By Casey Kirkeby, Strategy Consultant
Nearly half of professionals changed their job last year. The other half either stayed where they were, went part-time, or took a leave of absence from the workforce altogether citing a variety of reasons. Where does that leave employers? They need people and they need them now!
According to this 2019 SHRM article about evaluating employment gaps, Peter Yang, CEO and co-founder of ResumeGo, a résumé-writing service, was quoted as saying, “Those with gaps in their work history run the risk of being seen as lazy or unfocused with their careers, and not as an in-demand asset in the eyes of potential employers.” After 3 years and a Pandemic, you don’t have to be embarrassed or sheepish about it as much. More than ever, people have taken breaks to either focus on family or mental health.
Some hiring and résumé experts say the current labor shortage, as well as the pandemic’s personal toll on workers, has made recruiters more receptive to applicants with gaps in employment. A recent survey by LinkedIn found that “nearly two-thirds (62%) of employees have taken a break at some point in their professional career, and just over a third (35%), mostly women, would like to take a career break in the future.”
My advice if you are looking for a job in the current market? Don’t be afraid to tell the truth about your work history. The market is ripe for the picking and there are plenty of jobs to choose from, so shine like you never have before, because employers want talented people just like you! Make it a choice you feel good about as you advance forward in your working (and sometime not working) life.
I’d also like to plug my workplace because we are hiring and here are our current job postings RISQ Consulting Job Posts. Happy Hunting!
Article: https://www.morningbrew.com/hr/stories/2022/03/04/don-t-mind-the-career-gap
