How do I explain a 6 month gap on my CV? I was an accounting manager and laid off due to a merger. I have been out of work for more than half a year. I don’t know how to say this on my resume and also interviews. Should I tell the truth that I was laid-off? Or better explain it in the cover letter or wait till the interview if I have a chance? ______________________________________________________ Dear Accountant Handling gaps in your resume is a challenge to everyone and it is a very good idea to consider how you will explain it both in writing and verbally. Don’t lie and don’t omit information. People lose jobs for many reasons and the question is why did it happen and what have you done with your time since leaving your last employer? As to why it happened, if you were made redundant in a merger, I would just say that. A good place to put that information might be in the last line of the relevant job description on your CV. Simply write, Reason for Leaving: Company merger, my position was made redundant. There is no need to discuss this in a cover letter or bring it up unless the interviewer asks. If the reason for your job loss was more complicated, you can think through ways to discuss the situation without getting into excessive detail. If a work environment was not right for you, be prepared to discuss the type of environment in which you do thrive. Try not to complain about a prior employer or place of employment. It is always better to be constructive in a discussion of why you left a previous position or why your contract was terminated. If the employer was difficult, frame your reasoning in terms of what you learned from the situation about yourself and how you will manage conflict in your next position. Regarding the six month gap, be prepared to explain the break without being defensive. Has it been six months because you have been looking and have not found the right position, or is the gap deliberate? Many people in your situation use the period after a job loss to spend a little time with a school age child, study a language, travel or pursue a hobby such as sailing. I have seen all of these examples and the real issue is the passion and motivation of the job seeker. Taking a break for a few months after a long time in a job is fine. You need to think through why you have taken the action and how to articulate it well. Ultimately you will be hired into your next job because of your skills, experience, personality and overall fit for the organization and job. Focus on your motivation, and what you bring to your next employer. Those issues are much more crucial to a perspective employer. Good luck! Debbie Matson - Career Doctor classifiedpost/career-doctor/job-hunting/how-do-i-explain-6-month-gap-my-cv
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 03:50:35 +0000
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