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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

2014 NRWA Conference Preview Call: Michelle Aikman





Thinking about attending the NRWA Conference in Denver this September? I attended the NRWA Conference Preview call on Friday, May 9, and here are some of the takeaways!


Michelle Aikman
Breakout Session Speaker – Friday, Sept. 19 (9:45 to 10:45 a.m.)
"Mind the Gap: Resume Strategies for People with Paid Work Gaps"

Michelle is originally from Denver, so she said she's interested in coming home to visit friends and family. As the spouse of an active duty military service member, Michelle has personal experience with a "very mobile lifestyle" as a military spouse -- one that lends itself to gaps in paid work employment.

She noted that employers do care about gaps -- they wonder about your client's motivation, fit with the job, and more... you want to help your clients avoid an employer thinking "You didn't do anything?"

Her strategies will apply for gaps due to any type of caregiving (for children, family, or aging parents), breaks due to "soul searching," personal medical issues, and more. She'll help you formulate the correct strategy to help clients -- whether it's appropriate to disclose the reason for the gap, the impact the gap will have on the candidate's selection, and when and how to disclose the information.

Questions to examine in developing the strategy are:

  • Will it (the situation) happen again?
  • Is it due to lifestyle?
  • Is it an ongoing problem?
  • Is any accommodation required?


Michelle will help you turn your client's "boo-boos" into "boo-yahs!"

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