ASK HR: Should I Hide Employment Gaps In My CV?

ASK HR: Should I Hide Employment Gaps In My CV?

My name is Joan. I graduated in 2015 with a degree in Commerce, Accounting option. With regards to this, I have applied for so many jobs ever since but I don’t get feedback.
There is a large gap in my corporate employment history since I haven’t been able to secure any job since my first Internship in august 2015. I’m afraid that potential employers could be bypassing my CV because I have been out of the game for so long. Should I hide my employment gap?
ANSWER
If employers are not calling you for interviews, you are right to worry that your employment gap could be the red flag.
Many employers worry when they see a job candidate has not worked for several months or years. However, the universal rule of the thumb while job hunting is “Never lie”.
There are two things you can do on your CV so that it highlights your skills and qualifications and focuses less on your employment history.
1. Use a functional CV format
The typical chronological list of jobs will put a spotlight on your employment gap. Instead, change your CV format to functional or a combination format to de-emphasize the gap.
Develop a functional CV Format which is a format that shows details of your skills and how they fit the job. They put your capabilities in good light as opposed to your work experiences.
Talk to a career adviser to help you decide which resume format is best for you.
2. Close the gap on your resume with other career-building experiences.
Put other activities that you have been doing during this time and relate them to the current position you are applying for.
Some of these activities might be listed in the education section of your resume, some in skills section, and some in experience section.
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Your resume is a marketing document that highlights you as the best candidate for a job. Think about what employers might think of your resume.
On the other hand, it would be to your advantage to seek out some volunteer work that is related to your career to help fill in any large unemployment gaps.
However, make sure you don’t put your volunteer work down as unemployment. Work is work – no one needs to know you didn’t get paid for it. You should list it like any other job you’ve held, just make sure you title this section of your CV as Work History instead of Employment History.
As we approach the close of the year, make bold steps on you CV to ensure that employers are not bypassing it for minor reasons. Seek professional CV writing services in case you are unable to get around this problem.

Happy Holidays!
Judith Moraa works at Corporate Staffing Services – a HR Consulting Firm that provides recruitment and FREE job placement service. For more information, visit their website on https://www.corporatestaffing.co.ke/