Mind the Gap: Tackling an Employment Gap in a Post-Pandemic Job Market

The economic ripple effects of Covid-19 that have crippled the Australian workforce since March have left very few of us untouched – whether it be by redundancy, a pay cut or being stood down by an employer.  

New figures released on Thursday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics have shown a further spike in the unemployment rate to 7.1 percent – the highest level we’ve seen in almost 20 years. With more than 800,000 jobs lost nationwide since March, the job market has been left teeming with out-of-work talent.

While your first instinct may be to omit the ‘Covid Gap’ from your resume altogether, there are proactive steps you can be taking now to maximise your time off and quash the elephant in the room when it comes to wowing potential new employers.

Take a look at our top four tips to address an employment gap on your CV and turn the waiting game into time well-spent.

1. Be Honest

The reality for most jobseekers in this market is that they are all in the same boat when it comes to a sudden ‘blip’ on their resume. The worst thing you can do is try to disguise or ignore this gap (even if it is only for 2 or 3 months) when applying for new roles.

Be upfront with your potential employer from the get go about why you left your last role (and be clear that it was not due to performance-related matters) by including a small ‘Reason for Leaving’ note next to the most recent position on your CV.

This will immediately clear up any potential loose ends for Recruiters and Hiring Managers when they first glance your CV and equip you with a definitive explanation that you can later clarify during an initial phone screen or interview – minus the Spanish inquisition.

Your employer-to-be has not been living under a rock. They will likely understand your employment gap and emapthise with your situation. Plus – being honest will earn you a far better first impression than sweeping things under the rug for your interviewer to dig up down the line.

2. Try A Temporary Fix

Don’t reduce the gap in your employment to purely ‘jobseeking’ time. Use the few months you have between permanent roles to pick up some freelancing work, a few casual hours (such as Saturday open for inspections) or secure a temporary assignment that can tide you over between roles.

We have seen a huge influx of temporary candidates come onto our books over the past 3 months, many of whom are also in the market for permanent work. Temping is a great way to keep your skillset sharp and earn some extra cash until you find the right fit. It will also show potential hirers that you remained proactive and ‘on the tools’ during your job search.

If you are honest with your temporary employer from the outset, they may also offer you some flexibility if you need to leave early or arrive late to attend a job interview for a permanent role.

On the flip side, many temporary assignments also have the potential to develop into a long-term job opportunity. If you play your cards right and make a great impression with your employer, you could be creating a new role for yourself without even realising it!

3. Upskill Yourself

If you find yourself at home with spare time up your sleeve – use it to expand your horizons and make yourself more employable. Sign up for an online course to learn something new or hone your existing expertise (in things such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite) to build a killer skillset on your CV.

Contact a real estate training provider or your local TAFE institute to see what online courses they are running to boost your behavioural skillset – such as courses on Team Leadership, Conflict Resolution and Relationship-Building. Use this time to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points and get up to date on industry best practices.

If you have been stood down from your current employer, ask your HR Manager what short courses or training materials you can do to get up to scratch on internal systems and procedures, CRM softwares or Sales/Property Management tools. By maximising your off-time, you will become more competent in your role and find it much easier to get back into the swing of things on the other side.

4. Don’t Burn Your Bridges

The most important thing to remember is that any employment gap is only temporary. Be sure to keep in regular contact with your most recent employer and ask them about their plans to get back to business post-Covid. Times change and you don’t want to cut all ties with your ex-employer if there is a prospect that your role may be reinstated down the track.

If you have been laid off or made redundant, level with your previous Manager and ask them to be a professional reference on your job applications. Listing your most recent employer as a reference will show potential hirers that you have a positive relationship with your past company and that you didn’t depart them on bad terms.

Your referee can also clear up a Hiring Manager’s questions about the gap on your CV to avoid added awkwardness come interview time.

Stay Positive

In a time of so much uncertainty, it can seem impossible to find stability when it comes to sourcing and securing a new job in a cramped market.

Now is the time to be focusing on yourself – your career, your wellbeing and your goals for the future. Remember, when an employment gap ends – the worst thing you can do is to have done nothing at all.

Image Credit: AmazonAWS