"Mind the Gap" is a warning to train passengers to take caution while crossing the gap between the train door and the station platform. It was introduced in 1969 on the London Underground.
One red flag that really stands out to employers on a resume is a significant gap - or several gaps - between positions. You can almost hear people thinking as they scan through, “What happened here in 2009?”
Though you could bemoan the fact that the world is cruel for not focusing on all the amazing things you have done in your life instead of focusing on the gap(s), you are better off taking a more positive approach and deftly handling those red flags before you send out your resume:
- Take classes,
- Do volunteer work, or
- Take a stopgap job.
Don't make excuses. Once you get your foot in the door, don't focus on why you were out of work or out of luck. Rather, focus on the new skills you acquired, projects you worked on or opportunities you created.