5 things to do during an employment gap

5 things to do during an employment eu-agrarpolitik5 things to do during an employment gapWeve all been there. Whether it was planned or not, an employment gap or transition period in between jobs can come with a rollercoaster of emotions. If your transition period is planned and you have a set start date for your next role, you might be feeling happy, free, and ready to relax. On the flip side, if youre searching for a new job, its likely that you have at least some sort of anxiety and fear about the unknown (relax, its totally normal). Most people fall somewhere in between and feel a range of emotions regardless of the situation. The one common thing that almost everyone experiences during an employment gap or transition period is more free time. If this is not sohonigweinhing that youre used to, it can be extremely overwhelming and leave you feeling a little lost. If this sounds familiar, this article is for you Here are five things to do during an employment gap or transition per iod.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreUpdate your resumeThis is probably the last thing you want to do, but its easily one of the most important things that needs to get done. If you already have a job lined up, you might want to skip over this, but dont. Regardless of your situation, take advantage of free time to update your resume.If you have a new job lined up, reorganize your document to include your new job. You likely wont have all the details, but you can always fill those in later. By making space for your new role and creating an outline of what needs to be added to your resume, youll lessen your workload later and give yourself a good foundation to build upon. Its always better to work on your resume when you have time instead of when youre scrambling.If youre searching for a new job, be sure to update your resume and create a strong focus for your document. Someone sh ould immediately be able to figure out what kind of job youre interested in applying to upon reading (or glancing at) your resume.Learn something new or learn more about something that will further your careerBefore you get stressed about paying for classes, take into account that there are a lot of educational resources that dont cost an arm and a leg. When I talk about learning something new, this includes zugnglich courses, YouTube tutorials, or budget friendly platforms such asLinkedIn Learningorskillshare. Additionally, there are a lot of free courses and certifications you can get online which immensely help build your resume. For example, you can take some online tutorials and training sessions on QuickBooks or Adobe Photoshop via YouTube and list that as specialized training. As long as the training gives you an advantage and further educates you on a subject, you can list it on your resume.Here are 10 free online certifications to help boost your resumeIncluding relevant ce rtifications and specialized training can make a huge difference when youre applying for jobs. Even if you dont have specific certifications but youve had internal training, (i.e. courses youve taken at work, management training, HR training, etc.) include that in your resume. When youre searching for a new job, be mindful of opportunities to further educate yourself in certain areas that could benefit your career. Could you get certified in a specific software or take a current certification to the next level? This will help an employer see how you align with the position youre applying for. When hiring managers are comparing candidates, sometimes small details such as certifications and/or specialized training can make all the difference. If youve taken the time to further educate yourself in your field, this shows motivation and ambition which areimportant traits to highlight on your resume.Reach out to your contactsThe ultimate way to get your resume into the right hands is to u se your industry connections. If you have a contact who can direct your resume to the right rolle, use it. Job search is about going beyond the resume to get noticed. Real relationships with colleagues and friends matter in getting a foot in the door, sayscareer coach Alyson Garrido.Reach out to industry contacts to let them know youre currently in a transition period and are looking for new opportunities. People are often willing to help, but they cannot do so if they arent aware that youre interested and open to new opportunities.Consider sending an email like thisHope this note finds you well We met where/when you met and I wanted to circle back with you and see how Insert a question about how an event went or touch on something you spoke about when you met.Ive followed your journey and am extremely impressed with your work on project. This inspired me to shift my career towards job and I was wondering if you have any advice to share? Company is on my short list of dream companie s, so I wanted to see if there might be any current or future openings I could look into. Ive recently updated my resume and have attached it to this email for your convenience. Please let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to pass it along if you see fit.Thanks in advance for your help Please keep me posted on how things are going and if theres anything I can do to return the favor.Best,Your NameLeveraging your network is one of the best ways to find and secure new job opportunities. Doing so enables you to get your resume in front of the right person and often helps you bypass large applicant pools, especially during the graduation rush.Focus on the quality of applications, not the quantityIt can be tempting to just hit apply on every position that might seem like a kompetenz fit, but instead of focusing on how many job applications you submit, try to create a couple of really strong applications with resumes that you have customized for each position based on the jo b description.Often people employ the spray and pray tactic when applying for jobs. This term has become common among recruiters when describing a candidate that applies to tens or hundreds of positions in the hopes that someone will bite.On average, each corporate job opening attracts 250 resumes. This means that your resume has to be outstanding in order to stand out from the crowd. When using the spray and pray tactic, resumes usually dont hold the specified requirements or keywords, causing them to get turned down immediately. When you dontcustomize your resume to each job, its clear that youre using the spray and pray tactic. This isnt an effective job search strategy, and it also doesnt bode well for your reputation among hiring managers or recruiters.Remember that it takes time, and relish the time you have nowUltimately, finding a job that is a good fit for you takes time. There are so many factors that go into finding a job such as company culture, location, salary, scope o f work, timing, etc. Its easy to feel overwhelmed or get dejected because your job search isnt going as well as you hoped, but its important to realize that its not personal. Finding a job is hard for everyone Finding a job that meets your criteria and is a good fit for you and your potential employer is difficult whether youre searching for your first job out of college or looking to make a lateral move as an executive.If youre someone who thrives with a busy schedule, (Im part of that club) having extra free time can cause a lot of anxiety. While this is totally normal, it is important to put things in perspective and logic your way through it. Yes, extra free time can feel expansive and make you feel a little lost, but as long as youre putting your best foot forward and doing everything in your power to find the right job, theres not much else you can do. At some point you just have to trust that your hard work will pay off and enjoy the time that you have. You wont always be abl e to hit a mid-day exercise class or read that book youve been meaning to finish. It can be difficult, but enjoy the time you have while you have it, because if youre being proactive, youll find a job before you know itThisarticlefirst appeared onWrite Style.Michele Lando is a certified professional resume writer, personal branding expert, and founder of Write Styles. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves both on paper and in person and works to polish individuals application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles provides resources to enhance your resume, professional appearance, and boost your confidence.