TLDR: Keep active by enriching yourself or others. Don’t be bashful about showcasing time well spent!

While technologies and economies change our workplaces, it’s likely we’ll all find ourselves between jobs at some point. A wise person turns an unfortunate gap into opportunity!

Maintaining activity and growth adds to your skills and to your happiness. Know your value (and your values) and keep building who you are:

Are there industry designations you’ve been meaning to acquire? Now is a good time! It’s not just about adding letters to the end of your name, it’s gaining knowledge, bringing more to the table at your next interview, and making industry connections.
Seminars from Industry Innovators and Industry Conferences offer a great ways to stay current with advancements, emerging products, and markets. Plus, more industry connections!
Volunteering at Schools, Church, Charitable Organizations, or Animal Rescues help others, create connections, and might even start a lifelong tradition!
Classes at Community Colleges (or online universities) are usually affordable and a great resource to learn new skills and technologies.
Local Park Districts and Community Centers offer free or inexpensive classes and activities ranging from learning opportunities to sports and crafts. You can also volunteer to help with their programming if you’ve got abilities or knowledge to share.
Home improvement projects. Tackle that update you’ve been putting off. Having extra time means you can undertake a project without hiring someone else to do it.

Now, translate all that to your resume! Adding to your skills, interests, and certifications sections bulks out your credentials. Be sure to mention in your intro what you’ve been doing with your time. Extended gaps can even be listed on your resume like a job entry, but with your enrichment activities where job duties would otherwise be found.

Staying active and engaged is fantastic for your mind and body. At minimum, it will keep you from bouncing off the walls while you’re working to connect with that next great opportunity!