How to Showcase Transferable Skills After a Career Gap

#DearPhDs, did you know that one of the most valuable transferable skills you bring to industry is often overlooked during the hiring process? I’m talking about YOUR ABILITY TO LEARN. You studied more than 98% of the world's population. You found answers to the world’s hardest problems. You learned things you never thought you could. Your ability to learn is your superpower. Applying learnings to new contexts is its sidekick. Use this duo to mitigate recruiter concerns. So the next time an interviewer mentions your 'lack of industry experience' or 'an excessive academic background', structure your response in three parts:  (1) reiterate how your transferable skills fit job requirements; (2) explain how you'll apply these skills to perform job duties; (3) highlight how you’ll use your ability to learn to fill any gaps. Learning is your superpower. Use it to stand out during your job search. During your industry interviews, make a point to highlight your ability to learn quickly and comprehensively and how you will use it to get up to speed in the role. Good luck with your interview! 💛

Career gaps happen. Sometimes, a career gap will happen when you take time off to care for children, or aging parents. Sometimes you'll need to take time off for a mental health or physical health issue. Sometimes...well, does it really matter? Are we placed on this Earth to become worker machines? I recently worked with a client who has a gap in her career. While she may not have been working for a paycheck, she WORKED during that time. Nina Carr DaSilva, CPC, CBCS took the time off that she had and became an officer for her local #AAPC chapter, serving the medical coding and billing community. I know I've said it before, and I'll say it here again; if a new (or seasoned) coder is trying to add some value to their resume, becoming an officer for the local chapter is the way to go. Nina took that advice and ran with it. As an officer myself, here are some of the transferrable skills I learned: ✅ public speaking ✅ event organizing ✅ scheduling speakers ✅ ordering supplies ✅ organizing attendance ✅ accounting ✅ technology ✅ customer service ✅ education, training, and mentoring ✅ leadership While a paying job is certainly good to have, not having one doesn't mean that your skills have lapsed. Being an AAPC #officer is a volunteer position which adds a lot of value to any coder or biller, and Nina Carr DaSilva, CPC, CBCS could attest to this. I'm excited to see what will happen for her as she applies to jobs. Any employer should be excited to see an officer apply for a position because these skills will follow that employee everywhere they go.

I have stated many times during mentorship that what you've done in the past matters. One of the iterations of a career that I had before returning to tech was cake decorating. Does this actually apply to being a PM? Yes! Here's how: - I had to get customer requirements - I had to plan in advance and break down the steps for delivery - I had to adapt and contingency plan when things were not going as great as expected - I had to be patient - I had to tap into creativity - I had to keep it within a time and money budget I could keep going, but hopefully the point is enough. What you've done prior to today matters. If you have a career gap, embrace it. Be proud of what you accomplished during the gap. Find a way to put business language to the places where you most certainly had impact. Walking into an interview embracing the time away rather than being ashamed of it can build the confidence you need to ace the interview. Also, this cake "ain't so bad" after six years away from making them. It brought some huge joy in the creation. Also, I was able to brainstorm how to do wisteria because I wanted it. #CakeDecorating #CareerGap #TransferrableSkills

Can #teachers really cut it outside the classroom? Do #educators really have skills that extend beyond working with kids? The worst part about questions like these is that they most often come from the teacher's own mind. It is hard for you to see yourself as anything else because teaching and school are what you know. Maybe this will help you: Here are 3 anecdotes from teachers I have worked with who now have other jobs, and they are crushing it BTW. "Planning graduation felt like climbing a mountain...late deliveries, last-minute changes, the usual chaos. But guess what? That's project management with a side of high-stakes problem-solving!" "Remember that time the entire baseball tournament nearly got rained out? We scrambled, found a new field, and adjusted the whole schedule. Turns out, that's called crisis adaptability!" "As a principal, I remember that year we revamped our whole PD program. Stakeholder feedback, needs assessments, scheduling nightmares... it was like strategic planning on steroids!" You see, these quotes came from teachers who, at first, didn't see how they had anything to really offer. They didn't even list Planning Graduation, Organizing a Baseball Tournament, or Building a PD Program on their resume. You have skills. You have experiences that prove them. Teachers (and principals!), imposter syndrome wants you to forget these moments of brilliance. Don't let it! Your skills are in demand. Dig for those wins: Translate your experiences into the language of your target industry. Remember your impact: The moments you're proud of reflect skills that go far beyond the classroom. Find your cheerleaders: Connect with educators (or leaders!) who've transitioned – they'll believe in you! Oh, and connect with me. I want to know your story. I transitioned out of the classroom in January 2020. I now help educators on the path to career transformation, and I help coaches who are trying to find their audience. Wondering what to do next: 1. Leave a comment with your "transferable skill" and example of putting it to work. 2. DM me for a free career chat. #teachertransition #principalleadership #careerdevelopment #educators #transferableskills

