How to Fill Gaps on Your Resume

How to Fill Gaps on Your ResumeHow to Fill Gaps on Your ResumeMaybe you took some time off to raise your kids. Or you might have found yourself suddenly unemployed and in a months-long job search rut. Unfortunately, hiring managers and potential bosses dont look kindly on employment gaps. Here are a few ways to fill gaps on your resume to make it seem as if youve been working steadily the entire time (while still being honest, of course). How to Fill Gaps on Your ResumeList all of your jobs.If you thought that you should only list your full-time work experiences on your resume, think again. Almost any job can (and should) be listed on your resume, particularly if youre looking to patch up some gaping holes. So list your previous part-time, freelance, and contract jobs. You can even include your volunteerism work, too, if it makes sense with the rest of your resume.Incorporate your at-home experience.Lets say youve been a stay-at-home mom or dad for quite some time. You can use a good portion of your parenting experience to help pad your resume- and fix some of those resume gaps once and for all. Did you help fundraise at your childs school? You can list that as solid work experience on your resume. Did you lead the PTO? That counts as managerial experience. Get out of the mindset that the skills youve acquired being a parent dont count, because they can definitely translate into strong workplace skills that a boss would want in a job applicant.Utilize your skill set. Who says that the focus of your resume has to be on your previous employers? Take the spotlight off of them, and focus it on you- and what you can offer.For example, your fluency in French might just attract the eye of a potential boss who may need someone with those language skills for a particular job position. Even if the job description doesnt call for it, list your strengths (such as computer proficiencies, language skills, management experience) that any employer, regardless of position, woul d be interested in.Restructure your resume. If your employment history still looks a little thin, it might be a good idea to revamp your resume entirely. Instead of giving the bulk of your resumes real estate to your work experience, bring your skills, objectives, and even your educational experience up higher on the resume. That way, the first thing that a hiring boss will see first is what you can do, not what youve done- and when you did it.Almost everyone has had to fill the gaps on their resume at one time or another. The thing is to not feel embarrassed about it. It doesnt mean that youre not a good worker, or not worthy of the job that you want. It just means that you have to be creative with your resume in order to fill in the holes. That way, your future boss will be none the wiser.Readers, how have you tried to fill gaps on your resume? Share your tips by leaving a comment