Pandemic Resume Gap
Adam Palmer • November 3, 2020
The pandemic rages on. Life has even seemed to get back to normal in a few areas around the country. However, despite the unemployment rate lowering, there are still many people who have been without a job since the beginning of the shutdown and others who have lost their jobs in the recent months because of their companies downsizing due to prolonged shutdowns.
We know everyone has looming questions outside of “How do I find a job?”
- I have been unemployed for several months. How do I address the gap in my resume?
- If I get an interview, what do I tell them I have been doing during my unemployment?
Let’s first discuss the resume gap. While it might feel odd having nothing filling in your resume for the last several months, do not sweat it. You are not alone. Employers and HR professionals alike are having to overlook this for the foreseeable future.
This leads to the next question regarding how to discuss that gap during an interview. If asked what you have been doing, it is perfectly acceptable to answer that you have been sheltering in place and spending time with your family. You are not required to give more information than that. In this challenging time in our history, the silver lining is that many of us are getting more time with our family. However, it will always look good if you have been bettering yourself in some way. Whether you worked on your at-home baking skills, took online yoga classes, or one of any number of free online education courses available, something showing that you have been bettering yourself is always a good look.
If you have been spending time, protecting yourself and your family during the shutdown, that is a perfectly legitimate answer, but if you have the time and ability to pick up a new skill, it can only help you.
The Summit Careers team is working diligently to help individuals in the Hartford, CT area find their next career opportunity. There are companies in various industries that are currently seeking individuals with your skills. According to the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, 76% of employers say that finding and retaining workers is challenging. This is one of the reasons why the push is on to find qualified candidates. That’s where we come in. At Summit Careers, one of our many focuses is on Hartford hiring and helping various companies find the qualified employees they need to make their businesses thrive. Summit Careers Is Here to Help with Hartford Hiring Currently, there is a need for qualified candidates in academics, professional trades, higher skill development positions, and much more, in the Hartford, CT region. According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, there are several sectors that are fueling the need for skilled talent: Manufacturing There is a strong need for workers in aerospace and precision engineering. Finding skilled labor in these areas can be difficult for companies. If you have these skills, you hold an advantage over others who may be looking at these types of jobs. Skilled Trades There is also a strong need to find skilled workers in many different trades, especially in the construction industry. Life Sciences The Hartford, CT area has a high demand for lab technicians and technical staff, as well as research and development specialists. These types of specialized skills are extremely important in today’s job market. Academics Many school districts have numerous openings for staff, both in and out of the classroom. At Summit Careers, we help many school systems find the staff they need for teaching and other positions. Tips for Job Seekers in the Hartford, CT Area If you're looking for a job in the Hartford area, here are some tips to help you along the way: Highlight In-Demand Skills Employers are seeking candidates with skills in data analysis, cybersecurity, engineering, and various medical fields. Tailor your resume and cover letter to showcase your proficiency in these areas. Look at Early Career Programs Consider early career programs that can sometimes lead to a full-time role. Target Growth Industries Explore companies that are constantly growing and see how your skills may match their needs. Be sure to highlight these skills in any job search. Partner with Summit Careers for Your Hartford, CT Area Job Search One of the best things you can do to enhance your job search in the Hartford, CT area is to partner with Summit Careers. We work with many growth industries to help them find their next star employees. Our team searches our expansive applicant database to help find the best matches. It’s a win-win for everyone: the companies that need to find workers, and the job seekers who are looking for their next big move. To get started, submit your resume so we can get to work for you and find your next career move.
