The looming prospect or current predicament of being between jobs creates understandable interest in the age-old question: How much will resume gaps hurt my career?

In our last article, we polled executives on LinkedIn and found that 61% of respondents viewed resume gaps negatively. We examined data among company-switching executives and found that while those without resume gaps captured a 22% raise, those with gaps averaged a 14% raise.

These findings sparked discussion on LinkedIn, so we decided to revisit this topic. We asked more than 2,600 LinkedIn commenters: As an employer, do you think a resume gap is relevant? Similar to our previous findings, about two-thirds believed that resume gaps matter.

An analysis of the comments also pointed to some fresh angles:

IF YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A RESUME GAP, TAKE CONTROL OF THE NARRATIVE

In reaction to our previous article, nearly half of LinkedIn commenters argued that attitudes were changing and that employers were more understanding of circumstances, such as caregiving, that could lead to resume gaps. They also argued employers were beginning to recognize that positive growth and development could occur during these gaps.

THE EFFECTS OF CAREER GAPS DIFFER BY REGION

We know that pay raises differ by region — what about the impact of resume gaps? Our data showed regional differences here as well:

— In Asia, pay raises for executives without career gaps was 27%; this fell to 12% for those with gaps.

— In North America, pay raises for executives without career gaps average 23%; this fell to 17% for those with gaps.

— In Europe, pay raises for executives without career gaps average 19%; this fell to 12% for those with gaps.

— In Australia and New Zealand, the raises for both those with and without gaps remained about the same — 20%.

PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES ARE LESS FORGIVING OF CAREER GAPS

Public companies are under more scrutiny compared to privately held ones, as they must communicate and justify their approaches to investors and other stakeholders.

THE IMPACT OF CAREER GAPS VARIES BY FUNCTIONAL ROLE

We expected the impact of career gaps to vary depending on the role and how readily transferrable their skills are to a new setting or employer. Those with highly portable skills may suffer less, since they are ready to plug into many settings. Moreover, the more enduring an individual’s skills or expertise is over time, the less risk there is when it comes to career breaks.

BIGGER FIRMS HAVE BIGGER PENALTIES

As larger firms pay more and are more likely to adopt more formal hiring processes, we thought they might also be choosier, adhering to stricter selection criteria in hiring executives. Our data showed that executives moving between firms employing more than 10,000 people received an average 27% raise, compared to a 16% raise for those who moved between smaller firms.

CREDENTIALS DON’T HAVE OFFSETTING EFFECTS

Extra credentials can make you stand out. For example, those with degrees from prestigious programs are seen as bringing something extra, and these qualifications are generally associated with higher pay.

The shared experience of challenges beyond our control may have ushered in a new age of empathy and openness to variety in career paths — but resume gaps still matter, no matter how well we explain them.

Most professionals understand the value of networking; the problem is that they just don’t do it enough.

But, especially for introverts, the reality of plunging into a pack of strangers at an event can feel profoundly intimidating. It’s bad enough when everyone is relatively new to the group. But it’s even worse when you discover that you’re practically the only new member and everyone else already seems to know each other. How can you break in and build relationships when no one else seems to feel the need?

ASK FOR NETWORKING HELP

In most cases, you’ll know at least one person in the group who can help you break in — even if it’s the group’s membership coordinator who approved you.

Remember, not every contact is attuned enough to realize you’ll feel uncomfortable at first; they may assume you’ll be fine on your own. That’s why it’s important to ask for their help — which they’ll almost certainly be glad to provide.

COMMIT TO UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMICS OF THE GROUP

You can’t make an informed analysis at your first meeting, or even your first few. Instead, reserve judgment and, like an anthropologist, commit to understanding the dynamics of this new group. During the moments when it seems uncomfortable, remind yourself why you joined in the first place (access to interesting people or an opportunity to make connections in a new field, for instance). Five years later, my client is now one of the most involved and well-connected members in that group.

OVER-INDEX DURING YOUR FIRST YEAR

Because you’ll feel like a stranger at first (and you are), the antidote is to make yourself a “regular” as quickly as possible. Prioritize attending the new group’s events — even to an extreme.

You can also use virtual ways to deepen your connection to a given community, such as participating in online forums or setting up one-on-one “getting to know you” video calls with other members.

DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR ASSUMPTIONS

When you’re first making sense of a new social dynamic, it’s easy to overlay your “standard script” onto the circumstances. One colleague of mine was recently bemoaning the high level of “status consciousness” in a group we both belong to. When I asked why he felt that way, he said it seemed clear that the more “famous” members of the group all hung out together — which was true. But it was also true that they were long-standing members who knew each other well.

It’s possible that they only wanted to hang out with other “elites,” I acknowledged. But I reminded my colleague it was equally possible that they just wanted to catch up with their friends, and once he got to know them, he would be in that category as well. It’s worth stress-testing your perspective with trusted friends and colleagues before settling on a negative judgment.

Even for experienced professionals, it can be awkward and uncomfortable to enter a social situation where it seems like everyone else knows one another while you’re making stilted small talk with an endless sea of strangers. But by following these strategies, you can transform those new contacts into valued colleagues and friends.