How do you get employers to not judge you're willingness to work today rather than looking at your past employment?
As a single mother of young kids with no support I often had to fit my employment around my children's schedules. I didn't live close to town so daycare wasn't an option so I either relied on those in my community and at times they couldn't keep my children during my flexible schedule I agreed to with my employer at the time I was hired. The employers would get frustrated and would threatened to fire me if I couldn't continue to be flexible so it left me with finding another employment that I hoped would work for my children's schedules. I recently got married and my childern are old enough now to take care of themselves for the most part. Since a major surgery almost two years ago job hunting has been rough due to my resume showing short employment periods and unemployment gaps. I have several types of experience from customer service, sales, transportation dispatcher, quality assurance, shipping and receiving, packer, to health care and several more experiences; however my past employment record has made getting a job difficult. So how do I get past my lack of a steady job history to a permit employment that I can look forward to retiring from?
Only thing you can do really is hope for an interview, at which point you can explain the (previous) situation(s), and HOPE that they put some faith in you and/or have empathy for any such previous situation.
(SOME employers have a spot on their application for such things, but even then, any explanation is all too often over-looked. Employers are often interested only in the hard facts on paper, not in any personal hardships, or situation which may have been a factor )
The sad truth is, many employers are looking for someone more worried about their job or career, than... well ANYTHING else. They know those are the type of relentless workaholics that no matter WHAT is or has happend in their personal lives, always put the employment as the priority.
And all too often in this impersonal world of wor and careers, the employer is worried (often SOLELY) about gaining an asset (you) and not a liability (any person and/or/with any personal problem(s) that might effect job performance, or cost them $ or company performance etc. Due to missed work etc.)
Sad but true.
Alternatively, I have heard of people filling employment gaps by falsifying their resume. (Fill the gap with fake emoyment & have a friend or family member act as the employment contact.)
(I personally would not reccomend such a thing, though if it is your only recoarse, I'd keep it very simple, and something you actually know how you do & are good at doing.)
Hi fellow jobcaser. And God bless you. The best thing to do is improve your resume. All you have to do is login to (www.bls.gov) and using your past jobs to see which one will give you the advancements that you are looking for under the job of your choice. Then look for what type of schooling may be need to move up in the job and if the job is willing to help pay back the school payments, this way you will be putting more education on your resume, which is a sign of improvement for the job of your choice and it will give you a better contract for the jobs. This should help to improve your resume.
I would go back to college online---e,g., University of Maryland, University College and obtain a pertinent degree. The program will also facilitate contacts with employers. Not too late to get an education upgrade.
One thing you can consider is not listing your jobs as individual jobs. What I mean by this and it only works if you were in the same industry for a while is to list the industry you were in with a starting date and ending date. Then list your skills and responsibilities for that industry. This also only works on your actual resume. If you have to fill out an online job app they typically want ever company listed that you worked for. But if its old enough you can still list it as an industry instead of individual jobs. For example, I am now in the construction industry trying to become a city planner, many years ago for about 11 or 12 years I worked in the food and beverage industry holding many positions from bartender to waiter to banquet manager and so on for several different hotels and restaurants but it is so old and basically irrelevant to what I do now I just list my time in the industry with positions and skills. Its on my resume as one entry the same way you would list individual jobs but it is just an industry instead. Good luck!
Hey fellow jobcaser, unfortunately your resume and its content are that a perspective employer sees first, and the content will haunt you until you hit the ground, and recreate a different you. When the opportunity finally presents itself you are going to have to really walk on water. Truth is that someone in the chain of command is taking a chance on you. My advice, come out swinging,. No doubt you understand the situation better than anyone else. Give them hell, good luck.
I too had issues when my two girls were younger and I was a single parent. Your personality and commitment to work doesn't always come across on Resumes. Have you considered working for Temporary Services such as Kelly Services or Express Personnel Services. They could be the sales rep you need to get your foot in the door. When I have worked with good Temporary services they represent the client honestly and know where you could be a good fit.
Hello, Focus on getting a job that you're comfortable with and ignore the time you raised your children. Most employees would understand and accept that. Need to find something that you can do well and create a track record.
I would explain it and be honest. I would also tell them how your situation has changed and why this will no longer be an issue. Keep it simple. I was a single Mom and sometimes they got sick or my sitter backed out and I had to call in to work. Since then, this is no longer an issue. If they do a background check they can see where you worke .
The gaps in your resume can be a problem because of the way they are sorted. I would put stay at home mom on your resume. The other answer I would give if you get a shot at speaking with someone is that you are at a different point in your life. Your situation has changed and at this time you are now not obligated to things that you were in the past. I myself would never have thought of traveling for business on a constant basis when my kids were younger but now it is an option. If they do not understand this they are very thick headed. Not saying you will not hear it, just stating my opinion.
This is what I have told employers. I am a mother before I am an employee and I did what I had to do to keep food on my table for my children, and that alone shows great strength. I don't have time to wait around for someone to give me a job, and I took the first job that was offered and went to work. Again, this shows great strength and I will not allow anybody to stop me from becoming what God intends for me to be. So far, I have had employers offering me all kinds of jobs, and matter of fact, I start my new job on August 22, Monday. I run several small business and when I step...I step high...I come in the door like a show room model...and leaving them wanting me to work for their company regardless of my age, credit history, medical history. I am not a forced to be reckoned with...I look'em straight in the eye. This year alone...I have landed jobs on the first interview...I take no prisoners. So you put on your super mom cape and hit it and through some glamour or cover girls lashes in on the side and keep it moving.