Explaining Gaps In Employment

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that unemployment is a serious problem in this country.  The unemployment rate has been hovering at around 9 percent for a while now, and Americans are looking everywhere for work.  If you graduated during the height of the recession, or lost your job around that time, there will probably be large gaps in employment in your resume.  You have to find a way to cover up these gaps if you want your resume to be seen by employers.

Did you know that you don't have to list the specific months you worked at a job?  All you have to do is put the years.  If you were unemployed for 6 months after your last job, you can cover up that gap by just listing the years you worked:

Company A: 2004-2007
Company B: 2007-2010

That 6 month gap is now completely gone from your resume.  If you do feel the need to put the specific dates you worked at a company, make sure you list any relevant volunteer work you were involved in during your unemployed period.  This will prove to the nonprofit that you were doing valuable things with your time.

The most important thing to keep in mind during this process is to tell the truth.  If you put information in your resume that is not factual, I can guarantee the recruiter will find out.  Once you are exposed as being untruthful, that reputation will live with you forever.  There is a big difference between covering up gaps and making things up.