How should you explain an unemployment gap in your resume?
Asked by Ann
Unfortunately and unbeleiveably my boyfriend has been searching for a job since he graduated from college in December of 2004. In May, he was hired at a company, only to be layed off at his 90 day review along with 6 other people. So my questions are 1. Should he put the one job he was layed off from on his resume at all? He does not want to and is not planning on it. I'm just wondering if that is okay. 2. He read that when an employer sees a gap in a resume they automatically dismiss the resume without even asking for an explaination, presumably because they figure the person is hiding something or was fired. So the gap should be explained in a cover letter. Is that true? Should it be brought up in the cover letter? Should he say he was unemployed for that period of time? All help and ideas welcome. Thanks!!! In response to some of your answers He has tried to get a job everywhere! Literally. He is not lazy and he does want to work. He has health insurance through disability for a problem in his leg and his back - although you wouldn't notice it. If he works a certain number of hours he loses his health insurance, which he has to have for his heart condition. Therefore the job must be full time with benefits. He's tried fast food, drug stores, etc. - they took one look at the application, saw his degrees, and politely told him he's overqualified. He's thought of taking his degrees off his resume! The jobs (in his field) his education qualifies him for require a minimum of 3-5 years experience, some require over 10 years. He has tried going out of his field. No one realizes how hard this man has been tring to get a job. He finally got what he thought was his dream job, just to be layed off 3 months later. He never received a letter or anything, they told him in person.

Best Answer:
Number two is not true, as there are plenty of good legitimate reasons for the gap. (educaiton, pregnancy, self employment, travel etc.) So, no employer will just throw out a resume for no good reason. They are trying to find the talent to fill a position. Why waste a talent because of a silly, non-productive policy? Second, no, no one should try to cover up something in neither a resume nor an application. Some things are highlighted and stressed, others are not. But never, NEVER cover up or lie about something. If you are caught at it, THAT resume gets tossed. Not mentioning that 90 day job is a cover up. Better to list it, and the dates and let the interviewer ask, if he's interested. Especially do not omit it in the application. That is a legal document, with a signature attesting to the fact that everything in is is true. If it asks for an employment history and it is left out, it is a form of perjury. If the history on the application does not match up with the resume, THAT is a red flag, and may result in the application being dropped. Just this year, an applicant at my company came it after being called for an interview. She brought in some fresh copies of her resume and I noted that her most recent job was missing from one of the copies. The missing one seemed to show the most relevant experience, so I asked her why it was not mentioned in one of the copies. She gave a runnaround, but I finally got her to admit that she was terminated, as she said, "mutually." I called her previous supervisor who told me she was terminated "for cause." It's OK to fine tune an individual resume for the specific company or job. But a lie is a lie and there are few excuses for that. Unemployment happens. Its a part of our industrial life. A year and a half is only a little bit of a long time.
Hiring, staffing and training since 1980
Answered by Vince M

wink, tap your nose and say "I can't really talk about that, it's all very hush hush, you know."
Answered by eternity

nope just dont mention any reasons why just state what dates he worked.
Answered by cats4ever2k1

say you were taking care of a dieing relative
Answered by chris j

Being layed off is not the same as being fired. So, I wouldn't suggest taking that company off of his resume as he wasn't let go because of his performance but company down-sizing.
Answered by dragonflyllg

dont have a gap... most employers dont check anyway if you sell yourself in the interview.
Answered by va-dude

He should explain that he was laid off, if he doesn't its just gonna come up in the interview. Can't hide from the truth. :)
Answered by The Saint

Show ALL gaps in employment. You don't omit anything...an explanation should be given at the interview. (And if you don't think employers check on this stuff, you're sadly mistaken.)
Answered by anti_cryst666

I think that the lay off is acceptable to put in his resume. I put my lay-off from Chase Manhattan on my resume, and I gained employment since then. Being layed off is something that any business owner can respect.
Answered by jjallen805

Yes , I would not keep it off. It could come back to him. Put it on and be honest.
Answered by johnnygl02

yes tell him to put the one job.
Answered by Chikky D

Put the job down on the resume and be ready to answer why it shows a short period of emplyment at an interview. It is always wise to go with truth and see if a perspective employer cares to ask about it or not...at least your times are covered.
Answered by Kay

Cover letter explanations seem like excuses to me. If and when he gets an interview, be honest about the job search and the lay off without sounding like sour grapes. Put the short job on the resume. If he leaves it off and then explains later that he really was employed during that time, it will look like he's trying to hide something.
Answered by midlandsharon

At the very end of his resume, he should put: **Gaps in gainful employment were due to volunteer work, educational pursuits and raising children. That's what is on mine, but he can put his own spin on it. I've been trying to get full-time with a college since 2003. I think I'm about to do it, so GOOD LUCK to your BF.
Answered by Nani

