Looking for a job isn’t easy, especially in today’s marketplace where there is a lot of unemployment in certain areas. When it comes to applying for jobs, your resume is your calling card and often gets your foot in the door. But what if your resume is less than stellar, and there are some things on there that may not look so attractive to a potential employer?
Here’s how to paint yourself in the best light when it comes to talking about these areas.
Don’t lie
It can be tempting to try and bury the truth and lie on an application, but this should be avoided at all costs. Lying on your resume is dishonest and you will eventually be found out and probably fired. There’s no need to offer up information if you aren’t directly asked for it, but don’t lie.
You have a criminal record
A criminal record can be anything from a speeding offense to being on probation or serving time in jail. Many employers will ask about a criminal record on an application. There’s little you can do to hide this so just be sure to make clear that it is in the past, you regret it, and you’re ready to apply yourself to the role.
There are certain roles that cannot be given to someone with a criminal record, so ensure that you don’t waste your time applying for these.
You were fired from a previous role
Some of the most successful business people in the world have been fired from jobs before. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a deal-breaker. If asked about why you left a role, be honest, but try and paint yourself in a good light too. Perhaps there was a new manager and they were clearing out existing employees to make way for other people they’d preferred to work with. Or you could say that you weren’t feeling challenged in your role and were frustrated and perhaps not performing as well as you should have been.
When talking about something you did wrong in the past, whether it was a mistake in a previous role or getting fired for timekeeping, the important thing is to show that you’ve achieved personal growth through it.
Gaps in your employment history
Not everyone’s employment history is an unbroken chain. There are many reasons that you might have a gap in yours, yet some application processes still ask for people to explain any gaps in employment. Some of the main reasons are:
- Unemployed – looking for work
- Taking time off
- Sabbatical
- Illness
- Study/retraining
- Caring responsibilities
- Childcare
All of these are valid reasons to have a gap in your resume. Again, it’s all about being honest and making the best of it. For example, if you were unemployed, you can say that you were taking the time to find the right role because you didn’t want to jump into something that wasn’t going to be a good fit for you.
Or if you were ill, you can tell them that you needed to ensure that you were fit and well enough to get back into the workplace before applying for jobs.
Gaps in employment aren’t the issue they used to be, but you should still be prepared to talk about them if asked in an interview (and it is within the law).
If you have quite a long work history and your career gap happened early on, there may not be a need to include it at all. Resumes don’t need to include every job you’ve ever had since college. Don’t try and cover a gap by extending the dates of your other jobs, if a recruiter checks and you’re found out, this will be much worse.
Just because there’s a gap in your resume doesn’t mean that you weren’t doing anything. Be sure to mention any skills you’ve picked up during that time, volunteering experience, and anything else that might be relevant.
Career changes
Have you jumped from one totally different career to another? Again this isn’t something that is uncommon these days. There’s no such thing as a job for life anymore and re-evaluating your career can be a good thing. But you may get asked about it.
Tell them the reason that you wanted to change. Maybe you were unfulfilled in your previous career or wanted to be more challenged.
If the issue is recent
It’s a lot easier explaining things that have happened a long time ago. Chances are you’ve been able to get some more experience on your resume since then. Most recruiters recognize that people are capable of self-growth and are willing to give the benefit of the doubt. But what if the issue is current? What if you were fired from your last job? Or you’ve been out of work for a while? Recruiters may want to discuss this in more detail with you.
When talking about it, only give as much detail as you need to to get your story across, providing it’s something they are allowed to ask you. The goal is always to show what you’ve learned from the situation, how you’ve grown and developed through it, and why you’re now ready to re-enter the workforce and focus on the job at hand.
Takeaways
The job market is competitive, especially at the moment. If you’re young, it can be even harder as this section of society was one of the hardest hit by lay-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic. One job can have hundreds of applicants, if not more.
If you’re worried that your resume isn’t giving a true picture of you due to some past career issues, then don’t try and hide it by lying. Recruiters often carry out background checks now and you could find yourself blacklisted in certain areas if you’re found to have lied.
Instead, learn how to talk about these circumstances, if asked, in the best possible way, and you’ll find that most recruiters will value honesty.
Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.
-Diego
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