Dealing with employment gaps
A job seeker who wants to stand out as the preferred candidate always emphasises work experience on their CV, but it can be off-putting for potential employers to see an unexplained gap in a candidate’s work history, so it’s important to recognise if this might be a problem for you, however extensive your previous experience might be.
Gaps in employment should always be accounted for. Time spent travelling, working on a voluntary basis or in education can indicate that you are a rounded person with life experience under your belt, and can give employers an insight into the positive aspects of your personality. Having caring responsibilities is also a valid reason for an employment gap, and if you’ve been raising a family or helping a sick or elderly relative, employers will understand.
However, if you’ve been job seeking from a position of unemployment for more than a couple of months, it might be wise to think about how you’re using your time rather than create an uncomfortable gap on your CV.
Most courses lead to qualifications in English, Maths or IT but there are more specialised learning opportunities available to suit individual needs.
Part-time or home-based study will allow you enough time and flexibility to continue with your job search, and shouldn’t interfere with any state benefits you might need to claim as a job seeker. It’s worth investigating what’s on offer at your local College or Adult Learning service, and jobcentres are usually a good source of information.
If you don’t feel the need to brush up your skills, perhaps because you’re already highly qualified or usually do a particular kind of work, it’s worth considering working on a voluntary basis within your area of expertise to keep your hand in and continue building experience.
An increasing number of companies are looking for professional people to work on an “internship” basis, and although there is no financial reward for doing so, expenses are sometimes paid. When there is a vacancy, your name could be top of the list, especially if you’ve fitted in well, familiarised with the work and shown that you’re reliable.
Coping with unemployment can be difficult, especially if you have financial concerns or a family to support. Maintaining some structure each day and having something to focus on can help, so remember to make any break in employment work for you rather than allow it to knock your confidence or reduce your chances of securing new opportunities.