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Career gaps have become commonplace in people’s work history, yet job seekers still feel the need to hide thema strategy experts warn is likely to backfire. According to a recent survey conducted by MyPerfectResume, 47% of American workers have taken a break from work. Despite how common those breaks have become, 38% are highly concerned about how it will affect their future job prospects, and 30% believe employers will consider it a major red flag. During the pandemic, there was so much shifting in the workplacelots of people getting laid off or stepping out of work to manage caregiving responsibilitiesand you might have thought this need for a linear career path would have maybe diminished, says MyPerfectResume career expert Jasmine Escalera. What the data tells us is that there is an enduring stigma. It still affects how employees see their career prospects. That stigma, according to Escalera, is adopted from a bygone era when most workers remained at the same employer for the majority or entirety of their careers, and when a break from that pattern signaled a performance or loyalty issue. Its so old-school and comes from the way corporate America was set up in the past. But it doesnt fit the times were actually in, she says. Not all career gaps, however, are received the same. According to the survey, respondents are most sympathetic to medical or caregiving leaves, followed by a return to school. However, the most common career gaps were the result of layoffs or company restructuring, career transitioning, mental health needs, or termination. Hiding a career gap is worse than having a career gap Ironically, according to the MyPerfectResume survey, a career gap itself can often be less damaging to a candidates prospects than any attempts made to hide it. In the survey, nearly two-thirds of those with career gaps said they keep that information off their application and only discuss it if the hiring manager asks about it directly, while 4 percent admit to lying about it outright. Only one in five people say they address the gap directly. Earlier in my career, it was common when an employee had a gap in their résumé, and to try to cover that by stretching the date they left and the date they started another job. Dont do that, says Jim Link, chief human resources officer for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The first thing the employer is going to do is verify backgrounds and employment dates, and call your references. And even if its a month or two off, thats going to raise red flags. No matter the reason for the career break, Link emphasizes that it is always better to be transparent instead of trying to hide the truth and risking getting caught. No matter the reason, he says, employers would rather know than be left guessing, or worse, feeling deceived. We will look at someone who has a criminal history for employment in our organization, and I know hundreds of other employers like that, he says. Even in those circumstances, I believe that the truth is the absolute right thing to present, because employers who believe in second chances just want that candidate to say what happened, what they were convicted of, and why they are worthy of a second chance. Shift the narrative from past to future When it comes to career gaps, honesty is always the best policy, though candidates are advised to be tactful in how they present it. A gap isnt a red flag; its a story to be toldthe problem is that most people dont know how to tell that story, says career coach, author, and podcast host Marlo Lyons. You have to own the narrative about the gap. Key to owning that narrative, Lyons says, is offering an explanation that focuses on what was learned or accomplished during the time away from work. For example, if you took time away to be a caregiver, you would say, I took time away to care for a family member, and now I’m energized to return to work,’ she says. Or I took a pause in my career to figure out exactly what I want. And after taking that time, I know this job is exactly what I want. So, its all about positioning, and being future oriented. According to data provided by LinkedIn, 2.7 million professionals have added a career break to their profiles, and 67% say they gained valuable skills during the absence. Whether that time was spent traveling, caring for a loved one, overcoming a medical challenge, going back to school, or simply job searching, Lyons says there are almost always employable skills to draw from those experiences. If youve taken time off to travel, highlight cultural fluency, adaptability, and language skills, she says. Same with volunteering. You do not have to get paid to put it on your résumé. Address it early Employment gaps left unexplained can leave recruiters guessing, and for more competitive positions, some might not give candidates the chance to explain. As opposed to hiding gaps, addressing them with a sense of embarrassment, or waiting to be asked, Lyons encourages job seekers to share their story proactively. Its critical, both on the résumé and when youre asked to walk them through your résumé [in interviews], that you address the gap very confidently and clearly, she says. Those who spent some of their time away from work volunteering, taking courses, consulting, or networking are encouraged to add those points to their résumé directly. Those that left work to travel, pivot their careers, manage a medical need, or be a caregiver can also offer a brief explanation in their cover letters, emphasizing the lessons learned from those experiences. The simpler it is, the more authentic it will be received, and the recruiter can then move on to the next question, Lyons says. It’s when you don’t fill in the gap, or when you stumble, or when you try to talk around what happened in that situationthat’s where the red flag comes in.
Category:
E-Commerce
Mastercard has announced a partnership with global fintech Fiservs new stablecoin, FIUSD, in an effort to make the stabilized cryptocurrency mainstream. The multinational card provider plans to integrate the token across its global payments network, including stablecoin-linked cards, on- and off-ramping of funds, and global acquirers. This work with Fiserv is setting the stage for a new era, where stablecoins are as ubiquitous and trusted as fiat currencies, driving choice and innovation for all, Chiro Aikat, co-president, Americas at Mastercard, said in a statement. Leveraging the power of the Mastercard network, as well as our deep capabilities across digital assets, we are creating a robust ecosystem that bridges traditional financial services with digital assets. As of this afternoon, Fiserv stocks are up nearly 1%, while Mastercard stock is up 2.59%. This news comes the same day that stock for the largest stablecoin provider, Circle Internet Group (CRCL), is down nearly 15% as of Tuesday afternoon, just weeks after the companys initial public offer (IPO) surged in its market debutwhen stock was trading 706% above the IPO price. The move comes after an analyst note from Compass Point suggested recent regulatory action could encourage increased competition in the stablecoin industry. What’s the latest on stablecoins? Stablecoins are growing in popularity as a more stable cryptocurrency option, due to their value being tied to external commodities like gold or currencies like the U.S. dollar. The recently Senate-passed GENIUS Act would set standards for stablecoins and would ultimately allow for other card providers to widely implement them in their processes. Supporters of the bill say it would encourage more stablecoin competition and consumer protection, while those in opposition position the bill as too industry-friendly and financially beneficial for the current presidential administration. “To date, stablecoins have largely been a store of value, Takis Georgakopoulos, chief operating officer of Fiserv, said. Our work with Mastercard is promoting greater reach and utility of stablecoins by helping our financial institutions and merchants enable greater payments choice to their customers.” Other finance and banking giants like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and WellsFargo have also begun to delve further into the world of stablecoins through joint partnerships, demonstrating the foothold that the cryptocurrency may be taking in the market.
