Sample Resume: Human Resources Specialist with Employment Gap
Chin Lee (not her real name) is a human resources specialist who has an employment gap in her resume. See if you can figure out where it is - Sample Resume with Employment Gap (a new window will open).
This chronological resume is an excellent example of how to use volunteer work to disguise current unemployment on a resume.
Lee Chin left her last job, the human resources specialist position, to have foot surgery. The surgery required several months of doing nothing but recovering from her operation.
After her rehabilitation she eased her way back into the workforce by volunteering a few hours a day at her local hospital. Not only did her volunteerism keep her administrative skills sharp, it also gave her something to put on her resume as a current "job title."
Notice that by listing years only (no months), the time immediately after her surgery when she was not employed or volunteering goes unnoticed. The spotlight is on her productive work at the hospital, and most likely her foot surgery and subsequent recovery time will not even come up in her job interviews.
In fact, if she applies for a human resources job in the healthcare field, her volunteer work at the hospital will be even more valued.
Susan
Ireland is the author of four job search books including The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect
Resume, now in its 5th edition. For more information
about writing your resume, read Susan's books or visit Susan's Website SusanIreland.com. For immediate help with your resume and cover letter, check out Susan's Ready
Made Resumes and Cover Letters, a downloadable product to help job seekers quickly create an effective resume. Follow Susan on Twitter @SusanIreland, visit her JobLounge blog, and interact with her on the LinkedIn's JOBS Group (Job Openings, Job Leads and Job Connections!) in her ** Let's Talk Resumes ** featured discussion.
