Traditionally, resume gaps have been seen as a red flag to employers. At times, when looking at a resume gap, there have been worries that the candidate may have had too much time away from the working world, not yet ready or serious about entering it again.
However, due to the high volume of Americans quitting their jobs during the Great Resignation, this attitude towards resume gaps has shifted. Former employees who were part of this movement and realized they weren’t happy in their job or found it an appropriate time for a career change no longer need to be as concerned about the unemployed window of time on their resume.
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With this being said, it’s worthwhile to focus on the next job instead of looking back at your career gap. Odds are that the gap will no longer affect your candidacy like it used to.
Here are some ways to navigate that gap in your resume, and use your time in between jobs to your benefit.
Join a job search club
Job search clubs are an excellent way to spend your time looking for a job because they provide an immediate network and support group to help you in your hunt while also helping you feel less isolated. You can also list this club on your resume to show employers how much you care about your next step.
Take an online class
It’s never too late to further your education—and chances are you can do it for little money or even free. Our Unlimited Membership offers classes in many different areas including digital marketing, copywriting, and social media. Additionally, LinkedIn Learning offers many free courses. There are countless perks to online classes, including the ability to go at your own pace and a chance to see what courses are the best fit with low stakes.
Volunteer
Applying for colleges isn’t the only time volunteer work looks good. If you have downtime while in a career transition, consider volunteering within your community. Even if the volunteer work isn’t directly related to the field you’re applying in, it will be valuable to hiring managers looking at your resume, showing you value giving back to your community.
Travel
It’s never a bad idea to use your time off to travel while you have it. Valuable experience doesn’t just have to be in an office. Traveling is an excellent way to broaden your horizon and learn things that may even end up translating to tasks in your next job. For example, if you travel internationally, you’ll most likely use organizational and time management skills on your trip that can help you in the future.
Pick up freelance work
According to a study from freelancing platform Upwork, 36 percent of the U.S. workforce did freelance jobs during 2021, an increase of 2 million people from the year before. Freelancing in between jobs is a great opportunity to gain experience, sharpen your skills, and have something to add to your resume. Who knows, this time spent may make you realize you want to freelance full time.
