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Some people are consistently employed for the entire duration of their career, but it doesn’t work like that for everyone. If your employment record has a few holes, you’re probably nervous about embarking on a job search, but don’t fret.

Hiring managers are well aware that many talented people step out of the workforce for a while. This decision might’ve been your choice — e.g., to care for a family member or go back to school full time — or perhaps you were laid off or fired. No matter what the cause, you can bounce back.

Your employment gap will definitely come up in your next interview, so use these tips to provide a polished and professional response.

Be Honest

If you try to hide your employment gap — or the real reason behind it — you will get caught. Hiring managers won’t extend an offer to a liar, but they will consider a candidate who is strong enough to tell the truth. It doesn’t matter if you were fired or took a break from work to take care of your young children, just be honest about it.

Focus on the Positive

When done by choice, taking a break from the workforce can be a very good experience. However, even if this hiatus was an involuntary event, you still need to put a positive spin on it. No one wants to hire an angry candidate, so put on a happy face and explain why your employment gap was actually a blessing in disguise.

Highlight Lessons Learned

Let your ambition shine by sharing what you learned during your time away from work. If you took any relevant classes, did any freelance work or worked on any applicable volunteer projects, be sure to mention this. This shows your true passion for the work and makes it clear your skills didn’t have a chance to get rusty.

If you were fired from your job, this is also a good time to explain how you reflected on the situation and used it for personal growth. Explain what you learned from the situation and how you’ll apply these lessons in the future.

Share Your Desire to Return to Work

Hopefully, you’re excited to get back into the workforce, but even if you’re not, don’t let your reluctance show. Employers might be a little leery if you’re only coming back for financial reasons — or you’ll quickly change your mind about working again — so let your enthusiasm for the job shine. Share how eager you are to return to work and what specifically excites you about this particular opportunity.

Feeling nervous about re-entering the workforce because of your employment gap? Wood Staffing is here to help. Contact us today to start your search for a rewarding opportunity in the Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan region.

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