The birth of a child, additional education, caring for a sick relative, owning a business or traveling around the world - there can be many reasons for a career break. However, in most cases, a specialist sooner or later needs to find a new job.
The recruiter is a friend, not an enemy
Let's start with the bitter truth. The objective reality is this: a job applicant who has not worked for more than six months or, even worse, several years, is in a losing position compared to other candidates in the labor market. Recruitment managers tend to think that such a specialist has partially lost his qualifications, lost useful connections, is not up to date with the latest trends in his professional sphere, etc. Of course, this is not always true, but a person looking for work after a long break is more likely all, you have to face with such stereotypes.
However, you should not initially tune in to a stubborn struggle with recruiters. You will find a job much faster if you try to see in the recruitment manager not a harsh examiner, but a person who is ready to understand the reasons for “downtime” and adequately assess your willingness to work in the company.
Summary: functional or traditional?
What should be the resume of the specialist who made a stop on his career? How not to push the recruiter away by admitting that you have not worked for some time, but, on the contrary, to interest him and receive an invitation to an interview?
Some career counselors advise in such cases not to write a traditional resume, which consistently sets out all the stages of your career, but a functional one, reflecting skills and competencies. Thus, you can make a break in seniority less noticeable and get the same welcome invitation for an interview.
However, Superjob.ru is not inclined to join such recommendations. In the Russian professional environment, unconventional resumes are more likely to be distrusted than with interest. It is very likely that your attempts to veil a long absence of work will be noticed and interpreted not in your favor.
It is much more reasonable to use a traditional resume, but edited so that it is clear: despite the break in work, you remained a good specialist, or maybe even improved your qualifications.
The main thing is to stay fit
Recruiters unanimously advise: when compiling a resume, be honest. Do not compose fables, do not invent the names of non-existent LLCs or ZAOs in which you allegedly worked without registration. It is unlikely that cheating will contribute to your career growth: a lie will open sooner or later.
Better think about it: how can what you did, until you worked, play into your hands? Perhaps, in parallel with caring for a child, did you manage to get a second higher education or tighten up English? Or, while your work book was resting, attending courses or training in a specialty? Perhaps you worked as a freelancer, mastered new computer programs, or at least regularly read professional periodicals?
Be sure to include your achievements in the absence of work in the resume, and if possible, attach a portfolio of completed work. Recommendations from former colleagues or companies for which you worked as a freelancer (if any) are not superfluous.
In a cover letter, explain the reason for the career break. Be sure to clarify that now your problems have been resolved and you are ready to give yourself completely to work: your grandmother looks after the child, and the repair in the apartment that has absorbed all your time has been successfully completed.
The reasons are good and not very
What are the reasons for a break in seniority recruiters tend to regard as respectful? According to a survey by the Superjob.ru Research Center, 16% of recruitment managers consider family events such as having a baby, moving to a new place of residence, illness of relatives, etc.
Another 9% of HR specialists are sure that a serious reason for choosing a job can be a good reason for a long “downtime”: for example, the candidate did not want to scatter on uninteresting projects, but purposefully looked for a decent offer. But such an explanation will not always satisfy the recruiter: if you haven’t been working for several years, then the words “I haven’t come across an interesting job” will most likely cause confusion in your opponent. In turn, 7% of recruitment managers believe that the best explanation for the break in seniority is study or advanced training.
As for such explanations as “I decided to become a downshifter,” “there was no need for money,” “I tried to open my own business, but it didn’t work out,” we need to be careful with them. A specialist who "just rested" for several months, or even years, the recruiter may consider a bummer who does not have sufficient internal motivation.
Interview: breaking stereotypes
Finally, your resume was noticed and invited you for an interview. Now the main thing is not only to clearly explain to the recruiter and potential boss the reasons for the break in work, but also to demonstrate that you have not lagged behind life professionally. Remember: you must destroy the possible stereotype of your unsuitability.
Prepare for the meeting, having studied all the available information about the company, practice your self-presentation. Show off your knowledge of the latest market trends, refer to the latest changes in legislation, mention authoritative names in your professional environment, in a word, during the interview you should look and feel like a real pro. Then success will be on your side.
If you are unlucky ...
It is possible that you will not be able to quickly find a job after a long break. The reasons may be different. It is possible that you actually relaxed a bit without the daily office fuss. Or your explanations about the reasons for the break will cause distrust among recruiters. Or maybe you are not lucky. Analyze the situation and adjust your behavior. Ask for help from friends, relatives or former co-workers - let family and professional relations do you a good service. Be prepared to lower your salary claims somewhat or even apply for a position lower than the one you once left. You should not take this as a drama: as a rule, a good specialist quickly makes up for lost time - both in career and in material terms.
