Gaps on resume: What to do

My resume has all kinds of gaps because I was in long running shows. I've found that honesty always works for me.

 

My resume shows a gap, sort of.
I list my current employer first with start date by month and year to present, and then second thing I list is being a freelance/contract writer the same way.
I have a period where I worked almost exclusively as a contract writer, but it isn't listed individually, just lumped together.
So when someone asks about a gap between full-time gigs, I'd say I was working as a contract writer for X and go from there.

 

I agree with HC.

Actually, I think you should somewhat PLAY UP the dude ranch and any other crazy shit you have done. It will make you memorable.

At my favorite place I ever worked, we had two openings. The hiring manager filled the jobs with 2 completely different types: One woman was fresh from Columbia J school with a very traditional journalism resume. The other woman's most recent job was managing a night club in New Jersey. Before that, she spent a year as a scuba instructor in Australia. The boss really liked the crazy background because he felt journalists should be well-rounded.

Well, guess who stayed at the shop and got promoted.. and guess who was out the door in six months?

That's right. Ms. Columbia J-school hated the job, and she was AWFUL. Ms. Crazy Background is still working in journalism.

 

If you feel like you have to put something there, say you were freelancing.

 

List it as best as possible and good luck. I'm sure you will get the gig.

 

I have to disagree with Moddy on the "importance" of letting your manager know when you're looking.

I've ALWAYS been taught/told that telling your current employer that you're looking elsewhere is career suicide. You just DON'T do it. Perhaps newspapers have been a different animal, but if I'm looking to move on, I'm not telling you about it until I have accepted a job offer. How the hell do I know you're not going to use that against me to force me to resign or be fired because I was looking elsewhere?

I'm actually bumping this for a reason beyond being the next incarnation of chazp. I mentioned using a functional resume in my earlier post. I interviewed for a job at a call center with that functional resume on a Friday. The following Monday, I got offered the job.

If you have job gaps, a functional resume can highlight the skills and talents you bring to the table with less emphasis on where you've been and when you were there. The interesting thing was that I'd included management experience from my time at my old shop. My manager-to-be actually asked me about it. I certainly didn't make it a point to emphasize it, but it was interesting to actually have it come up.

 

I must say, KJIM, that you sound like an interesting person.

Peace Corps, dude ranch...what else you got?

My point is, if I'm thinking/saying that, I'm guessing there are probably some employers who would do the same.

My other thought is that, you're asking about what to do with your resume.

You do realize -- don't you? -- that you actually should be thinking along the lines of creating resumes -- several/many of them, each tailored to the specific jobs you're applying for at the time?

In that case, what you do may be different for each job opportunity. One may work fine with a chronological resume. Some might be better applied for with a functional resume emphasizing related skill sets/traits and how they were acquired. In that case, your jobs may not necessarily need to be in chronological order, but instead, can list first whatever past jobs have skills/info related to the one being sought. (You should still include dates worked -- the months/years, at least, somewhere in the info on that job, just de-emphasize it by mixing it in and putting it lower down -- but let employers put together the chronological time line if they're so inclined).

Don't worry about a functional resume being a turn-off or a red flag. Many employers actually prefer them, with the skills bulleted/asterisked and specified, described, detailed and explained as needed/desired with regard to range/extent. These type resumes are often considered to be easier, quicker reading than those written up strictly in paragraph form.

Whatever you do, don't apologize or feel bad for taking seasonal jobs/taking temp jobs or doing whatever you can. At least you're working, and these days, that really counts for something.