Navigating Career Gaps: Should I Include My Data Entry Experience on My Resume?

I am a B.Com graduate and started my career as a sales executive with Pantaloons Retail India Ltd. I worked for 2 years in that organization, then I joined a card manufacturing company as a Sales and Support Executive and worked for 2.5 years. Due to some reasons, I left my job, but I could not get a better job in sales after resignation. Currently, I have been working as a Data Entry Operator for 2 years on a contract basis, which is a third-party payroll. I am willing to go back to sales, and now I am confused about whether I should show this experience on my resume or not. If I don't mention this experience, then it will create a two-year gap in the profile.

Please let me know what I should do in this situation.

Regards,
Deepak Sharma

You can very well show experience of two years as a DEO. This is no insignificant period. In the job market, it is very difficult to get salespersons. Therefore, I doubt whether HR will raise questions on your non-sales assignment.

In fact, you could have continued in Retail Sales. The retail industry sales were booming, and you left it. If you had continued, by now possibly you might have become an Assistant Manager. You might have your reasons like hard work or long working hours. But then these challenges are anywhere and everywhere. Anyway, even now, you can make a comeback and start applying for retail sales jobs.

Last but not least, you may note that for the last two years, you have been doing a sedentary job, and the transition from DEO to a highly activity-oriented job like sales may appear easy, but it may not be.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Thank you for guiding me. It is true that I left the retail job due to long working hours. I have been preparing for a government job since I came to this profile. Please suggest whether I should continue preparing for the government job or try to go back to retail sales as suggested. I am also concerned that if I continue to work here, the gap in my job history will increase. I am very confused; please advise me on what I should do in this matter.

Your timely reply is solicited.

Many Thanks,

Deepak Sharma