How to Overcome the Stigma of Employment Gaps and See Them as Positive
We all have received resumes from applicants that have resume lies and resume falsification all over them. From lies about salary history to titles held, some people just can’t resist lying in order to try and appear to have better qualifications than they actually have. While this is a common occurrence, there are still plenty of candidates out there who have no problem stating the truth about employment gaps, for example, and use them as an opportunity to play up their best features. These are people who have the integrity to be honest about their work history and who value themselves enough to know that you’d be lucky to have them working for you. Here are some ways to help you overcome the outdated stigma that sometimes comes with gaps in employment.
First, pay more attention to the employee’s established work experience and have them talk about that. No matter how long the person’s career breaks, if they are still at the top of their game, they would be a great asset to you. Asking questions about the positions they’ve held, what challenges they have faced at work, and how they have kept their skills sharpened are all great ways to find out if someone is qualified to perform the job. For mothers who are re-entering the workplace, there may be an extended gap in employment because she chose to stay at home with her children. By asking her about her relevant work experiences and finding out what online resources she may have used to stay up-to-date, you are opening the opportunity to discover a potentially valuable employee in her.
Next, look at the format of the person’s resume. Though most people choose the chronological format where the first thing you see are the dates they’ve worked, your applicant may have chosen to use the “functional” resume format instead. This doesn’t mean they are committing resume falsification or telling resume lies; this simply means that they are choosing to play up their best qualifications and experience first. An honest candidate will be clear about their breaks in employment; some may even clarify the reasons. This shows that they are aware that there may be a stigma attached to having a gap in employment, but that they are willing to be honest about it. This is obviously a great quality to look for in an employee. Discuss their areas of strength with them and have them describe their relevant areas of expertise.
Finally, glance over “additional areas of experience” on the resume that they have shared with you. This may include charitable ventures they participated in while taking a career break or school functions that they chaired. What a great opportunity to find out more about their project management skills, organizational abilities, and perhaps their talent in contract negotiation. Though they weren’t paid for their work, these are just a couple of the many personal undertakings that often directly correlate to the workplace and can be a good way to assess a candidate’s qualifications.
Though many of us have to deal with resume lies and resume falsification when looking for a qualified applicant, many people are still upfront about their gaps in employment. Using an employment screening service like Accu-Screen can help you hire the very best employees!
