Military Spouses: How to Compensate for Employment Gaps on a Resume?

Military spouses who plan to enter the workforce for the first time in years may find it a challenge to compile a resume that will present the right impression to prospective employers. Many obstacles may stand in their way, making this a particularly difficult time as they start to compile their resume, start their job search, narrow down their search and then wait for employers to call them for job interviews. If military spouses received a basic education and have not updated their qualifications since they left school, this can leave them wondering if they will be successful in their job search. But rather than expect the worst, there are steps that military spouses can take so that employers will want to call them for interview, rather than bypass them.

Employment Gaps Worry Employers

Even if a military spouse has not taken part in paid employment for many years, they can still tap into the experience that they have gained since becoming a military spouse and use that to their advantage. Employers who glance at resumes with large employment gaps will not want to ask that person for an interview and they may wonder if the candidate has anything to hide.

Tap into Voluntary Work Experience

One of the best things that military spouses can do to improve the quality of their resume and to increase their chance of being called for a job interview is to look over any volunteer work experience that they have gained and to incorporate that into their resume. Have they mentored 4^th grade children in mathematics or tutored ESL children on a 1-1 basis in order to help them improve their English language skills? Did they help to run the thrift shop on base? Have they taken part in a collective babysitting group? These may seem like minor, insignificant jobs, and hardly worth mentioning on a resume. However, the experience that has been acquired while undertaking these duties are just what many employers are looking for. It helps if they know the job titles they have held as well as the dates and job responsibilities.