It's always good to explain anything in advance that might make a prospective client or employer nervous. Your boyfriend is trying to sell his abilities on the job market and has to do some reasonable selling. Therefore, he needs to try to foresee possible objections or fears an employer might have and deal with them openly and honestly early on.
Answered by Quietwalker

Be honest, just be prepared to tell the truth in the interview, otherwise they will wonder what you were doing for that period and ask you anyway. Dont put the gap on the cover letter, dont say he was unemployed if he wasnt. I would put it down and politely explain it was a layoff, they cant fault you for that, its a sign of the times. Believe me, I recruit people for a living and we udnerstand that at times you can get laid off or terminated through no fault of your own. I look for honestly in employees so other people will too. Just dont bad mouth the people that laid you off, say in the nicest way possible what happened, you want to look like you are over it and that it wasnt that big of a deal to you. Good luck
Answered by ginny c

Don't mention the gap in the cover letter. THe employer may not pick up on it in the resume. If it comes up in an interview then he should be honest and say, The last job I had was very short lived because I was laid off, hence the reason I am looking for employment. I didn't include it on my resume because I worked there for such a short time.
Answered by Alabama

What did he do during his time off? Did he do house work or yard work? Did he do odd and end jobs? Take up a hobby? Just a bump on a log? I'd make up a creative title for whatever he did during his timeoff and list it as employment. For example: Home Maker Free Lance Landscaper Self-Employed Carpenter Student Internet Researcher Just a thought, then he can explain what he did in his time off if the position is questioned. Good luck :o)
Answered by jaz

I would not - don't mention any employment gap unless they ask about it - then say he was taking personal time to evaluate his profession and the job market!@
Answered by nswblue

You've got to be honest in how you deal with potential employers, especially since any of this can come up in a background check... and the least bit of deception detected by the hiring company will put his chances of getting hired at close to zero. It's not great to have a two-year gap in your job history, but I would recommend that he address it in the cover letter. Better to shine a light on the issue than pretend it's not there. Perhaps he could mention that he's been searching for the right opportunity for a long time now, and the one he's currently applying seems to him a perfect match between his experience/skill set and the company's needs. It's basic, but most people doing hiring are going to respect that (a) he's not applying to every which opening, (b) if he can afford to be picky (perhaps because of a big severance package from the previous job?), he's doing just that, (c) Perhaps he spent a good portion of the last two years trying to change careers, and he took classes/did volunteer work? (If it's not true, don't say it, of course.) There's very few honest circumstances that you can't satisfactorily explain to an interviewer. Be ready to do so, be completely up front about it, and own it. Conveniently forgetting to put a short job on the resumé, being cagey about the situation will show through and get th resumé tossed quickly. Good luck...
Answered by Andy G

Best advise, have him add that job in his resume... he was layed off but walked out with some experience.! he should describe all his duties/responsabilities on his resume. IF HE gets an interview and is asked Why did you leave your previous job? THEN** he can say "due to the company's circumstances i was in a temporary job position" and add something like "it was a positive experience i learned a lot in that time frame" OR SOMETHing SIMILAR. Good luck! and tell your bf I said good luck! by the way review his resume maybe there's ways he can discribe things better also tell him to be very confident he will get a job soon. add all work experience he has everything counts, even if he was paid for it.. example interns. after he applies at a job have him call about 2-3 days later and ask "for status on job position available" or have him call the person hiring to let them know he has applied and is still intersted in working for their company and say something like "im very confident i can be a good asset for your organization, i look forward to hearing from you" and this can make them go dig for his resume for review! (they'll remember his name). good luck! i actually worked as an intern at a h.r office and learned all this!
Answered by CALI GIRL

He needs to put that he worked for that company for the full time that he worked there and for the time that he was laid off. He was still employed there during this time, so he should have it as the full time that he was there + laid off. Just because he's laid off doesn't mean that he was fired or unemployed. It means that he was employed, but the company just didn't have the work for him. They are two different things.
Answered by sundragonjess

I would put the last job in the resume. It shows that he has recently been able to hold a job for a while. The gap is a giant, and it doesn't seem that he has a decent excuse for it. If he isn't morally against it, he could lie and say that he needed time for something. Maybe he was taking care of his dieing grandmother and she passed away or something else that would sound like a good reason. I would just explain in the cover letter or possibly even in the gap on the resume that he was unable to find employment "in his field" (works good if applicable) during that time.
Answered by Ninja who? Ninja what?

