I think I ruined my resume.

30 Comments

1. AnonymousDecember 22,2022 at 3:02PM UTC

   I would not take it personally. The economy has employers spooked and pulling back job postings and freezing hiring until 1st quarter 2023. I would think you'd definitely see an increase in interest in February and March.

   Honestly I think it's just bad timing. Not your resume.

2. Lyndee PfaffenbachDecember 22,2022 at 3:03PM UTC

   I feel this. I am on the hunt and am amazed at the lack of response. Quick background: I was laid off from a job 3ish yrs ago, I took another outside of my field, but it kept me employed through the pandemic. I left to get back into close to my field and 25k more/yr. I got laid off after a year because the company over-extended itself (honestly, they didn't know what they were doing). Now I'm 3 months into job searching.

   Here are a few things I've taken away (some just theories)

   • Some companies don't even ask what happened or why I moved between jobs. Years ago, that was a common question. To me, it's somewhat expected nowadays.
   • I'm looking for remote, and I think the job market is saturated with others doing the same. The pool of competition is beyond anything I've experienced.
   • If you're interested in utilizing LinkedIn, check out the book Linked by Jeremy Schifeling and Omar Garriott. Tons of great strategies to use that platform.
   • After a call with a recruiter, I added an intro paragraph to my resume. It highlights what my experience is and how it relates to the role. I've had more requests since I added it.
   • I'm trying to be more selective to what I apply to. At first, it was spray and pray. Now I update my resume for every application and customize it to each job description.

   My struggle now is going from getting interviews (and second interviews) to getting an offer. I've come close several times.

   I wish you the best. These last few months have been a struggle for me, as I'm sure it has been for you. But we need to do our best to keep our heads up!

3. AnonymousDecember 22,2022 at 3:26PM UTC

   I was where you are 2 years ago. Please stay positive its not you its timing. You also need to be patient. This sounds corny but its true. What’s meant for you will be for you.

4. AnonymousDecember 22,2022 at 4:49PM UTC

   I think everything is bad. I have come to the conclusion that I must be the world's biggest loser. I have not had a ful-time job since 2010. The part-time job I am in is good as PT jobs go, but it is not enough to live on. Consequently, I do not have a gap on my resume. However, it is nearly impossible to find p/t job that lets me work 8:30 - 12:30. Of course, I would take a FT job that pays decently, but that is like winning the billion dollar powerball.

   Not only are there no jobs that I can apply to (they are all in sales), but I know that at 60, they will take one look at me and pass. That is what happens every time I get an interview and I always check to see that the job went to someone much younger.

   I managed to cobble together a few very poor paying part time jobs that were beneath me thorugh an organization called ReServe. The jobs not only paid less than an intern, but were not even remotely interesting. There was no trust, no autonomy, and I was waiting for supervisors to dole out micro assignments (which they would do five minutes before I had to leave at which point they would get angry that I couldn't stay). And they made sure that your seat was not within five miles of another worker so you basically never met anyone who could help you get out of this hell. The supervisors were all nasty and condescending. I don't know why I bothered for a measley $15 an hour, but of course, I was let go while many other young girls who were also temps were hired full time.

   So in case you haven't noticed, I do have chip on my shoulder because I think I deserved more than an intern (and I certainly knew more technology than these other temps who were all treated extremely well... as their way of showing me what a loser I was).

   I also do not think it should be this hard to find a job for someone like me. Case in point, I see many organizations offering to give "older workers" remedial skills training which will get them into jobs.

   Why is this necessary to train people if there is some one -- like me -- who can already do the job. I know that the job descriptions are all BS and it does not take a rocket scientist to do most of them. And anything I don;t know, I would learn quickly because I am already starting on third base.

   I have lost all hope and there is seemingly nothing I can do with the possible exception of telling other losers like myself what they are doing wrong. The problem is that employers only seem to want perfect people. The government needs to be the employer of last resort because a lot of things need doing, but there are not enough perfect people available to do the work.

   I would estimate that I am only about 95% perfect which is way above average but not good enough.

5. AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 1:18PM UTC

   Well, you certainly think very highly of yourself. Might think about an attitude check.

6. AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 4:04PM UTC

   That is incredibly insensitive and uncalled for. As someone who is nearing 60 with decades of experience, I can tell you that this kind of behavior towards people over 50 is rampant, allowed, and extremely illegal. When they’re hot for you until they see you, you know why. And for what it’s worth — I am personally sick of hearing ”ageism can’t be true because I know somebody over 50 who got a job.“ That smacks of the “racism can’t be real because I know someone who is employed and black.“ Just because it doesn’t happen to you doesn’t mean it isn’t real. it isn’t just in our minds. It might surprise you to find out that the largest group regularly taxed INTO poverty is single women over 50.

7. AnonymousDecember 25,2022 at 4:32PM UTC

   I'm a 63 year old female so hold your assumptions. I changed careers at age 52 from marketing to construction management. I have never been unemployed since and this is a field where employers value your age and experience. Stop making blanket statements, perhaps you and the original poster work in an area that is flooded with applicants, and anyone that claims they were a "beloved employee" is truly delusional. BTW, I work with a 73, 68 and 70 years old co-workers.

