How should you address your career gaps?

Jameswynne

“How should I explain career gaps?”  This is a question I hear a lot, especially in the last few years when some of the largest and most respected companies have undergone massive downsizing and layoffs.  Not to fear, however, there are many things you can do to help mitigate and even take advantage of gaps in work experience.  Below are a few simple rules that give you an idea of how to frame your resume.

1 – Don’t lie about a job loss.

The adcom is well aware of the challenging economic environment that many of us have been living in for the past few years and they won’t hold this against you.  Most people applying to MBA and other grad programs are looking to add skills so they can reenter the job market as a more desirable candidate with a higher salary range.  Talk openly about what you learned in your last position, why that job ended, and the skills you still need to develop so that the next time you will have a better outcome.  If it took you a little while to find your first job out of college, be honest about it – you will be surprised how little gaps matter to the adcom as long as you are upfront about them.  Also, remember that if you do lie you may get away with it at first but that the truth eventually comes out.  Depending on when a lie is discovered, it can lead to a rescinded admission, being kicked out of school, or even losing out on a job down the road.

2 – Don’t just sit there.

So, you’ve been laid off and all you want to do is sit on the couch and apply to grad school.  Remember that the most competitive schools are looking for students who are leaders and innovators.  This is an opportunity to sharpen your skills: open a business, take a few night classes, or spend a little time working on your extracurricular leadership experience.  The key is not to give up and always to appear active.  The adcom understands that jobs can be unstable, but they won’t understand if you waste the opportunity to improve yourself.

3 – Have fun with it.

The flip side to being productive is using your downtime to have a little fun.  Although you might not be able to splurge on an expensive vacation, don’t be afraid to use this time to travel a little, play in a band, write a play, or try your hand at painting.  The primary complaint that most adcom members have is that every applicant reads the same – the same schools, the same scores, the same jobs, and the same goals.  This is a chance for you to add a little color to your application and make yourself stand out from the crowd.

So, remember that most people have at least some gaps in their resume and it’s nothing to worry about.  Make the most out of these “career opportunities” and good luck on your applications.

James Wynne

yxas

very useful, thanks

jeffreyguan

good article, thanks!