There is not a single person who has not had SOME gaps in their work history. Anyone who says differently is someone who has forgotten their beginnings or doesn’t want to talk about their employment gaps.
If you, as a job seeker, wants to come to terms with these gaps, what are you to do?
My advice, as a career coach is to write out what you have done recently while being unemployed. What you are doing now is a measure of what your values and interests are. For example, if you loafed, where did you do your loafing? What were the active things you did? If you loafed and did a lot of reading, baking, driving, cleaning, hanging out, etc.; these are still SKILLS.
Look for signs in periods of unemployment that have a pattern. Did you decide you needed an immediate vacation? Do you always want to take a vacation or take time off when you are unemployed?
Ask yourself why.
There is usually an answer as to why you exhibit the same behavior pattern when unemployed. Look more carefully into your behavior.
When you, as a job seeker, find answers to your job holding behaviors and job losing behaviors, you are still using SKILLS. The trick is to define what they are even after losing a job.
For example; If you used your unemployment gaps to start a new business, but it failed, you can still be known as someone who is not afraid of taking risks. You can be understood and know yourself better, by having failed, and someone who is not ashamed about it. Many employers will sympathize with you. Failing and learning from ALL EXPERIENCES is a skill.
Certified Career & Job Transition Coach
Graduate of John F. Kennedy University Career Development Certificate Progam