How Can I Address Resume Gaps and Secure a Stable HR Role? Seeking Your Advice

Dear Seniors,

I am an MBA in HR, and my interest lies solely in HR. Initially, I couldn't secure a position in the HR domain, so to gain work experience, I began my career in operations. Later, I transitioned to HR. In my next role, I was initially offered training and paid a stipend. However, due to retrenchment, I couldn't continue in a permanent role with them. Thus, after my training, I had to move on. I experienced a gap of a few months after my operations role as I took a break to care for my unwell mother.

Currently, I am facing another 4-month gap due to the recent retrenchment in my company. I am hesitant to compromise on my career by accepting short-term contracts or off-roll positions, as I would prefer to secure a role aligned with my career goals to avoid another job search shortly thereafter.

In my last role, though it was a training position, I handled HR responsibilities as a regular HR professional, gaining valuable experience in recruitment and HR operations by managing the complete recruitment cycle.

Recently, after attending an interview at a company where I performed well and received positive feedback, I was informed that my resume gap would require discussion before a decision could be made. Despite being close to marriage age, I want to emphasize that my career is my priority. I have discussed this with my family and do not plan to marry immediately.

During this gap period, I have actively searched for jobs, attended interviews, participated in a one-week HR training course, and an HR workshop to enhance my skills. I have also dedicated time to reading relevant articles for continuous learning.

I am seeking your advice on how to address this situation in interviews and how to move forward in securing a job promptly. Any suggestions you provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

You are taking it the wrong way and demotivating yourself without any reason. It's corporate, and it happens. Nowadays, jobs are not abundant in the market, so one tries to fill the opening with the best suitable talent, and they get it at the same value as compared to you. So, it affects somewhere in your hiring. Gaps come in our career. Sometimes we don't get the exact profile we are looking for, but in your case, it has happened twice, and your career period is also not so long. But you should not worry. I personally have faced this situation when I left my job after 8 months and moved on to Gurgaon. I struggled for the next 5 months and tried harder and harder, but couldn't crack the interview. Then I chose a bit lower profile company that was in a growing stage, and the profile they offered me was good, but the salary they offered was less than what I was getting in my last profile 5 months back. I accepted the offer because I wanted to get back into my HR field and gain more experience.

So, you should also search for a few profiles that actually should offer you a bit lower salary and just put yourself back in HR. If you try the Recruitment profile, you will get it easily, as you have experience in that too. Just brush up on your skills and don't give a damn about these things. Speak the truth and defend yourself for that situation. Whatever the reasons were to take a gap, face them and convince them on that part. In the Recruitment profile, communication skills, portal knowledge, social networking, calling ability, bulk hiring, target achiever, are a few major points where they will ask questions. Also, prepare on the type of hiring you have done in your last profile. Everything should be very clear in a way. Be ready for a lower salary offer, learn the things again, get HR experience back, and this phase will be over soon. Update your profile on job sites, search consultancy profiles for recruitment, and you will grab an opportunity soon.

Thank you, Mr. Atul Khanna, for your immediate and valuable response. As you said, I will enhance my skills and accept even a slightly lower salary if the profile is good. Even though I am not very keen on compensation at this point in time, I am very much interested in the role, whether it is a similar role or another challenging one. I would like to clarify from your posting; as you have mentioned searching for profiles, is it about the position? Or is it your suggestion to look for resumes of a similar kind?

Dear Sandya, I have read your post and I think you may be right on some aspects of not getting a job, especially the marriage part. In the sub-continent, most girls leave their jobs after marriage. That is why, despite their talent, recruiters do not hire them. But the world does not end here. Let the interviewer know that you are more interested in your career than marriage. Remember, an interview is always a two-way process, so it is not necessary to only say and answer the things that are asked. If you think there are more things you should add in the interview, then you can. Explain your marriage plans and career goals during the interview, and emphasize the point that shows your career is your first priority. It is better to write and practice this discussion at home before going to the interview.

Regards,

You are young and smartly learning many things in stride. I advise you to start thinking like an HR, which means putting yourself in the position of the company's HR. Imagine you have to interview a candidate who is in the same condition as you are today. What would you do? This exercise will provide you with both answers and solutions on how to handle the next interview. Remember, experience teaches you a lot, but don't stop at learning; implement what you have learned. Don't worry, the world is full of opportunities – just grab them when you identify one.

Regards,
Karuna Jadhav

Career Development and Overcoming Gaps

It is nice to find that you are a thorough professional with vision and commitment. I am particularly impressed by your choice of Operations, HR, and Training programs without wasting any precious time. I'm sure that there is a great career ahead of you.

Going through your case study, a small gap of a few months is no great deal when compared to a career of at least 40 years which lies ahead of you. In fact, all of us "waste" 1/3rd of our life in sleep. However, sleep is required for immunity, as well as physical and mental health. Likewise, small gaps in a career help us in introspection and retooling our knowledge and skills. I find that you are productively using these opportunities in training programs and writing articles.

Addressing Employment Challenges

When it comes to the apparent lack of appropriate opportunities, we have to recollect the following facts:

• The employment market is dull, and many employers go for "cheapest quotations" or no recruitment at all. "Gaps" are only excuses for their non-professional approach.

• There could be some hesitation to employ a girl. Again, it is applicable to only a few conservative employers and not all. In fact, we find many women in top HR posts in several reputed companies. That means for a talented and committed person, the sky is the limit.

• My personal suggestion would be to take up any challenging job that is offered irrespective of the specialization. You can indeed change over to your "first love HR" as and when one comes through.

• You can also simultaneously pursue the correspondence program on "Diploma in Training and Development" conducted by ISTD, New Delhi. This is indeed a high-value program recognized all over the profession.

• If no job is coming in handy in the immediate future, you can join as a part-time/full-time Lecturer in any of the MBA Colleges/Management Institutes. This would indeed be a very satisfying experience. However, don't tell them that it is a stop-gap arrangement. If you don't insist on a high starting salary, I'm sure you shall win the offer with your hands down.

All the best!

Regards,
Dr. T. Thomas.

Thank you, Dr. Thomas. I would surely take up a challenging job as you suggested. I recently visited the ISTD Delhi website for that training course. I am looking for more details on the course structure. I may apply for the same or any relevant course. I am not very keen on applying for a lecturer position in college. I would like to once again thank you for all your suggestions. Your words have even boosted my confidence level.