Q. I have gaps on my resume. Four of them. Is this a red flag and what can I do so employers don’t run the other way when they see them?

A. Here’s how to mind the gap: When I worked in recruiting I always asked what they represented, so be prepared to have a succinct explanation. That said, if I had two candidates side by side and one had a couple of gaps with explanations and the other one didn’t have any gaps, but the candidate had weaker skills, experiences and was less of a cultural fit, I would go with the candidate with the gaps.

Gaps are not a deal breaker. Especially given the pandemic and Great Resignation, it’s not surprising to employers to see a gap or even a couple of them. Yes, if you went from job to job to job in a short amount of time, let’s say less than a year, that could raise eyebrows and show a pattern of job hopping. On the other hand, if one company went bankrupt and you lost your job, then you started freelancing for a few months and left when you landed a new full-time job that turned out to be not what you interviewed for, then that’s a cohesive story that in my opinion would not be an issue.

You do need to prepare to explain why you left those jobs. It’s important to address it without dwelling on it, and then — this is the key — pivot into why you’re a fit for the job you’re pursuing. In the example above, you can say something to the effect that the job you’re doing now is not what you were hired for/it was not on the original job description and that’s why this job is so appealing so you can focus on your passion of XYZ and skills/experience of ABC…

Q. My coworker brings his dog to work every day. At first it was once a week, now it’s every day. I’ve had allergic reactions and asked nicely for him to leave it at home. He still brings it in. What should I do?

A. Talk to your boss and/or HR. If your company doesn’t have a pet policy, they should create one for safety reasons as well as involve their legal department. (Side note: They should also indicate in job postings and their website that it’s a dog-friendly office so future employees know the situation before they start working there. Some workers may love it, but employers shouldn’t assume that everyone does especially when allergies may arise.

Back to your situation: Talking to your peer went nowhere, so it’s time to escalate the concern. Even if you weren’t allergic for health reasons, if it made you uneasy as not everyone is a pet person, that should be reason enough for your colleague to not bring in their dog.

I could see once or twice if a dog walker or sitter isn’t available, but it’s becoming more prevalent and when there are issues with even one person, then that’s a situation your employer needs to address.

You’ve probably already thought of this, but ask to work from home if feasible. But if you like the camaraderie in the office and would feel left out by working remotely (as I’m assuming it may be a small to mid-sized company rather than large), the dog should be the one that’s sent home (or that employee can work from home with their pooch), rather than yourself.

Tribune News Service