You can always say "personal reasons." That will end it there without any further prying. Good luck!
Answered by Andi

As an employer who has reviewed many many resumes, all of which start to look alike after a while, I do look for what really jumps out at me. In some cases, it is an employment gap, but in other cases, it is poor grammar or great "soft" skills. In the case of employment gaps, it does come across as a big question mark. So, if you are going to show a gap, it is very important to somehow "explain" it in the resume (otherwise, you most likely won't even get to the interview). But, "developmental experience" (ie taking a job and getting "reduced" a short while later) is OK. It is more important to show your soft skills (good team working, very driven/dedicated/passionate, excellent deductive reasoning, etc.) that to try to "hide" away an unfortunate career move or downplay a trend in the economy. Rather, face it with a steadfast optimism of learing all you can from each opportunity and using it to better yourself. Try to make your resume shine with what is unique about you. What makes you special, especially your soft skills. Anyone with a shred of intelligence can learn the "hard skills", but the soft-skills are much harder to change. So, play up your strengths and try to make yours stand out. Also, if you are taking any classes to improve certain parts of your background, be sure to articulate those if they help your case (ie public speaking classes). In any case, good rule of thumb is to imagine that you yourself are an employer. You have a bunch of resumes to use as your first screen. What will jump out at you to separate this one from the rest? It is obviously unique for each industry, but a good rule to follow. Finally, who you know (connections) weigh so heavily in nearly every profession. Try to leverage your contacts to give you an edge. Most likely you either know someone (or someone who knows someone) who can help you at the company you are applying with (6 degrees of separate and all). Build your network and it will work magic for you. Hope this helps.
Answered by ch23dc

Well, after raising my first born for 5 years I tried to re-enter the workforce. Many employers demanded references from my high school jobs...from 7-8 years beforehand. I tried to explain that I had been a SAHM for that time and they could not ask for references from more than 2 years prior. Time and time again I was laughed at, asked to leave, told nice try, or all 3. These were for cashier positions.
Answered by non_moritati

show the gap. "layed off" can be interpret as the position is no longer available. if explanation needed. don't hide or make up story. the gap, like any one else, time needed to find suited work place. there is nothing wrong with that.
Answered by harmony

May through the Blessings of God, your boyfriend finds a kind and considerate employer. God bless you all.
Answered by nizam h

The first thing NOT to do is lie on a resume or omit something. The dude that said to "just say you were taking care of a sick relative" is just stupid. And putting down alot of information is better than leaving it out, since it shows experience. I mean, if he was laid off because he stole something or got in a fight, then yeah you may not wanna put it down. Otherwise, it shows work experience.
Answered by Anthony G

answer to ur 1st question is no, coz for refferance ur "new employer" might call that person and ur former employer who fired u may giv a bad recomendation....so don't list it... 2 if u do wanna list the job and u quit it urself after a month or so coz u did not like it, tell ur interviewer that u wanted a break...went on vacations, or someone in ur family got ill and u had to look after them...
Answered by tasneem

Sorry i dont know!! But good luck. I might need an answer to this as well
Answered by semi-goth

First, I think that when a company see's he had been hired only for 60 days it'll raise red flags. So think about that. He could always write that he was working for himself, research, traveled....etc... Good luck
Answered by WICCA

Honesty is the best policy. Before you even shake hands, laugh hysterically, and say don't worry about that blank space on my resume'. The doctor says I am fine now, [dramatic pause] as long as I am on my medication!
Answered by motherpeanutbutterbutinsky

Just tell em like it is, If they decline you, then you need to be working underneath more conscience people anyway!!
Answered by The King

my professor at the university said that he was in a jail and he put on his resume,"( he was taking time off and travel around the world"). ha so funny but it is true, just say something similar like that
Answered by bahar

be honest let them know, but tell them you were exploring new avenues in order to better yourself and any company you will be working for in the future till you find the right job
Answered by wil_t52

stress on your strengths even if you have work gaps, tell them that the experience u have with the previous work help you strengthen your abilities and enhanced you capabilities. always cover your weaknesses with constructive measurement. always highlight your achievement on your cover letter. but remember to be truthful during interviews. being layed off from work is not ones fault especially if the company is crosscutting. STRESS HONESTY. coz if not, you may not know the company is doing BI (background investigation), Lots of LUCK!
Answered by yfort

Not only would I put them down as previous employment, list them as a reference. Most companies can only verify employment and if the person is eligible for rehire. If he was laid off, then he is eligible. That shows he wasn't fired and that he left on good terms. Also, has he been working a junk job these last two years to pay the bills? If so, put it down and spin it for the job he's applying for. Delivering pizzas shows customer service, initiative, cash handling skills, team work, etc. if you look for it. Don't assume only a professional job is worth anything, especially if there isn't a lot of other experience or it helps fill the gaps. Come to Phoenix, we have a great job market! :)
Answered by Sylvia M

