I always enjoy the month of May and springtime...especially the colorful rainbow of flowers blooming in our garden, including red tulips, purple and white lilacs, pink peonies-- and giant orange poppies which will coming up soon. Thankfully, we've had a nice balance of sun-shiny days and rain here in Worcester, after a period of drought.

The U.S. Labor Market recovery continues. March job figures were revised up to 154,000 but only 115,000 jobs were added in April. Even so, 3.74 million job openings were posted in March...the highest number in four years. According to a recent Associated Press article: "The increase in U.S. job openings suggests that weaker hiring gains in March and April could be temporary."  

I'm really excited about the upcoming Beta Launch of my latest offering: an online, self-study version of my signature, 8-module career coaching program. What prompted me to create this program is my desire to give more people access to this material, as an affordable alternative to coaching privately with me. Please scroll down for details!

If you have gaps in your work history -- for personal or economic reasons -- you're not alone. Because so many events have impacted the U.S. labor market, gaps in work histories are commonplace with more jobseekers than ever before. The good news is that you don't need to feel apologetic about gaps or worry that they'll be viewed negatively by hiring managers. My article: "Got Gaps in Your Work History? Don't Despair!" will give you strategies for handling gaps to help you confidently move forward in your search.

Employment at one company until retirement has become the exception in the US, rather than the rule. With the evolution of a global labor market, the 9/11 crisis, and the 2008 economic meltdown followed by "The Great Recession", "job security" has literally disappeared. These trends have also led many companies to cut their workforce, leaving downsized workers with gaps in their employment history and/or long periods of unemployment. 

Gaps in work history can occur for other situations besides the economy, such as family/maternity leave, caring for an ill relative or returning to school full-time. Whatever the reasons might be, the challenge for jobseekers is how to skillfully handle these gaps on resumes, social media profiles and in conversations with hiring managers, without jeopardizing their candidacy.

Given today's economy, hiring managers are usually more accepting of gaps than in previous years. Even so, it's wise to show them that you haven't been idle during a period of unemployment. You want to confidently answer the questions: "Why did you leave your last employer?" or "What were you/have you been doing between Job A and Job B?" 

"I worked with Joellyn and went through her Career Action Planning session after months and months spinning my wheels trying to land a position. Her session and follow ups were a great jump start for me in redesigning my resume. She helped me focus on what my strengths were and was encouraging and genuine. She's extremely personable and is a great listener. I'd recommend her to anyone who is struggling finding their next steps in their career path."  -- Louis Miano, Sr. Software Developer 

 Go to my website for details and pricing: