When preparing a new resume, whether for a new career-path or a continuation on present course, many job-seekers are faced with a common reality: not every year of that working history is accounted for under some formal employment. Between jobs, during economic crunches or simply in times of readjustment, there may be long periods of unemployment. How should you handle such employment-gaps when preparing a resume? Here are a couple of thoughts:

Start a Consulting Company. During that downtime, you probably put some effort into doing something else you wanted to do, anyway. Maybe it was a writing hobby. Maybe you helped a neighbor repaint or repair his home. Perhaps you volunteered with some community project, or helped out with an event at your child's school. You might even have simply taken on a string of odd jobs to make ends meet, using talents or knowledge you already had.

Whatever the case, you've demonstrated skills and gained experience. Take credit, even for the smallest of jobs and projects in which you were involved while not working. If the jobless stretch extended, consider yourself to have been "self-employed" in your own consulting company for that period. (If you aren't feeling particularly creative, use your own name for the company: John Doe Consulting, or Susan Smith Advisory Services.)

Define your status correctly. If, after leaving a company, you spent time on severance, you were technically still employed. If you were laid off in June, but maintained severance through September, your employment end-date is September. (If it's not September yet, you may honestly say "...to present" under dates of employment in that position.)

If you're employed now, think twice before jumping ship. Don't quit your job, even though your boss is a knucklehead, and treats you like a serf instead of a valuable human being. Hang in there as best you can, even while pursuing other opportunities. Just like getting bank-loan when you really don't need one, it's ALWAYS easier to find a job when gainfully employed and "passively" looking for a new work-situation.

With these things in mind, you should have no trouble filling in those "employment gaps" on your resume http://www.myhiringauthority.com.