Gaps in resume

[sam54]

I've recently quit my somewhat professional job in a city to move to a much smaller town with a limited number of jobs. This move is temporary, as my boyfriend's job only lasts through August, and then we will be moving to a larger area with a better job market. I'm guessing I won't be able to find a job with a similiar pay scale or requiring a college education in this new, primarily blue colar town. I understand I might have to take a job I don't want that may not enhance my resume. I have two years of experience in my field. I also have few debts and a decent amount of money in savings. Has anyone else experienced a similliar situation? How was the gap on your resume received by employers? Am I committing career suicide in going from an office environment to working in a coffee shop? Or should I enjoy the laid back lifestyle while I can?

[ce607]

I think this should be OK, sam, especially since you have a perfectly good explanation for the change - what you just wrote here. You moved with someone to a small town and there weren't as many opportunities. Fine. Also, since it's only until August, that's an 8-month span - not too long - where you won't be working in your field. When you go for interviews after that, you can easily talk about your experience at your most recent job without it being all that long ago.

[winneythepooh7]

I think as long as you are working, that is a good thing. You can always explain the reason for the brief change. I think that when people stop working that creates problems. What I mean by that is when people can't find a job in their field, but won't work at a decent job in something else, or related, because "it's not what they went to school for", then they have huge gaps in their resume. I know that my employers look for length of time in jobs too. If they notice you've only worked for a couple months here, a couple months there, they will totally question the person's work ethic.

[natbumpo]

It's definately fine that you're not working, but make sure you do something with your time.

If I was interviewing you I'd say, "great you have a perfectly legitimate reason for not working, so what DID you do with your time off?" If you said "I read The Great Gatsby because I always wanted to but never had the time, started to play the piano and honed my skills on x" (x being preferably the line of work will you being going back into)...that is great. But if you said, "watched Days Of Our Lives and ate Ho-ho's"...that would be a turn off.

[GetMeOuttaDC]

Do find something, but also consider trying to get a job that is in your field (even if you have to commute.) You never know that your bf's job "just lasts through August"...