Category:
E-Commerce
A new Texas law promoting the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda requires first-ever warning labels on foods like chips and candies that contain dyes and additives not allowed in other countries. It could have far-reaching effects on the nation’s food supply, but a review of the legislation shows it also misrepresents the status of some ingredients that would trigger the action. The law signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday requires foods made with any of more than 40 dyes or additives to have labels starting in 2027 saying they contain ingredients not recommended for human consumption in Australia, Canada, the European Union or the U.K. But a review shows that nearly a dozen of the targeted additives are either authorized in the cited regions or already restricted in the U.S. The law, which will send the food industry scrambling to respond, is laudable in its intent, but could lead to incorrect citations and potential legal challenges, a consumer advocacy group said. I dont know how the list of chemicals was constructed, said Thomas Galligan, a scientist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Warnings have to be accurate in order to be legal. The law, approved with wide bipartisan support, is part of a flurry of similar legislation this year by GOP-led statehouses as lawmakers align themselves with U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again agenda. Texas would be the first in the U.S. to use warning labels to target additives, rather than nutrients like sugar or saturated fat, to change American diets. It will force food companies to decide whether to reformulate products to avoid the labels, add the newly required language, pull certain products from Texas shelves or oppose the measure in court. It’s unclear how the list of additives was created. Inquiries to the office of the bill’s author, Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, were not immediately returned. Some of the targeted ingredients are allowed in all the named regions Regulators in Australia, Canada, the EU and the U.K. take a cautious approach to food additives: If a product’s safety is uncertain, it can be banned or restricted until it is determined to be safe. By contrast, the U.S. generally allows products on the market unless there is clear risk of harm. Three additives targeted by Texas partially hydrogenated oils, Red Dye No. 4 and Red Dye No. 3 are not approved or have been banned in food by U.S. regulators. Several of the other listed ingredients are allowed in all four of those regions, noted Galligan and representatives from the Consumer Brands Association, a food industry trade group. Examples of those include: Blue Dye No. 1; Blue Dye No. 2; butylated hydroxyanisole, or BHA; butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT; diacetyl; interesterified soybean oil; lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol; and potassium aluminum sulfate. In addition, the legislation contains regulatory loopholes that could prevent certain ingredients from being labeled at all, said Melanie Benesh, an analyst with the Environmental Working Group, an activist organization that focuses on toxic chemicals. For example, the food additive azodicarbonamide, known as ADA and used as a bleaching agent in cereal flours, is included on the Texas list. But under the Federal Code of Regulations, it may safely be used in food under certain conditions. That federal regulation likely exempts ADA from the state labeling law, Benesh said. The law, as passed, may not end up having the impact that legislators intended, Benesh said. Nutrition experts welcome a look at food additives Nutrition experts have long worried about the potential health effects of food additives, even as it remains unclear how much of a role processed foods have in driving chronic health disease. Research has shown that requiring food label warnings can help steer consumers toward healthier choices and prompt industry to remove concerning ingredients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed front-of-package labels that would flag levels of saturated fat, sugar and sodium. This represents a big win for Texas consumers and consumers overall, said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports. Its a reflection of states not wanting to wait for the federal government to act. The law also creates a state nutrition advisory committee, boosts physical education and nutrition curriculum requirements in public and charter schools, and requires nutrition courses for college students and medical professionals doing continuing education. States take on additives Several states have been taking action to restrict dyes and additives in foods. In 2023, California became the first state to ban some chemicals and dyes used in candies, drinks and other foods because of health concerns. The state expanded on that last year by barring several additional dyes from food served in public schools. Other laws passed this year include one in Arkansas banning two particular additives from food sold or manufactured in the state and a West Virginia law includes a statewide ban on seven dyes. Lawmakers in several states have passed measures this year banning certain additives from food served or sold at public schools, according to an Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural. That includes Texas, where the governor last month signed a bill banning foods with certain ingredients from being served in school lunches. Its a pretty dizzying time to be watching whats happening, because usually policies that are not very industry friendly are opposed, particularly in red states,” said Christina Roberto, director of the University of Pennsylvanias Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, With RFK and the MAHA movement, its really turned things upside-down in some ways. At the federal level, Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary have pledged to remove arificial dyes from foods and have pressured industry to take voluntary action. Some large food manufacturers have complied. Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies indicating they can cause neurobehavioral problems, including hyperactivity and attention issues, in some children. The FDA previously has said that the approved dyes are safe and that the totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Jonel Aleccia and Jamie Stengle, Associated Press Associated Press writer David A. Lieb contributed to this report.
Category:
E-Commerce
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