occur.


Here is the issue - I left my last job in July 2010 (the contract ended) and enrolled to go back to college full time in September 2010. So I went back to school as planned, finished up at Christmastime, and now I'm a college graduate!! Hooray! The plan was to start looking for a new job first thing in January 2011...Unfortunately, as most of you know, at the same time as I was finishing up with school in early December, I was diagnosed with cancer. So I've spent the last 3 months going to appointments, having surgery, awaiting radiation, etc, and I hope to be finally through all this and back in the job market in April.


Once I start looking for a job, I'm going to have this nasty, ugly employment gap on my resume...The gap from July to December 2010 is explainable with me going back to full-time school, which will be apparent to a potential employer or a recruiter when looking at my resume. The gap from January to April for my cancer treatment/recovery will NOT be explained on my resume...Obviously!! That would be bizarre - "January 2011 to April 2011 - Occupation: Cancer patient"


So what do I do? I don't want prospective employers to look at my resume, see the gap, and think I've just been sitting around doing nothing since graduation...But I have no idea how to explain this on my resume or cover letter. And when I do eventually get a call, and they ask about the gap - what do I say? Should I be honest? Will it hurt my chances at employment? (side note, since I'm Canadian, the potential health care cost for the employer aspect is moot)


I've been worried about this ever since my diagnosis when I realized that this gap would be created with all my time off for treatment. I don't know what to do, and the time for me to figure something out is rapidly approaching....Suggestions? Comments?

[lynnerself]

Personally, in this economy I don't think a gap of three months since school is a very big deal. I would not mention anything on the resume or cover letter. Most employers will assume you have been job hunting.
However, you need to decide how much you are going to share if you get asked about it point blank in an interview.

[Opti]

One option is if you are feeling better is to start some volunteer work now and that could give you the option of glossing over January and February if you choose. A friend of mine might just phrase it something like this "I decided to not look for a job until some family health issues were resolved."

[dragonfly7]

Mar 10, 2011 20:28:42 GMT -5 lynnerself said:

Personally, in this economy I don't think a gap of three months since school is a very big deal.

I agree. It takes a couple months to find something in any economy. If you're really worried about it, I would second Optimist's suggestion of picking up some volunteer work so you can show you were productively doing something besides job hunting. And if asked directly, you can always say, "Some family medical issues required my full attention."

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 10, 2011 20:28:42 GMT -5 lynnerself said:

Personally, in this economy I don't think a gap of three months since school is a very big deal.

It will actually be at least 4 months by the time I start looking...Possibly 5 if I don't feel "up to it" within a few weeks of completing radiation. Also, the job market in my city didn't take quite as bad of a beating as many others did...I'm worried a 4-5 month gap is too big - I've never had a gap bigger than 4 weeks before in my life.

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 10, 2011 20:37:32 GMT -5 @dragonfly7 said:

Mar 10, 2011 20:28:42 GMT -5 lynnerself said:

Personally, in this economy I don't think a gap of three months since school is a very big deal.

I agree. It takes a couple months to find something in any economy. If you're really worried about it, I would second Optimist's suggestion of picking up some volunteer work so you can show you were productively doing something besides job hunting. And if asked directly, you can always say, "Some family medical issues required my full attention."

I don't have any problem sharing the cancer issue with a prospective employer once I get in for the face-to-face interview - I've actually got a nice way to work it into how it makes me a better candidate I'm just worried about getting that FIRST initial call...I'm worried they're gonna pick up my resume, see that I haven't done anything "productive" since December, throw it in the shredder and say "NEXT!!".


