How to explain gaps in resume
What should I say to explain the when I was: considering graduate school, looking for work, improving my health, ect.
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How big are the gaps? Can you reasonably state that it took awhile to find the "right" position? Did you do some volunteer work/travel/pretend consulting (i.e. helping out your friends or family with minor tasks)? 3-6 months to find another job isn't unusual anymore, even for experienced hires...
Thanks, that explains it.
gaps in employment for resume (Originally Posted: 05/22/2010)
If there are gaps in my resume due to working "under the table" or helping out a family member, would you guys include those jobs as well?
On a resumé, you're not supposed to put EVERYTHING you have done down. Try and stay relevant to the job you're applying for. It's often the case that gaps will be present, and sometimes recruiters ask about them personally if they have any questions. In situations like this, try and pitch the 'under the table' work as a key process in your leadership development. That always works!
This usually isn't a big deal, just make sure you have a good explanation and don't lie. Try to spin it as positive but if you have an otherwise solid resume I doubt they will spend much time on it.
Employment Gap (Originally Posted: 06/17/2010)
Hi all,
How will B-school adcomm view employment gaps?
I currently have 2 gaps on my resume -
1) I graduated a semester early from college, but didn't start until summer with the rest of my class (gap of 6 months) 2) I got laid off last summer and was out of work for 4 months
Both times, I just bummed around doing nothing. I could probably spin a story on how I traveled, took some time to re-evaluate my options etc, but truth be told I did nothing concrete.
Will this hurt my chances when applying to b-sch?
Explain the first one as a period of introspection, the last time you'd be able to think, read and do before being a working stiff. The second gap is 4 months in a killer recession, spin at as you re-evaluated your options, did some thinking and traveled.
That could work.. Thanks!
Spin it so that it was this time that helped you realise the path you wanted to take in life.
Resume Advice: Unemployment Gaps/Medical Time Off (Originally Posted: 09/25/2014)
Anyone have unemployment gaps, medical breaks, etc on their resume that managed to break into banking? How did you formulate your resume to account for these?
I just accepted an offer - Only one person ever brought up the ~2 summers I did not have work experience; and then I just explained it. I know a guy in a much worse situation due to cancer (he beat it though!) and he is doing alright with getting interviews. He just built it out like you would expect. Added an extra bullet to everything he had and it looked fine.
You got an example you can send me? I've been slammed over the phone for having a gap and told 'bankers don't have time to research your background/find a more sympathetic ear' (during a networking call) but I thought it was pretty clear from my resume why I had the gap... Not sure if adding explanations for 'gaps' is wise/causes auto-dinges?
How to explain employment gap on IB resume? (Originally Posted: 07/06/2013)
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Are you still in school now? What year?
Definitely possible to spin IMO - focus on the business aspects of your time (acting as your own agent, pitching your work to the major players in your area to try to get noticed, etc.). I think this can definitely be overcome as far as a resume gap. You might have more difficulty breaking in simply because of your age.
Yeah I'm a junior at Columbia. I was pretty altruistic/bohemian at the time so money wasn't a big thing for me (lol how things change). I started a not-for-profit recording studio to help local bands get signed since I had the equipment & wanted to hone my skill. Most I didn't charge, but two of them did get signed to major labels using demos I produced. Bad luck that they both broke up before releasing anything through their new labels, but that's the nature of the business.
I'm 24 right now (bout to turn 25), so I guess I'd be like 27 when I would be starting. Is that really that old for an IB analyst?
I'm in a similar position as you chess I will be 26/27 by the time I graduate due to some issues I'm not going to get into. I have researched the issue of being an older college graduate a good amount. I am planning on just not saying anything about my age when I am applying for internships or jobs. It is not common practice for employers to ask about age during the interview process. You will probably be able to pass for being 22-23 so I doubt it will be issue.
Now after they hire you they are required by law to ask for proof that you are eligible to work so you will have to show them your drivers license or some for of identification and your age will be revealed. Usually private information like your date of birth is kept private by the HR department and bosses and other bosses don't have access to it.
So just don' t tell anyone how old you are and you will probably be fine. If you are older because you spent the last 4 years in the military then I doubt IBs or other employers would hold it against you. Being in a band/musician is not something that is really valued or relevant in the corporate world so if it were me I wouldn't mention it or put it on my resume.
Make sure to explain how you marketed yourself and how you made any money.
Employment gap (Originally Posted: 06/22/2013)
I work at an brokerage firm in New Jersey, and I cannot stand it. I love the job itself but the bosses, "mentors" are insulting, rude, and or harrass/intimidate you. I want to leave badly, but I'm scared of what that could do to my future job prosects. Should I quit, or risk getting fired?
You're kidding, right? If you're unhappy, then obviously, you should just start searching for a new job. There's no upside in quitting your current job before you have a better idea about the next one. Just start searching -- who knows, you might even discover that other roles are either not available or else no better than your current role, in which case you'll have more information to consider your next move.
