Comments on: How to Address Gaps in Your Employment History

By: jb

jb — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:12:39 +0000

Wow i just want to say thanks for all the great examples. I reciently was fired from a position because a Dr. was so unorganized that she blamed me for loosing her x-ray report. There were other things although they were very small. I currently am looking into a law suite and was told there sounds like some discrimination going on. What do you tell an employer about that. I have had such bad luck with employers. I,m starting to feel like the reason they are looking for employees is because there not good places to work. I will not give up i have great professional and personal references its just hard when you go into a place for an interview and try to explain why you haven’t stayed at a company for a long period of time. Oh just one more thing the person who was badgering about proper grammar that does not make you a bad person or a person who should not be hired. My grammar is bad but I’m a great nurse caring and patient what does that have to do with grammar.

By: Beauty

Beauty — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:10:10 +0000

When reading some of these emails, I think that there should be a list of companies that have such horrific practices towards their employees. We need a list so that others do not have to go through such treatement. Those people should not be a reference. You do not have to list them as a reference. A prospective employer only needs to verify if you “worked” at that company…you do not need them as a reference. If there are other people that know you better – coworkers, etc., use them instead.

By: TC

TC — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:00:54 +0000

Rose a lot of the requirement for jobs are mostly artificial. For example a job opening starts as a problem. Maybe there isn’t enough people to do all of the accounting for a firm. The first thing a employer does is looks for the easy solution. Maybe transfer someone from a different section to there own or promote someone to make room for advancing a less experienced worker. If the easy way doesn’t work they look to hire from the outside and here is where the problem comes in. The employer is going to need a list of requirement and he/she will take advice from his/her staff.

The need a new accountant. The senior is going to say “Well I have been here for 5 years why not put in a seven year experience requirement on it.
This sounds like the senior accountant maybe worried about fresh new talent coming in. This could very well be the case. This sounds childish but this is how businesses work.

So you have to get to the employer before they get to the advertising phase which is when the opening promote to the public they are looking for jobs.

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:02:31 +0000

I am curious to know how are people to gain experience if all these employers are asking for many years of experience even for the mediocre jobs? This makes it difficult for those coming out of college/trade schools to find jobs. In addition, it will be virtually impossible to change career path.

Any suggessions?

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:58:55 +0000

Actually, I believe in the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. In other words, do not volunteer any information.

Good luck!

By: LJRoy

LJRoy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:23:04 +0000

Actually Rose, in 2007 I was in school full time to learn medical billing and coding.

The rest was taking business and computer courses through Mindleaders on my own, at my own pace, between sending out resumes.

To this day, I must maintain my coding certification with quizzes each month.

I’ll probably have to get a Bachelors eventually, but with me turning 47 in a couple of months not sure I should put that much committment unless an employer picks up part of the tab.

By: Rose

Rose — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:01:38 +0000

Good day to you!
You stated that you spent a significant amount of time furthering your education. That explains the gaps. Stop worrying about it. The question is, did you complete your educational commitment? Dropping out of the job market to pursue educational endeavors is not a “red flag” to employers that you would not be a good employee. If anything, it shows that you can start a project and finish it.

Good luck!

By: LJRoy

LJRoy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:25:02 +0000

I have huge gaps in employment from 2002 on, for a variety reasons.

A great amount of time was spent furthering my education as I’m one of those people who either has to work OR go to school, I can’t do both simultaneously.

I’ve also had significant medical problems including open heart surgery, a broken ankle and pneumonia.

By: Rose

Rose — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:44:17 +0000

Of asked why you left these jobs, state that you were not a good fit (duties were not challenging, you were limited as to how you could contribute, etc. They wont know that you were terminated if you don’t volunteer that information. Besides, companies are not allowed to tell a perspective employer that an employee was terminated. They are only suppose to confirm your hiring and departure dates.

By: marsha

marsha — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:06:07 +0000

I need some advice from someone who has been in the health care field. What appropriate words do I use when filling out a job application. I have had pesonality conflicts with 2 previous managers-one being a physician from Pakistan and the other a DON. I have been a nurse for 23 years and have had a difficult time working with insecure managers. I would appreciate any comments.

By: D.

D. — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:10:50 +0000

All I can say is don’t lie. it will come back to bite you. pray and ask Jesus to help you with the right words. I promise it works. Best of hope for your future. I’m praying for you.

By: ruby

ruby — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:49:29 +0000

i think that ur story is really lame, is the reason u got fired so bad that you have to lie? Well maybe you should make up a different story.

By: Tricia

Tricia — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Milind,

Your references from your last company may be sabotaging your ability to get work. It is best to be truthful about the matter and let the hiring manager know that you were asked to leave due to irreconcilable differences. This way, you come across as being truthful and up front about the problem rather than letting the hiring manager call your previous company on his own.

Hope this helps.

By: Nichole

Nichole — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:36:40 +0000

I have had a history of drug addiction. I haven’t worked in 7 years,. Should I say that I am trying to start all over?

By: Milind Dovhal

Milind Dovhal — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:23:15 +0000

Guys I need some practical advice here. I’m 27/m from India. I used to work for a call center in India as an Operations Mgr. I got fired from my job and now its been close to 4 months.

Lately I have been having a tough time explaining why I would ‘voluntarily’ choose to leave my high paying job… I mean, of course I cant mention that I was asked to leave…

I made up a story of how my parents are working in the middle east … and how one of them fell ill due to which I had to go abroad for 2-3 months…etc etc

Does this sound too lame? Any suggestions ?

Thanks in advance
Milind

By: Leigher

Leigher — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:24:23 +0000

Mr. Stine, what state are you located in? What type of law do you practice? Have you thought about Florida?

By: John Stine, Esq

John Stine, Esq — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:49:33 +0000

I am 52 and have been out for 9 months. The biggest problem I have is just getting an interview!

By: Robert Ackerman

Robert Ackerman — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:45:36 +0000

Never give up, Ive been there and done that always think positive there are alot of attorneys out there that will give you a honest chance.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:27:00 +0000

I was deemed disabled by the SSA beginning in late 2001 (although they did not begin sending my benefits checks until 2002, all part of the application process they put individuals through). I had already completed 56 semester units at a community college by then, but due to some poor grades around the onset of my disability, I took time off before going back to college to re-take some classes and apply for grade corrections. At this point, I am roughly a year from graduation with an A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies, however; I have no idea what I’m going to do to make myself a more attractive prospect for internship(s), much less when I face re-entry into the workforce. My last job was in 2000-01 as a retail CSR, I don’t have any appropriate references for my resume, and on top of these issues, my 3.0gpa still has a shaky foundation of W’s and “probation” periods beneath it. Should I consider the possibility of never returning to employment or is there hope somewhere that I can salvage things?

By: OC Jobs

OC Jobs — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:17:56 +0000

Another thing to remember is that an employer does not necessarily have a right to know personal details like what type of illness you had.

As an example in the case of an illness you need to say 2 things. I was ill but now I’ve been cleared to go resume working full time by my doctor and I’m ready to go.

If you have been working various jobs and nothing for any long period of time, I tell candidates to put that as a single block of time and list the job as it as various short term positions and then list out some of the jobs underneath. Visually it does not look as if the time is a large gap. If questioned tell the truth that you worked a number of short term positions to keep working.