He didn't get fired. He was the victim of corporate downsizing, and it was not his fault. Tell him to include that job on his resume and to be honest about it. If he does try to cover things up, they will think he was fired from his last job. He shouldn't bring it up in the cover letter. He should just list it on the resume under job experience. Some experience is better than none at all. And besides, the job market isn't so good right now. Especially in the business field. I think the company would understand.
Answered by miss advice

Get a friend or family member to say he was working for them during that dead zone...otherwise they will assume he was in prison!
Answered by jimi p

just hav him be truthful, let them know that he "was" a lazy ass, but now he is ready to get up and "DO SOMETHING"
Answered by jimmbobobb

just list that period on your resume' as having been self imployed.
Answered by david m

He doesn't have to put it on his resume, Either one of two things will happen: It will either be ignored or overlooked, or the interviewer will ask about it. If the subject does come up, your boyfriend should be truthful, because if he is found to have lied on the application or during the interview, he will most likely be fired again. The truth is not always easy in a case like this, but if your friend is honest, that could be in his favor. Why was he laid off? Was it a reduction in staff? Did he do something wrong? If it was something he had no control over, he should certainly give the reason for the layoff. If he did something wrong, he should fess up, and say something like, "I was fired from my last position because my production was not what the employer had anticipated. Since that time, however, I have learned ways to save time and be more productive -- blah, blah, blah! In other words, after he makes the deadly confession, he can ameliorate it by telling the interviewer what steps he has since taken to improve the situation. No one is perfect, and prospective interviewers allow for these imperfections. If your friend is honest and is making a real effort to do better on his next job, he may surprise everyone and himself by getting the job. If nothing else, such an admission will give him confidence to face the inevitable on his next interview. Some prospective employers will pardon a job dismissal if the prospective employee shows a strength of character. Good luck!
Answered by gldjns

Don't say 'I was laid off'. Say 'WE were laid off....' It makes a difference. Also include what was happening during that 1-1/2 year search. Was he also volunteering? Was he busy with family matters?
Answered by suspendor

I have had gaps in my employment too (currently I am looking for a job again) and I prefer being honest - it pays off! I had taken time off to have my kids as well as move half way across the world - in between. Plus there have been a couple of periods when I was actively looking for a job with no luck. During my interview, I tell the hiring manager the truth, since if later on he or she found out, either from me or any one else, I would lose all my credibility.
Answered by estee06

Say he was taking care of a sick family member. Best thing is for him to START his OWN company.
Answered by Legandivori

1.It depends on the length of the job. If he feels it was significant enough in his career, he could fudge the truth of why he was let go. I do that and I'm still getting interviews. 2. I think it depends on the time period of umeployment and the job. Its tough, believe me. Instead of hillighting the fact that he has been umemployed for a significant amount of time, he should focus on his strenghts and his experience. If the question does come up during the interview and it probably will, he can answer it then.
Answered by Adina B

I'd put the job down as a temporary position and fill in the gap before with a college internship (if I knew someone who would say I interned there) or just fill it in with an "under the table" position that gained whatever skills he has that are unmentioned in the rest of the resume.
Answered by Silly chick

As far as the unemployment gap goes, I would go honest instead of sneaky. If he was laid off, that's enough explanation. Young people are more valuable in energy, determination and motivation than experience. I must answer bluntly, and point out the fact that if your boyfriend has been unemployed after all this time, even with a college education, he is either procrastinating, or he is blatantly misguided about jobsearching and resume writing. What I would do if I were him: 1) Consider my standards. If I am applying for jobs I'm not qualified for, chances are I'm going to get turned down. 2) Try a different approach. Has he been haunting job-search sites, the classified ad section, or is he relying on word of mouth(also depends on industry)? I would suggest all of the above. Another great way to find something good is-make a list of favourite companies and their websites, then check each and every site in the "Careers" section. 3) TAKE ADVICE. You said he's got his mind set on certain issues. I say, check with an older, more experienced person, maybe an old teacher from college, especially in his field of work. Ideally, he should be able to find a mentor, a sort of Yoda-like figure to go to with questions. Sometimes, a career website or resume-writing column will do. Seems to me he could use some insight. 4) When all else fails, I find the last resort is: pick a job, any job, and mold yourself into the model of the job. My last two jobs were radically different from each other. And yet I succeeded at my interviews simply because I portrayed myself as the perfect candidate. Now, mind you, if he's not the "perfect" candidate, it's ok. Surely there is some soft skill, quality or trait of character you can build on - like reliability, precision, fast learning and others. How about your boyfriend go on a soul-searching couple of hours...then go back and hit the classified ad section.
Answered by serpentegena

I would say it depends on the terms he left on. If he burned bridges on his way out, might want to leave it out. If he left on good terms, maybe ask for a letter of recommendation from his previous employer.
Answered by Sachiel