How to create an Unemployed CV in 2021
Whether it’s due to personal reasons, getting fired, newly graduated or laid off, virtually everyone has at some point experienced what it’s like to be without a job.
All working professionals have one thing in common – at some point, they were all unemployed!
It is also essential to recognise why and how you must explain this to your interviewer.
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How do I explain my unemployment?
Be prepared to answer. Tell the truth about why you’re unemployed – laid off, just graduated, seeking new opportunities etc. What you may find is that your interviewer may be sympathetic to your situation given these economic times.
Don’t ramble
Explain the reasoning behind your unemployment, however be careful not to ramble. The interviewer doesn’t have the time. Worse yet, you may be hurting yourself in the process. Rambling may signal you are not genuine, or that you’re talking to cover something.
Keep the positive vibes flowing
Yes, you are unemployed. However, that does not mean you can’t be excited for new opportunities. Skip the sad stories and focus on how you’re using this time to find fulfilling work and brush up on your skills. Positive vibes can even make the interviewer forget you’re unemployed. It shows you can manage confidence and emotions well during uncertainty.
How did you fill your time?
Mention you’re unemployed and also state what you have been doing to stay productive – freelancing, volunteering, training etc. Potential employers love proactive, productive people!
How to convince them that you don’t want the job just because you’re unemployed?
Sometimes, it can be difficult to discern authentic candidates vs those who are saying what the interviewer wants to hear. You need to excel at coming across trustworthy and demonstrating genuine interest in the position. There are several ways you can do that.
Perform due diligence
Your research must go deeper than memorising their mission statement. Peruse their social media pages, company news, products and company awards. You must be thoroughly invested in the company where your knowledge is so broad, you’re practically sounding like one of them!
Watch those non-verbal cues
You’ve probably heard the saying, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it”. Many times, a candidate’s mouth may say one thing but their body language says another. Adopt a relaxed, yet attentive posture. Smile, as if you’re happy and grateful to be there. Keep your handshake firm and lean while towards the interviewer a bit to signal you’re engaged and interested in what they’re saying.
Do not take a selfish approach
A lot of jobseekers talk about why the company needs them. Flip the narrative and discuss what are you going to do for them. Discuss some pain points of the company (based on your research) and what solutions you offer.
Thank them
Always follow-up your interview with a thank you note or email, expressing gratitude for their time and consideration. Realise that they did not have to select you, but you are grateful they did and reiterate your interest in the position.
How to explain unemployment gaps in your CV
Employers will be looking to see how you’ve managed to fill the gaps within your work history. Though they many be sympathetic to your unemployment, they will nevertheless be looking at how you market yourself despite the odds being against you in the sections below.
Personal Profile
Mention your select skills and employment status, but also, what you’re currently doing to abide your time and what sort of opportunities you’re actively preparing yourself for.
Educational Achievements
Highlight your educational accomplishments as much as you can, given your limited work experience (if any). Degrees are common now, so you would have to include certifications, awards, additional training or distinctions you’ve accomplished.
Skills
Of course, you should not apply for a position if you don’t match any of the skill sets. Highlight the transferable skills you have so that it matches the criteria listed in the job description.
Work experience
Fill this section with volunteer work, internships, OJT training, freelancing or any other activity that can substitute. Tutoring students, assisting lecturers with projects, helping family members in their businesses, can all be viable options.
References
If you have no previous employers to reference, list community leaders, teachers, non-related professionals within your family’s network who can put in a good word for you.
What if I don’t have work experience?
If your CV lacks a sufficient work history, you can undertake the following:
- Seek out unpaid, temporary opportunities that offer skill development and a potential recommendation.
- Freelance. Why wait for an opportunity to fall in your hands? It’s the 21st century. If you have a skill or knowledge you can impart on others why not charge a fee and provide a service?
- Start something. Build something creative that you can truly be proud of that creates value for other people. It can be a blog, website, NGO, side business, e-commerce, clean-up campaign or a project around your community
- Don’t assume you’re too important for any job. There’s nothing wrong with stocking shelves, filing paperwork or manual labour temporarily till a better opportunity comes along.
Unemployed CV template
Download our Unemployed CV
Name: Maria Shortall
Address: 31 Upper Waterloo Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica
Phone: 1-876-618-4800
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
A trained and responsible Business Management graduate with experience in Human Resources and Industrial Relations. I have a range of skills and training in conflict resolution, HR metrics and instructional design. Despite being made redundant in 2020, I am pursuing new opportunities. I have also upskilled by completing a Train the Trainer certificate and performed recruitment for several community projects. I am fully prepared to re-enter the workplace, more knowledgeable, driven and self-aware.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- HR Analyst – Company X (June 2018 – November 2020)
- • Analysed workforce forecasting, scheduling and reporting activities to ensure effective and efficient staffing within the organisation.
- • Utilised T-SQL to develop reports for executive directors.
- • Ensured that employees’ time was accurately recorded by reviewing timecards.
- HR Administrator – Company Y (March 2016 – May 2018)
- • Drafted job descriptions and assisted with advertising vacancies through career portals, recruitment agencies and social media.
- • Coordinated interview process, including reviewing applications, scheduling & confirming interviews, and updating the ATS software.
- • Recorded weekly meeting minutes and performed other clerical duties where necessary
KEY SKILLS
- • Oral and written communication
- • Conflict resolution
- • Customer service & hospitality
- • Teamworking skills
- • The ability to learn quickly and adapt to virtual working arrangements
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY
University of the West Indies (2012 -2015)
Bachelor’s Degree Business Management
School of Business & Computer Science (2020)
Train the Trainer Certificate.
REFERENCES
Available upon request.
