Cleaning It Up

The number of unemployed workers increased by 300,000 from December 1999 to January 2001, bringing the total number of unemployed to 6 million, according to The US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That's a lot of people grappling with the question: "But what about gaps on my resume?" While hiring managers are more understanding of an imperfect work history than they used to be, job seekers still need to carefully present their experience to avoid being seen as unstable.
Start by evaluating your situation and determining how bad it really is. If you are panicking about two months of unemployment back in 1984, your job search will probably not be affected. However, if you are dealing with recent periods of unemployment that extend for months or even years, you will need to start strategizing.

If You're Concerned About Employment Gaps: Think about other activities you can use to fill that time period. You might have experience relevant to your job target, regardless of whether you were paid. Volunteer activities, community involvement, special projects, consulting engagements, travel, family management and continuing education could all be used in the Experience section in place of paid employment.

Short gaps might not be apparent if you eliminate months from your traditional resume. When using the Monster.com ResumeBuilder, use the Objective statement to summarize your goal as well as your top qualifications. This will draw attention to your selling points and downplay your work chronology. If you're returning to the workforce after an extended absence, show you've kept up-to-date with changes in your industry.

Attend trade conferences, take an online course and use modern lingo in your resume. You will need to show that even though you've been out of your field for a while, you still have what it takes to be successful. If you've been out of work because you raised a family, continued your education, cared for a sick family member or recovered from an injury, be sure your tone is not apologetic.
There's nothing wrong with being out of work for whatever reason, and a negative attitude might affect your resume's quality.

If You're Concerned About Job-Hopping: Some fields, such as high tech and construction, are prone to short periods of employment, and the appearance of job-hopping might not be a concern. For many other occupations, there is less of a stigma regarding job-hopping than in the past. The best way to handle job-hopping on your resume depends on your specific job titles and companies. You may be able to lump two or more similar positions under one heading (for example, Sales Representative, ABC Company and DEF Company, 2/94-4/96). You can then list the highlights of your combined work experience. Independent contractors and temporary workers should consider grouping their experience under one time period (such as IT Consultant/Network Specialist, 4/95-present).
Then list project highlights. You don't need to include every job you've ever held throughout your career. Short-term positions that don't do anything for you can certainly be omitted.

Keep in mind: A resume is a marketing piece, but you will need to provide a complete work history if you are asked to fill out a job application, which is a signed legal document. Employers might be leery of hiring candidates with a history of job-hopping due to the expense of recruiting and training a new employee.

Use your cover letter to explain your work history and put a positive spin on your circumstances. Also, indicate your interest in a long-term position. What About a Functional Resume? Many hiring professionals say they prefer chronological resume presentations to the functional format. They are often suspicious of functional resumes, which are usually used by job seekers trying to hide something about their background.
Only select this format if you have an extremely poor work background with extended employment gaps or a terrible history of job-hopping.

Accentuate the Positive There's nothing you can do to change your work experience, so the best strategy is to develop a forward-looking resume that shows the value you offer to a potential employer. If you are sticking with a chronological resume format, lead with a Qualifications Summary, a narrative profile summing up your key qualifications for the position. This will draw attention to your strengths rather than your employment imperfections.

There's no sense fretting about your work history. What's done is done. But do take the time to figure out how to present your experience in the best light.

Quick Tips to Improve Your Resume: Update your resume right away and be sure to showcase your recent achievements no matter how you may feel about your employer. Ask your former employer or colleagues to supply you with written reference letters. Consider including a positive quote from a reference letter in the Qualifications Summary or Experience section of your resume. Read as many job openings as possible (use Monster.com's Search Jobs feature) to evaluate the skills and experience employers find desirable. Then incorporate your matching credentials into your resume. Don't misrepresent your employment status by indicating "to present" on your resume. Don't write the reason for leaving on your resume, but do use the cover letter to explain your circumstances.