Should I mention my unemployment GAP
Should I mention my unemployment GAP
(OP)
Hey guys,
I quited my job in the midddle of September of last year so I could get free time to study for the PE exam in October 2008. I found out that I passed the exam 3 weeks ago. My question is should I mention to future employers that I quited my job to study for the exam or should I make up some excuses why I quited my job? The reason I ask because a lot of recruiters ask me why I quited my job and I told them I need time to concentrate on the PE exam. After I told them that they never return my calls. Now, I desperately need help because I need a job. My discipline is Mechanical and I have 3.5 years of experience under my belt.
I quited my job in the midddle of September of last year so I could get free time to study for the PE exam in October 2008. I found out that I passed the exam 3 weeks ago. My question is should I mention to future employers that I quited my job to study for the exam or should I make up some excuses why I quited my job? The reason I ask because a lot of recruiters ask me why I quited my job and I told them I need time to concentrate on the PE exam. After I told them that they never return my calls. Now, I desperately need help because I need a job. My discipline is Mechanical and I have 3.5 years of experience under my belt.





RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
I find it odd that such a thing would be a deal breaker, though. Has anybody said to you that this is why they don't call? I seriously doubt it.
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RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08; CATIA V5
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
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RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
Perhaps you weren't that satisfied with your job and with the upcoming PE exam you just felt it a good time to quit. Hopefully you didn't expect to return to the same company after you quit......
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RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
It doesn't hurt for you to call them back. They can talk to a hundred of people a week, so it helps if you refresh their mind that you are still out there and looking.
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
In all honesty, I have a hard time believing you quit for the sole purpose of studying of the PE. Besides, had you quit in September, that would have given you less than 45 days to study and most people spend about 6 months preparing for it. It hits me more like that was a convenient excuse rather than the actual reason for leaving your job.
I also took the PE exam in Mechanical last October with Thermal and Fluid depth. I passed even though I didn't quit my job. (My undergraduate degree was Mechancial Engineering Technology).
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
The licensing exam is usually in the middle of the 3rd year of residency, so quitting then is certainly cause for concern.
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RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
I don't think there is anything wrong with saying you used your time to study for the PE while waiting for the economy to come back. It's good that you used for time for something worthwhile.
But to say you quit your job to study? I don't believe it, and it sounds like you're lying to cover something up. Even if that's 100% true, I'd still tell people that you felt you needed change and quit your job. And there's nothing wrong to tell people you are a PE now.
(Congrats, by the way.)
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
As for telling employers about time off, you don't need to, just enroll with one of those temp agencies and say you are employed with them on a contract basis (in other words, you are NOT unemployed).
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
Cry22,
I live in California. In California you only need 2 years of experience, EIT, references, and an engineering degree from ABET accredited university.
Ctopher,
I wouldn't be an engineer if I can write and speak perfect english.
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
Why? I can think of a few potential reasons but what was your thinking.
To me quitting work to study for PE, especially in the economic climate we're in seems a bit foolhardy and would cause me to question your judgement.
However, quitting your job to work on you PE while pursuing some other business interests, doesn't sound so bad.
You can phrase the reason you aren't continuing with the other business without explicitly saying you failed at it. You can say it wasn't your cup of tea and that it made you realize engineering was your true passion especially now you have you PE, or something like that. Or if it does come up that it failed you could at least imply the economic issues were part of the problem, which I'm guessing wouldn't be a lie and would sound reasonable.
KENAT,
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RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
At first glance, it shows the person can't handle multiple tasks: work and self study. Not someone I'd be interested in interviewing.
Now, if the person quit to take vacation, family leave, etc...I would take a second glance.
______________________________________________________________________________
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RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
Anytime spent explaining the reason for your unemployment is time the potential employer didn't think about your qualifications.
Describing a hokey reason (such as quitting your job to study for your PE) is a distraction and adds confusion. Simply tell them you quit because it was time for change and make sure to put your P.E. license on your resume.
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
me, neither.
i'd look at it kinda funny.
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
Quitting the job to do it, though, does sound mighty squirrelly. I don't think I would avoid hiring someone over it, but who knows, if I was looking for excuses to eliminate some candidates from a large pool maybe I would.
Hg
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RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
Recruiters want something easy to sell and saying something like that makes them have to put a positive spin on it to their client. I think they are choosing to present the candidates with more experience and less baggage. Stick to a more credible story and I think you will have more doors opened to you.
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
Most engineers I know, know very good or perfect 'E'nglish.
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08; CATIA V5
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Should I mention my unemployment GAP
However, most I know, are pretty good in their mother tongues. We might not use flamboyant words but we tend to have pretty good spelling and grammar. (I guess just proves your point but expands it to other languages)
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>