Parents Returning to Work

Parents returning to work will likely have gaps in their work history that, at some point, can start to raise questions in the minds of employers. The length of time you have before an employment gap becomes an issue really depends on your industry. The more high tech and fast paced your industry is, the sooner gaps in your work history can become a concern for employers.

In general, employment gaps that are recent and longer than six months can become a concern. Gaps that are in the past and less than six months long tend to be less of a concern for employers.

Gaps in employment history can raise a few questions in the minds of employers such as:

• Are you dedicated to your work?
  
• Do you have personal issues that will interfere with your ability to do the job?
  
• Are your technical skills current?
  
• Are you aware of important new industry trends and developments?
  
• Will you struggle with the adjustment of returning to a regular work schedule?
  
• How long will it take for you to get up to speed?
  
• What were you doing during while you were out of work?

Parents returning to work can use a few simple techniques you can use to minimize the impact of a current gap in your work history.

On Your Resume:
A combination resume is usually the best resume format for parents returning to work. Highlight your relevant skills first, then list your professional experience. List any dates on the right side of the page. People who are quickly reading a resume see what is on the left side of the page first, so the dates won't be the first thing they notice.

When you note your dates of employment, avoid including months. For most people, omitting months minimizes the appearance of work history gaps on your resume without raising concerns in the minds of employers. Unless your relevant experience is more than ten years old, do not omit years from the dates in your work history. Omitting years from your work history is almost never helpful. It often causes employers to think your experience is more out of date than is actually is, and this practice raises too many questions in the minds of employers.

Get active in your industry. If you've been out of work for a while, and you haven't been active in your industry, find a way to get active. If you have been doing volunteer work, freelancing or taking courses that are relevant to your industry, you can bring that experience to the top of your resume to minimize gaps.

In an Interview:
Be ready with a confident answer to any questions about the reason for the gap in your work history. Be sure to mention anything you've done recently that is industry related, and be positive about your suitability for the job. Consider the reason for the employer's concern about your work history (see the list above) and provide answers to assure the employer that those concerns are unfounded.

For example: "Yes, I did decide to focus on personal commitments. In that time I also completed two business management courses at ABC School of Business and completed three freelance projects for DEF Company. Based on my five years of professional experience at XYZ Company, as well as my recent studies and freelance work, I'm confident that my skills are a good match for your needs."

Parents returning to work will need to be prepared to explain any gaps in their work history. Be confident and positive. Build a simple, straightforward response that explains your gap and then focus on demonstrating all of the reasons why you are a great fit for the job.