My answer may surprise you. I don’t believe you need to hide anything. Misrepresenting your employment can lead to termination. Instead, be prepared to explain each gap and how you used the downtime constructively. Did you take a class, travel, or tackle a project in your home? Spin it in a positive light but don’t fudge your employment dates.

Two more readers posed equally perplexing questions:

• Does overselling yourself in an interview hurt or help in the long run?
• How often should I follow up if a recruiter stops responding to me?

Get my answers to both of these questions in my new article, “Y our Questions and My Opinions: Ready, Set, Go” posted in the  Market My Career resource library. While you’re there, browse our other articles on networking, social media, interviewing and more!

Have a question you’d like answered? Respond to this post or send a note to info@marketmycareer.com.

Here’s why. People apply online the majority of the time, and mail their resumes when they really want to stand out. Very few send faxes, which means that it’s more likely that anyone receiving it will actually read through your documents. In fact, one HR employee actually told me he reads EVERY faxed resume.

The second part of this situation is even better. If you address someone by name on the cover sheet, the odds are very good your resume will be placed in their inbox. This means they’ll at least glance at it while sorting through the mail. With hundreds (or even thousands!) of emails coming in daily, do you think the same can be said of resume attachments?

Here’s how you can make this strategy work for you:

1)    Find out the name and title of the hiring manager (try asking a networking contact or investigating on LinkedIn).

2)    Find out the fax number of the department by asking a contact or calling the company’s main number.

3)    Send your resume and cover letter WITH a cover sheet.

4)    Follow up a few days later.

Though faxing your resume is a great strategy for standing out, it’s not a magic bullet. Use this tool, but keep cultivating your contacts and following up with decision makers. Your persistence WILL pay off!

• Acquisition: As you may know, Acme Inc. was recently acquired and more than 300 positions were eliminated, including mine. I am now exploring opportunities to…
• Reorganization: My position, along with ten other people in my department, was eliminated in a company-wide reorganization. I enjoyed my job and am looking for similar work but open to other industries, including…
• Fired: I am no longer with Acme Inc. and I’m taking this time to consider how to get back into the manufacturing industry, where my true passion lies…

Many of you have probably heard of Seth Godin and if not, I highly recommend you check him out. He’s a writer, speaker, consultant… Part prognosticator, part ruckus-maker, he doesn’t pull any punches. Last week, as we waved goodbye to 2011 and watched the shiny New Year unfurl, Seth wrote a post entitled, “The Chance of a Lifetime.” And it rocked me. Here’s an excerpt:

“The thing is, we still live in a world that’s filled with opportunity. In fact, we have more than an opportunity — we have an obligation. An obligation to spend our time doing great things. To find ideas that matter and to share them. To push ourselves and the people around us to demonstrate gratitude, insight, and inspiration. To take risks and to make the world better by being amazing.”

I’m going to ask you to do yourself a favor and read it now. Right now. You won’t get any tips on updating your resume, finding hidden job leads, or working with recruiters. But I think you’ll find it worth your time just the same.

Let me know what you think. Better yet, let me know what you’re going to do in 2012 to make it great.

Authors C.J. Hayden and Frank Traditi illustrate it for job seekers in an easy-to-follow and practical manner. My favorite aspect is that they advise readers to first determine their obstacles, so they can more accurately choose the steps to overcome them. For example, let’s say you’ve been on several interviews, but haven’t yet received an offer. Instead of spending additional time applying for open positions, it’s likely that your obstacle is at the interview stage. Therefore, it makes sense to focus on resolving any potential problems in this area.

At this point, you’d brainstorm (or review the book for ideas) steps you might take to improve the outcome. A few examples of goals could include: 

1)    Contacting two people you had interviewed with to see if you can get feedback.

2)    Scheduling an informational interview with someone in your target industry to further determine what might be keeping you from getting offers.

3)    Conducting a mock interview with a coach or friend.

4)    Practicing responses to any questions you’ve had trouble answering (i.e. have you ever been fired?).

The key is to determine clear steps you can take, and not be too tied to the outcome. With #1, it’s completely within your control to reach out to two people. You can’t guarantee they’ll give you the information you need, but you’ve done your part. Performing controllable actions will give you confidence, momentum, and ultimately results in the areas you most need – the effect of persistence!

Author Bill Burnett is giving away free copies of “The Peak Interview: New Insights into Winning the Interview and Getting the Job” in the Kindle format. You can be read it on any PC, Mac, smartphone, or tablet with the free Kindle app. But you have to act fast, the offer is only good until the end of year.

Get your copy now on Amazon absolutely free and don’t forget to tell a friend!

