How to Overcome the Gap After a Layoff or Time Off

Molly Conlon Hogan has been at home caring for her child since a 2004 layoff and now wants a communications job.

Beth Colley, owner of Chesapeake Résumé Writing Service in Crownsville, said Hogan shouldn't dwell on her years out of the paid workforce. "With a strong enough résumé and cover letter, Molly should be able to overcome the gap."

Hogan should briefly explain in her cover letter that she was laid off after a corporate restructuring and decided that was a good time to concentrate on her family, said Colley, who frequently works with parents returning to the workforce.

To highlight Hogan's skills, Colley suggests overhauling the format of the résumé. "When you've been out of the workforce for a few years, you may be better served with a combined style format."

Colley suggests that Hogan include a career summary highlighting specific aspects about her background. "It should be relevant [and] concise."

Within the body of the résumé, Hogan can choose headings depending on the skills she wants to emphasize, Colley said. "Then underneath each heading, she can incorporate bullet points specifically related to that skill set regardless of when or where she did it."

For example, she could use bullets from four jobs under "Marketing and Communications." "Include numbers or percentages where possible. Don't provide a basic generic statement that you would find in a job description."

-- Mary Ellen Slayter