Having employment gaps in your resume won't necessarily hold you back from advancing through the recruitment process. But you need to be prepared on how to respond to potential employers.
Photo credit: Yanalya
The period of time when a job seeker is unemployed is what we call a resume gap. For some, it could be months while others it’s years. There are two types of gaps. One is when a person decides to take time off to go to school full time, travel or raise their children which is voluntary. The other is involuntary - when someone is laid off due to the economic downturn or the job search takes longer than expected. However, that shouldn’t discourage or put you off.
Depending on which gap you fall under, this article offers ways to help you handle the gaps so that it won’t hurt your job search or upcoming interviews.
Honesty
The first instinct would be to hide it. For recruiters, unexplained resume gaps tend to be seen as suspicious. For those with longer gaps which are more than six to nine months, you’ll need to be honest on the reason for your gap to prevent any misunderstanding. Remember, if you made it into the interview it means there must be something they liked on your resume.
Preparation
Practice and be ready to answer the questions concerning your resume gap. Explain why you have gaps in your resume. Don’t dwell too long on it, keep it short and straight to the point. Afterward, move on to the value you picked up during that time. Focus on what you’ll bring to the table through your skills and experience.
Explanation
Explaining the gaps depends on the situation and what you did while you weren’t employed. You need to list the years instead of months e.g. 2014-2016. If your gaps are longer then include a brief note on your cover letter. Limit the explanation to 1-2 sentences for each gap. If you volunteered or became a freelancer, then mention the skills you added during that time. If your reason was involuntary like maybe you had to take care of a sick relative then clarify and reassure the recruiter you are now available to work. For example, “I resigned to care for a sick family member for two years. They have gotten better and I am fully available to work now.”
Read more on Addressing employment gap on your résumé.
