Resume advice

[Muenkel 0]

Hey folks,

I'm hoping to return to work by this summer, since my recovery is moving along very well now. I want to start over and not go back to my old job. So, I am soon going to be updating my resume. My one dilemma is how do I account for being out of work since Aug. '03? Do I actually put on my resume that I had a head injury? Do you think this would reflect negatively to potential employers? I know leaving that span of time empty would definitely raise questions.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks and blues,
Chris

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Chris

[freeflir29 0]

Wow.........that's a tough one. I put my stupid computer job on my resume just to fill that two year time frame. I guess it's nice to let people know that I know more than just pointing guns around too though. Your question.........I have NO idea. I don't think there is one answer........it's going to be on a case by case.

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Absolutely leave your medical history off of your resume. It has no place there. Are you qualified for the job, that's all that matters (not if you have or haven't worked in the last year). If they ask why you haven't worked in a while, then be honest. But people take time off from work all the time. Plus if someone held this sort of thing against you, would you even want to work for them in the first place?

Good luck with your job hunt.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[mailin 0]

Ya, medical info in your resume goes against the americans with disability act. Don't put it in there as it can't have any say in if you get hired or not (unless its declared in the description, but I'm pretty sure its illegal then too).

Good luck,

Jen

Arianna Frances

[Dougiefresh 0]

Let the empty time raise questions. It won't be an issue until the interview stage, and at that point you can and should be honest. At the very least it will send the interview in a direction that will allow the interviewers to find out more about you, which is exactly what you want. Recovery from a brain injury requires no small amount of courage and work. The discussion will allow you to show the interviewers your true character and strength, which can only help your chances.

Good luck.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams

[mailin 0]

http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/interview/l/aa022403.htm

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In the U.S., illegal interview questions are those that discriminate against you on the basis of

Age
Color
Disability
Gender
National origin
Race
Religion or Creed
Although they're coined illegal interview questions, the act of asking them is not necessarily illegal. For example, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) does not make it illegal for an employer to ask an applicant's age or date of birth. But the ADEA does make it illegal to deny employment, solely because the applicant is 40 years of age or older. So, while asking the question isn't illegal, a discriminatory motive behind it is, when it ultimately denies employment.

Unknown motive is what makes any question with discriminatory implications an inappropriate question for interviewers to ask. Since you can't read an interviewer's mind, it might lead you to believe that you weren't hired because of discrimination, whether or not it's true. As a result, you might file a discrimination charge. So, smart interviewers avoid such questions in the first place, illegal to ask or not.

Still, there are those who ask anyway, either intentionally or ignorantly. That's what you have to decide before answering or filing a discrimination charge. For example, if you're over 40 and an interviewer asks when you graduated from college, is he or she intentionally discriminating against your age or just trying to be friendly? Does the interviewer have malicious intent or is he or she simply naive of the implications?

Arianna Frances

[Muenkel 0]

I guess one of the concerns I have is if the empty time would cause my resume to go in the discard file prior to an interview.

I've tried to put my mgt. hat on since I have reviewed thousands of resumes during my career. I do not recall coming across this kind of situation.

Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[CrazyIvan 0]

Put that you were abducted by aliens

Jokes aside, those are good news.

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[Muenkel 0]

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Put that you were abducted by aliens

Yeah, I can see how that's worked for you.

Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[CrazyIvan 0]

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Yeah, I can see how that's worked for you

Works like a charm

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[GravityGirl 0]

Say you were pregnant and had a baby, but it's ready for day care now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[GravityGirl 0]

Seriously, what line of work are you in?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[tekdivegirl 0]

I would not worry too much. There are many reasons people stay out of work for periods of time. Marriage, raising children etc.

Good luck - I have been out of work since Aug. 2004 due to brain surgery myself.

Kimber
--------------------------------------------------------

Is it enough to love? Is it enough to breathe?
Somebody rip my heart out And leave me here to bleed
Is it enough to die? Somebody save my life
I’d rather be anything but ordinary please

[JohnRich 4]

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I guess one of the concerns I have is if the empty time would cause my resume to go in the discard file prior to an interview.

Right. Some employers might presume you were in prison, or something. I've always heard that it is not a good idea to leave unaccounted-for time periods on your resume. Just put down the time frame, and indicate "recovering from a sports injury", or something like that. Then when asked about it, be ready to turn that entry into a show of your positive attributes that you would bring to their workplace, by talking about your determination and will power.

But I wouldn't mention the brain injury, as that might give them reservations about your intellectual ability or stability. Don't go into the specifics of your injuries. You can just say you were "busted up pretty good" and leave it at that.

[chaoskitty 0]

Quick.. grab a piece of paper and a pen, write down what you've been doing in the past 2 years, and then put on your resume "Sebbatical to write my memoirs".

I'm just being silly.. but I see your dillemma. Leaving that time period blank leaves room for lots of assumptions.. but I agree with most that you should wait until asked to divulge that information. And its quite possible that nobody will ever ask.

[Michele 1]

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I guess one of the concerns I have is if the empty time would cause my resume to go in the discard file prior to an interview

Since the rest of your work history is fairly extensive and rather consistent (from what I remember), I'd handle it in the "objective/personal statement" part which starts your resume.

Maybe something like:

"After an absence from the work force, I return ready to develop my extensive skill set working with your company in such and thus position....blah yada blah."

That way, you've covered the not working time, as well as made it "light." When they ask why, mention that you fell down a staircase, and were hurt fairly extensively. DO not mention the brain trauma...instead, if they press, mention more along the lines of pt and rehab, but you're fine now. And if they really press, move on to the next thing.

Just my .02 (since you asked for it! )

I have to say, Chris, I am so damned excited that you're able to get back to your life. It took a lot for you to come back, and I am soooooo proud that you were able to fight back and fight back hard. Well done!!!

YAY CHRIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[freeflir29 0]

Or you could put down


April 2002-Feb 2005 I was drunk.

[Michele 1]

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April 2002-Feb 2005 I was drunk.

Well, yes, you could say that too...

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[gordy 0]

Another option is to say you were travelling etc during that time period.

[freeflir29 0]

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Another option is to say you were travelling etc during that time period.

And when they ask where.......Just say......I'm really not sure. I was fairly drunk at the time. Yes.....for two years.

[hooked 0]

I can't offer much more advice than has already been given, but it's sure good to hear you are about to be looking for a job. It's been a long road for you Chris and all I can say is, Yyaaayyyy!!

J

--------------------------------------
Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings.

[Michele 1]

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Another option is to say you were travelling etc during that time period.

He could...but then, that would be lying. Of course, it's not like people don't lie all the time, but it might get discovered, and if so, that's generally grounds for termination.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[gordy 0]

I see your point, but that is a very shady grey area, travelling by implication gererally means going abroad etc, but literally it could also mean a trip for the weekend...yes its a play on words, but I think the idea was to avoid putting something down that may look unfavourable to an employer.

[Michele 1]

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I think the idea was to avoid putting something down that may look unfavourable to an employer.

And I see your point completely, and agree...a bit of a sticky wicket...but I always think honesty is better than dishonesty, you know?

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[gordy 0]

Absolutely it is normally, yet in this situation I can see potential problems with being too truthful, I am not sure what the best solution is, but I would definetly avoid saying off for a long period of time due to illness, as if you had two pretty much matching CV's infront of you, one with a layoff, much as I don't agree with it, I reckon one of them gets binned.