I did contemplate the volunteering thing - I made a post about a month ago asking if I should try to find a job while waiting for radiation, or if I should just take it easy until I'm actually done my treatment...The response was overwhelmingly "take it easy" with a little bit of "can you find a temporary volunteer position?". I considered volunteering at that time, but I didn't know how I'd feel on a day-to-day basis. Now that I'm off my meds, I'm really glad that I didn't. A lot of the time, I feel okay, but how I feel can do a complete 180 in a matter of seconds. That, and I have to go for radiation soon, and when I am released, I have to limit my contact with people (due to residual radiation) for a couple of weeks. Once that time has passed, and I'm feel relatively well on a consistent basis, it's full-on job search time....And time to deal with the resume gap issue lol

[whoisjohngalt]

You really are a planner, aren't you

Have you done ANYTHING accounting related in the last few months? Tax returns for family and friends? Some budgets for family and friends? If so, I would put something along those lines and add "while looking for permanent position".

Good luck!!

Lena

BTW, you really didn't take all that "take it easy" advice, did ya? LOL

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Volunteer to do taxes for a few friends/family members, (and answer a few questions on the Tax forum) and then you can mention "providing volunteer assistance with tax returns" or something along those lines

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 10, 2011 21:02:22 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

You really are a planner, aren't you

Have you done ANYTHING accounting related in the last few months? Tax returns for family and friends? Some budgets for family and friends? If so, I would put something along those lines and add "while looking for permanent position".

Good luck!!

Lena

BTW, you really didn't take all that "take it easy" advice, did ya? LOL

....No, ma'am... I tried to take it easy, I really did!! I'm just not a "take it easy" kind of a person, so I've found all this idle time to be torture - I don't like chilling out even when I'm not feeling well lol! Probably because, as you said yourself, I'm such a "planner"...In my mind I'm always 4 or 5 steps ahead of the game, planning for many different kinds of scenarios that could unfold. It's excruciatingly difficult for me to just sit back and let it be.


I did help out my friends with a budget & spreadsheets to keep track of everything (posted about it last week, I think maybe you commented on it??) and it was pretty good, IMHO . I thought about somehow incorporating that into my resume and/or cover letter, but I thought somehow that may have looked lame or juvenile...Is that not so?? Should I actually put that on my resume? Or in the cover letter? Or just mention it if brought up in the interview.


Also, you say to add "while looking for a permanent position", which would be a total outright lie - Should I still add it? I've been looking AT positions, but definitely not FOR positions, since I'm not really in the market for a job as of yet. I don't want to say one thing (I was looking for a job) in my cover letter, then say another thing (I was being treated for cancer) in the interview.

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 10, 2011 21:07:06 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

Volunteer to do taxes for a few friends/family members, (and answer a few questions on the Tax forum) and then you can mention "providing volunteer assistance with tax returns" or something along those lines

Not a bad idea! Unfortunately, my mom already has that market cornered with our family (and she does it for free too, so I can't even compete with her on a pricing level haha!!) and most of our friends have already filed their taxes. That, and I have no formal training in preparing tax returns - I just use the QuickTax computer program - and I would feel just awful if I did something wrong that caused someone to owe extra money or penalties or something.

[Jake 48]

Reading the other posts, the temp agency sounds like a good way to gloss over the time. You were trying out your new skills in different environments to find a perfect fit. good luck and karma when I time out

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 11, 2011 7:52:09 GMT -5 Jake 48 said:

Reading the other posts, the temp agency sounds like a good way to gloss over the time. You were trying out your new skills in different environments to find a perfect fit. good luck and karma when I time out

Okay, so should I just go straight to a temp agency then, and forget trying to find a full-time job on my own? I haven't even sent out a single resume yet to try to find a full-time job, and I don't really have a huge interest in doing temp work (I'm not really the best with a constant, ever-changing environment - but obviously I would at least look into it further if I couldn't get something else in a reasonable time frame), and I don't think it's appropriate to say I've been "working with a temp agency" for a few months when I've never even set foot inside one of those places.


Am I being too honest for my own good here?


Thanks for the (eventual) karma

[Jake 48]

Cyt, Temp agency can lead to full time positions, If your health is keeping you from going back full time right off maybe the temp route is the way to go. 20 hours, then 25, then 30 etc.. I understand you like the structure of a permanent position but you are going through a life altering event with the cancer and maybe walking first before running the road race is best for your health

[qofcc]

Also, you say to add "while looking for a permanent position", which would be a total outright lie

You could say, "while conducting my job search", which is the truth. You're looking at your options, you're just not ready to apply yet.

