Which resume format can minimize chronological spacing issues for a significant employment gap?
Answer
Functional or combination resume
When a candidate has a substantial gap in their work history, traditional chronological resumes highlight the spacing issue prominently. The text suggests shifting the emphasis away from a strict timeline by adopting a functional or combination resume format. These formats strategically place the candidate's skills, competencies, and achievements at the forefront of the document. By prioritizing what the candidate *can do* over precisely *when* they did it, this formatting minimizes the visual disruption caused by longer periods of unemployment, making the document focus on current capabilities rather than historical breaks in continuous employment.
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