It’s a well known fact that when layoffs occur, they often cut deeper than the actual reduction needs to take advantage of the situation and eliminate weak performers. If you have been laid off, it’s important to show that you weren’t fat being trimmed but an honest victim of the times. A few ways you can achieve this:

• Obtain reference letters from your former employer that clearly state you were a good performer but fell victim to circumstance
• Explain the layoff situation in detail in a cover letter
• Insert reasons for leaving all jobs on your resume beside the date (eg: Recruited by former manager; Team was eliminated after account loss)

In addition, it’s still a good idea to list what you’re doing to keep your skills honed while not traditionally employed. For the most part this means taking on consulting projects- even pro bono for local charities you support (theaters, nonprofit orgs, etc.) Staying busy not only helps your peace of mind but also shows initiative to potential employers and that you haven’t been sitting around on Facebook all day. You can likely find a family member or friend that might need a logo makeover or help with a marketing plan for a new business – anything you can honestly say you consulted in some fashion. Then, list your current position as an Independent Consultant and provide client names so you appear legit and not simply looking for filler on your resume. When the employment sector is thriving again (it will, I promise) everyone will remember what these times were like and you shouldn’t be penalized for a gap in fulltime employment on your resume in 2008 or 2009, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something to minimize its impact right now.