[cytoglycerine]

I have considered looking for a part-time position first - There's a company near where I live that offers part time data entry for 15-20 hrs/week for $12/hr. I have awesome data entry skills, and wouldn't mind starting at something like that, but the hours are kinda bad (7pm-10pm or 11pm, M-F...I'm not opposed to working those specific hours per se, but I wouldn't see Hubby very much if I did). I also wouldn't mind snagging one those gigs that starts out part-time, and then like 6-12 months later becomes full-time. I'm a total workaholic, and I'm just so eager to get back "out there" - But it is true that I probably shouldn't go full force right away...It's true, it has been a long time since I've worked full-time, and I do get tired very, very easily these days. Blast this feeble body! LOL!

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 11, 2011 8:41:02 GMT -5 qofcc said:

Also, you say to add "while looking for a permanent position", which would be a total outright lie

You could say, "while conducting my job search", which is the truth. You're looking at your options, you're just not ready to apply yet.

Ahhh semantics! Gotta love it...Okay so I'll just say "while looking AT permanent positions" rather than "looking FOR a permanent position"

[whoisjohngalt]

Also, you say to add "while looking for a permanent position", which would be a total outright lie - Should I still add it? I've been looking AT positions, but definitely not FOR positions,

I don't think it's a lie at all, you have been more into a job-searching mode that most people that SHOULD be looking.

Also QOFF had a very good suggestion.

I think you'll be OK

Good luck and at least TRY to concentrate on your health for now

Lena

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 11, 2011 8:52:00 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Also, you say to add "while looking for a permanent position", which would be a total outright lie - Should I still add it? I've been looking AT positions, but definitely not FOR positions,

I don't think it's a lie at all, you have been more into a job-searching mode that most people that SHOULD be looking.

Hmm I guess that's true! Those slackers!


Thanks Lena, pleasure talking to you as always - have some karma on me

[gs11rmb]

I never list months on my resume - just the years - and as you graduated in January 2011 I would put the following:

2006-2010 - Job ABC
2010-2011 - University of XYZ

Both completely truthful statements.

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 11, 2011 12:04:34 GMT -5 gs11rmb said:

I never list months on my resume - just the years - and as you graduated in January 2011 I would put the following:

2006-2010 - Job ABC
2010-2011 - University of XYZ

Both completely truthful statements.

Fascinating angle, that will actually work quite nicely for the job history, although I have no gaps there to "hide"...But I finished my diploma in Dec 2010, not Jan 2011. However I plan to start a new post-graduate program at the same college in May this year, so I can still say 2010-2011 for my education.


Thanks for the tip! Karma +1 ;D

[gs11rmb]

"...But I finished my diploma in Dec 2010"

Is that when you finished or when you graduated? Use the graduation date.

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 11, 2011 12:21:13 GMT -5 gs11rmb said:

"...But I finished my diploma in Dec 2010"

Is that when you finished or when you graduated? Use the graduation date.

That was when I finished the last of my required courses for the program. Technically, I haven't graduated yet, that happens in June sometime...I assume you mean the official graduation ceremony where everyone wears their funky hats and throws them in the air at the end? Or do you mean when my actual physical diploma was awarded to me? It just so happens I got my physical diploma in the mail last week.


I've never heard of using the graduation date before...Although I guess for most people, they finish their courses in April/May, and then graduate in June, so it doesn't make much of a difference. But I finished half-way through the year, so I'm the odd one out.

[gs11rmb]

Either way it was in 2011!!! Good luck with your job search and I am glad your health has improved.

[ZaireinHD]

Mar 10, 2011 20:37:32 GMT -5 @dragonfly7 said:

Mar 10, 2011 20:28:42 GMT -5 lynnerself said:

Personally, in this economy I don't think a gap of three months since school is a very big deal.