As we look ahead to fall, many companies will be busy trying to fill vacancies. While the job market is constantly shifting, there are a few areas that are expected to stand out, leaving companies scrambling to find qualified workers. If you want to get ahead, it’s important to be aware of which positions are expected to be most competitive so you can adopt smarter hiring strategies. The 5 Most In-Demand Roles This Fall Healthcare Professionals The demand for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and health service managers continues to soar. An aging population and an increased need for quality care are the driving forces. These roles are expected to be in clinics, hospitals, and long-term care facilities to maintain high standards of patient care. Machine Learning Specialists Businesses are expected to be looking for professionals who can implement AI-powered solutions. These specialists are needed to develop and integrate everything from automated customer service chatbots to complex data analysis models. Cybersecurity Specialists As businesses become more reliant on digital infrastructure, the risk of cyber threats grows. Cybersecurity specialists, including information security analysts and engineers, are in high demand to protect sensitive data, prevent breaches, and ensure the integrity of a company's systems. Data Scientists and Analysts Companies need experts who can make sense of all the data being generated these days. Data scientists and analysts are vital for extracting meaningful insights from complex datasets to inform business decisions, optimize operations, and predict market trends. Skilled Trades and Green Economy Workers There's a persistent demand for skilled tradespeople, and a new wave of growth is being driven by the green economy. Roles like solar installers and wind turbine service technicians are experiencing rapid growth as companies and governments invest in renewable energy projects. How to Work Smarter, Not Harder, When it Comes to Hiring The traditional hiring process won't cut it when competing for top talent. You need a strategy that's both efficient and appealing to modern job seekers. Prioritize Skills Over Degrees Focus on critical skills over degree requirements. A skills-based approach widens your talent pool and allows you to find qualified individuals who may have gained experience through alternative paths, such as bootcamps, online courses, or on-the-job training. Embrace Flexibility and Employee Wellness Work balance is more important than ever. To attract and retain top talent, consider offering flexible work arrangements like remote or hybrid options. Highlighting robust health and wellness benefits, including mental health support, can also make you stand out in a competitive market. Build a Strong Talent Pipeline Proactively build relationships with passive candidates through networking and employee referral programs rather than waiting for a position to open. A robust talent pipeline ensures you're never scrambling for a hire, as you'll already have a pool of qualified individuals to draw from. A strong employer brand that showcases your company's culture and values on social media and career pages is also crucial for attracting long-term interest. Highlight Technology and Data Use technology to streamline your recruitment process. AI-powered tools can help automate tasks such as resume screening and interview scheduling. This gives your HR team more time to focus on meaningful interactions with candidates. You’ll also want to use recruitment analytics to identify trends and measure the effectiveness of your hiring sources. Do You Need Help Filling Roles this Fall? Contact Summit Careers If you need help filling vacancies this fall, Summit Careers is here to help. We have a growing database of candidates who are looking for jobs just like yours. You can count on us to use the most efficient practices to fill vacancies quickly. Contact us today to learn more.
When you think about what contributes to a student’s success, it extends well beyond the classroom. Besides faculty members who work with students inside the classroom, many other staff members are needed for a student to be successful and well-rounded. This is why filling these positions is so vital. When these positions remain vacant for too long, the daily workflow can get disrupted, impeding a student’s success. At Summit Careers, our team is committed to filling vacant ancillary staff positions as soon as possible so that schools and universities can continue working at their fullest potential. Let’s take a closer look at how ancillary hiring truly drives student success. Contributing to Student Success: The Benefits of Filling Ancillary Vacancies Supportive Learning Environment When ancillary vacancies are filled, students can receive the supportive learning environment that they deserve. Ancillary staff, such as counselors, mentors, tutors, and others, can allow students to receive help that may not be available inside the classroom. Without the hard work of these individuals, students may lack the guidance they need to succeed. Reduce Teacher Workload It takes a village to teach a child. Much of that village can come from the help of ancillary staff members who can take some of the workload off of teachers. By doing so, teachers can focus more on teaching each child and giving them the attention they deserve. Improved Student Well-Being When we think of school staff, we may automatically think about teachers and teaching aides. But, staff members such as school nurses and guidance counselors can ensure that a student’s health and well-being are taken care of. When a student is not healthy physically or mentally, they will not be able to reach their fullest potential. But when a student is feeling well physically and in a good emotional and mental state, they have the energy and tools they need to reach for the stars. Besides nurses and guidance counselors, janitors and school cleaning staff are also vital to a student’s success because they help to maintain a sanitary learning environment. If a student is surrounded by a dirty learning environment, they are at a greater risk of becoming ill. Sickness results in lost classroom time that can negatively impact a student’s success. Technical Support We all know how much everyone relies on technology these days, especially in schools. Many lessons are available online only, and assignments are completed online. When something goes wrong on the technical side, it can impact learning. By hiring the right technical support staff, you can feel confident that you have the right people in place to spring into action when a technical problem arises. Technical support can help to fix problems before they become catastrophes that can severely impact daily operations. Social Development Social development can also contribute to a student’s success. Being involved in school clubs and activities allows students to meet others and expand their social circles. Staff who work to plan activities and coach sports play an important part in a student’s life. These staff members help students to foster their social skills, which allows them to become well-rounded individuals. Bridge Communication Gaps Communication is key when it comes to a student’s learning path. Support staff can serve as liaisons between teachers, administrators, and students. By fostering greater communication, these support staff members can contribute to a student’s success. Let Summit Careers Fill Your Ancillary Staff Vacancies Now If you have vacancies for ancillary staff members, Summit Careers is here to help. We have a growing database of candidates who are looking for jobs just like yours. We use the most efficient practices so that we can fill vacancies quickly. Contact us today and learn how we can work together to fill your vacancies and help students succeed.
