Hi Chau,

Sorry to say, yours is not an entirely unique situation. Over the last year, the average job search has lengthened to 23 weeks – that’s nearly six months! That also means there are a substantial number of job-seekers who have been persistently seeking employment for well over a year. The more senior and more specialized the position, the longer the search can take.

However, a long employment gap can still raise red flags with a potential employer, so you need to understand and address their fears head on. To put it bluntly, when employers see a large gap on your resume, they fear that you might be a lazy slacker who has spent all that time lying on the couch, watching Oprah and Jerry Springer, and waiting for somebody to hand you a job.

So, it is up to you to dispel that image as quickly and succinctly as possible. Demonstrate how you have spent your time productively, in any of a number of ways:

• Self-employment, particularly as a consultant in your field of expertise.
• Completing a degree or certification in an area related to your profession.
• Doing substantial volunteer or community service work.
• Working part-time, even if it’s a menial position.
• Planned “self-renewal” activities such as a trip abroad that expands your multi-cultural awareness.
• Caring for family members with special needs or health issues

Then, describe your activities in your cover letter AND on your resume. Many executives and technical professionals establish a “consulting company” as an umbrella for any part-time or contract work they do during their job search. Otherwise, you could list this time in the same format as any other job on your resume, using a job title such as “Professional Development”, “Personal Sabbatical”, or “Family Management”. It might appear on your resume as:

Professional Development (2008 – Present)

• Developed new skills in LabView, completing required coursework for certification as a CLAD (Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer).
• Provided consulting services to NJX Design, advising on design specifications for new chip set under development.
• As a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, participated in the construction of over 50 homes for low-income families.
• Co-facilitated a monthly job search support group for my church.

Demonstrating your resourcefulness, personal initiative and drive for self-improvement can turn a potential red flag into a new way to positively impress an employer. In many cases, long-term unemployment is more damaging to your internal self-image than it is to an employer’s view of your capabilities. So, go out there, proud of what you have accomplished in the many months of your job search, and let them know how it has made you a better candidate than before. Good luck, Chau!

Job Coach Jeff