A: Don't hide. Optimize.

Trying to "hide" an employment gap on your resume is probably the wrong way to look at it. That kind of thinking might lead you to do something stupid, like altering dates of employment to try to cover the gap. Beside the fact that lying is rarily morally defensible, dates are facts and facts are easily verifiable.

Trying to hide an employment gap might also lead one to attempt a purely functional resume format--the type of resume layout that discounts employers and dates of employment in favor of categories of skills, knowledge and abilities. While that may work in some instances, the functional format is a red flag with most hiring officials.

From a resume perspective, the better way to look at an employment gap is to try to optimize that time, or at least reduce the negative impact of that gap as much as possible. Regarding the latter, a skilled resume writer can often craft a combination resume (combining chronological and functional formats) that minimizes an otherwise obvious gap. Or, a good writer might elect to break your work experience into two separate categories--the first being "relevant" or "related" experience, followed by "other" experience.

If it looks as if there is no way out but to announce an employment gap on the resume, there's still hope. Most employers are sympathetic to those who were caught in the vortex of The Great Recession, so you've got that in your favor. And a recent survey by the online job site CareerBuilder holds more good news for those struggling with employment gaps. If you found a way to expand and strengthen your skills set during your unemployment, that shows drive and initiative--attributes every employer values. So what kind of "ways" are we talking about? Think: volunteer work, temporary or contract positions, taking a course or specialized industry training, or starting a business.

Outline anything and everything you did during your stint of unemployment that might have value to a prospective employer (skip the part about bending your car key with your teeth while standing in line at the unemployment office), and share that information with your resume writer. Between two heads and one skilled writer, you stand a good chance of turning a lemon into lemonade.