I have started searching, but my shower/commute/work/return it from 530am to 8pm at night, so I get very little time, and I am singled out at work on a regular basis. They're having a "performance review" later this week, randomly, and I do not want to get fired or I fear getting a new job could be harder.
Job hunting is never easy. The GOLDEN RULE that you should ALWAYS adhere to: don't quit your job until you have a new one. No exceptions. Lots of times, you get "asked to resign" instead of "fired". As my last BB VP told me, it takes a lot of paperwork to fire someone. If they do say they're going to let you go, ask for the chance to resign instead. Use lunch breaks and weekends to attempt to network and fake family deaths and Dr appointments to interview.
well in interviews, do you have to be honest that you were asked to leave as opposed to quitting? I know the FINRA U5 does make a distinction and so do job application sites. my supervisor has created a hostile work environment for me, harassing and embarassing me in front of people every day.
I'd be hard pressed to advise you on that... You should find someone in the HR world and run it by them. To me, quitting is quitting. Good luck boss.
Big Employment Gap -how to answer for it (Originally Posted: 03/29/2014)
deleted topic post
someone, please?
I would REALLY appreciate it if someone can give me some help on this, I know its coming.
1 year gap on my CV (Originally Posted: 04/06/2013)
Hi there,
I am looking to get feedback/help about my current situation. I left my last job in S&t last year, to relocate to a different country. Back then it seemed like a risky but understadable move (moving to a larger finance center, got several opportunities when I left). Unfortunately it didn't work out and there has been virtually no opportunity in my area for a year. I had few interviews (most of them talking to desk which didn't have any headcount anyway). I am trying to apply to different opportunities, mostly in the buyside (as I believe a sales skillset could be transferred to a different structure) but with no answer... To be honest I have tried everything (relationship management, sales, IR, sales assistant, sometimes jobs paying half of my former salary ) but I am always dinged without interview...when I manage to get a feedback, the answer is usually : no buy side experience or "you have a gap on your CV" (I am pretty much aware of that, thanks!)
Is anybody in a similar situation? I am below 30, got a Msc in Finance and decent experience and the situation is killing me!
thanks
.
lol...What do you mean by "got several oppotunities when I left?" Did you actually have job offers, or is that your prettied up way of saying that you saw job postings and sent out resumes?
Recent Graduate - How to overcome Gaps in resume (Originally Posted: 04/24/2012)
Hey guys,
so recent graduate who graduated last year, got a few interviews after graduation but didnt get an offer.
Shortly after I had to go back to my native country for months and only returned last month and have continued my job search.
I know that soon I will be competing with new graduates and employers will wonder why such a long gap in my resume and it will look bad. Not like I can explain that the reasons were beyond my control and I couldnt really do much about it.
My question is how do I try and overcome this big gap. Hard not to be discouraged at this point really.
Thanks in advance
First, tell us why you had to go back to your home country.
Tell us more about yourself if you can. (e.g. School, GPA, prior work experience)
I had to go back due to family issues, it was something that could not be avoided for me. I went to a state school, got my interest in finance pretty late(beginning of senior year) and majored in Economics and Political Science. GPA. 3.6. I had a few internships one working under an FA doing some administrative and reccomendation work. And then at a boutique investment bank working as a researcher for the wealth management department.
Ideally i want to get into the Asset Management business but really looking at all types of entry level finance work.
anything?
You have a couple month gap due to family issues that caused you to go back home - it's no big deal. If your employer asks, just be honest that you had family matters to attend to back home wherever you're from. Just keep pluging along and going at it. If you need something to try and stand out - take a class or two or study for a professional exam that would be beneficial in the long run like the CFA.
Gap in Employment After Switch from S&T to IBD (Originally Posted: 11/01/2013)
Hello everyone,
I had previously worked in the S&T department of a bank, and then decided to transfer to IBD. The S&T group had a rotation program and after one rotation (three months), I made the switch to IBD. The IBD group didn't have an immediate need, and I got a three month break in between finishing my S&T stint and starting my IBD stint. I am wondering what's the best way to represent this on my resume. I want to represent my 'total' finance experience rather that just my time in IBD for the purposes of buy-side recruiting. I'm in the class of 2012 so those three months essentially pushes me over the one-year mark, rather than just ~10 months in IBD.
If I show start date as the time when I started in S&T, I am overstating by the three months I had off. However, if I indicate a gap in my employment period, that looks a bit funny on my resume IMO...though it's the best idea I have now.
What in your opinion would be the best way to represent this? Has anybody had experiences similar to this?
Thanks in advance.
A gap for 3 months is no big deal. Especially since you have a story behind it. You switched and they didnt need you immediately, so you took 3 months to party off! In the scheme of things down the track when you have amassed your couple of years IBD experience this will be totally irrelevant.
I think you're missing his point. He wants to recruit for the buyside now, not in a couple years.
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