Convert Career Gaps to Opportunities
Purav Bhatt ??
I help Mid-Career Professionals ?? STEP-UP ?? Career Game with Star Leaders Blueprint | Ex-Siemens Energy Asia | Amazon Best Seller | Personal Branding | Trainer | Career Coach
Career Gaps are big in the Minds than in reality. We have been programmed to consider these Gaps as road blocks.
? A Car with a lifetime of around 10 years, needs overhauling every year for smooth operation.
? A mobile phone with a lifetime of few years needs to be charged everyday
? A Career with a lifetime of 35 years, if not given regular overhauls, will need a break of few years and that's normal.
The break could be
??Planned
??Unplanned
In both the above cases, converting it to an opportunity always depends on you and it begins with your mindset.
It's a game of mindset: In a career of 35 years, a few years of gap can create a dent only if you want it to create
Follow the steps below to convert your break into an opportunity
??Step 1: Mindset
First things first, accept the break, embrace it. If you feel guilty about it, if it is creating a self-doubt; it further reduces your confidence, deteriorating the situation.
Instead, craft a nice story to explain the gap, do not make it a weakness
??Step 2: Transparency
Be transparent as you share the break with potential recruiters. Try to be real. Even if you have been laid off, tell the true story. This builds trust.
Do not highlight the gap in the resume, just mention it.
?? Step 3: Up-skilling
Use the gap as an opportunity to upgrade yourself. Here it's not necessary to master a new skill, but you must get aware about what's trending in the industry and how you should go about that. There are two reasons
?? It helps you to craft a nice story showing that you were not idle during the break'
领英推荐
?? with new skills, you increase your opportunities
?? Step 4: Attitude
It's okay if you do not know a few answers during an interview, even people with no gaps, fumble. Do not hide behind the gap ??
Stop treating the gap as an excuse
?? Step 5: Be mindful
As you plan to resume your journey, try not to switch profile. As a safe bet, move ahead with the profile that you are comfortable with, you have had experience int he past.
Do not fight two battles at a time - filling the gap and taking a new profile.
?? Step 6: Focus on Performance
No interview rejections happen because of gaps, rejections happen because of performance during the interview.
Focus on the performance, not on the gaps during an interview
And - Here's a secret
You have an advantage - you can join immediately unlike someone who's working. Off-late this has become a priority - if you do not believe me, ask your recruiter friend
As a founder of Star Leaders Hub , I strongly believe in taking complete ownership of your Career.
We are a community of over 200 people, all aspiring to grow exponentially in their career journey.
Would you like to be a part of the same??
Attend the upcoming masterclass @ https://careerownershiphub.com
Lead Generation made simple | I help businesses to book 3 - 5 high-converting sales calls within 30 days, without wasting a penny on ads using my "Conversion Prism" | DM me "Leads" to know more
8 个月Acceptance helps a lot for sure And thanks for helping people Purav Bhatt ??
IT Professional | IT Project Management | Agile PM | Life Science IT Domain | Ex- Cognizant | Ex- Accenture | MCA | MBA Executive Symbiosis | Certified Scrum Master | IT Trainer, Coach | Tech, Business Enthusiast
8 个月Right, Carrer gap should not be blocker if the person is willing to value add to whatever work or role is assigned, having said that there is right mapping of work to skill set with positive attitude for work.