I'm a member of a lot of different jobseeker forums, and I've noticed that one of people's biggest resume worries is what to do when their employment history has gaps. Especially if those gaps are the result of being unable to find a new position - often for months at a time.

Overcoming the résumé gap is a great read for people in that position. It covers off several ways to handle the gaps in your employment history, in a way that's both honest and can, in some cases, make you an even more attractive prospect for an employer.

"Being out of work for any stretch of time can weigh on job seekers. Applicants may feel they are less marketable or have greater difficulty networking just because they are disconnected from other employed peers...

But that doesn't mean that there aren't things job seekers can do to make themselves as marketable, if not more so, than their competition."

-Jessica Dickler, Overcoming the résumé gap.

Perhaps one of the most positive suggestions that the article gives is to use your time unemployed to further your career. Volunteering for other organisations in your field, even part time, can look very good on your resume.

Commercial Appeal has an article on the benefits of volunteering while you search for work:

"In times when paid jobs are harder to come by, volunteer jobs offer a chance to showcase your skills to potential employers. And spending some time when you're not actually job-searching is healthy behavior -- instead of surfing the Web or being a couch potato. You send a strong message to yourself that you're self-motivated in creating a healthy career. It may also surprise you to learn that more than 40 percent of adults looking for work volunteer at least a few hours each week. And almost a quarter do it to make new business contacts, according to a study by Independent Sector, a coalition of leading nonprofits, foundations and corporations."

(Please note that these articles are from American websites, and as a result may have links that are not useful or applicable to New Zealanders.)