Benefiting from a Résumé Gap
Using Your Time Off to Your Advantage
An employment gap can be daunting, especially when you’re struggling to land a job and feel your work history gap is holding you back. Whether you’ve been laid off or chose to take a break from the workforce, it’s important to use your time to your advantage. Even when you’re spending much of your time job hunting, take time to focus on these five habits to build your résumé and keep your skills current during an employment gap.
Read. Every field is different, but each one has trade publications that cover the latest news and trends specific to that industry. By reading trade publications, you’ll stay up-to-date on information you need to know to compete with other job candidates who haven’t left the industry. You can access many of these publications online or at your local library. Remaining knowledgeable about your profession will help you remain relevant to potential employers.
Volunteer. If you don’t use the skills you have, you lose them. In this competitive job market, it’s critical to keep your skills sharp and active. Consider volunteering in your community with an organization that will allow you to continue using your job skills. Then, list your volunteer activities and the skills you used on your résumé to show potential employers your experience. Volunteering your time and talents will also allow you to build important contacts, helping to expand your job search.
Continue Your Education. Technology and training are always changing, which makes continued education an important differentiator. Community colleges and vocational schools often offer low-cost career development classes for adults, so enroll in a class that will benefit your job search and your skill set. Consider classes that focus on communication, computer technology, or industry specific courses that will build your knowledge base and elevate your value to employers.
Freelance. Much like volunteering, taking on a freelance project requires you to practice your skills, use your knowledge, and put your experience to work. Doing freelance work can also help you supplement your income while you search for a more consistent job. Seek out freelance opportunities from companies you’d like to work for full time. This can help you get your foot in the door and build your professional network.
Network. Now is a great time to build your network of those who know you personally and professionally. Continue to meet new people, reconnect with former co-workers and supervisors, and build on your current relationships to broaden your job opportunities. When you’re hunting for a job, sometimes your established network will be the first to tell you about a job or refer you for a position. By staying connected through your contacts, your name will be top of mind when employers begin looking for the right person for the job.
Instead of worrying about gaps in your work history, use your time wisely by building your résumé, polishing your skills, and seeking out job opportunities. Give yourself an edge over your competition by focusing on these five habits when you’re without a job. Be persistent, and you may just land the job you’ve been working toward!
Dress Like a Pro on a Budget
Building a Career Wardrobe for
Little
to
No Cash
If you’re just starting out in your career or beginning a new job, don’t let the worries of buying a new wardrobe stress you out. For little to no cash, you can dress professionally – and stylishly – by gettingcreative and using the resources you have. So, whether you don’t have a lot of cash to spend or simply don’t want to spend a lot of money on clothes, you can easily and inexpensively outfit yourself by using these simple and creative ideas.
Shop Thrifty – You might not consider a second-hand store as your top pick for the place to buy your clothing, but you can get a lot of nice things for a little money, so don’t dismiss the idea right away. When shopping in thrift stores or consignment shops, it isn’t always easy to find what you’re looking for or find it in the right size, but it’s worth the time if you don’t want to spend a lot of money. Consignment shops are the best places to start, because they typically have a better selection of professional work attire than thrift stores. You can find a lot of nearly new clothing – from jeans to business suits to jewelry to ties – for a small fraction of the original price. By shopping thrifty, you can look like a million bucks without spending that much.
Swap & Borrow – One of the simplest ways to jumpstart your professional wardrobe is by borrowing clothes from friends. If a friend wears the same size clothing as you, ask if you can borrow or swap clothing. You might be able to borrow a few of their clothing items, piece them with yours, and come up with several new outfits. Swapping is free and can benefit both of you. While their clothing probably won’t be brand new, it’ll be new to you, and yours will be new to them. If you select wisely, borrowing will provide options to create the look you need for work. Consider borrowing plain slacks, professional shirts, a nice blazer, solid color shirts, or even dress shoes. You can add your own style by adding your own accessories and show up to work wearing professional, yet stylish, attire.
Mix & Match – If you’ve already started your wardrobe, take a look at the clothes in your closet and make a mental note of the outfits you usually put together. Then, pick out one of those outfits and replace one or two of its pieces with something else in your wardrobe. For example, if you usually wear your black pants with the same button-down shirt, try pairing a different shirt or different shoes with the outfit for a new look. Men can easily switch out ties and shirts to mix and match for a new look. Women can change the look of their outfit by accessorizing with a scarf, belt, shoes, or jewelry.
Building a new career wardrobe doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. By using the resources you have and a little time and creativity, you can design a professional wardrobe without spending a lot of money. So, use these ideas to build the work wardrobe you need to start your new job, and you’ll be dressed to impress.
Dress to Impress
Top 10 Must-Haves for a Professional Wardrobe
Building a professional wardrobe can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. So, here’s a list of the top 10 basic items every professional wardrobe needs. These allow you to dress simply and professionally, while providing you with a strong foundation for an impressive wardrobe.
1 – Black dress pants, or skirts for women
2 – Neutral-colored dress pants, such as brown, grey, navy, or tan
3 – A full suit in black, grey, or navy
4 – Five solid-colored dress shirts
5 – A blazer or nice jacket in black, brown, grey, or navy
6 – A pair of black dress shoes
7 – Several pairs of dress socks
8 – Dress belt to wear with slacks or suit
9 – Scarves (for women) and ties (for men) to add variety
10 – Outerwear in a basic color and fabric, such as a black wool coat
Job Genius is a publication of Express Services, Inc. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.