“I don’t think anyone is even seeing my resume, Isaiah. I’m either instantly rejected or I get an automated rejection. How can I tell if my resume is being seen.” This is what a job seeker asked me yesterday. The only way to 100% know you’ve been seen by an employer right now is to get an interview where the employer shows up to the interview and doesn't ghost you. You can't control ghosting. What you can control is making your resume correctly so it gets through today’s AI and so the gatekeeper likes it too and reaches out for an interview. What we’ve found is that diving into the world of transferable skills and mastering these skills and their unique nomenclature is the best way to do this. Highlighting transferable skills in your resume is crucial, especially for PhDs seeking positions in academia or transitioning to industry roles. Transferable skills are the abilities and expertise that are applicable in a variety of roles and sectors. They demonstrate your versatility and potential to contribute beyond your specific field of study. Here’s why they are important: First, transferable skills broadens employment opportunities. Transferable skills, such as critical thinking, project management, communication, strategic planning, documentation, reporting, presenting, problem solving, and leadership, can open doors to a range of job opportunities. They show potential employers that you can adapt and thrive in different environments, not just in the niche area of your research. Second, they bridge gaps. For PhDs transitioning from academia to industry, transferable skills help bridge the gap between academic experience and the business world. Employers may not be familiar with your specific area of research, but they will recognize and value these broader skills. Third, they enhance your resume. In a competitive job market, transferable skills make your resume stand out. They provide a holistic view of your capabilities and demonstrate that you are a well-rounded candidate. Fourth, they support career advancement. These skills are often linked to leadership and management potential. Highlighting them can position you for roles with greater responsibility and upward mobility within an organization. Fifth, they reflect adaptability. Employers value candidates who can adapt to new challenges and environments. Transferable skills showcase your ability to learn and evolve, which is particularly important in fast-paced or changing sectors. To effectively convey these skills on your resume, reflect on your academic and professional experiences to identify your transferable skills. Prioritize those most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Then, provide concrete examples of how you’ve used these skills in different settings. Are you communicating transferable skills on your resume? If so, which ones? Share this post to inspire another job seeker. 

Career Gaps: Navigating after a personal break and rejoining the workforce! I noticed several questions about career gaps in the recent December “Ask a Recruiter” event, so I wanted to share insights to help those navigating return to the workforce after a break. I can share my own example of rejoining the workforce after a 14-year gap, initially with a short course in HR and gaining experience in a small boutique recruiting agency for a couple of years, then moving to internal recruiting by securing contract openings with enterprise clients. I am now building my own brand within the recruiting space. IMO employers increasingly recognize the value of these gaps, and they are willing to give a chance to any candidate after a break who is willing to come back into the workforce.   Many large firms offer return ship programs, providing opportunities for individuals to return to the workforce. They are often open to welcoming individuals back into their organizations.   The next question is, would there be bias in the resume reviewing stage? Yes, there is bound to be one, but there is someone who will see your potential.   Be open about the gap, briefly mentioning the reason, such as caretaking, personal injury, layoff, or a sabbatical, on your resume. Focus on creating a resume that highlights your strengths and achievements. Emphasize relevant projects, courses, certifications, voluntary work, or skill enhancements during the break. Update your LinkedIn profile, optimize headlines and summary, and gather as many references and recommendations as possible from your ex-colleagues and managers. Your resume and LinkedIn profile both play pivotal roles in your job search journey. This will move you to the screening level after job applications. During interviews, discuss why you're an excellent fit for the role, showcasing how your experience aligns with the employer's expectations. Emphasize the value you bring and your genuine interest in the job and company. Networking is crucial; leverage connections for referrals by sending personalized messages to the companies you are applying to. Additionally, engage with people in the company you are targeting by interacting with their content. Please repost if you found this useful for fellow job seekers. Follow me for more tips on the job search on LinkedIn and my twitter handle, @dlaxmi16 #careergap #returntowork #resumetips #jobsearch #networking #AskARecruiter #careeradvice #startup #entrepreneur #bias #linkedinprofile #resume #LinkedInsummary

One of the questions I get most frequently from job seekers is how to navigate a career gap on their resume… Personally, I say address it head-on. Lots of people, particularly over the last 4-5 years, have experienced unexpected breaks in employment. It’s understandable and perfectly acceptable! But if you don’t address it proactively, employers might begin to imagine unfounded and unfair red flags about you and your work history. So don’t give them the chance! I always recommend incorporating a “career break” entry into your resume. In this type of section, you have the opportunity to: 1️⃣ Tactfully and succinctly explain the reason for this break in your employment history while avoiding going into unnecessary details 2️⃣ Frame things in a positive light and showcase your resiliency, rather than just leaving a missing date range in your experience section 3️⃣ Explain relevant activities you may have engaged in during your break like volunteering, upskilling, or working in a part-time or freelance capacity 4️⃣ Highlight the alignment of skills you potentially gained or honed during this time to the job for which you are applying 5️⃣ Showcase your excitement for returning to a specific role or field, addressing baseless concerns about your commitment or work readiness This approach is strategically beneficial because it allows you to be honest and transparent, while also giving you the opportunity to control your own narrative! #careerbreak #careergap #resumewriting