Fill in a big resume blank spot with volunteer work.
RENE MANSI—ISTOCKPHOTO
Many Americans will have gaping recessionary holes in their résumés through no fault of their own—they wanted work but just couldn't find it. One solution: volunteering part time. "Volunteering tells potential employers that you are an energetic, compassionate person who—even when faced with problems of your own—found the wherewithal to help others," says Burns, who blogs at Karen Burns, Working Girl.
