Need input from resume pro and/or employment recruiter

[scottcsmith]

I'm getting ready to update my resume. For the past year I've been on a medical leave of absence, and my doctor is ready to release me as able to work. So...I now have this one-year gap on my resume. Do I include the medical leave on the resume, or leave that year blank? I guess no matter what I put there I'm going to be asked about it.

Thanks in advance!

Scott

[MsUnderstood]

1. Absolutely Not!!

If you put a medical leave of absence on your resume, you are going to be RED FLAGGED and you won't get an interview. The person reviewing will assume a lot of things about your medical leave, and it will be assumptions that go against you.

I know companies cannot discriminate based on this item, but how are you gonna know if they do--they'll just put your resume in the NO pile without even talking to you.

Besides, the economy is in the pooper, how will they know that you haven't been looking for a year? Leave that information off until you get to the interview.

Now as to handle that in the interview, I hope someone has a good strategy for tht.

[scottcsmith]

2. Good idea, thanks

Now as far as explaining that year...well, I guess I could say I was laid off, which I was, sort of. What had happened was I was on an Americans with Disabilities Act leave and the act only guarantees a job if you're gone for 90 days, beyond that there is no job guarantee. Instead, I was asked to take a separation package, which I did.

[MsUnderstood]

3. That is the way to go

Use laid off. . . I had a job where the CEO was being investigated by the FBI and sued by AT&T for millons after the CEO fraudulently ordered 800 numbers and failed to pay for them. Needless to say the company folded.

When I went for my next job interviews, my line was "The company had closed". I ommitted the FBI/AT&T scandal--it wouldn't have gotten me the job and was not lying.