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With the job market getting better, more workers who were once discouraged are getting back into the hunt.

But how do you explain that gap in your work history on your résumé?

The first rule: Be honest about the gap, said Cheryl Campbell, president of TPI Staffing in Cypress.

Employers will do a reference check, said Campbell, whose agency focuses on placing workers in office support and light industrial positions. That means don’t fudge the date of when you left your last job.

And even if you weren’t employed during the period, try to make the best of what you were doing, she suggested. Maybe you took a class to improve your skills, did volunteer work or even worked on your children’s school fund-raising auction. Put it down on your résumé.

“It shows you didn’t sit around waiting for the phone to ring,” Campbell said.

When the interviewer asks, you can say you took a long-awaited trip after your job ended and spent time with your family, she said. But then add something like, “I’m more than ready to go back to work now, and I’m looking for a great opportunity.”

Answering well

When Gary White lost his warehouse job three years ago, it took him a long time to get back on his feet. After several months, potential employers started asking why.

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Via Chron>com