Handling Employment Gaps

04/17/2012

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In this economy, employment gaps can be a difficult obstacle to confront.  The following are some tips about handling such gaps.

Keep active.  It is easier to minimize the appearance of any gap if you stay active.  These are some examples of how you can do that:
  1. Work With Your Current Employer, if possible.  While your current employer may not be able to afford you in a full time capacity, perhaps your employer has a part-time position, consulting work, or periodic assignments that you can do until you land your next job.
  2. Volunteer.  Challenging and appropriate volunteer work can help to fill the gaps in your resume.  Make sure the type of work develops your skill sets and your networks.  For instance, serving as president of a board is likely more beneficial to your resume and career than other service opportunities.
  3. Create a Small Business.  Become a consultant using your skills; make and market goods (instead of buying from Etsy, become a vendor); design an iPhone application; develop marketing materials for businesses; or cater.  The sky is the limit.
  4. Education.  Take courses, go back to school, and keep your skills current.

Network.  It is a good idea to maintain your professional contacts through an employment gap.  People move, find new jobs, and retire.  You do not want to lose contact with your best references and contacts.  One way to maintain your network is to stay active in professional associations.  Do not stop at membership, though, attend meetings and conferences and take advantage of other opportunities that the association offers.

Spending time, keeping your skills, education, and network active helps keep your resume active and can be invaluable in finding the next position.
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Chicago May Ban Discrimination Based on Unemployment or Bad Credit

03/07/2012

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While Illinois law already forbids an employer from basing hiring, promotion, and other employment discussions on an employee or job applicant's credit history, Chicago is considering a new law that would go further.

Alderman Pawar’s bill would mirror the enacted Illinois law to restrict credit checks in employment, but goes further by allowing Chicago residents to file a formal complaint with the city Human Rights Commission if a violation of the law occurs (in addition to the private right of action in the state bill.)
The Chicago bill also bans discrimination against the long-term unemployed.  If passed, it would give Chicago job applicants the right to file a complaint with the Chicago Human Rights Commission as well.  This law would put an end to the vicious cycle where the longer an employee is out of work, the harder it is to to find new work.

The proposed law is set for a full counsel vote later this month, on March 14, 2012. 

See the Committee on Human Relations February 16, 2012 summary report here.
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Resume Tips

12/12/2011

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With high levels of unemployment, you need to make sure that your applications stand out from the crowd - in a good way - not because of a glaring problem.  Be sure to avoid these issues:

1.  Honest Content.  You may have an employment gap.  You may have some other concern.  Regardless, you should be honest about your background and experience.  Do not overstate your qualifications or positions.

2.  Spelling & Grammatical Errors.  Have a friend proof read your resume!  Asking a friend to review your resume means you are less likely to have spelling or grammatical errors.  Employers only have moments to make determinations about you and will make snap decisions based on these errors.

3.  Visually Complicated.  You want to limit the number fonts you use, multiple sizes of fonts, borders, or long blocks of texts.  Make sure that your resume appears professional.  Use standard colors for your ink and paper.

4.  Focus Content.  Not only does the layout help convey information quickly, but the content needs to be focused so that employers can gather the important information first. Employers pour over numerous applications and you need the important information to stand out quickly.

5.  Too General.  Not personalizing your resume for each employer can  reduce your changes of getting the job. Research the employer and reference goals and values that are important to that employer.  This research shows the prospective employer that you took the time and effort to focus on the particular position.
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City of Chicago Ordinance Proposal

11/30/2011

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Recently, Alderman Ameya Pawaran sponsored amendment to the City of Chicago Ordinance. This amendment would create two key changes:

(1) It would prevent employers from using credit check results to deny a person employment.

(2) The amendment also would ban discrimination against the unemployed. If you have experienced this type of discrimination, and are willing to share your experience, contact Nat Lippert at nlippert@unitehere.org to help support this amendment.

The amendment can be found here:
http://chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=972504&GUID=FE6BCD20-7A42-4271-B167-74EA27164DCA&Options=Advanced&Search=
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