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Are we done with the CV gap taboo?
- Pigalowda 4y agoProbably not. Anecdotally, the websites I used recently for a job change forced me to fill in even short gaps with explanations before I could progress through the document packet. Maybe if there were more humans in the loop there would be less emphasis. No one during an interview asked for explanation of these. Perhaps they’re just caught by the software before it becomes “problematic”. Gap fascism is baked into the system.
- Akronymus 4y agoIf you are in europe, I'd highly recommend using the europass. IME one of the best tools for making CV's.
- DoingIsLearning 4y agoHard disagree. I am a very strong supporter of EU wide initiatives but this one is misguided. - You cannot have a single CV template for all professional fields. - The template is beyond verbose and low density, it takes forever to parse relevant info, you have to assume HR or hiring managers will reasonably skim through for 10 to 15 seconds before making a first pass decision. - Too many sections might make sense for Writer/Marketing/Management/Sales but are useless for technical work, as an e.g. I can speak 6 languages at a confortable level yet it has never been relevant in any Hiring process for my technical roles, it is a waste of space (and reader attention) to have a quarter of a page on language skills. Personally I think something like ModernCV is a much better starting point for a technical CV.
- Akronymus 4y agoYes, obviously it isn't a one size fits all solution. But I was specifically talking about using it to create one. Multiple times I created it via the europass website, exported it as a word and edited that to cut down on the boilerplate. But yeah, I definitely can see alternatives being more reasonable nowadays. ModernCV absolutely seems like a tool worth learning.
- Oxidation 4y agoRegister a company, say you did freelance consulting work in the gap. Can't disclose details due to NDAs, but it's fascinatingly close to the core competencies of the place you're applying to.
- SahAssar 4y agoIsn't that pretty much fraud?
- clericbob 4y agoIsn't the practice of interviewing full of fraud on the part of interviewers already? Things like the dreaded '10 years experience in a 2 year old language' in programmer listings? Why shouldn't interviewees use whatever means they can, especially largely untraceable ones like this example, to even the field? Plus, if you've done any work for friends or other contacts in the meantime, you can just draw up an informal NDA after the fact and then it's not even a lie.
- SahAssar 4y agoThe '10 years experience in a 2 year old language' is an unrealistic whishlist, just like an applicant might have a (probably more realistic) wishlist for compensation or something else. I expect both parties to be truthful about the facts, and either party clearly lying about facts is fraud.
- galleywest200 4y agoI mean if you spent the time education yourself or taking classes or anything on improvement then you were doing what you said, minus a physical NDA.
- SahAssar 4y agoExperience working in an area is different from studying it. Also the parent comment suggests to say that the experience was in "fascinatingly close to the core competencies of the place you're applying to", that's clearly not just polishing the truth.
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- throwayyy479087 4y agoMy friend just got hired into a manager role - when asked about what he did during his gap, he said "Vibed." Serious company, too - big NYC construction firm. I think it's mostly if not totally gone.
- kennyloginz 4y agoI have been struggling with this due to returning to the workforce after being out from disability. I don’t want to lie and make up LLCs, but also don’t feel like explaining the details is appropriate. Meanwhile I have been keeping up with self learning ( CCNA / Security + / ITIL ), but the gap just keeps growing. I am only looking for entry level support / NoC / SoC positions, but haven’t had any luck for years. Honestly looking for advice.