Employment gaps on a resume are always a challenge for job seekers. Sure, there are things you can do to kind of hide or minimize the employment gaps, but employers know all of the tricks. There’s little you can do to truly hide an employment gap. From my experience, it’s just best, to be honest about any employment gaps. Honesty is a valuable trait that many employers want, so at least benefit from being honest and open as opposed to being seen as someone who is hiding something.
With that said, Oleg Vishnepolsky offered these interesting comments for employers and hiring managers that are looking at employment gaps and why a gap due to child caring shouldn’t be an issue:
Hiring managers: if you are NOT HIRING WOMEN with gaps on their resumes due to child caring, you are making a big mistake.
It is not the gap in their employment that is the problem, but the gap in your own judgment.1) Gaps in resume do not mean gaps in talent, dedication, passion, loyalty.
2) If a woman has an employment gap due to raising a child, that does not mean she has forgotten any of her skills.
3) Caring for a child is hard work, and should NOT be even counted as a gap at all – just like looking for work is hard work, too.
4) Women returning to workforce are very loyal to their employers who hire them, – according to studies.
Shocker for some: these days more and more dads take career breaks to care for children. The above applies to these stay-home dads, as well. They have even harder time explaining their break to their employers.
“I stayed at home to care for our two children” writes one dad. “When I tried to explain this to a recruiter, he asked ‘Don’t your children have a mother?’
I told him that raising children is the responsibility of both parents!”
Please do not overlook resumes of people with gaps in employment. The talent is a terrible thing to waste !
Agree ?
While I think a little of this depends on the job, for most jobs we should be much more understanding and forgiving when it comes to employment gaps. There are some highly technical positions where you need to be up to date with the latest and greatest. However, even then you can assess if someone has kept up with what’s happening even during the break.
Plus, you can also assess how quickly they learn. If their knowledge set has become obsolete because the pace of technology is moving so fast, well then everyone and anyone can get behind even if they’re working in a position. The key attribute you want to hire for that type of position is someone who can learn quickly since they’ll have to keep learning as the technology evolves.
What’s been your experience with career gaps on a resume? Should we be more forgiving or is it appropriate to not hire someone who’s had a career gap? Share your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter with @HealthcareITJob.
