Be honest about career gaps from the start of the hiring process. During the interview, you will probably be asked for more details about your career gap.
The hiring manager will be looking for more detail to understand how you spent your time, and how it was productive. An employer wants to know how you dealt with difficult situations, too, and what it shows about your character and resilience. No matter how much you want to work, career gaps can sometimes be unavoidable.
The best approach during the application and interview process is to be open and honest. Where possible, always show the employer how you faced any challenges with strength and resilience, and how your experiences gave you skills that you can use in your new role.
Career Advice E. Explore careers Job hunting Working life. Job hunting Resumes. Hi there ,. Here are some tips to help you explain career gaps in your resume. If you were let go, you will need to explain the circumstances, George says. Turn that into a positive by explaining how you broadened your skills during your time out of work. If not, what other skills did you gain?
If you haven't taken a break yet, you can plan it carefully to ensure a smooth return to the workforce. If the gap was in the past, and you've been employed since it occurred, you don't need to call it out on your resume. There is no requirement that you include all your experience on a resume.
That's especially true if you've been in the workforce for many years. If you are looking for a midcareer position, an entry-level role from decades ago is probably not very relevant. It is very important not to lie on your resume—about an employment gap or anything else. If you lie on your resume, it will probably come back to haunt you. Employers verify work history , and if you put incorrect information on your resume, it'll be discovered. For example, you could say - rather than May - August for a position.
Then, if your next job began in November , you can list it as - Present, which makes the nine-month employment gap less obvious. Here's an example of how that can look:. As you can see, the resume doesn't specifically say when the candidate started and ended employment, which can cover a brief employment gap. However, if you're filling out a job application you'll need to be more specific.
You'll also most likely be asked about the dates during a job interview, so be prepared to answer accurately. Consider a Different Resume Format: You can format your resume to minimize the visibility of gaps in your employment history. For example, you can put the dates in plain font instead of bold. Or, you can use a smaller font size than the one you're using for the company name and your job title.
These small design and formatting choices can make a big difference. Start your resume with a summary statement and career highlights section, so you are highlighting your skills and accomplishments, rather than what you did when.
Or consider using a functional resume , where you highlight your skills and qualifications at the top, followed by your chronological work history. Omit a Job or Two on Your Resume: You don't need to include all your experience on your resume, especially if you have been in the workforce for years. It's acceptable to limit the years of experience you include on your resume to fifteen when seeking a managerial or professional position, and to ten years when looking for other positions.
Did you freelance or consult? Take a sabbatical? How about volunteering? All those experiences count as work and can be included on your resume. When explaining employment gaps on a resume, you want to try to show a good reason for the gap. Gaps in your employment history may exist for several good reasons, including:. How you spend your time while unemployed and how you explain your employment gap in your resume is usually more important than the reason for your gap in employment.
So, when explaining employment gaps on your resume try to focus on the positives gained from your unemployment gap rather than any negatives. In addition to knowing how to explain employment gaps, you should also know where to explain them. Generally, there are three places you should address gaps in your employment: your cover letter, your resume and during an interview if asked about it. While there are ways to minimize the appearance of employment gaps on your resume, it is still important for you to be honest and forthcoming in explaining gaps in your employment.
Your cover letter is a great place to explain significant gaps in employment because it allows you to go into detail about how you used your time unemployed to prepare to return to the workforce. Explaining employment gaps in your cover letter and resume also shows recruiters and hiring managers that you are honest and trustworthy, which can help make you stand out from other candidates. Find jobs. Company reviews. Find salaries. Upload your resume. Sign in. What are employment gaps on resumes?
How to explain employment gaps on your resume. Spend your time unemployed preparing to return to work Determine which jobs you need to include Try to disguise small gaps by omitting the month Use a resume style or format that makes the gap less obvious List the reason for longer employment gaps as its own job Include experience gained during the gap when relevant.
Spend your time unemployed preparing to return to work. Determine which jobs you need to include. Try to disguise small gaps by omitting the month. Use a resume style or format that makes the gap less obvious.
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