It’s worth keeping up with your job search despite the slow time of year (see Keep Your Job Search Going Through The Holiday Months, for more on this topic). However, if you’re not finding much that’s a fit for you, consider looking beyond these opportunities. Have you gotten a call from a recruiter for a job that doesn’t meet your qualifications? Did you see an ad for a company you’d like to work for though the open position isn’t a fit? It’s easy to discount these opportunities once we realize they don’t benefit us.

However, I advise you to pass it on! Not only will people be grateful to receive a lead, you’ll be cultivating your network at the same time. And, though it’s a cliché, you’ll often find that this generosity will come back to you. Some ideas:

1)    If you get a call from a recruiter, don’t write them off if you don’t fit their position. Check your database and see if there’s anyone you can recommend. You’ll build goodwill with the headhunter, too, and be remembered for future opportunities!

2)    When checking your dream company’s open positions, you may be disappointed to find out that there isn’t anything that matches your qualifications. Still, see what else is listed – you may actually be gaining an internal contact by recommending someone else for an open job!

3)    Pass on more than just leads: whether interesting articles, industry events, or even just an introduction to an industry colleague, share!

Of course, ‘tis ALWAYS the season for giving. Don’t limit this practice to the holiday months!

Picture: Christmas Warmth, by somadjinn

I know, I’ve been there. And I’m not going to lie, it sucks. Big time.

If you’re feeling blue*, acknowledge it. It’s a real, honest human reaction to tough times, and there’s nothing to be ashamed about. We all get blue sometimes. When I get blue I find writing helps. I might start a Wish List of my dreams and goals. Just realizing I still have some fire in my belly perks me up. Or I might write a Gratitude List where I jot down every thing, person, and place that I’m grateful for – once I start writing, I often can’t stop! Another trick up my sleeve when I’m feeling down is to listen to music. LOUDLY. Meditation works for some, exercise works for others.

The point is, take action. Do something to flip the switch from down to delighted! If you have a trick that helps you get your jolly back, take a minute and share it here – you just may help someone else find their smile.

As the New Year approaches I find yourself reflecting on the year just past and also the year ahead. I encourage you to focus on what went well, and paint a vivid picture for an even better 2012.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or simply the onset of winter, may you feel peace, joy and hope at this very special time of year.

* If you’re feeling seriously blue, please know that help is available;  you must be brave and ask for it.

I had the pleasure of meeting Wayne many years ago when I was staffing a fundraiser and he was volunteering hi celebrity status for the cause. He is unassuming, quick to laugh, and even quicker to smile. Wayne has many powerful quotes attributed to his name but as we wind down 2011 and look ahead to 2012, this one seems to resonate with me the most:

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”

What shots will you take in 2012? Which ones will you let slide right on by? I’m going through some rigorous business planning for the coming year and I’m asking myself these very same questions. Will I cross the center line, go to where I think the puck is going to be, and take the shot? Or will I play it safe, stay in my zone of comfort, and watch others achieve what I dream for myself?

There are more unemployed people than there are jobs – this we know. But no one finds a job, let alone the job of their dreams, playing it safe. Take the shot. And when you hear the crowd roar, you’ll know that we’re here, cheering you on from the sidelines.

By now, you’ve probably heard how important networking is to your career. You may even attend industry-specific networking events, speed-networking meetings, or get virtually introduced to new contacts by mutual connections. This is all great, but – what do you do AFTER you’ve met someone?

Networking contacts come in handy in the most mysterious ways. The person with an “in” at your target company may be someone you haven’t spoken to in 3 years – despite the fact that you’re connected on LinkedIn. If you’re an avid networker, the sheer size of your database may make you feel it’s impossible to stay in touch with everyone you’ve met. This isn’t necessarily true.

The key is staying in touch. This doesn’t mean dinner every month, just a brief “touch” to staying on someone’s radar. Of course, there will be other relationships you’ll want to spend more time nurturing. However, you can keep in contact with most people in your network fairly quickly and easily. For example:

1)    Remember birthdays: It takes about 10 seconds to wish someone a happy birthday online, and Facebook even provides you with an alert. It’s a quick way to stay on someone’s radar AND brighten their day!

2)    Offer congratulations on promotions: Same goes for job changes. LinkedIn sends a weekly update to members, with the career moves of those in their networks. Another 10 second interaction that will put a smile on someone’s face AND remind them about you!

3)    Remember REAP: This acronym – Read, Events, Advice, People – suggests things you can either offer your contacts or ask of them. For example: “I met someone I think you’d find to be a valuable contact (the “P” in REAP). Would you be open to an introduction?” You’re adding value and building a relationship at the same time.

It really only has to take a few minutes each day to maintain your network – but a lot longer to build one from scratch. Cultivate the relationships you already have, and you’ll be more than prepared when opportunities arise!

Picture: chairs & coffee, by Murielle