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Open letter to hiring managers
I just landed a new role that I love. I am so thankful! Having just gone through the wars, here are my thoughts:
1. I had a good-sized gap on my resume, due to a serious illness. I'm sure I was not considered because of that gap, but explaining it would open me up to discrimination for something that is not in my control. The manager who hired me looked at my experience and evaluated my interview (not the gap) and got a qualified, professional employee.
2. When you interview a candidate, for the love of all things holy, let the person know as soon as you can that they have not been selected. Leaving an applicant wondering is very unprofessional. It just takes a moment to send a basic email using a template telling them they weren't selected.
3. Be honest about the culture. If you are a type-A organization, be honest about that. Don't say you are "flexible and family-friendly" if you are going to grill your employees about having to pick up a sick kid.
Sharla Taylor
Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
27
12/12/20 at 5:50PM UTC
It's what you do during your gap in employment that is important. Consider taking professional development courses and participating in professional organizations to show that you are still engaged in what is happening in your industry.
Anonymous
12/08/20 at 9:48PM UTC
Resume' gaps could be for so many reasons. I did not work for several years because I was a stay at home mom and caregiver and I addressed it as such on my resume and it was held against me, but I made a conscious decision that was okay with me. If a company did not want to work with me because I made a choice to to care for my children, my aunt, and my parents instead of work outside the home then they were not a good match for me either. It ultimately, led me down a completely different path that I had always wanted and dreamed of and I am glad I took it. Be real ladies, it will be hard but if we stand up and be honest then we will be happier with where our journeys take us.
Tricia HR Pro
44
12/08/20 at 7:37PM UTC
I still believe in the old fashioned way of interviewing...IN PERSON. So much is left off a resume. Not content or truth, but the human-ness and personality of the face-to-face connection. Yes, agree that hiring is challenging, but congrats to you for landing a great job!
Emily Tsitrian
46
12/08/20 at 6:52PM UTC
From the perspective of a (I'd like to think progressive) hiring. manager, I couldn't agree with you more. I also do try to give a little feedback on each and every interview I have so I'm providing a little bit of value-add for each person who took the time to go through the process.
Hiring is one of the hardest things to do well, and the best hiring managers understand that Life Happens to every candidate - and it's not so much gaps on the resume that matter but the person's tenacity, perspective, life experience, and creativity. Those things will shine through no matter what the resume says!
Congratulations on the new role!
Anonymous
12/04/20 at 3:05AM UTC
I have gaps on my resume, so when I’m looking at applicants I don’t hold it against them unless there are other serious concerns. You’re right that some hiring managers are dismissive of any resume with gaps, but I was lucky to get a great job thanks to a supervisor who didn’t hold it against me and I went on to get promoted into her position when she retired a few years later.
Elianet OlivaMake things happen!
271
12/09/20 at 5:32PM UTC
So true, I feel the more experiences we have the more we are able to relate to other people in the "same boat", 2020 prove to be very decisive for a lot of people to judge less and be more open to different candidates with different backgrounds, more understanding. There will always be people who will not give you a chance for something they cant understand, but to me it is their loss. I went to similar experiences in 2020 and if before I didnt care much about it, now even less, cause I too have a gap. :)
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