Showing posts with label Explaining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Explaining. Show all posts
1/29/13
Explaining Long Employment Gap From Child Raising
First of all, running the house and working at the same time are nearly the same as being a juggler in a carnival. If you're a new mother and you can't just set aside your family to keep up with your career, you are not to blame if you take a sabbatical.
However, it won't be a good idea to tell the circumstances straight and plain to a prospective employer, not unless you want to sound like you're making up an unprofessional excuse for the big dent in your career history.
If you want to get hired, be honest that you quit the job for your child's sake, but be careful not to highlight this too much, lest your employer might think that you'll do better at home than in the office. And need say, spare your HR the cringe from reading titles like "House Manager" and "All-Around Domestic Professional," avoid homey skill sets too.
Second, employment gaps from child raising are forgivable as long as you point out that you continue to practice your career-related skills even while you're not setting foot in the office. Mention the seminars you attended, organizations that you're still joining, or better if you are working freelance during the long period of child raising.
There are many ways to make up for the ugly long chinks in your resume's history. The important thing is that you keep exercising your professional skill set even without employers around, and even with a baby in your arms.
Third is that you should never lie and curtail anything. Your prospective employer has the tendency to think that you're hiding something the moment they saw the dent in your career history. However, this doesn't make them eliminate you at once. They will ask you about it (and that's for sure), and you should answer them truthfully but concisely. Let them feel assured that you are not hiding a bad record, but tell them without putting much emphasis on your unemployment during the stay-at-home period.
Never apologize for the employment gap, don't even tell in your resume about child raising a bit, and be confident enough to show off your competitive edge over others. Focus on what makes you the best candidate for the job and appear like any other professional who faces them.
Lastly, make them feel secure that you are ready to commit fully to the job. Assure your employers that you have no plans of leaving work again, and that you're eager and motivated enough to take the responsibility of the job post.
The best thing about employment dents is that you're starting again with the fresh-eye of a beginner while having the knowledge of a seasoned professional. You are again at vigor, and as a new parent, you have more inspiration to work harder and think more creatively.
Being a stay-at-home for too long does not necessarily mean that you have lost the brain muscles to perform effectively for a company. It only means that you prioritize your family more than your career, which is likely. However still, it is best not to let family matters intervene with your professional identity. Learn to practice job hunting without mentioning much about your domestic life - that is the best way not to turn-off a prospective hirer with a surly employment gap from raising a beloved child.
Kate Ross-Myers works for a New-York based human resources magazine. She has a broad experience in preparing resource materials on hiring, recruitment, and training. Kate also speaks on forums and conventions on employee wellness and growth.
11/1/11
How to Write a Covering Letter Explaining Your Criminal Convictions in 6 Steps
I work with many people with criminal records, who for whatever reason committed a crime in their past and are now ready to make a new start by making a new career.
The problem is that when employers hear "criminal record" they will often stereotype this person without even meeting them.
This article will help you overcome that small problem by helping you write the perfect covering letter explaining your convictions. Imagine your heard that someone had a criminal record for indecent exposure what would you think about this applicant? Most people would not even bother to interview person, but the truth is you can have a record for indecent exposure for being caught having a wee up a tree after a drunken night out. Now I'm not saying that weeing up a tree while you drunk isn't a criminal offence or that taking a leak outside is OK but there is a difference between this crime and say, a flasher. And this is why you need to explain the circumstances of the situation, even we offer offensives as I have met people who have been forced to commit a crime, it may seem easy to say "no" while reading this article but with a threat of having your arms broken can persuade the best of us to commit a crime.
1. First start by recording "Dear Mr X" and record what position you are applying for as you do with all cover letters. this shows that you are professional and that you have made a really effort with your application.
2. Highlight your key skills, experiences and qualifications - sell, sell sell. In most cases you will write a small statement highlighting your key career or educational achievements or bullet point your career success.
3. Add a second paragraph highlighting more selling points - like any covering letter you need to highlight what "value" you can bring to the organisation. By this point the employer will be keen to meet you as you meet and exceed to essential criteria of the job position
4. At this point the employer likes what they have read as you have matched your selling point to their criteria, so you can now add a section explaining due to past circumstances you committed a crime and that these convictions are now spent. And the hardships that original encouraged you to commit a crime no longer apply and you have learnt from your past. At this point keep the paragraph short and talk more about how you have changed or learnt from these past experiences to become a better person and employee.
5. Add a section describing why you want to work for that particular organisation and again when appropriate add more selling points about yourself. this is a must and most job hunters don't do this as it takes too much time - more fool them, because if you spend time on your application you will secure more job interviews.
6. Finally finish with a line confirming that you are available for an interview at a time convenient to the employer and finish with "Yours faithfully.."
So, like all cover letters highlight your strengths, when you have hooked the employer discuss briefly your convictions describing how it was past circumstances that led you to crime and how you have learnt from this experience.
A final note you will be amazed by the amount of employer who also have a spent record which means they will understand where you are coming and hopefully offer you a job interview remember the key to winning job offers is confidence selling skills
With many employers depending on your career choice if you have a "spent" conviction you do not need to disclose this information. Generally when working with vulnerable people you have to declare spent and current convictions.
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9/2/11
Cover Letters - Explaining Employment Gaps
A cover letter is an additional piece of paper that is sent with your resume or CV. Most employers ask for a cover letter as it tells them which vacancy you are applying for and how you feel you are suited to that position. Your cover letter is also a good place to mention any gaps in your employment history. You don't need to go into a lot of detail here, just one or two sentences are enough.
Employment gaps can be caused by:
1. Further training/education. This doesn't really classify as an employment gap as you have undertaken further training to help your career. The training may not be related to the position you are now applying for but it does show the employer that you are committed to self- improvement.
2. Travel or sabbatical. Most employers agree that this is a positive activity. It demonstrates that you are independent and you've gained cultural awareness. It may even suggest to them that you won't be taking any long holidays in the future (unless you've now got the travel bug!)
3. Raising a family/caring for a dependant. During this time you will have gained many new qualities - for parenting in particular, these will be patience and organisational skills. These employment gaps are more common for women and they used to be viewed in a negative light (I've no idea why). Be proud of the valuable time you've had with your family. For parents, you are raising the next generation - what could be more important than that?
4. Volunteer work. This is looked on favourable as it shows a caring and understanding nature.
5. Work abroad. Again, this shows an independent nature.
Briefly explain these gaps in your cover letter. It makes you more human and, hopefully, the kind of person that the employer wants working for them.
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