How should you explain an unemployment gap in your resume?

Question

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.

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

1. Yes, he should leave the job that he was laid off from on his resume because it shows that he willing to do what it takes to bbe independent and still work while trying to find the job he is desiring. Besides you don't want an even bigger gap that you have to lie to explain. Having a copy of his letter of lay off is very helpful DURING the interview.

2. Explaining a gap. He could explain community projects he has been involved in under a section of interests on his resume. The interview is where he will need to shine... have a answer ready they will ask what have you been doing with your time... what small jobs have you been participating in... they are going to want to know how is has supported himself all this time without a job... be truthful... (unless he is been living off of you and staying on your couch eating potato chips and watching football LOL...) Remeber stay relaxed and confident (not arrogant) and research the company and have some questions even if they were answered perhaps ask for clarifications. Don't mention money unless it is brought up by the company. The first interview really is to see if you are compatiable and how you handle stress... remember most interviewers will ask a question that will be trying to push a button. Tell him to take a breath and say let me think about that before I answer. Also, know that some interviewers will actually pause and not talk for a while just to see how you react. Encourage him to stay calm and wait and RELAXED with respect for this process.

3. The cover letter should ALWAYS be positive not negative. He's got to get his foot in the door and trying to explain a gap means there is a lack of self confidence. It should specifically explain briefly why this is a job (company) he wants to have (work for). Use 1 or 2 of the company's philosophies (research research research these things) and explain how he can continue and compliment those areas for this company. List some of the skills he possess that is specifically for this position. Also, on his resume his "mission statement" should be customized to the job he is applying for...

Since he was in college he should list any awards and leadership positions that he received/held. It shows involvement and willingness to communicate successfully with a group to achieve a goal.

These are just a few ideas. Remember it is better NOT to lie. Good companies can pick up on them a hundred miles away...

Also, remember most companies use a computer program that chooses the resumes in the screening process. So he needs to be sure to choose "industry words" for a particular job. Don't over do it but a few sprinkled in shows a knowledge of the job he is applying for ... the best way is to customize your resume for a particular job... the basics stay the same but how you express them should always be customized so that his resume isn't just a "generic" resume.

Also, check and double check and triple check spelling errors. It's a small thing but it speaks volumes when reviewing a resume.

Answer 4

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!

Answer 5

Has your boyfriend been doing any work between 12/2004 and 5/2006? I will assume he has been doing something other than sitting at home playing PSP.

Include every single job you've ever had on the resume. Even a brief day or two answering phones may provide a window with a current interviewer to see that you have been gainfully supporting yourself while looking for just the right job. I would rather see someone's resume with 50 temporary/short term jobs than a 15 month gap since graduation. It would show me: 1) This person is a hard worker, not afraid to do a multitude of different things. 2) This person is creative, willing to look outside of what the degree says he can do. 3) This person is looking for something he is passionate about and really interested in doing.

I really hope this helps. And I hope you haven't been working two jobs supporting him all this time! But that's another answer!

Answer 6

1. Most definitely yes, that job should be on there. The potential employer will do a background check amongst other things and will see this. He can also use any experience gained from this job to his benefit during an interview.
2. Not necessarily true. Most employers will ask about the gap. Do not explain anything about the gap in the cover letter. The explanations should be done in person, during the interview. If he does go ahead and put the explanations in the cover letter he is less likely to land an interview.

Recommendations that helped me....
Hand delivering your resume. Employers look favorably upon this because it shows interest in the company and that you are serious. I did this twice and was interviewed that day. ..and in both cases I was hired.
Have a portfolio with you, if this is applicable to the career you seek.
When you do get the interview, show up a little early.
When asked about employment gaps...explain them in the best light possible.
Include references.

Answer 7

Unless he was working under the table, the prospective employer already KNOWS from the history of the SS number where and when he was working. The only question is whether he has the stones to admit that the first job he got was NOT a good fit. When they call on the reference, the place that fired him is only allowed to say when he worked there and whether he is eligable for rehire or not. So if he says that he left during the trial period because the job was not a good fit, they can't find out different. He can say he didn't want to impose expense of further training on the company when he could already tell it wasn't a good fit for him. It'll make him look like a better employee to have. One that tells the truth, even when it's an awkward truth, and one who would rather be unemployed than working just to be doing something until something better comes along.

Answer 8

Explaining gap in resume: unemployment

By far the most difficult area to cover in your resume is a prolonged period of unemployment - or perhaps more than one. It's generally best in the resume itself simply to put the dates of your various periods of employment, without going into detail as to why the gaps are there. Instead use your cover letter to explain the obvious gaps, such as redundancy following a merger, downsizing exercise or company relocation. Be sure to make your cover letter sound confident and upbeat, indicating that you have been actively searching for a suitable new role and that you see this as a positive opportunity to identify a position in which you will thrive.
And finally

Above all, don't be tempted to embellish the facts or fudge the dates - most companies will take up references before hiring someone and you are likely to be caught out. Better by far to be honest about what's happened, whilst impressing potential employers with your ability to handle difficult situations calmly and positively by focusing on the future, rather than dwelling on the past.

Explanations for the gap will need to be brought out during the interview phase of the job application. Be prepared to have a good explanation about how you spent your time of unemployment preparing for this, your next possible job. Taking time to regroup and hone strategies and skills are what future employers look for in an interview with an applicant, not that you just killed time waiting on the next job opening to come along so you could apply.
...jj.

Answer 9

When you are preparing a resume, it should basically hold all your previous experiences - how long you had he job, why you left or the reason that you lost the job, so that the employer would be in a better position to consider your application. By leaving a gap, you would undoubtedly give an impression of not being consistant, in that you did not have a job for a period of time and you were ok with it. So give a full resume, it would be better, you can make the information as part of your resume, you do not need another cover letter.

Answer 10

personally I never show gaps I add a little time to the job before and the job after the gap so there is no gap. I have never been questioned on dates on a Resume' I really do not think any one cares from what date to what date you worked at a company.

If he was layed off do not put that in the Resume save that for the interview and use a term like "the company down sized" that way it shifts the blame to his previous employer and leave it at that do not elaborate an more. if they ask "why did you leave the company?" you say "they down sized" that's all you say unless they ask another question.

Answer 11

If you were going to school - state that If you were caring for a loved one - state that If you were incarcerated - don't state that lol Gaps are common on a resume and yes a potential employer will ask why. If it's a valid reason tell them. If there's a gap due to .. 'questionable issues/circumstances' or you got fired .. it's none of their business and it would not be in your best interest to discuss it. Simply say you were travelling or volunteering or taking some time off to do research and make some career choices that fit for you and your future.