Ask the Expert: Should I Take a Less-Preferred Job or Have a Gap in My Resume?

In this Ask the Expert episode, Chris Lee responds to a listener's question about when to consider accepting a less-preferred job offer.

The listener asks, "What is better for my career development and future prospects: to take an open position in a department outside of my professional interests, even if my time there is short, or to have a gap in my resume while waiting for the right fit"?

Lee says choosing between having a gap in employment or taking a less-preferred position is a personal decision made in the context of circumstance and experience. One gap on your resume can be easily explained and may have less impact if your previous roles have been sound. 

Even if viewed as less-than-optimal, the new role provides income and potentially enriching experiences. Yet, if the employment is short and starkly different than what you've been doing, it may create doubts that warrant extra attention. Be prepared to tell your story favorably. 

Lee is a managing director with Storbeck Search, which specializes in education-related executive search. He spent nearly 30 years as a chief human resources officer at five public and private institutions, including William & Mary, Bates College, and the Virginia Community College System.

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