By: Heather Breitenbach
Sign Hazel Partners LLC, Hangs for Veterans.
Bridging the Gap:
Don’t Let Employment Gaps Sabotage Your Career Aspirations
Are employment gaps holding you back? A recent military spouse employment study revealed that 90 percent of active duty military spouses are underemployed. Employment gaps are regarded as one of the largest barriers to securing employment for military spouses. There are numerous strategies that can be used to address, or bridge, these gaps…don’t let something like a period of unemployment stop you from pursuing your goals!
You are not alone!
Keep in mind that military spouses aren’t the only individuals tackling the issues of gapped employment in their resumes. Given the economic climate and current job market, gaps in employment are much more commonplace and accepted than in decades past.
Change Your Perspective.
If you are focusing on your weaknesses rather than what you can offer a potential employer, the hiring official will likely pick up on that. Be confident! Put the focus where it should be -- on your skills. Most job seekers undervalue their skill sets and experience. Take stock and assess your strengths, abilities, and accomplishments. Need help? Contact previous employers, co-workers, or even friends to get objective feedback.
Seek Military-Friendly Employers.
These employers get it. By "it," I mean that they typically understand the military culture and lifestyle. Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs, releases a Top 100 Military Friendly Employers list on its digital site, MilitaryFriendly.com every year. The ranking is based on a comprehensive survey of over 100 questions and overseen by an independent advisory board of industry experts. The survey assesses each company’s long term commitment to hiring those with prior military service, recruiting and hiring efforts and results, policies for Reserve and National Guard members called to active duty, military spouse programs, and the presence of special military recruitment programs. The Military Spouse Corporate Career Network (MSCCN), the first and only designated military spouse employment program in the nation, works closely with over 2,000 corporations that are specifically seeking to employ military spouses and understand their value in the workforce.
Use a Hybrid Resume.
The most effective resume for those with periods of unemployment is the hybrid, or combination, resume. A hybrid resume is a combination of the reverse chronological resume format and the functional resume format. The format leads with a “Summary of Qualifications” or “Professional Summary” section that outlines career highlights, key qualities, and accomplishments. By using the hybrid resume, you are afforded an opportunity to emphasize what you can offer the potential employer up front and to highlight your skills and accomplishments so that your overall experience and knowledge can be presented to your best advantage. It is crucial to keep the employer focused on how you will specifically contribute to the organization rather than what you were doing from 2010-2012!