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Thread: How do I explain gap in employment?

  1. #1
    PhillyDancer1982
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    Default How do I explain gap in employment?

    OK I graduated college in December 2005. I'm currently trying to find a regular job in my field, which is mathematics/finance. My resume sucks. I mean, it's professional looking and written well with good grammar and all, but the content lacks any job experience with any real substance at all. I wasn't able to find a field-relevant job or even a goddam internship. That's the whole reason I turned to dancing. I've been dancing for a little over a year now, and still am.

    Here's my question: How do I explain to employers what I've been doing from December to now? Other threads on this site basically said that it's best to leave a dancing job off one's resume altogether. I understand, since some employers might badly judge dancers, but if I do this, I have this huge employment gap from November 2004 to April 2006. Because I didn't graduate college until December 2005, I guess I could bullshit and say that the reason I didn't work was because I was busy with school(that's not true; I took off a year from college from September 2004 to May 2005, but they don't have to know this). But then what do I say to explain what I did after college? At this point, playing the pity card and telling them about my recent family problems/my mom's death as an excuse for "taking time off from jobsearching" sounds like the best idea...and it's not a very good idea.

    I'm wondering if I should tell them where I work, but lie and say that I'm a waitress or bartender? Do you think that maybe I could ask one of my managers to go along with this, and "verify" me as a waitress/bartender if employers start calling to check references? I've been a loyal responsible employee to my club, and am reminded/complimented of this by the managers, so do you think they might be willing to do this for me? Help! I don't know what to do about my resume.

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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    1) You could get away with saying you focused on school
    2) Organizations on/off campus
    3) Community service. If you dont do it, start now...







    Some Douchebag: "[Pimp C] 12:43 am: its true we got to stick together the black people on SW CK you is teh condoleeza of SW"


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    Featured Member lunchbox's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    Quote Originally Posted by PhillyDancer1982
    I'm wondering if I should tell them where I work, but lie and say that I'm a waitress or bartender? Do you think that maybe I could ask one of my managers to go along with this, and "verify" me as a waitress/bartender if employers start calling to check references? I've been a loyal responsible employee to my club, and am reminded/complimented of this by the managers, so do you think they might be willing to do this for me?
    No. what if someone answers the phone that is not in te loop. What if they hamstring you becuase they don't want to lose a good employee.

    Honestly that's not a very big gap, just tell them you've been lookingfor the right job.

  4. #4
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    You were travelling. Just think of several trips you've been on, and talk about those when they ask you about it. People like travel, and right after graduation is a good time to do it.

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    given your choice of 'straight' profession, there is absolutely no way that I would ever consider listing exotic dancer on your resume ! You're better off thinking up any other reason i.e. travel, family etc. to explain the few months off.

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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    Quote Originally Posted by PhillyDancer1982
    OK I graduated college in December 2005. I'm currently trying to find a regular job in my field, which is mathematics/finance. My resume sucks. I mean, it's professional looking and written well with good grammar and all, but the content lacks any job experience with any real substance at all. I wasn't able to find a field-relevant job or even a goddam internship. That's the whole reason I turned to dancing. I've been dancing for a little over a year now, and still am.
    First off, I'm a male. But I work in the Finance field. While lower-level accounting jobs are plentiful, good-paying jobs are hard to get, as they always are. Finance, depending on what you are actually doing, can be a lot more about presentation than substance. So not having a "pedigree" (very impressive resume and work/intern experience) is going to be a major hinderance. (Imagine trying to get a job on Wall Street without an Ivy League degree--very difficult, but not completely impossible.)

    If you have absolutely nothing to go on, try one of the lower-level accounting jobs. Work hard, work smart, try to get promoted and in a year or two try to find something better.
    Quote Originally Posted by PhillyDancer1982
    Here's my question: How do I explain to employers what I've been doing from December to now? Other threads on this site basically said that it's best to leave a dancing job off one's resume altogether. I understand, since some employers might badly judge dancers, but if I do this, I have this huge employment gap from November 2004 to April 2006.
    Putting your stripping career on a resume is going to kill any chance of landing an interview. It's not something most respect.

