ADDRESSING COMMON JOB SEARCH CHALLENGES IN A RESUME There are several different challenges you could face when re-entering the labor market based on your background and experience. There are ways that you can address these challenges in a positive way to ensure your resume will be noticed by employers. Read through the challenges you may face and learn how to address them in your resume. Refer to the Resume Selection Chart on page 3. RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE/GAPS IN EMPLOYMENT You might be returning to the workforce after a gap in employment for a variety of reasons. If you do have gaps in your employment a functional or combination resume can be effective. The key is to highlight the positive (required skills) while you minimize the negative (gaps in employment). Using volunteer or short-term positions can help fill in the dates while providing current and important skills. Do not indicate if the job was voluntary, full-time or part-time and use years for dates instead of months. Years of service can be substituted for date ranges. It is often beneficial to indicate when jobs are temporary as it helps reduce the appearance of job-hopping. CRIMINAL RECORDS When incarcerated, you might have learned marketable trades and held jobs. Use this to your benefit by creating a combination or functional resume. Focusing on skills and qualifications allows you to highlight “the positive” and focus on strengths while reducing the emphasis on employment gaps. You can list your employer as New York State, the department worked in (such as the Carpentry Department) or the company that holds the prison contract such as Corecraft. Don’t forget to include skills learned through volunteer work, hobbies and involvement in teams or organizations. Ask Career Center staff for a copy of “The Prime Objective” for additional assistance with re-entering the job market after incarceration. PERCEIVED LACK OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR SKILLS We all have accomplishments. The challenge is to recognize and present them in a positive way. Highlighting accomplishments, instead of responsibilities, helps your resume stand out among the competition. Think about employment or relevant volunteer experiences, hobbies, teams or organizations in which you have been involved. Ask yourself questions to help identify your accomplishments: What have you accomplished that you feel was a job well done? Have you been selected, appreciated or recognized for something by an employer? What problems have you solved? YOUNG WORKERS If you are a young worker, you should include all work experiences that helped you gain experience and knowledge, including positions as a part-time employee and/or volunteer. If you lack a traditional employment history, organize your resume by qualifying skills instead of by employer. EXPERIENCED WORKERS More experienced workers should not include their entire employment history. Include the most recent employment history for about 15 years and remove older dates from the “Education” section. When related experiences go back further than 15 years, include them in the “Summary of Qualifications” section. This allows you to showcase qualifications you may have started developing decades ago. In your resume, don’t promote your age; avoid phrases like “Seasoned Professional” and “Wealth of Experience.” Consider removing your birth year out of your email address (ex. JimBeam1951@mail.com) as this could indicate your age to your potential employer. 9
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