Gap in resume Forum

[Kurry Kid]

Hi, all. I was not sure where to post this but I figured this would be a good section since it targets those in law school and those who are done with it.

I finished undergrad in May and I currently work at Nordstrom. My plan was to take a year off of school to get a stellar LSAT score (taking the December test), but I come home exhausted after work (I'm sure others on this forum feel this as well). My working hours are really weird too so it's difficult to make a consistent schedule.

I am still not where I want to be with the LSAT, so I'm considering a second year off now to take the June LSAT. I think it would be great if I didn't work from January-June and made the LSAT my main focus during that time, but I am concerned that a gap in my resume will not look good to law schools and/or legal employers. I will also be doing a lot of self improvement during my time off, but it won't be anything I can put on paper.

What do you guys think? If a resume gap from January to June isn't ideal, then I will probably end up working a part-time job somewhere. However, being able to dedicate more time to the LSAT would be helpful as I want to get other aspects of my life handled (hence, the self-improvement) Thanks!

[rdawkins28]

Don't know about Nordstrom, but some places have a policy that if you leave and come back within x number of days, your employment is still considered to be continuous. One place I worked at, x was 90 days if my memory is correct. I got another job. Quit on good terms. Didn't like the new job. Went back to old job after a month or so and was told that my employment was considered continuous so I didn't lose any benefits that had accrued.

[should-i-do-it]

I've got like a two year resume gap, I don't really think schools care but how badly is this gonna screw me when I'm interviewing for jobs?

[filibuster]

I had a summer gap on my resume (between Jr. and Sr. year of college while taking the LSAT). I was accepted to a T14 and have multiple offers for SA position. I was asked about the "gap" in an interview for a shitty 1L internship. 5 callbacks and 21 screeners and not once was it brought up.

Don't worry about it.

[should-i-do-it]

I had a summer gap on my resume (between Jr. and Sr. year of college while taking the LSAT). I was accepted to a T14 and have multiple offers for SA position. I was asked about the "gap" in an interview for a shitty 1L internship. 5 callbacks and 21 screeners and not once was it brought up.

Don't worry about it.

You consider a summer while you were in college a gap? I must be screwed then

[splitsplat]

wouldn't worry about a shorter gap (like 6 months), but like a year+ with no school or work is going to raise questions.

[jw316]

I've got like a two year resume gap, I don't really think schools care but how badly is this gonna screw me when I'm interviewing for jobs?

Thoughts on this?

[horriblegb]

I had a year plus gap on my resume between UG and LS, but I did enough internships and other random shit in LS that it never came up post grad. Except for two lines on my resume I had nothing from before law school on it when I graduated.

[Cogburn87]

I've got like a two year resume gap, I don't really think schools care but how badly is this gonna screw me when I'm interviewing for jobs?

Many employers will ask you what you were doing in those two years.

[should-i-do-it]

I've got like a two year resume gap, I don't really think schools care but how badly is this gonna screw me when I'm interviewing for jobs?

Many employers will ask you what you were doing in those two years.

If I say family business will I be good?

[Cogburn87]

Family business as in "I was working for my family's business," or "I was dealing with a family matter that kept me from working"?

Employers dislike employment gaps. Whether an excuse is a good one will depend on the perspective of the employer, but they still will prefer a candidate that doesn't have them.

[JenDarby]

I started law school 4 years after I graduated from UG.

I had an entire year gap before law school and I was never once asked about it, ever. I also left off a job that I had for 7 months during that 4 year period because I was tight on space and it just wasn't relevant/noteworthy. No one even seemed to notice either gaps, or if they did they didn't care.

Unrelated to your initial questioned, I worked at Nordstrom during UG and people seemed to love asking about that WE, sometimes before or in lieu of addressing my substantive WE.

[84651846190]

dat gap

[Betty Smith]

I have a one year gap.. anybody cares? If yes, then its THEIR problem not mine

[r6_philly]

I've got like a two year resume gap, I don't really think schools care but how badly is this gonna screw me when I'm interviewing for jobs?

Many employers will ask you what you were doing in those two years.

Not most law firms because you were asked to cram everything onto a 1 page resume. I had to cut 70% of my job out of my resume and no one ever asked. They seem to care more about what I chose to tell them that I did.

[Desert Fox]

I've got like a two year resume gap, I don't really think schools care but how badly is this gonna screw me when I'm interviewing for jobs?

Many employers will ask you what you were doing in those two years.

Not most law firms because you were asked to cram everything onto a 1 page resume. I had to cut 70% of my job out of my resume and no one ever asked. They seem to care more about what I chose to tell them that I did.

That is a totally different story than a blank ass resume with a two year gap.

[rinkrat19]

I have a one year gap.. anybody cares? If yes, then its THEIR problem not mine

If only you were making the decision on whether or not to hire yourself.


I would have SOME kind of explanation ready for a 2-year gap. And "family business" is super vague. Whether it's "I was working in my family's restaurant" or "we had an illness in the family so I took some time off to help out," have an explanation ready that's better than letting them think you were making meth in your parents' basement.

[pancakes3]

2 years is long ass time, especially if you're coming right out of undergrad.

[r6_philly]

That is a totally different story than a blank ass resume with a two year gap.

You think it matters to a firm? Seriously? A resume with only education and law-school related employment/internships and the right school/grades will be more than enough.

If anything, fill out the 1 page with more law school stuff.

[sublime]

..

[r6_philly]

It does. Almost every interview I was asked what I did between law school and UG with a 2 year gap.

And you think the outcome to the interview would be different if the answer is good vs. bad?

[rbrown0824]

I'm thinking that I will have some gaps in mine as well. I'm really wondering how to go about presenting myself. Most resumes are supposed to only be 1 page, so in order to adhere to this requirement I'm going to have to shave some things off. The problem is that most of my law school relevant experiences were from about 2007-2011. All I've done recently is work at bullshit factories, but I am currently interning in a parole office. SO basically it will go 2014, 2011, 2009, 2008. Should I just bite the bullet and go over my requirement to ensure that I address the gaps or just turn it in as is?

[sublime]

..

[r6_philly]

Well, you have to be able to say something. I don't think they would be too impressed with "I studied for the LSAT"

I am sure you did something interesting other than studying for the LSAT. Since you are not going to account for every single thing you did over 24 month in the span of 5 minutes, you can just talk about something interesting.

[Kratos]

Well, you have to be able to say something. I don't think they would be too impressed with "I studied for the LSAT"

I am sure you did something interesting other than studying for the LSAT. Since you are not going to account for every single thing you did over 24 month in the span of 5 minutes, you can just talk about something interesting.

Dude a 2 year gap where you just fucked around or travelled or whatever is just not a good look, not sure why you're arguing about this.