    Jobs in Finance tend to be higher paying, but they often also entail LONG hours. I mean 60 hours a week isn't out of the question, depending on what you do. Plus employers like to see workaholics--highly driven people willing to work those long hours and do what it takes to get the job done. So an employment gap of 6 months or longer is going to be very, very bad.
    Quote Originally Posted by PhillyDancer1982
    I'm wondering if I should tell them where I work, but lie and say that I'm a waitress or bartender? Do you think that maybe I could ask one of my managers to go along with this, and "verify" me as a waitress/bartender if employers start calling to check references? I've been a loyal responsible employee to my club, and am reminded/complimented of this by the managers, so do you think they might be willing to do this for me? Help! I don't know what to do about my resume.
    Maybe you could get a part-time job as a waitress or bartender so you wouldn't have to lie should they verify your employment? Lying is always bad. Don't volunteer more information than you have to. But don't lie.

    Also, as Melonie said, travel is a good excuse. Sometimes recent college grads need to decompress and travel for a while. Your family issues can certainly be used as an excuse.

    Right now I would highly recommend that you contact a temporary service or placement agency/search firm that specializes in Accounting and Finance jobs. There are many companies out there that may be willing to give you a shot, but would like to see how you perform first. A temp-to-hire Accounting or Finance position through a temp agency provides a "cover your ass" way for companies to see how you perform before going through the time and expense of the hiring process.

    I suggest that because you didn't mention going to a Temp agency already. If you already have, then ignore my suggestion.

    Also, get on Monster.com, and all the other job boards. Your college probably has a job center and database for you to submit your resume to, if you haven't already.

    Getting a job is a full time job. It is a lot of hard work, and can be expensive (for a man 2 suits for interviews can cost $800 or more). I'm sure you will find after you get a job that getting the job was harder than actually doing the job.

    Plus, work on your interview skills and learn how to sell yourself. Let me know if you want more pointers in this area.

    Also, be persistent. Call companies and ask them if they got your resume. Try to deal with hiring managers directly (avoid HR--they are typically female and, no offense to females here, women add a lot more BS and formality than they should). Send your resume to hiring managers, ask what they are looking for, and see if you can arrange an interview. Also, check your college alumni association and see if you can call any people that work in your field and get their advice and info about any job openings they know of in their companies (many job openings are "unposted"). Aggressiveness and persistence are qualities that many professionals admire.

    There is a ton more I can say about this. But most of all: GOOD LUCK!

  7. #7
    God/dess Bridgette's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    You graduated college in December 2005. It's now 4 months later. NO BIG DEAL. You took a little time to travel and gain some worldly experience before focusing full-force on the career goals. You are now fully focused. No further explanation needed. DO NOT ACT ASHAMED OR UNCOMFORTABLE WITH YOUR BRIEF GAP, instead, make it sound positive - something that gives you depth.

    If they ask what kind of travel, name some places. You've been somewhere, right? If not, just lie and say you went to country X - and get some info about that country so you look like you know what you're talking about if asked. Most likely though, the biggest question you'll be asked is something extremely general like "how'd you like it?"

    Job hunting is basically selling yourself. Dancing is basically selling yourself. You can do this. Focus on your assets and abilities and spin any potential negatives into something positive. Ie, you may not have a lot of job experience but you are a quick learner, self-motivated and hard-working, AND you are someone fresh that company X can train the way THEY want. And yes that is a positive. Etc.

    Also, you can make ANYTHING sound relevant if you spin it right. Think of all your past job experience and everything you did there, and how you can relate it to the type of job you're going for. If you were a waitress, you have customer service and sales experience (yes, waitressing is also considered sales - would you like anything from the bar, desert?), AND multi-tasking skills (if juggling 5 tables at once isn't multi-tasking, I don't know what is).

    I can write a helluva resume

    We seem to be getting a fair number of these questions. Perhaps a lil stripper resume-writing thread is in order?


    Edit: I agree with above poster that temp agencies can be an excellent source for first jobs. They can help you gain experience and most likely get into something faster than applying to companies directly. Apply to several agencies, take their tests (the more times you take those tests, the better your scores get, the better your job options get), and go on interviews. Interviewing helps you get better at that too. Often the agencies will give you pointers on how to sharpen up your resume if you ask, also. It's in their best interest, since you represent their company and the better you look, the better they look - not to mention the fact the better your resume, the better your chances of getting a job, which means commission for them. Good luck!
    Last edited by Bridgette; 04-10-2006 at 10:50 PM.

    Quote Originally Posted by pheno View Post
    When you lead a nontraditional life don't try to measure it with traditional milestones.

  8. #8
    PhillyDancer1982
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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    Thanks to everyone for the advice.

    OK so I will leave stripping off my resume. The idea about bullshitting travel stories sounds like a good idea, even though I'm somewhat morally opposed to lying. (I mean, if I wanted to lie on a resume/interview, I'd lie about having the good job experience that I don't have!) Turns out, that I DID do a lot of travelling during college, maybe I can use some of those experiences and lie by saying I went to those countries after college ended?

