I’m lost and confused.

15 Comments

1. Melissa M.September 10,2023 at 12:09AM UTC

   I’m currently going through the same exact thing. I have no Idea how to do my resume with this large gap if had to take due to unemployment.

2. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 2:02AM UTC

   You can explain that you had a career break. Even on LinkedIn there’s an option to add career break if you want. You can get directions by going to LinkedIn.com/help

3. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 4:44AM UTC

   Apply for temp jobs. This is the best way. Or do some volunteer work, people don't have to know whether it is paid or not. The main thing is to keep yourself busy.

4. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 2:34PM UTC

   I often get hired on as a result of temp jobs! Three of my last 4 jobs were result of client being pleased with my work.

5. AnonymousSeptember 10,2023 at 6:34AM UTC

   I seriously doubt you former Employer has anything to do with your ability to be hired. Their interference wouldn't be possible.

   I just want to explain that the job market is incredibly difficult right now and highly competitive so you have so many people applying for the same jobs. So chances are good that in any other time you have had better luck. This is all to say that this difficulty is not you. It's the market. You will be hired. It will just take longer than expected.

   Hang in there. Take care if yourself.

6. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 1:04PM UTC

   You may have to broaden your search area a bit. I suggest tailoring every resume response to exactly wording from the job posting. It sometimes help get past the job bots. Consider having your resume rewritten by a professional to assure you aren’t listing tasks but are listing accomplishments. What results have you contributed to you are most proud of? Start with these and keep on applying. Best of luck.

7. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 3:22PM UTC

   I'm so sorry . It is very easy to begin feeling paranoid when going through times like this. No one is out there badmouthing you. You are not alone. I have had that feeling too. Is it possible that the trauma you experienced is impacting your search? That people recruiting are picking up on it? Let's focus on all you have going for you. All that experience matters more. This short period is a blip. It does not define who you are. Don't let it. Many people are fired from jobs every day. I have been fired after a month. It was nonsensical and personal. I was angry and hurt and felt helpless. You are going to be ok. Please don't apply for jobs you are overqualified for - employers will feel that desperation. I know you need a job. Could you do some temp work while you look? Even a store where you can be with people, building your confidence. You WILL get a good job and you deserve it. Keep that thought every minute. And keep trying. Every day. Believe in yourself. This too shall pass.

8. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 3:39PM UTC

   I was looking for over 6+ months, when I decided that it was finally time to do what I had thought about over the years prior to losing my job about going to work for myself as a bookkeeper. When I was wrongfully terminated and they thought they would break me, it actually backfired on them instead. My former employer lied to my state's unemployment office and told them that I had been terminated for cause. When I filed my appeal with my state on Friday and filled them in on the fact that they were retaliating against me for filing a complaint with the EEOC for wrongful termination due to being disabled it did not end well for my former employer. I appealed on a Friday morning, and I received all my backpay plus my prior weeks check in the mail by Monday.

   I also filed a complaint with the EEOC, and eventually received a small cash settlement from my former employer, which I was able to use to start my own small business.

   I'm now thriving as a small business owner that is working in a role where I'm helping other small business owners. So, while my former employer tried to break me, it didn't work, instead it backfired on them because I'm happier now working for myself. It's a lot of hard work and not meant for everyone, however, for me it works well.

   So, think outside of the box, and you might be pleasantly surprised where you end up landing. What I'm doing now was never part of my original plan, however, it fell in my lap, and with the help of my friends and family I decided to jump at the chance and to become self-employed. I wouldn't trade it for anything now. Also, think about applying for jobs that you think you'd like to do, but may not have all the skills for, as you don't know what will happen if you don't try.

9. AnonymousSeptember 11,2023 at 5:16PM UTC

   You do mean blacklisting you not blackmailing. I would assume they are not doing that. I would think it might be how you are presenting or something you are saying in your presentation of skills. A year gap can easily be explained and frankly does not matter if you tell them you took a gap year to explore new things and to find a new purpose in your career. Or took some training to improve your skills, fill the gap with something meaningful that adds to your experience not subtracts. Find a group of others in your industry that can support you and in your search be sure to streamline your looking and write well defined cover notes. Most ATS that use the autofill get it wrong and I would suggest you try to find connections in these companies vs just applying and praying someone notices your application. Keep plugging there is a light at the end of the tunnel for you.

10. Monette AndersonSeptember 11,2023 at 11:02PM UTC

    I was going to say something similar and great points here. Are you not getting any calls back or are you interviewing and not getting very far. Losing a job can be very tough on a person mentally. Make sure you come to terms with that and be proactive in your cover letter in whatever narrative you've decided to use there. Make sure you have a positive narrative in your phone interviews. They are likely reading between the lines so you need to act like a PR pro and get ahead of it. ChatGPT might be a great tool for you to come up with a strong narrative you can use that will address your gap and short length of employment

11. Maegan, Nike Sales Rep & Career CoachSeptember 11,2023 at 7:19PM UTC

    Ugh so sorry you are experiencing this. Have you thought about working with a career coach? I can help you approach your job search differently so you can start landing more interviews and get offers. Here's my link to sign up for a consult call and learn more : https://maeganmillercoaching.as.me/consultcall

12. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 12:29PM UTC

    Have you thought about doing a Tafe course even 6 months they often have placements where you get work experience and a lot of students get jobs from their placements by asking and you update your skills.

13. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 12:32PM UTC

    Just say you went travelling for a year. Have you tried Jobs Victoria who help unemployed people even pay for outfits for interviews for centrelink job seekers. They also help with interview skills or you could ask any recruitment agency if they could help you practice interview skills. Resume should be 2 pages

14. AnonymousSeptember 12,2023 at 12:36PM UTC

    Try this website they have jobs for u employed and help finding work. Just remember sometimes job’s don’t work out so you can move on to better things you just have to let go of the past. Sometimes job’s don’t work out because of where we were mentally at the time or if you had a lot of stress at the time , maybe you were bored?

    https://jobs.vic.gov.au/

15. PatriciaSeptember 13,2023 at 4:24AM UTC

    I am a contractor and sometimes I have a few months gap between roles and other times I have very short stints that I leave off - apart from 2019-2020, when I studied full time to complete my degree followed by the pandemic. I have the following line added in bold, just before my career summary:

    Please note, some short-term consulting roles have been omitted as they are not relevant to my resume.

    Perhaps you could craft something similar to explain your year gap?