8. Melissa MilliganDecember 25,2022 at 10:50PM UTC

   Once again someone has to interject with the “ageism isn’t real because it didn’t happen to me and to these people I know” bs.

9. AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 5:28PM UTC

   I don't think so. The first person to see anyone's value should be themself. The phrasing, anger, and frustration may be justified. What might need to be considered in tandem is , "what's in it for the boss?" In some cases, these programs are attractive to employers because they see a cheap, desperate laborforce that will allow itself to be bullied. A typically male employer would conflate worker with sexual access and give preferential treatment to someone who ticks their boxes.

   An older worker has to be doubly savy, pay greater attention to appearance, and more quickly assess how to become indispensible. It can be exhausting. Doable yes, but they may need to call in a consultant if it's getting to difficult to bear

10. LaurenDecember 24,2022 at 1:34PM UTC

    It sounds like your belief system may be holding you back. If you believe you’re a loser who is too old to get a job then you will create that reality. My stepdad is 65 and he got laid off, but always has this quiet faith in himself and being protected. He never chose fear. It didn’t mean that he didn’t feel fearful. It just meant he focused on faith rather the fear. Within a year he got a new job as marketing manager at a nice company. He’s making a little less than before, but his company is wonderful and less stressful. You may need to look at your perspective. It sounds like a good lesson to learn to believe in yourself. You’re not a loser for taking on a PT you were taking care of yourself rather than giving up.

11. AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 1:41PM UTC

    I think you may benefit from some therapy to get through this and figure out how to move past your thinking. Your belief system and potentially your personality is what is holding you back, not your capabilities.

12. Crystal HowellDecember 22,2022 at 4:57PM UTC

    Always use "Career Break" with the gap dates, pursuing other business interests.

    Check with your old companies competitors, they maybe hiring.

    Reach out to your local county they post jobs online on their sites.

    What field are you in? what field would you want to be in?

    Good Luck

13. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistDecember 22,2022 at 5:58PM UTC

    In my personal experience, companies rarely check references anymore. The last three companies I've worked for no longer do it.

    Do you have freelance projects that you could fill the gap with? If so, then add them.

    Being super critical of gaps or short stints is also not the big deal they once were - especially since the pandemic.

    If you're not getting traction, it's typically either the resume (the content, not your gap) or the positions you're applying for.

14. AnonymousDecember 23,2022 at 1:50PM UTC

    I took a year off to care for an elderly parent. Am I wrong to assume this is a legitimate reason to take a career break after 30 years?

15. AnonymousDecember 23,2022 at 3:47PM UTC

    Free-lancing would benefit your family's bottom line and your mental health. It will help you to keep your skills sharp. If you are in a position to do that, I would say go for it. Who knows, you may enjoy being your "own boss," and the income might be enough that you don't need to find a place where you work for others.

16. Christy Van Der WesthuizenDecember 24,2022 at 1:29PM UTC

    Hi there! I would take a good look at your resume - is it compelling? It is well designed? Does it fully represent who you are? That could be a good place to start - best of luck to you!

17. Ruth RobbinsDecember 24,2022 at 1:37PM UTC

    "Hatred of boss" is okay entre nous and in fact, it's true. But better wording for you to to practice is ' the new boss they brought in and I were misaligned in terms of goals and values' and with a new opportunity that paid a significant bump up, I took the new opportunity. Spin your story very positively ( you did the reasonable thing in moving on) and don't beat yourself up about it. It didn't work out. How in truth could you have known? Practice your spin and know that you did what manyone else would have in your shoes. Network with your sphere of contacts first and foremost with that mindset. You know you are a valuable contributor and your time with the original company was laced with big successes and very positive reputation. And I so agree with you if you can get a P/T gig, of course do so for now. With that in your back pocket you'll interview more confidently for the full-time opportunity. Good luck. In time, this will be a blip on your resume.

18. GirlBossanova934974December 24,2022 at 1:39PM UTC

    Just my view. Nobody cares about a 4 month employment gap especially in light of the Pandemic where millions were without jobs for several months at a time. No big deal. Right now, there are a lot of people with all sorts of wild opinions about the economy in 2023. It has turned into an ESPN Monday morning shouting match between various sports commentators! So employers are a bit hesitant to hire now. But there are several things you can control. Make sure your Linkedin profile is well written and up to date! Make sure your resume is well written, gives concrete examples of your operational or financial contributions, lists all your software skills, and does NOT contain industry specific jargon. LinkedIn should be providing you a good supply of leads from unsolicited calls from recruiters and daily jobs email blasts that YOU have tailored to your job search.

19. BethBDecember 24,2022 at 1:55PM UTC

    You may be overthinking this and letting your own discomfort get in your way. You were offered what seemed to be a good opportunity and a significant bump in salary. It didn’t work out. That’s not hard for any potential employer to understand. The secret to getting a callback has nothing to do with references from people who work at your former company. It you need a reference from a co-worker the person doesn’t have to currently work there. And not being known to those there now shouldn’t be a huge deal either, most official reference checks only get generalities like confirming employment, title, and length of the employment.

