Richard Byrne ⋅ Hillsborough, NJ Intel Corporation ⋅ 53 years experience

I've added links to information & videos under these sections of my EE webpage that
might be useful:
- get 1 year of FREE LinkedIn premium as a veteran:
https://eehot.com/ee.html#networking
https://socialimpact.linkedin.com/programs/veterans/premiumform

https://eehot.com/ee.html#resumes
https://eehot.com/ee.html#cool
https://eehot.com/ee.html#mentoring

https://eehot.com/ee.html#jobs
https://eehot.com/ee.html#gjobs
https://eehot.com/ee.html#fgov

https://www.usajobs.gov/

https://eehot.com/ee.html#recruiters

Job search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=jobs%3A+%22Quality+Assurance+Specialist%22+location%3A+Aiken%2C+SC

Alternate Job Search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=jobs%3A+%22Hull+Maintenance+Technician%22+OR+%22Quality+Assurance%22+OR+%22Tag+Out%22+OR+%22Non-Destructive+Test+Inspector%22+location%3A+Aiken%2C+SC#ip=1

For a six year employment gap, you could enter
Took a break
OR
https://shricareer.com/blog/effective-ways-explain-6-year-long-employment-gap-your-resume

What is on your LinkedIn profile for your break looks OK to me.
Glad you have children!

Joe Engle ⋅ Indianapolis, IN Electrical/Software Eng. + MBA ⋅ 30 years experience

Hello Emily.
You said “I am Dependable, organized, restrained and thorough”. These are traits employers look for. A mature person that can be trusted and does not need ‘looking after’. Be sure to briefly mention these traits in your resume.
Also, regarding your comment “Seeking a career in any profession”—you might consider taking a "career aptitude test". A career aptitude test is an assessment that provides career suggestions based on your personality, skills, interests and values. They are sets of questions that will take a short time to answer and complete. There are many free ones online. The test helps direct you to a career that you will enjoy, and be successful pursuing, long term. I would stay away from any tests that try to get you into "their program" and manage your job search or train you, they will most likely want to charge you a fee. You might see if you can find any from impartial parties, like a university or gov agency.
Here are a couple I found that I think are impartial:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/free-career-aptitude-tests-for-adults
https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-11-best-career-quizzes-to-help-you-find-your-dream-job
I think it would be worth your time to do a few of these. They may give you new ideas or directions, or confirm in your mind what your strengths and likes are. If they give you some insight into yourself, or some ideas, then it is worth your time. You may find that you do not agree with some recommendations, and that is OK too!
Thanks for your service and best of luck.

Mark Tegtmeyer ⋅ Denton, TX PepsiCo - Frito Lay ⋅ 11 years experience

Emily, couple quick tips that I'm quickly learning as well. In your headline section (space under your name), add a lot more industry related tag lines to highlight your capabilities and career interests. These are searchable by recruiters, so think about all the different ways you can come up in a search.

Then in your "about" section, there's a character limit. Use it. Highlight yourself here as well. Make it robust and interesting. Key words here will also get you found by recruiters.

In your career experience, broaden this out. This is not your resume with limited space, highlight yourself in the best way possible, and add back in those skills. Each experience I'm sure has given you plenty of keyword "skills" that you can link. And if you follow my theme, they are recruiter searchable.

In your skills section, reorder them so your preferred ones are at top, those will be seen the quickest when someone is reviewing your profile.

There is so much more as well. LinkedIn is an intricate social media platform. The more you interact with it by posting, commenting on posts, connecting etc, the higher it will move you in searches by recruiters.

As far as the gap in your experience, think about it and treat it just like you would if you had a job and were looking for something new. I would address it as why you are looking now. In my cover letters I tend to state something like, "thankful for the opportunity that I've had over the past, but looking for the opportunity to grow, seek out challenges and energized to further my career."

Feel free to connect if you want to talk more.

Emily Mews ⋅ Aiken, SC U.S. Navy, Petty Officer Second Class ⋅ 7 years served

Thank you all, these are wonderful resources and I am checking them all out!

Deirdre Gordon ⋅ Chapel Hill, NC ACP ⋅ 27 years experience

Hi Emily,

I'll share another ACP resource you might find helpful as well: a webinar in which an Adobe recruiter shares how he sees & uses LinkedIn! ACP Inside Look: Dear Job Seeker, Here’s How Adobe Looks at Your LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/events/acpinsidelook-dearjobseeker-her7082345407640416256/theater/

It's not just applicable to Adobe, it gives a great overview of how recruiters use LinkedIn. You might glean some ideas to help you navigate the LinkedIn options.

Best,
Deirdre

ACP AdvisorNet Staff ⋅ New York, NY ⋅ 10 years experience

Hi Emily,

Thank you for your question! LinkedIn is a great way to network and having it up to date is a great goal. Michael Quinn has a wonderful cheat sheet for LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ultimate-linkedin-cheat-sheet-michael-quinn/.

For employment gaps, Indeed has a great article on explaining gaps in your resume: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/employment-gaps-on-resume.