WomenCo.

Hi

 

When you post your resume online consider what you, as an individual, have to offer a company and does your resume address these qualities.

 

When I review applications/resumes I look for qualities, characteristics and behaviors that indicate a person’s work capacity, ability and functional limitation, i.e. employment history, job skills etc.

 

However, employment history or recent work history is not the sole determination factor of whether or not a job offer is made. As I review credentials and a gap is present, or window of time appears with no work history I want to know, as an employer, where the time did go? I mean, did you invest in yourself; for example did you return to school, volunteer for a non-profit to learn more, refine skills and/or show a personal interest. I also consider whether time was needed to take care of a family member.

 

One quality I search for is a person’s capacity to be an involved team member, for example becoming a volunteer at a non-profit or another community organization. So for example, to meet your need for work references consider volunteering part time or for so many hours a week whereby you can consistently offer your best for a set time frame, i.e. 3-6 months (standard probationary time frame). Once you have established with the volunteer coordinator your capacity to be reliable, flexible and dependable ask the coordinator if it is acceptable to list the organization as a work reference on job applications.

 

This may seem awkward and believe in yourself and what you have to offer, and volunteering is a good place to start.