Military Spouse - Solid Experience but Gaps in Resume

"I'm a military spouse with a resume that has more holes than Swiss cheese, but solid experience. I interview very well, but can't seem to even get to that stage lately - I'm guessing due to the gaps in my resume."

I am glad to help. Thank you and your spouse for your service!

Even if the gaps in your experience aren't brought up, feel free to clarify it yourself - even if you aren't asked. Be honest and from my side of the table, I would see this as an advantage for you.

Communicate that your spouse made sacrifices and served our country. And with that, you happily made yourself flexible to change and adjustment to stay by his/her side. You can conclude that this loyalty and flexibility also plays a part of who you are as an employee.

Is there a chance that you will continue to move around the country in this situation? Or are you permanently settled in your current location? That is the next thought that will go through HR's mind.

Quantifying Results and Formatting on Resume

"For a sales resume, I have read to include as much quantifiable results as possible. Do you concur?

And for formatting... My hr lady said she prefers resume's with a skills and summary at the top followed by jobs with a brief description of the position and then the results driven. Do you have any experience with that?"

Quantifiables are great. Don't forget to balance them out with what makes you effective and unique.

Also, be ready to back them up with your W2 when asked. I've found that the only salespeople that are offended when asked to see their W2 are the ones that exaggerate their earnings.

As for formatting, go for meat over fluffy, trendy "it" words. If you want, still use them if submitting online.

Also, keep the summary concise, but make a statement about who you are. Skills can come before jobs - whichever you feel is more impressive.

Answering Questions You Don't Know the Answer To

"How do you address technical questions that you simply don't know the answer to?"

You want to be straight-forward in an interview, and not attempt to talk your way out of a difficult question (a la many politicians today).

The best way to prepare for this is to understand the position and study the job description. From there, anticipate questions that cover areas that you are not as strong in. When they come up, answer truthfully that the question deserves a response that you can not fully produce, but that it is an area of interest to you, and you plan to pursue and learn more about.

Pursue Higher Pay or More Experience?

"I have an issue I'm currently faced with and could use your insight. I recently received an offer from a German MNC in my industry(engineering) for a job I've always wanted. The offer is very very poor and If I accept I would be making the same as I currently am in my current job (Pays just below market rate and I'm reaching 11 months of employment). This is the first job right out of university.

How can I negotiate for a better pay?How can I tell the HR to offer competitive or at least market rate pay for an engineer with 1 year of experience in the related field. My current company has no career progression and the politics are rubbish.

Thank you for taking the time to read this."

What are the opportunities for growth at this new company? If this is a first "real-world" job for you, with plenty of opportunity to grow, it's ok to take low pay.

Keep your costs as low as possible. Rent cheap or live at home. Cook your meals at home. Don't drink much, etc.

If there is room to be promoted and grow, I'd take the job and kick ass. If you would hard, accomplish your tasks and go above & beyond, the money will follow.

How long should one stay at their current job before seeking a recruiter to move on to better opportunities?

Typically, the best time to move to a better opportunity will be when you are doing your best work at your current job. It gives you more leverage than when you are unemployed. Think of it as career momentum.

If you are happy with a job you have and it pays well, there is nothing wrong with staying as long as you like. Long stints in a position always stand out on a resume - it shows stability and reliability.

If things are "alright" or unhealthy, keep your ears to the ground, and stay open to conversations with trustworthy recruiters. Feel free to ask a recruiter any questions you have about the position or your career. Their answers might be self-interested, but often, they have a good pulse on the position and industry.

Finally, long answer short: I encourage anyone to spend at least 12 months in any position. Even if it is not for you, you will grow and mature in a tough position.