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EEbunlomo 3 years ago
The average job search today takes about five months
Child's story.... When Childs was laid off late in 2017 from an executive-level marketing job, he did not anticipate a longer-than-average employment gap. He explained: “When my old job was eliminated, it was the first time in many years that I had no specific job to go to next. I had always benefited from people just knowing me and my work, so starting from scratch while unemployed felt pretty weird.” When a few leads at the beginning of his job search didn't materialize, he felt a bit demoralized.
Several people have had an unexpected gap in their career For a lot of people looking for jobs with a gap in their CV, there can be internalized feelings of shame. Shame puts on a lot of added pressure to an already stressful time, which can lead to obsession. Don't victimize yourself over a lost job or a failure in the past. It can be debilitating.
Recognize their setback as just that, a setback -- then deal with it and move on to better things.
Childs did keep moving forward. He designed an online portfolio and kept adding to it during his hiatus by taking on freelance work. He wrote for an online magazine and volunteered his talents to local non-profit groups. A year into his search, he took an advertising sales job as he continued to apply for positions. “The sales job was what I needed to do financially, and what I needed to do for my own peace of mind,” he reflects. “I was earning income, learning, and connecting with people. It helped me a lot.”
While he did not give up on finding an innovative executive marketing position, Childs needed ways to stay focused and positive on his continued career search.
When it comes to overcoming the mental roadblocks employment gaps create, the following can help keep you more focused, motivated, and confident.
HONESTY REALLY IS THE BEST POLICY
You can explain your employment gap without oversharing, on a resume or in a cover letter, saying you took time to care for a family member who was ill or that you relocated across the country for your spouse's job should be enough detail. Keep it professional but not too personal,” he says. It is also OK to exclude a gap explanation from the resume altogether, so long as you are prepared to address it during the interview if you are asked. Just don't make something up. “At the end of the day, the truth always comes out. You don't want to face a potential employer or a new boss and try to explain why you lied.
DO NOT STOP NETWORKING
Your first instinct may be to hide away until you have a new job, but that will not help your efforts. In fact, it might even hurt them. Keeping your name and face out there can help you get an introduction to a hiring manager. Plus, it's great practice for interviews.
For me, I talked about the creative process and exchanged ideas; it helped me formulate how to best present myself as a job candidate,” ........ Child
Don't wait too long after your last job ends to start networking: “It is not only important to get your name out there and to hear about jobs that may be coming up,” he explains. “You also need to talk and connect with people. The longer you wait, the less confident you may feel. Interpersonal skills need to be kept sharp, just like any other skill.” That said, it is OK to take a few days or even a couple of weeks after your last job ends to regain your composure before you start networking. The last thing you want to do is get emotional about your job loss in front of your professional connections.
EXPAND YOUR NETWORK
As valuable as your tried-and-true network of professional connections is, caution says that you shouldn't always drink from the same well when you are trying to find a new job. “Always networking with the same group of people can put blinders on your job search or create an echo chamber where you keep repeating the same steps that aren't working anymore.” Learning about new businesses and how they to do things and connect with new people is very inspiring. Telling new people a bit about yourself helps remind you about your talents and experience. You don't know what else is out there if you don't ever mix things up.
OWN YOUR TRUTH
“You can, and should, use a positive spin when talking about your experiences,”. During an interview or a phone screening, don't try to hide what caused your employment gap. Don't complain or point fingers either. Tell your story concisely and truthfully, ending with what you learned or what you have gained since. When the question comes up about your employment gap, your honesty, three-sentence elevator speech consist of:
I was laid off when my department was eliminated.
I am now doing advertising sales. It's not me, but it's a job, and I am proud of the quality of work I do.
I have learned a lot about customer service through this sales experience, and I can apply that knowledge to my next marketing and creative position.
This kind of planning is invaluable: “Preparation builds confidence. Working on your narrative reminds you that you have the talent and have a lot to offer an employer. Taking time to boil it down to a concise summary instils it in your mind. This is who you are.”
KEEP UP A MOTIVATING ROUTINE
Use your routine to get yourself into the right mindset each day. Have a purpose that is of value to your mailing list, and the discipline it will take to do this daily task will set your daily positive motion. For some people, the routine could be meditation, exercise, journaling, or some other daily ritual.
DO NOT BE BITTER
If someone asks about the employment gap, your answer should be honest, and then refocus the conversation on all the great stuff on your resume. Remember, your old employer isn't applying for the job, you are. Trashing your former employer, colleagues, or company during an interview or phone screening says more about you than them. Keep your focus on the value you bring to the table and don't give up.
Employment gaps don't need to hold you back
Source: Oluwa-Florence Okoro