Difficulty Finding A Job? Build Your Resume Like This Instead in 2020

At a time when unemployment rates are hitting record highs, almost everyone is having difficulty finding a job right now. If you have a disability, you’re facing even more challenges. Luckily, making some simple updates to your resume can help you stand out from the crowd.

Following are some of the questions that people with disabilities ask about the job search process and tips for creating a winning resume.

Should I Disclose My Disability on a Job Application?

The number one question that comes up is whether disability disclosure is necessary – or recommended – on a resume. Generally, the answer is no. The first step to getting hired is getting an interview, so it’s better to hold off on your disability disclosure until a better time (or not at all).

Remember that the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) prohibits employers with more than 15 employees from discriminating based on a mental or physical disability. They’re also not allowed to ask job applicants about current or past medical conditions or require a pre-employment medical exam. 

Further, employers must make “reasonable accommodations” for disabled employees unless it will cause “undue hardship.”

Unfortunately, even good employers might have some concerns about whether this will disrupt their business. For this reason, it’s usually best to avoid the issue altogether at least until you’ve had a chance to make a great first impression.  

What Should I Include in My Resume?

Now that you know what to leave off your resume, the next question is what should you include? Just like any job seeker, you’ll want to fill your resume up with information about your experience. Use your resume to show what you’ve achieved throughout your life and how it applies to the job position that you’re applying for.

Top Resume Tips

To make sure your resume isn’t rejected right away, you’ll want to follow some well-known best practices. This includes making sure that your resume fits on one page and that it’s easy to scan. Do this by dividing it into sections and using relevant headings.

Often, employers have dozens or more applications to go through, and if yours is poorly organized or super long, they might pass on it just based on principle.

Format Your Resume Correctly

Formatting is also very important as it will make your resume look professional and easy to read. Make sure you use margins and that your resume has plenty of white space.

Choose a font that’s easy to read, attractive, and professional. Some of the best options are Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana. Skip anything that’s juvenile, like Papyrus, Comic Sans, or Curlz MT. Also, make good use of bold and italics, but be careful not to overdo it.

Customize Each Resume

Don’t make the mistake of submitting a generic resume to multiple employers. Make sure you thoroughly read through the job listing – then read through it again! Once you’re crystal clear on what the employer is looking for, use this information to tweak your resume so it shows that you’re the ideal candidate for the job.

Use a Professional Email Address

So, you might love your catlover21@hotmail.com email address – but it’s not doing you any favors when it comes to landing a job! Choose a platform like Outlook or Gmail and consider using just your name. For example, Jane.Doe@gmail.com.

This is a step that only takes a few minutes but can make a huge difference.  

Use Reverse-Chronological Order

When creating your resume, you’ll want to start with your most recent information and then work your way back. So your current job should be listed first under experience, and your highest degree at the top of your education information.

Generally, you don’t want to go back more than 10 to 15 years when listing your job experience. Anything older than this likely isn’t relevant anyway.

Don’t Forget to Proofread!

This might seem obvious, but it’s absolutely critical that your resume is free of any typos or grammatical issues. Proofread it multiple times, and consider having someone else take a look at it as well. Sometimes, when we’re too close to something, it’s easy to miss mistakes that are obvious to someone else.

How Do I Explain Gaps in My Work History?

It’s recommended that you explain any gaps in your work history on your resume. However, when these gaps are due to your disability that you prefer not to disclose, this can become a difficult prospect.

In many cases, your best bet is to simply put “Illness and Recovery” next to the dates that show gaps in your resume. This way, you’re being honest and the “recovery” part sends the message that you’re ready to go back to work.

Another option is to choose a functional resume format. This focuses on your experiences and skills, rather than your chronological work history. Choosing this format will allow you to rearrange your resume in a way that doesn’t highlight the gaps in your work history.

Having Difficulty Finding a Job? We Can Help!

There’s no doubt that the job market is challenging right now, but if you’re having difficulty finding a job, we can help!

Simply sign up on our website, then you can search our job listings and also receive job alerts by email or text. It’s completely free and can help you find the ideal job for your skillset!