How to Address COVID-19 Related Gaps in Your Resume

It's no shock that there have been many affected by the layoffs as a result of COVID-19 throughout the course of the 2020 year. With many companies still turning to layoffs to address their revenue concerns, it's important that candidates know how to reflect this kind of job loss on their resume.

Talk with a Recruiter

Talk with a recruiter immediately! One of the many benefits of working with a recruiter is the fact that they often have a previous relationship with many hiring managers and speak directly with them to discover what the most important aspects of the role are. This means a recruiter likely can instantly make a connection between your current experience and a client they have an existing relationship with. This means they can also vouch for you in helping explain gaps in your resume and recommend changes to your resume to better reflect the specific keywords and language of the job description to help you stand out.

Be Honest

With the amount of change happening within the 2020 year, many hiring managers are prepared to see many applicants who have been laid off due to COVID-19 related circumstances. It's been a hard year and hiring managers are especially aware of this reality in the workforce. When updating your resume, include a short bullet listing the reasoning for the layoff being due to COVID-19 and leave it at that! You don't need to elaborate on the resume and will have an opportunity to discuss it further in detail when invited to an interview.

List ALL Projects - Including Incomplete

While many people have been laid off, it's likely you were working on a project prior to being let go that's relevant to the position you're applying to. List each project clearly with the project title, description, and technologies / skills used during the course of the project. If relevant, try thinking of some select accomplishments you feel proud of. While the project may have not been fully completed, that doesn't mean you haven't been polishing and practicing these skills daily.

Find Transferable Skills / Learn New Skills

While you may not have all the skills required for a new role, you can always find common skills used within a project. For example, if you're familiar with a technology or language you might explain how you used the technology in a side project or have been around the technology within a previous project.

Another option would be to find ways to accommodate the gaps in skills with online courses and certifications. There are many different online resources that offer free courses / certifications for learning new skills like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, HubSpot Academy, CompTIA, and more. Whatever you might be interested in learning, they have resources and classes for those skills! Be sure to update your current trainings, certifications, courses, side projects and more onto your resume to show that you are continuously progressing as a candidate.

Don't Lose Momentum

While the current reality might be tough, it's important to remember that losing faith or momentum is not going to bring any positive results. You are capable! Keep polishing your resume, learning new skills, and reaching out to your recruiter with any possible questions or concerns you may have. While it may feel isolating and alone, our team is specifically here to help alleviate some of the stressors involved with finding a new role!

Interested in Speaking with a Recruiter?

Whether you need someone to look over your resume and make some suggestions on how to format or have been laid off due to COVID-19 and are looking for a new role, we are here for you! Send a copy of your resume to info@mCubedStaffing.com and we will contact you as soon as possible!