I agree. It takes a couple months to find something in any economy. If you're really worried about it, I would second Optimist's suggestion of picking up some volunteer work so you can show you were productively doing something besides job hunting. And if asked directly, you can always say, "Some family medical issues required my full attention."

BAN-WAGON!!
I agree
or if you want just put down volunteer work was done - can a company really check?

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 12, 2011 2:04:14 GMT -5 ZaireinHD said:

Mar 10, 2011 20:37:32 GMT -5 @dragonfly7 said:

I agree. It takes a couple months to find something in any economy. If you're really worried about it, I would second Optimist's suggestion of picking up some volunteer work so you can show you were productively doing something besides job hunting. And if asked directly, you can always say, "Some family medical issues required my full attention."

BAN-WAGON!!
I agree
or if you want just put down volunteer work was done - can a company really check?

No I guess not...But where I live, outright lying on your resume (about anything) is grounds for immediate dismissal at any time. So theoretically, I could lie about it, get the job, and then 5 years from now, someone could discover it was a lie, and I could be fired on the spot for it.


I'm too honest of a person to put something on my resume that is untrue....Although I have left some things OFF before, I've never padded my resume. I don't think starting off my new life at a company with a lie like that is a good idea. I would rather leave the gap and just hope to heck they don't really care about it and call anyway!!

[qofcc]

sorry - posted on wrong thread - oops

[cytoglycerine]

Mar 12, 2011 7:56:14 GMT -5 @toughtimes said:

The "put years, not months" dodge works very well, until the resume is tossed in the garbage as being overly-vague or the employer or agency insists that it be redone. I have had people thrust multi-page applications in front of my when sent by a temp agency for a temp job too. Some employers are just plain nuts. A temp to perm situation is often your only choice when your resume has more holes than swiss cheese.

I would also be careful not to voice the word, "cancer" lightly since discrimination against the ill and recovering are very common.

This gap I'm working on right now is the ONLY hole in my resume going all the way back to high school. In fact, from the time I took my first full-time job, right up till my contract ended in July 2010, I was unemployed twice for a total of 6 weeks (2 wks the first time in 2003, and 4 wks the second time in 2009, and the 4 wks was that long only because I had to wait 2.5 weeks for my new position to start) It's not like I've been off for several months here and another half-dozen months there consistently for the last 15 years.


I don't know, I'm not saying it's a BAD idea, I'm just not at all keen on the idea of doing temp jobs. Like I said before, I would obviously go that route if I have zero luck finding a permanent job in a reasonable amount of time, but I don't want to run to a temp agency on the first day of my job hunt. No offence to anyone who does that, I'm sure it works out for you, it's just really not my cup of tea, so I'm not gonna drink it till it becomes necessary.


As for the discrimination against the ill, I have worried about that extensively. Luckily, I don't have to worry about a potential employer passing me up for health insurance cost reasons

Mar 12, 2011 7:55:33 GMT -5 qofcc said:

I would write a letter to the highest ranking person at the branch or the corporate HR department if there is one and say you will be taking your scheduled time off as planned and if they choose not to honor that commitment, they may feel free to terminate you and to let you know ASAP their decision. Don't resign, make it their choice to let you go.

If they decide to terminate you, immediately apply for unemployment. Most companies really don't want to lay off part-time workers who have grounds to collect unemployment. It either makes their unemployment insurance rates go up and/or they need to spend time/money fighting the claim.

I think maybe you meant to post this on Pammy's thread about "What should I do about my job"

[qofcc]

I think maybe you meant to post this on Pammy's thread about "What should I do about my job"

yep, sorry

[cytoglycerine]

No worries, it happens ;D


I'm just glad I read her thread before seeing your post or I would have been like "W...T...F?!?" lol

[katedenorm]

Two words - family matters.

They won't need details, but you took some time off after getting your degree to handle some family matters so that they were resolved prior to starting employment.

In today's world of children living with parents and grandparents and moving home, trying to cut down on day and elder care. Who would they be to question?