    As far as volunteer work goes, I am currently helping my roommate/friend with political volunteering. He is actively involved with the Democrat primary elections for congressmen. I haven't done very much at all, but I did do some canvassing, will do more of it next Saturday, and have attended a few "Philly for Change" group meetings. I was discussing my resume situation with a regular customer who works in finance, and I told him about my political volunteer work, but he told me that a Democrat association is BAD because in Wilmington, Delaware(the location of his work & many other finance companies) most employers are politically very conservative. So should I be vague about my political affiliation? Which is worse, having volunteer experience for the wrong side, or having no recent volunteer/work experience at all?

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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    Quote Originally Posted by PhillyDancer1982
    So should I be vague about my political affiliation? Which is worse, having volunteer experience for the wrong side, or having no recent volunteer/work experience at all?
    These are very polarized times, politically speaking. As with other things, politics are better left unsaid. I wouldn't mention anything about being a Democrat--particularly if you plan to work in Finance--because everything the Democratic Party stands for (high taxes, wealth redistribution) is antithetical to the nature of Finance, which is money. You aren't going to get very far advocating that the government should confiscate more of the money from the people you work for!

    When people think about volunteer work, they are thinking more along the lines of feeding the homeless, building houses for people who don't want to work to support themselves, and other social, charitable ideals. Not politics. So I wouldn't even mention it at all.

    The travel lie is one that is going to be difficult to disprove, if not impossible. So it's a good one.

    If you get a temp job you CAN possibly get some relevant work experience. Otherwise you are unhireable in the industry. A college degree is really a dime-a-dozen these days.

    Don't rule out the possibility that you will have to take a job in a non-Finance field, whether you like it or not. A job is better than no job.

    Also, never underestimate the importance of networking. Keep a notebook and write down the name, company, position, and phone number of everyone you talk to or meet. You never know when you'll need to call on them again one day.

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    Featured Member maximvsv's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    Don't go the politics route.

    Lying about travel sounds good.

    Other good things to lie about are: started writing a book; tried to indulge a hobby while you had the opportunity because if the job seach worked out, you wouldn't have time to do the 'big things' involved in it; went to some other place to figure out their job market but didn't like it for some specific reason.

    There are books on the subject, too, though I don't know any titles to throw your way.

    Depending on the job, you could take over the interview and make it all about whether you ought to work for them. It's not an easy task, but it can be done.

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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    its only 4 months?

    shouldnt be too hard.

  12. #12
    PhillyDancer1982
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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    But the politics thing is important to me. It's all I have. Basically I'm using Microsoft Access to do database analysis and statistics. That is the only thing relevant to math, other than PAST years of tutoring, which as a job was only like 2hrs a week under the table so it's not much more of a job than baby-sitting. I want to emphasise the SKILLS used in it. Also I'm going to be doing office work for the American Cancer Society too.

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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    Philly, just go to Accountemps and get some real experience. Why waste your time fiddling around with the American Cancer Society? Go ahead if you want. It's your life and your career to throw away.

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    Featured Member maximvsv's Avatar
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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    The database compliation and statistical analysis stuff should be fine, it's the canvassing that people would have an opinion on. Canvassing implies agenda advocacy, while having a technical role implies professional competence.

  15. #15
    PhillyDancer1982
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    Default Re: How do I explain gap in employment?

    Quote Originally Posted by dudeski
    Philly, just go to Accountemps and get some real experience. Why waste your time fiddling around with the American Cancer Society? Go ahead if you want. It's your life and your career to throw away.
    The only reason I suggested American Cancer Society for myself, is to get experience. Not just experience, but people on numerous job-related forums(yes, I frequent a lot of these types of sites!! LOL) told me that "good Samaritan" volunteer work(as in, the kind that helps others; unlike political volunteering) looks good if you have gaps in employment or meaningless jobs. By the way, I tried temping before, and they demanded full-time hours at a very small wage, which basically made it very hard to make any money. And most temp agencies didn't even accept me because I didn't have experience. I don't want to work full-time hours at a barely-above-min-wage data entry "monkey work" job...all this will do is eat up all my daytime hours that I could be spending by applying/jobsearching for a better job. I will try Accountemps, though, thank you for that suggestion. I do not know how far I will get, though, because I have taken NO accounting courses in my math degree and I don't have any experience. But hey, it's worth a shot, so thanks.

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