The recruiter is a friend, not an enemy
Let's start with the bitter truth. The objective reality is this: a job applicant who has not worked for more than six months or, even worse, several years, is in a losing position compared to other candidates in the labor market. Recruitment managers tend to think that such a specialist has partially lost his qualifications, lost useful connections, is not up to date with the latest trends in his professional sphere, etc. Of course, this is not always true, but a person looking for work after a long break is more likely all, you have to face with such stereotypes.
However, you should not initially tune in to a stubborn struggle with recruiters. You will find a job much faster if you try to see in the recruitment manager not a harsh examiner, but a person who is ready to understand the reasons for “downtime” and adequately assess your willingness to work in the company.
Summary: functional or traditional?
What should be the resume of the specialist who made a stop on his career? How not to push the recruiter away by admitting that you have not worked for some time, but, on the contrary, to interest him and receive an invitation to an interview?
Some career counselors advise in such cases not to write a traditional resume, which consistently sets out all the stages of your career, but a functional one, reflecting skills and competencies. Thus, you can make a break in seniority less noticeable and get the same welcome invitation for an interview.
However, Superjob.ru is not inclined to join such recommendations. In the Russian professional environment, unconventional resumes are more likely to be distrusted than with interest. It is very likely that your attempts to veil a long absence of work will be noticed and interpreted not in your favor.
It is much more reasonable to use a traditional resume, but edited so that it is clear: despite the break in work, you remained a good specialist, or maybe even improved your qualifications.
The main thing is to stay fit
Recruiters unanimously advise: when compiling a resume, be honest. Do not compose fables, do not invent the names of non-existent LLCs or ZAOs in which you allegedly worked without registration. It is unlikely that cheating will contribute to your career growth: a lie will open sooner or later.
Better think about it: how can what you did, until you worked, play into your hands? Perhaps, in parallel with caring for a child, did you manage to get a second higher education or tighten up English? Or, while your work book was resting, attending courses or training in a specialty? Perhaps you worked as a freelancer, mastered new computer programs, or at least regularly read professional periodicals?
Be sure to include your achievements in the absence of work in the resume, and if possible, attach a portfolio of completed work. Recommendations from former colleagues or companies for which you worked as a freelancer (if any) are not superfluous.
In a cover letter, explain the reason for the career break. Be sure to clarify that now your problems have been resolved and you are ready to give yourself completely to work: your grandmother looks after the child, and the repair in the apartment that has absorbed all your time has been successfully completed.
The reasons are good and not very
What are the reasons for a break in seniority recruiters tend to regard as respectful? According to a survey by the Superjob.ru Research Center, 16% of recruitment managers consider family events such as having a baby, moving to a new place of residence, illness of relatives, etc.
Another 9% of HR specialists are sure that a serious reason for choosing a job can be a good reason for a long “downtime”: for example, the candidate did not want to scatter on uninteresting projects, but purposefully looked for a decent offer. But such an explanation will not always satisfy the recruiter: if you haven’t been working for several years, then the words “I haven’t come across an interesting job” will most likely cause confusion in your opponent. In turn, 7% of recruitment managers believe that the best explanation for the break in seniority is study or advanced training.
As for such explanations as “I decided to become a downshifter,” “there was no need for money,” “I tried to open my own business, but it didn’t work out,” we need to be careful with them. A specialist who "just rested" for several months, or even years, the recruiter may consider a bummer who does not have sufficient internal motivation.
Interview: breaking stereotypes
Finally, your resume was noticed and invited you for an interview. Now the main thing is not only to clearly explain to the recruiter and potential boss the reasons for the break in work, but also to demonstrate that you have not lagged behind life professionally. Remember: you must destroy the possible stereotype of your unsuitability.
Prepare for the meeting, having studied all the available information about the company, practice your self-presentation. Show off your knowledge of the latest market trends, refer to the latest changes in legislation, mention authoritative names in your professional environment, in a word, during the interview you should look and feel like a real pro. Then success will be on your side.
If you are unlucky ...
It is possible that you will not be able to quickly find a job after a long break. The reasons may be different. It is possible that you actually relaxed a bit without the daily office fuss. Or your explanations about the reasons for the break will cause distrust among recruiters. Or maybe you are not lucky. Analyze the situation and adjust your behavior. Ask for help from friends, relatives or former co-workers - let family and professional relations do you a good service. Be prepared to lower your salary claims somewhat or even apply for a position lower than the one you once left. You should not take this as a drama: as a rule, a good specialist quickly makes up for lost time - both in career and in material terms.
Comments
Post a Comment