Been Out of Work?

Some of the most accomplished people I know have been out of work at one time or another, and one out of five people in the workforce experiences some unemployment each year. It's really not a sin and many people who are bosses have experienced it themselves. But the tradition is to try to hide this on the resume.

One technique is to put something like "19xx to Present" on your resume when referring to your most recent job. This approach makes it look like you are still employed. While this might be an acceptable approach in some cases, it may also require you to have to explain yourself early on in an interview. This soft deception can start you off on a negative note and may not end up helping you at all.

If you are currently out of work, your other alternatives are to write the actual month that you left your last job or to write in some interim activity such as being self-employed. Even if that means that you are working at a temporary agency or doing odd jobs, it may be better than being deceitful.

Remember that many employers have experienced being out of work themselves and may have more understanding of your situation than you realize. .