Confused and Losing Hope...
Hello..I'm just looking for some possible suggestions, comments or advice. I have 2 degrees in Healthcare with plenty of work experience and knowledge. I have been actively applying for positions online and emailing my resume for several months now and getting average responses..obviously I have the qualifications these employers are looking for, as I've had quite a few phone interviews as well as face to face interviews..and every one has responded with "we decided to go with another candidate" or "you don't have the qualifications we're looking for". So then I think, why did they choose to interview me at all. Because of "life" circumstances, I have not worked since 2007..not because I chose not to. I have no criminal record or nothing else that would hinder employment, except for the large gap in history. I'm currently trying to get involved with some volunteer work to be able to build to my resume, hoping that might help in some manner. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Don't lose hope! With a large gap like that in employment it would knock you down the rungs a bit but I think you have the right idea with volunteer work. I bet proving that you are a hard worker with the volunteer positions would increase your chances. Don't lose hope!
Yes that time gap is considered the gap of employment death by many places. They do and will assume that any skill set that is not current or recent is unusable. I've had something similar in the past but I did work for myself during the span and helped to raise a child. Later on I gapped for almost 3 years due to being a primary caregiver for an elderly parent that made holding down a job something that almost killed me, couldn't handle caregiving, 100 mile drive a day to work and normally 2-4 hours of sleep a night for very long. If you can somehow find creative ways to fill the time gap that will certainly make you more desirable as a potential employee. Did you do anything volunteer or church related on a repeated basis during that time? Did you take care of children at the time, run a household? Is there anything that you learned, did you get any certificates during that time? Your volunteer work now will help you on the resume and might actually help to land you a job, at least that is the ideal. Do not give up as it's not that easy out there with or without large employment gaps. Last advice I might give is to network the people you know and see if perhaps someone can help you get a foot back into healthcare again. The good thing here is that you're at least getting responses, there are so many out there who have give up due to lack of them. Good luck in finding something in your line of work!