Halloween is just around the corner. And as one of Dade County’s top employment agencies, Future Force knows when it comes to hiring, employers aren’t afraid of mummies and werewolves. They’re most afraid of candidates with spotty or scary job histories.
So if you’re a candidate with a less-than-favorable job history, is there anything you can do to overcome it? Here’s a look at a few scary job history situations and how to deal with each one:
#1: You’ve been fired a time or two.
Getting fired from a job never looks good to a hiring manager. Even if you were unfairly terminated, hiring managers aren’t going to know this and will fear the worst. What can you do?
To overcome this red flag, you’ve got to be prepared to talk about it during an interview. When a hiring manager brings it up, don’t focus too much on why you got fired. Instead, talk more about what you learned from the experience and what value you can bring to the table as a result. Make sure you practice what you’re going to say so you feel confident talking about the situation.
#2: You’re dealing with extended unemployment.
Whether you were fired or laid off, you’ve still been unemployed for months – or perhaps even longer. How do you go about convincing a hiring manager you’ve got what it takes to hit the ground running with their company?
You need to be pro-active in this situation. For instance, if there’s a certain skill set you should obtain or need to polish, enroll in an online course. If there’s a volunteer opportunity that comes your way and enables you to use your skill set, take it. Not only will you stay busy, learn more, and expand your network, you’ll also be able to promote what you’ve been doing while unemployed to hiring managers.
#3: You have a spotty job history.
Are you a job jumper? If you are, then it’s certainly not going to help you in your search. Hiring managers will be concerned that you’ll leave after a few short weeks or months on the job.
To help them overcome these fears, you need to be ready to talk about your flawed job search history in your cover letter and during an interview. For example, perhaps you took time off to raise young children, or care for an aging relative. If that’s the case, you need to communicate these types of situations to hiring managers so they don’t automatically assume the worst.
Do you have a scary job history you need help overcoming? Contact the experts at Future Force. As one of Dade County’s top employment agencies, we can give you the inside scoop on getting hired at some of the area’s leading companies. Contact us today if you’re ready to get started.