AARP Member
Offline 
Background
Name: Robert
Location:
WELLESLEY, Massachusetts
United States
WELLESLEY, Massachusetts
United States
School:
Rutgers College
University of Pittsburgh
Rutgers College
University of Pittsburgh
Work:
U.S. Army - Field Artillery
Johnson & Johnson
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
L.L. Bean
Digital Equipment
New England Life
Wm. M. Mercer Consulting
Coopers & Lybrand Consulting
RetirementJobs.com
U.S. Army - Field Artillery
Johnson & Johnson
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
L.L. Bean
Digital Equipment
New England Life
Wm. M. Mercer Consulting
Coopers & Lybrand Consulting
RetirementJobs.com
Hometown(s):
Wilkes Barre, PA
Plainfield, NJ
Oak Park, IL
Brunswick, ME
Bedford, NH
Boston, MA
Wellesley, MA
Wilkes Barre, PA
Plainfield, NJ
Oak Park, IL
Brunswick, ME
Bedford, NH
Boston, MA
Wellesley, MA
Quote:
"Well, I guess every form of refuge has its price". (The Eagles - "Lyin' Eyes" 1975)
"Well, I guess every form of refuge has its price". (The Eagles - "Lyin' Eyes" 1975)
Working at 50+"Holes in My Resume"
Regular visitors to AARP.org’s Money and Work channel may be aware of my “Ask Bob about Jobs” column. You can submit your work-related questions directly to me. Several questions are selected each week to be answered in the column in the hope that the questions and answers are of value to the 50+ reader. Occasionally, I will also answer questions here in my Journal.
Q: I’m currently employed but am looking for a new job. I’m concerned because I have two “holes” in my resume, each about four to six months long, when I was caring for an elderly relative. When I go online, many employers say they want only “solid” resumes and won’t consider any that have any gaps. I’ve tried to explain that I was “providing volunteer home health care”. Is there anything else I can do? -Matthew, Calif.
A: Matthew, it is becoming increasingly common to have job seekers with “holes” in their resume related to personal obligations – some far longer than four to six months. Does it make any sense for an employer to exclude a qualified candidate because they spent time caring for a family member? Absolutely not! Is there anything else you can do? Yes! Here are several ideas:
- Walk Away From Employers Demanding “Solid” Resumes –Move on to the next possible employer. There isn’t much else to do. I’m actually pretty surprised that this has been a problem for you with “many employers”. The majority of employers I deal with don’t have such expectations. They understand the world and workers’ obligations are changing.
- Enlightened Employers - Look for more enlightened employers including those on the AARP National Employer Team or RetirementJobs.com’s Age Friendly Certified Employers. Do a job search on AARP.org. Also, do a Google search on your city or town and “best employers” – you’ll often find a list of good employers.
- Resume Revision – It is often not necessary to put the month and year of employment on your work history. Most employers are satisfied with just the year. Is this deceptive? I don’t believe so. Your resume is not about accounting for where you’ve been every day of your life – it’s to describe your capabilities and qualifications. Your work history is simply a framework to explain the jobs and duties you’ve held. If an employer requires an accounting of every month, enter those time periods as if they were jobs and state “Homecare assistance to elderly family member”. Consider having an acquaintance or family member look at your resume to see if it needs a general “tune up”.
- Don’t Be Defensive or Awkward – Could you possibly be making a bigger issue of this than it really is? Your resume “holes” should be a point of pride, not a shortcoming. I encourage you to downplay in every possible way these minor interruptions in your employment history. Sell your capabilities and achievements and don’t dwell on your “dates of employment.”
Best wishes with your search.
- Bob Skladany
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