You're a job seeker with a spotty work history. How can you still land your dream job?

1 Highlight your achievements

One of the best ways to overcome a spotty work history is to focus on your achievements and accomplishments, rather than your dates and durations of employment. Instead of listing your job titles and responsibilities, use bullet points to showcase the results and outcomes you delivered, the skills you gained, and the value you added. Use numbers, percentages, and testimonials to quantify and qualify your achievements. For example, instead of writing "Managed social media campaigns", write "Increased engagement by 50% and conversions by 20% through creative and data-driven social media campaigns".

2 Explain your gaps

Another way to overcome a spotty work history is to address and explain any gaps or breaks in your resume or cover letter. Don't leave the employer guessing or assuming the worst. Be honest and concise about why you took time off, whether it was for personal, professional, or educational reasons. Emphasize what you learned, how you grew, and how you stayed relevant and updated in your field during your gap. For example, if you took a year off to travel, you can mention how you improved your cross-cultural communication, adaptability, and language skills.

3 Tailor your resume

A third way to overcome a spotty work history is to tailor your resume to the specific job and employer you're applying for. Don't use a generic or one-size-fits-all resume that might highlight your weaknesses or irrelevance. Instead, research the company, the industry, and the role, and identify the keywords, skills, and qualifications they're looking for. Then, match your resume to those criteria, using the same language and terminology. You can also use different resume formats, such as functional, hybrid, or portfolio, to emphasize your skills and achievements over your chronology.

4 Build your network

A fourth way to overcome a spotty work history is to build and leverage your network of contacts and connections. Networking is one of the most effective ways to find hidden or unadvertised job opportunities, get referrals and recommendations, and gain insights and advice from industry experts and insiders. You can network online or offline, through platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook, or through events, conferences, or meetups. You can also reach out to your former colleagues, managers, clients, or mentors, and ask them for introductions, endorsements, or feedback.

5 Showcase your potential

A fifth way to overcome a spotty work history is to showcase your potential and enthusiasm for the job and the employer. Don't let your past define your future. Instead, demonstrate your passion, curiosity, and willingness to learn and grow in your field. You can do this by creating a portfolio, a blog, a website, or a social media presence that showcases your work, your projects, your ideas, or your opinions. You can also do this by preparing well for the interview, asking smart questions, and following up with a thank-you note and a reminder of your value proposition.

6 Be confident and positive

A sixth and final way to overcome a spotty work history is to be confident and positive about yourself and your abilities. Don't let your spotty work history make you feel insecure or inferior. Instead, embrace your uniqueness and diversity, and highlight your strengths and contributions. Don't apologize or make excuses for your work history. Instead, frame it as an opportunity and a learning experience. Don't dwell on the negatives or the challenges. Instead, focus on the positives and the opportunities.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?