10 (Plus 1) Actions to Take During a Career Gap That Prove You Haven’t Lost Your Edge
Recruiters have a lot of choices in today’s job market. Don’t let them pass you by because they see “out of work” and think “out of touch”. You MUST maintain your edge and visibility.
You don’t have to do all of these things, but choosing a few will most definitely boost your job search traction.
1) Upskill with signal certifications.
Think Google GenAI, DeepLearning.AI, AWS Skill Builder, Google Data Analytics, Salesforce Trailhead, CompTIA, PMP/ACP, Tableau, SHRM-CP, and HubSpot.
Proof: Public credential URL + credential ID; add to LinkedIn Licenses & Certifications.
2) Complete bite-sized skill sprints.
LinkedIn Learning modules, vendor short courses (Excel/Power BI/Salesforce basics), weekend SQL refreshers.
Proof: Module certificates + dated transcript; add to Featured.
3) Do pro bono consulting.
Nonprofit/startup projects: business plan, growth strategy, ops playbook, culture plan, or AI/automation pilot.
Proof: One-page SOW, deliverables, before/after metrics, LinkedIn recommendation.
4) Publish teaching-oriented thought leadership.
2–3 weekly posts, a short guide, or a mini series on Medium/Substack.
Proof: Post links, dates, engagement stats; PDF of the guide.
5) Author a practical white paper (5–10 pages).
Pick one timely business problem; synthesize 3–5 credible sources; propose a simple 3-step framework; include a 250-word exec summary + one signature visual; publish as a PDF.
Proof: Public PDF URL w/ publication date, references section, brief methods note, “Reviewed by” line, version/changelog.
6) Speak, teach, or guest lecture.
Host a webinar, join a panel, lead a workshop, or teach a micro-course.
Proof: Event page, slide deck, recording link, and attendee count.
7) Join and contribute to an industry association.
Committee work, standards drafting, conference volunteering, newsletter editor, or conference attendance with a recap.
Proof: Your name on the org site/agenda; published minutes/recaps.
8) Host a peer workshop.
30–60-minute Zoom with handouts (e.g., stakeholder updates, Power Query, meeting hygiene).
Proof: Registration page, deck, recording, materials.
9) Curate a monthly industry brief/newsletter.
Summarize 5–7 articles, implications for ops/marketing/finance/AI, and one recommended action.
Proof: Dated PDF or post with sources; consistent monthly cadence.
10) Enter skill challenges (not just tech).
Financial modeling sprints, marketing comps, CX mapping jams, no-code buildathons, case competitions, hackathons, Kaggle, CTFs, product/design jams.
Proof: Leaderboard/rank page, certificate, recap of your approach.
+1) Mentor (or be mentored) with structure.
ADPList, SCORE, university programs, incubators—set a specific goal over 4–6 sessions.
Proof: Program profile/hours, session plan, mentee feedback, LinkedIn thank-you.
How to Showcase the Proof
Create a “Career Break, 2025” section on résumé + LinkedIn (Featured, Certifications, Projects, Publications). Show what you learned and what you delivered—scope, impact, artifacts, results.
Post a monthly/quarterly summary of accomplishments.
Use the Action → Scope → Evidence → Outcome formula.
“Led 4-week pro bono pricing project for a $5M nonprofit; redesigned tiers; +14% avg. donation; CEO reference on file.”Centralize artifacts in a simple portfolio hub (Notion/GitHub/Google Site) with dates and links.
Closer: These aren’t stopgaps—they’re what high performers should be doing all the time!
If you’d like this information in a checklist format, send me a message.