Explaining gaps in your employment history

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Dear Mr. Walberg:How do you manage gaps in employment history when you're searching for a job? My dad always says that you need five to 10 years with one company to be respected. I have only four years with my current employer and a couple of shorter terms with previous employers when I first completed college. I know what I want now and am ready to settle down, but how do you convince prospective employers?-- R.S., Boston areaDear R.S.:Start with the truth: It took a few years for you to develop your career focus, with a couple of false starts in the beginning. Four years with your current employer is completely acceptable and should be respected.For others with short-term gaps in their employment history, I offer some tips furnished by Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA center at the College of Business Administration at Northeastern University:-- "Gone are the days of expecting someone to stay at the same company their entire career."-- "Average is five to seven employers over the course of a career."-- "No longer is there the stigma attached to being laid off, since many were impacted by corporate downsizing or restructuring."-- "The red flag to employers is numerous quick changes that appear to be lack of focus, lack of commitment, etc."-- "You must have a story to tell about the changes -- you should never bash a previous company or bosses -- the world is too small and it can come back to bite you. Be careful not to explain moves in terms of problems or changes at the company since employers value employees who can solve problems and adapt to change."-- "Don't fudge dates or falsify your resume in other ways to cover up short stints. Most employers will do employment and education verification, and you could lose an opportunity by not being honest."-- "While employers know that most employees don't stay for life, they value longer assignments because that gives them a better return on their training investment, and they benefit from people who develop a broader knowledge of the business."To "R.S." and others, sell your accomplishments and use mistakes of the past to strengthen your future.(Marvin Walberg is a job-search consultant based in Birmingham, Ala. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 43056, Birmingham, AL, 35243. E-mail him at mwalberg(at)bellsouth.net.)