Larchmont Gazette.com: Career Doctor - UNEXPLAINED GAPS IN MY RESUME

The Career Doctor™

by Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez

Looking for a first job? Thinking of changing careers? Facing a lay-off? The Career Doctor™ is a Larchmont psychologist specializing in career counseling. If you'd like to ask a question of your own, use the anonymous form below, and she might answer you here. Read more about the Career Doctor here. Contact information is here.

UNEXPLAINED GAPS IN MY RESUME

Dear Career Doctor:

I was a succesful jewelry designer for about 10 years. Then the stress of always being creative, coupled with a crisis in my personal life, caused me to become so depressed that I have been unable to work for the last two years. I have exhausted my savings and I need to get back to work. However, I just don't feel strong enough to go back into the high stress area of design.

What should I do?

CL

Dear CL:

Yours is a two part question -- 1) What career should I pursue, and 2) How to handle a gap in my resume?

The easiest career path would probably use your knowledge of the jewelry business. For example, I would think that department stores or retail chains might be interested in hiring someone like you be a jewelry buyer or jewelry department manager. If that is too stressful, you can always try to get a job in a jewelry store, just to ease your way back into the field. When you are stronger and ready to take a more highly paid job, it never even has to show up on your resume -- or you can say that, after an absence, you took the job to reacquaint yourself with what is popular and what the public wants.

As for handling the two year gap in your resume, you could either just leave it blank or you could put something on the resume like Private Design and Study. When questioned about it, I would say that I took two years off to deal with an issue in my personal life. You do not have to tell what the problem was -- or you can just say that you needed to recharge your creative juices Many people take time off to raise children, help sick relatives or recharge after work stress. I would emphasize that the problem has been resolved and you are eager to get back to work.

The Career Doctor

Ask The Career Doctor:

The Career Doctor cannot answer every question here, and she does not respond to personal emails.

The Career Doctor™ is Larchmont psychologist and career counselor, Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez.

Her office is at 90 Beechtree Drive in Larchmont, 914-834-1982.



	The Career Doctor™ by Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez Looking for a first job? Thinking of changing careers? Facing a lay-off? The Career Doctor™ is a Larchmont psychologist specializing in career counseling. If you'd like to ask a question of your own, use the anonymous form below, and she might answer you here. Read more about the Career Doctor here. Contact information is here. UNEXPLAINED GAPS IN MY RESUME Dear Career Doctor: I was a succesful jewelry designer for about 10 years. Then the stress of always being creative, coupled with a crisis in my personal life, caused me to become so depressed that I have been unable to work for the last two years. I have exhausted my savings and I need to get back to work. However, I just don't feel strong enough to go back into the high stress area of design. What should I do? CL Dear CL: Yours is a two part question -- 1) What career should I pursue, and 2) How to handle a gap in my resume? The easiest career path would probably use your knowledge of the jewelry business. For example, I would think that department stores or retail chains might be interested in hiring someone like you be a jewelry buyer or jewelry department manager. If that is too stressful, you can always try to get a job in a jewelry store, just to ease your way back into the field. When you are stronger and ready to take a more highly paid job, it never even has to show up on your resume -- or you can say that, after an absence, you took the job to reacquaint yourself with what is popular and what the public wants. As for handling the two year gap in your resume, you could either just leave it blank or you could put something on the resume like Private Design and Study. When questioned about it, I would say that I took two years off to deal with an issue in my personal life. You do not have to tell what the problem was -- or you can just say that you needed to recharge your creative juices Many people take time off to raise children, help sick relatives or recharge after work stress. I would emphasize that the problem has been resolved and you are eager to get back to work. The Career Doctor Ask The Career Doctor: The Career Doctor cannot answer every question here, and she does not respond to personal emails. First Name, Initial: Question: The Career Doctor™ is Larchmont psychologist and career counselor, Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez. Her office is at 90 Beechtree Drive in Larchmont, 914-834-1982.