Mystery is exciting, isn't it?  Not knowing all the details of something (or someone), is puzzling. I am a huge fan of mystery novels and can spend hours immersed in whodunits, picking up clues and trying to figure out who committed the crime before the author reveals it. Being in the dark is great for books or movies - who wants to know it all at the beginning? - However, recruiters or employers who are reviewing dozens or hundreds of resumes and job applications don't want to be in the dark. They want to know everything they can about you as a candidate upfront and they don't want to spend their limited time trying to piece it together. 

What are some mysteries to avoid in helping boost your edge in the job marketplace?

1. Unexplained gaps in employment dates.  A few months missing between two jobs, is not likely to raise an eyebrow (longer gaps during the 2008-2009 recession are also common). But substantial or frequent holes can lead an employer to wonder where you were and if you are hiding something, particularly if you use vague terms to cover it up. Be as clear as you can on what you were doing, particularly during the interview; and provide any volunteer or education activities to demonstrate you were still acquiring skills and knowledge. The Alexandria Workforce Development Center (WDC) can provide assistance on how to best handle this issue.
2. Your qualifications as they relate to the job. If you are applying for something outside your past career roles, this will take some effort on your part to remove the mystery of how your skills and knowledge transfer. Consider breaking away from the standard chronological resume and use a hybrid resume instead that describes your skills, experience and accomplishments that relate to the position, followed by a chronological listing of positions. Here too, the WDC can provide sample resumes to get you started.