Don’t let the past get in the way of your future. In this and the following two blog entries I would like to discuss with you the most common things people have a problem with in writing their resumes; and in many circumstances wish they didn’t have to disclose at all.
I have mentioned or discussed some of these topics in other entries, but not in series from the resume writing perspective. These problem subjects seem to naturally fall into the categories of: History & Background, Experience & Qualifications, and Career.
History and Background:
- How to manage a gap in your resume history.
- Is it necessary to show you were fired?
- Do you have a criminal record? What to do when you have to expose this fact?
Experience and Qualifications:
- What happens when you are a perfect fit for the job but you have no degree?
- What to do when you have too little experience to show? New grad?
Career:
- Are you unsure of your career objective?
- How do you explain a right turn in career direction?
- Moving from a Military to a Civilian Career.
How to manage a gap in your resume history.
A resume is the basis on which an employer (including Riverside County) makes their first impression about you. We all know that. It follows that we always tend to put our best qualities in it so as to create the best possible impression. However, sometimes there will be some minor (and some major) hiccups. Are you able to sail through with poise and rationale? The commonest reaction is to bluff (or tell a white lie) but with an employer it is really not an advisable path to take as I have mentioned before, because truth has the knack to come up at the most unfortunate moments of your life and create some major embarrassment, if not more. There are better ways to handle difficulties - with the truth put across plausibly:
Scenario no 1: Suppose you have a two years gap in you resume between to jobs when you did not have any job. 'What happened in the gap period?' the employer will ask. There a number of common reasons why people leave their jobs for example to pursue higher studies - if that is the case with you, do let your prospective employer know. In this context the gap will be seen as a benefit.
If this is not the case, and you have just been in between jobs for a gap of more than one year – did you helped your father, uncle, bother, friend, etc to set up their business (be sure you have the real details ready as you will be asked for it); you may also explain that you have volunteered to work for a specific philanthropic cause that your family, community, or friends created (again be ready to give real details); it is okay to explain that you wanted to be with your family for sometime before you started working again (just be sure you have truthful and plausible reasons - like grandmother sick or wife/husband having a too demanding career which neglected the children who were young at the time).
Scenario no 2: Suppose you have a minor gap of a few months (less than a year). In that case nobody needs to know about it really. I do not suggest that you write your resume with yearly gaps instead of giving the month and year, except experience older than 10 years. It could frustrate an attempt to determine the actual amount of qualifying experience that you have. If the gap indicates the time period you took for having a child, then it is good to indicate so, without any qualms. An employer may not ask whether you plan to have any more babies, and if they do you have recourse under the law.
The point is that it is best to explain the gap in as simple and truthful description as possible. In that way you will assuage the fears of the prospective employer that you may not be dependable. They will be less worried to see these gaps because they would picture you as a reliable person.
If you don’t have what’s considered a normal, and easily understandable way to bridge the gap it is better to tell the truth directly (even if it is that you could not connect with the right job) and highlight the fact the you would be a valuable asset to the employer (do not be over eager when you say this - just act confident and sure of yourself).
Is it necessary to show you were fired?
To answer this question with some reservations is no. If the reason you were terminated was not because of a criminal offense or something like moral turpitude, you need not volunteer it up front. When you are faced with the direct question, tell the truth. Although, completely discuss the terms under which you left your last employer by the time there is an offer on the table. Don’t let the employer discover this in a final background check.
Scenario no 1: You were fired because the company was downsizing. Write the truth - downsizing means people will lose their jobs and it is not necessarily because they were not worth it, but because they were more expendable than others. Be matter of fact when you say this, and keep the bitterness and sarcasm out of your language. End with maturity and show confidence that your skills and experience will add value to the future job.
Scenario 2: You were fired because of inter-personal conflict, you could explain the facts briefly - again, without any bitterness - that your boss and yourself did not agree on certain matters which made it difficult for you to continue. Be objective, and matter-of-fact explaining that the experience taught you better interpersonal relations and that in future you would handle such a situation differently.
Scenario 3: You were fired on grounds of negligence/ poor performance/ insubordination, etc. This is a very touchy situation, because most employers would ask for feedback from the last employer. Even if all a formal background will revel is that you were “terminated for cause”, you need to tell the truth and use the opportunity to tell 'your side of the story'. In order to make it as positive as possible, indicate the circumstances (such as difficult task or deadlines while multitasking; or communication gaps; or wrong reporting of facts by supervisor, etc) and be as matter of fact and brief as you can. Avoid the sordid details - just touch the important points and in the end highlight that you have learned a lot from the lesson which has already cost you dearly, and that it made you a better person and employee as a consequence.
Tip: Always be candid and objective. Never badmouth anyone or blame anyone. Show a positive outlook and the capacity to move on in the face of adversity.
Being fired is painful and it is even more painful to have to write or speak about it. However, no matter how much you are tempted you should resist from telling lies. The employer will, 9 times out 10, ask the last employer for some type of reference, and information could ultimately come from a third party. Don’t be found lying, because it destroys the foundation of working relationships. Better you should Cowboy-up and face the situation squarely.
As long as you stay focused on the future and show that you have learned from the past experience, an employer will take your past experience as strength rather than weakness. When asked about this subject in an interview, be careful about your body language - many times body language leaves an impression much stronger than the words you speak.
Do you have a criminal record? What to do when you have to expose this fact?
I can understand that it is a natural tendency in resumes to exclude any and all negative information. Probably because a resume is viewed as your personal sales tool, and the negative information would spoil your prospects to be called for an interview. Do you need to put in this information; first of all, you need to find out. Check out the policy of the employer - many times the stand of the government agency or company on this subject is very clear - like they will not employ people with a record, and/ or if they have a record it should be clearly mentioned with details. (Click here for Riverside County’s Policy.)
With a major employer it is quite unlikely, but If you don’t find any employment restrictions/conditions related to this subject, then you may choose to keep quiet about your past as far as the resume is concerned. However, if you think that it is likely that an employer would discover it sooner or later, it is better to disclose it right from the start. Then you will know exactly where you stand and will not need to hide anything. Actually whatever you need to hide, has a terrible habit of popping up at the most unfortunate times to embarrass you, or more likely to totally devastate your career.
Therefore, my best advice is do not hide it. Inaccurate personal information will leave you open to firing if you are “discovered' by the employer; I have seen this occur in county government. Do not risk being found out because it brings daily tension which will interfere with your efficiency at the job. Riverside County uses LiveScan Fingerprinting Services for background checks and many employers use similar services, so the truth is bound to come out often sooner than later.
Choose jobs where having a record is not a great minus point (however, do not kid yourself that this is not a minus point). In fact your choice of job may give you a second chance at a career - so choose wisely. Sometimes having a criminal history may not be an issue unless it is perceived as a danger to the job you are being hired for. For best results chose jobs which do not have bearing on your criminal record - and as far as possible, inform the employer right at beginning about this fact. Put it in your resume, but also be sure that you show that you have a changed a lot, and today you are putting your best foot forward to start a new responsible and productive life.
Also, take extra pains to match perfectly your own skills with the pre-requisite of the job. You should not approach the employer (with or without a record) and just say, “I’ll take any job you have.” You will need a field of interest/training and an employment objective, like everyone else.