    Be careful about the amount of time Freelance Gigs take. It’s good to stay active in the field and potentially network. Just make sure they don’t take away time you need for a job search.

20. AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 4:01PM UTC

    Don’t be so hard on yourself. I took a job paying $50k more per year and they laid me off in 4 months and I still haven’t found a job yet. I’ve made it to the final round 3x and each time they said they pulled the req. and froze hiring or some weird excuse. It’s been so weird out there and with hundreds of thousands of us being laid off this year - the market is over saturated with candidates. So many have 2-10 months of job gaps now.

    there’s no growth without risk - be proud that you took some risk and have lessons to take from it. You’ve got this! Take a break and hit the pavement again in Jan. ?

21. Martha MarinDecember 24,2022 at 4:19PM UTC

    Neither I nor my colleagues look at an employment gap as anything negative. Of course we like it when the gap is explained (taking care of family, sabbatical, etc); but if we like the person’s experience and, more importantly, they seem like they are ready to work and contribute, we will go with that person.

    We look for things you can’t teach like work-ethic, enthusiasm for the work they’ll be doing, and, in general, a good attitude.

22. AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 4:54PM UTC

    The job market is really weird now, companies are preparing for a recession, my division has been asked to model a 10%, 25% budget cut and we have 3 positions open and I hate it because we are interviewing people giving them a false sense of hope but we have to go through these motions so we don’t lose these positions permanently but rather they will be frozen until the markets get better. I would also suggest to take linkedin learning classes or do some “freelancing” to fill some gaps to show that you’re at least trying. We have interviewed people with big gaps 8-12 months and most of the time we would chose someone with smaller gaps or if they were taking steps to some certification etc. It is a brutal world out there and very competitive and hiring depends on industry, I am in IT so it is very competitive to land a good role. Good luck!

23. AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 5:03PM UTC

    Network with previous bosses and coworkers that held you in warm regard. If that does yield results network with everyone you worked with at the job your were beloved. Also consider going back despite the massive turnover event. Best to you in your job search.

24. Ann BraunDecember 24,2022 at 5:30PM UTC

    I'm filling out a background check form right now and this is the point where they are checking references. They said I could use coworkers, but every company is different.

    If you have a college degree you should look into substitute teaching to fill in the gap. Most school districts are desperate for subs and they might even offer training. You can choose to work as little or as much as you want and even choose what schools and age groups you want to work with. And you probably won't need teaching experience.

25. AnonymousDecember 24,2022 at 6:12PM UTC

    I have read your original post a couple of times and It all feels very zigzag to me. You left because of a bad boss but you also left because of a higher salary? But, you didn't check the company out and this proved poorly, so you left that too... I sense a lot of impulsivity in your decision-making over the last year. And, That same impulsivity might be affecting your job hunting now ,or it might be coming across in interviews. And yes, organizations change All the time and very quickly, so we can't count on people having warm feelings for us even just a year later… these are revolutionary times!! As for yourself, I suggest that you slow down and really think out your career objectives... Consider doing a bit of volunteer work in the community for a cause that you care about, because serving others always helps us to Feel valued when things are otherwise falling apart. Volunteerism also helps you to see that there is more to life than just work work work... You might also make some important connections doing volunteer work while you are waiting for your next big move. Overall, I would suggest that you slow down and rethink A lot of the decisions and experiences in the last year and see if you can connect some dots. Have someone proof your resume and work with you on interview skills, because I am fearful you're going to say Something impulsive on an interview ... you're feeling so flustered right now. Let us all know how you're doing when the right job comes along, OK? Merry Christmas..!!

26. AnonymousDecember 25,2022 at 12:55AM UTC

    I'm not sure.
    It is super hard to get hired right now even with staffing gaps. It's mainly because lots of people in management don't actually want to or know how to manage and they do an awful job at hiring, coaching, etc. It's also because technology is weeding people out with all of the psychometric BS out there these days. And resumes have become some kind of weird document that has to match keywords and have a personal brand and all kinds of metrics (like wtf, people are people NOT products. Stop making people sell themselves like they're on an auction block and bring the humanity back to hiring...this capitalism thing only works if people can afford to buy stuff which means they need jobs, so give them jobs so they can spend their money. Fill positions, train people, invest in people, case closed!)

    What industry are you in? Might an employment agency be helpful?

27. AnonymousDecember 26,2022 at 7:42AM UTC

    4 months is not that long a gap. Have a professional resume writing company revamp your resume. They did mine. I landed a great job with being out of work for almost a year. Have faith. It can be done!!

28. AnonymousDecember 27,2022 at 9:43AM UTC

    Can you recommend your resume writing company?

29. Amy GeffenDecember 27,2022 at 1:19PM UTC

    I am a career coach and resume writer with over 30 years of work experience. I changed jobs 13 times. Amy Geffen at Geffen Careers geffena108cogmail.

30. AnonymousJanuary 12,2023 at 9:06PM UTC

    These kinds of things are only for YOUNG women returning. Not the underemployed or 60+. Oh, and did I mention you have to be "perfect."