What is the strategic purpose of inserting a small, recent 'bridge activity' just before a current application date?
Answer
To make the professional transition appear much smoother and demonstrate recent professional engagement
A 'bridge activity' is a tactic used when a significant gap exists between the last job (e.g., mid-2022) and the present application date (e.g., mid-2025). By inserting a short, relevant activity—like a six-month volunteer role or a short contract—just before the current application, the candidate visually breaks up the long void. The goal is psychological and visual: it reframes a two-year gap into two smaller segments separated by recent, tangible professional engagement, making the transition back to the workforce appear far more deliberate and smoother to the reviewer.
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