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Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?

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Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?

#51

Post by slumdev »

jobgaps wrote: post #44
slumdev wrote: post #18

> Now i feel completely healthy, refreshed, passionate and ready to rock again What did you do to get refreshed again? And can you keep this up while working 40 hours a week?

First of all it is time. Some things heal slow. I thought that for any issue 3 months is just enough. I was wrong. Second of all - medication. Takes at least six months to see any difference feel-wise and tests-wise. > And can you keep this up while working 40 hours a week? Sure. I’m as good as new.

Cool. Nobody has any right to pry into your business. But from a practical standpoint, they would just want to know that it's not going to happen again because you're taking care of yourself now. That's all.

Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?

#52

Post by jobgaps »

dougmwne wrote: post #47

First of all, I've done plenty of hiring. You should not worry about a 12 month gap. It will have a minor negative impact on getting callbacks. You might have to work slightly harder at your applications to compensate. If you're already getting calls and interviews, you've already passed through the filter since a gap is most likely to hurt you while a HR recruiter is sorting through a large pile of resumes. You can…

>>If you're already getting calls and interviews, you've already passed through the filter since a gap is most likely to hurt you while a HR recruiter is sorting through a large pile of resumes.

I get Linkedin messages most of the time since i updated my profile to conclude the last place of work.

>> Did you do any personal projects, classes or open source that can show continues professional interest and passion?

Yes i did, but it failed as it was a venture to start off a web service with other people that ended up being unenthusiastic to contribute. All i have is a HLD document, couple of modules and task boards at Gitlab. Nothing to really brag about.

Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?

#53

Post by inetknght »

bluGill wrote: post #50

"Personal reasons" or "health reasons" - if they probe farther they get into questions they are not legally allowed to ask. Just remember that the law (at least in the US) protects you from answering details - if they have been briefed at all about how to interview legally they will instantly back off that line of questioning. Try to stay at your next job for at least 2 years (5 is better) so your next resume can jus…

> Just remember that the law (at least in the US) protects you from answering details - if they have been briefed at all about how to interview legally they will instantly back off that line of questioning.

It's been my experience that interviewers do not back off of that question.

It's news to me that it's a legally protected question.

Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?

#54

Post by bluGill »

inetknght wrote: post #53
bluGill wrote: post #50

"Personal reasons" or "health reasons" - if they probe farther they get into questions they are not legally allowed to ask. Just remember that the law (at least in the US) protects you from answering details - if they have been briefed at all about how to interview legally they will instantly back off that line of questioning. Try to stay at your next job for at least 2 years (5 is better) so your next resume can jus…

> Just remember that the law (at least in the US) protects you from answering details - if they have been briefed at all about how to interview legally they will instantly back off that line of questioning. It's been my experience that interviewers do not back off of that question. It's news to me that it's a legally protected question.

See a lawyer for legal advice.

They need to be very careful about probing. Personal reasons quickly leads to family status which is illegal to ask about. Likewise health can mean a disability that they are not allowed to ask about. For both of these it is important to remember the courts will judge with hindsight - given a sensitive situation was the cause of being out of work how can the deeper probing not be an effort to find out about the situation they are not legally allowed to ask about? Thus extreme care must be used in probing farther to ensure it is clear you are not asking about anything illegal.

Bottom line: it is legal to probe but you better have a lawyer do the probing because the questions too quickly can be something it isn't legal to ask.

Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?

#55

Post by dougmwne »

jobgaps wrote: post #52
dougmwne wrote: post #47

First of all, I've done plenty of hiring. You should not worry about a 12 month gap. It will have a minor negative impact on getting callbacks. You might have to work slightly harder at your applications to compensate. If you're already getting calls and interviews, you've already passed through the filter since a gap is most likely to hurt you while a HR recruiter is sorting through a large pile of resumes. You can…

>>If you're already getting calls and interviews, you've already passed through the filter since a gap is most likely to hurt you while a HR recruiter is sorting through a large pile of resumes. I get Linkedin messages most of the time since i updated my profile to conclude the last place of work. >> Did you do any personal projects, classes or open source that can show continues professional interest and passion? Ye…

I think that venture is plenty to talk about with an HR recruiter. Is demonstrates that you were still engaged with your career and approaching it from new directions that could give you a new perspective. It might not be something to brag about, but a fine answer to "what have you been doing for the past 12 months?"

If you are getting calls off LinkedIn then you are already passing through the HR recruiter filter and the gap is not holding you back. And a hiring manager is much less likely to care about the gap and will be much more focused on evaluating your skills and your personality.

Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?

#56

Post by blaser-waffle »

motohagiography wrote: post #45

I mainly consult and contract, so 2-4months on the bench is normal. Anyone who asks is just trying to get leverage.

> Anyone who asks is just trying to get leverage.

How so? As in, "you're out of the job market for a while, so you seem sketchy, and thus I'm going to pay you less"?

Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?

#57

Post by austincheney »

dougmwne wrote: post #47

First of all, I've done plenty of hiring. You should not worry about a 12 month gap. It will have a minor negative impact on getting callbacks. You might have to work slightly harder at your applications to compensate. If you're already getting calls and interviews, you've already passed through the filter since a gap is most likely to hurt you while a HR recruiter is sorting through a large pile of resumes. You can…

To what degree does Army Reserve experience hurt? I have a lot of military time that overlaps with my years of employment as a corporate software developer and am considering taking it off my resume in the future to see if there is an uptick in interest on my resume.

Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?

#60

Post by crtlaltdel »

I echo folks in this thread who suggest being honest. In my opinion it says a lot about you and how you communicate, as well as a lot about how the org thinks about their employees. i mean, you essentially took a sabbatical (regardless of the reasons) after more than 5 years in your career. individuals may quibble about the length-before-break, but several companies have a sabbatical-like perk built into their comp plan.
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