The Gap on My Résumé
Michael Oshima
Executive Ghostwriter - Thought Leader on Thought Leadership - Writing Coach - College Admissions Coach - Elite Judo Coach/Practitioner
There is a conspicuous gap on my résumé. Only occasionally does anyone notice it.
Even when they do, they ask the wrong questions. The wrong questions, the wrong way.?
“I notice here” — as if they just happened upon this 1.5 year time warp, as if it couldn’t-possibly-be-a-problem-but-I’m-required-to-ask-to-see-if-it-could-be.?
“Were you self-employed?” — as if my productivity, as the measure of my humanity, crept back into a state of negative kismet and I necessarily restarted my post-gap life with a severe karmic lien.
“What did you do with your time off?” — as if I took a Tinder-profile-pic trip to Southeast Asia with nothing but a Fjallraven, grape-flavored acid tabs, and knowledge of the right Instagram filters to make the stripes of tranquilized tigers really pop.?
They never, about that blank space, ask how I was feeling while I was unmoored and floating in the soupy void of unprofessionality. What they seem to want to ask is “how does one tally the passage of one’s life if not by a record of employment, pithy-ed down to corporate active verbs?”
They never ask any questions that might return good answers about the person I was when I was not a job.
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They might learn about the time I spent on my back staring at the sky in the middle of a salt flat; the sunset sea cliff walks where the relentless Lo-Fi Waves To Study To gracefully submitted the stubbornest of my post-dated anxieties. They might learn about the time I spent with orphans in the sub-Sahara or seniors with dementia in Queens high-rises; they might learn about the behind-the-scenes political work or the grassroots organizing. They might learn about the languages I studied, the people I met, the gelatos I loved.?
If they did ask, they might learn about how I started a small business, built up a client base, and learned the basics of avoiding taxes as a small business. They might learn how I created a new brand for myself, gained tens of 1000s of followers, and began to earn a reputation as the most creative, refreshing writer in marketing, branding, and beyond.??
If they did ask, they might learn all of that, which would be doubly incredible because I didn’t do any of it. What I mostly did was watch all 15 seasons of Supernatural and trial three antidepressant regimes.?
Hopefully you shared this before you read this far and thereby tricked others into sharing it too. It’s easy to lie about your gap year — it’s easier to lie on LinkedIn. Maybe something worth considering doing more of, if it’s gonna make ‘em read it or hire you.
Insincerely,
Director of College Access @ National Education Equity Lab | DEIB Advocate
2 年Loved this and you definitely had me ??
You're still my most talented friend.
Account Director at LaunchSquad & Multidisciplinary Artist
2 年Love this so much. Companies are all too eager to preach "mental health!!! self care!!!" but then when faced with an actual instance of someone's mental health / humanity, are all too ready to balk at the very concept -- and during the very corporatized "Mental Health Awareness Month," at that.
Writer, educator, creator
2 年Always a proud member of your fan club. This line got an enthusiastic head shake/nod and a "mmm!" from me "What they seem to want to ask is “how does one tally the passage of one’s life if not by a record of employment, pithy-ed down to corporate active verbs?” ?? Here's to less corporate action verbs, and more expansive ways to tally the passage of one's life.
Strategist | Builder | Marketer | Operator
2 年There is never any doubt how great of a writer you are--I was gripped all the way to the end. Thank you for sharing this! I can relate and respect your courage and honesty.