How to Explain Gaps in Your Resume

How to Explain Gaps in Your ResumeHow to Explain Gaps in Your Resume32A reader wrote Dear Alex, I have two year-long gaps on my resume that reflect unemployment time. One of those gaps was voluntary- I took a year off when I had a baby. The other one, though, was involuntary. My company eliminated my position and I was laid off. I have been out of school for 12 years. How should I address these? Here are some tips for how to explain gaps in your resume.How to Explain Gaps in Your ResumeOn the resume itself, dont address them at all. Deflect from the actual chronology of your employment history by using a functional resume format (i.e., listing your experience by skill area and putting your positions and their dates last).Also, some gaps are notlage difficult to hide if you remember that its completely acceptable to list the years for a position rather than the months. For instance, suppose you worked at X Company from March 2012 to November 2012. You had your baby in December 2012 an d did not resume working (at new Y Company) until December 2013. Your resume would look like thisX Company 2012Y Company 2013-14Formatting your resume this way means prospective employers will likely miss the gap entirely. If they do ask about your chronological history in the interview, its best to explain gaps in your resume honestly.How to Explain Maternity LeaveIn the case of the baby, simply state that you left your job because you wanted more maternity leave than the company was willing to provide.How to Explain a LayoffAs for the termination, carefully explain the circumstances associated with the layoff. Showcase your sternbezogen results at your former organization, and if possible, offer a reference who can attest to those achievements.Demonstrate Continuous LearningA year-long gap is not a particularly large one, but it still cant hurt to demonstrate that you were doing something work-related and keeping your skills fresh while you werent fully employed. For example, perh aps during your maternity leave you took an online IT course, or while you were searching for a job after your layoff, you held a leadership role in an active volunteer organization.Remember that tone also goes a long way in an interview. If you appear upbeat about your career trajectory andexplain gaps in your resume in a positive way,prospective employers will be much more confident in your ability to excel in the duties of the new position.Find Freelance Jobs

Sample Resume for Consulting Engineer Job Position

Sample Resume for Consulting Engineer Job PositionSample Resume for Consulting Engineer Job PositionA consulting engineer needs to have a diverse background, with a lot of in with Objective, Technical Skills, Duties, Education and Certification to write your own Consulting Engineer Resume.Jason White3972 Tea Berry LaneStevens Point, WI 54481(333)-860-7549j.whitesampleresume.netJob Objective To be able to work as Consulting Engineer in one of the top and formidable consulting agencies in the world where my extensive working experience in failure analysis procedures and finite element analysis will be greatly developed and utilized in providing sound and wise engineering advice and solutions. Skills Wide knowledge in failure analysis procedures Excellent analytical skills and communication skills Substantial knowledge in MS Office and Abaqus programming skills Excellent mathematical skills including finite element analysis Strong ability to think creatively Ability to supervise, organi ze and leadProfessional ExperienceSr. Consulting Engineer, January 2009 PresentRussell Inc, Inger, MNResponsibilities Cooperated in planning for future business projects. Trained personnel in developing strategic methods of the business. Determined opportunities for structural integrity. Conducted client-visits to promote products. Identified the steps to be prioritized in conducting failure analysis.Jr. Consulting Engineer, March 2006 December 2008NRM, Inger, MNResponsibilities Modified existing methodologies to cater to the needs of the changing environment and requirements. Evaluated projects to ensure product quality. Supervised prompt delivery of projects. Participated in the proposal of technical structural projects to universities. Determined sources of problems and proposed solutions.EducationM.S. in Civil Engineering, 2006Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OHB.S. in Civil Engineering, 2002Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OHCertifications and Affiliatio ns Certificate in computer numerical control Application National Council for Consulting Engineers, co-chair Customize ResumeMore Sample Engineer ResumesComputer Vision Software Engineer Resume Construction Project Engineer Resume Consulting Engineer Resume Consulting Systems Engineer Resume

Sometimes Your Cover Letters Just Gotta Say WTF

Sometimes Your Cover Letters Just Gotta Say WTFSometimes Your Cover Letters Just Gotta Say WTFSometimes Your Cover Letters Just Gotta Say WTFIf you havent already, youll reach a point in your job search where you think your head will explode if you have to face one mora cycle of applying, interviewing, and getting rejected. Thats when you need to remind yourself of the immortal line from the movie Risky Business Sometimes you just gotta say what the f- (thats WTF for all you texters who werent even born when that movie came out in 1983.) Once youve embraced that new attitude, you need to sit down and write a WTF cover letter.A WTF cover letter is unfiltered and honest. It tells it like it is. It bends the rules, skips the formalities, and doesnt fear the consequences. And it feels really, really good to write one. Heres the difference between a standard cover letter and a WTF cover letterSTANDARD Cover LetterDear Ms. JeffersonI am very interested in the Sr. Account Manager opportunit y with Jefferson and Partners. As you will see on my resume, I have seven years of account management experience with Franklin Brothers. I believe the skills and achievements I attained in that role, especially my record of being the top account manager in 11 of the past 12 months, will make me an asset to your business...WTF Cover LetterDear Ms. JeffersonFor seven years I kept your photo on my dartboard. I was an account manager for your main competitor, Franklin Brothers, and your agency was the enemy. I spent hundreds of hours researching your strategies in order to stay one step ahead. All that effort made me Franklin Brothers top account manager for most of last year. Unfortunately, you still beat us badly and Franklin Brothers went under. And now I have all this in-depth knowledge of your company and nowhere to use it. So, how about an interview? Should you actually send a WTF cover letter to an employer? It depends on your personality and your industry. If youre applying to, say,a law firm or a funeral home you might want to tone it down. In the end, trust your gut. (But dont forget Sometimes you just gotta say )Maybe your impassioned, over-the-top cover letter will stand out so much that the employer cant wait to meet you. Or, maybe itll wind up on their office bulletin board as an object of ridicule. Either way, youll feel better just getting all that off your chest.