Employment gaps happen. Life has its curveballs; sometimes, career breaks are part of the story. I know how intimidating it can feel to write about your work history when gaps are like blank spots in time. But here’s the thing—those gaps don’t define you, nor do they have to stand in the way of your future.
When you are revising your resume, the challenge is often where to start. How do you explain that break without it looking bad? The fear is that employers might think you’re unreliable or lack commitment, and that hesitation can paralyze you. However, understanding how to present those gaps strategically can turn your history into a narrative of growth and perseverance.
This article will guide you through handling employment gaps, whether short or long, voluntary or not. Together, we’ll uncover how to make those gaps work for you on your resume.
Understanding Employment Gaps
Employment gaps are more common than we like to admit, but it’s how you approach them that counts. Let’s first break down the types of gaps and their impact on job searches.
Types of gaps
Not all gaps are created equal, and understanding where your gap fits can help you decide how to frame it. Short-term gaps (those less than six months) are often easier to explain, while long-term gaps (a year or more) need more strategy. Intentional gaps, like traveling or starting a family, can be reframed as personal development periods, but unintentional gaps might need more context.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Gaps
If you’ve been off work for less than six months, it might not even be noticed by some employers. On the other hand, a gap longer than a year might raise some questions. You’ll want to explain what happened in a way that emphasizes your readiness to return to work.
Intentional vs. Unintentional Gaps
Maybe you took time off to travel, take care of family, or pursue education. That’s an intentional gap, and it’s easy to reframe as growth. Unintentional gaps, like layoffs, are harder but not impossible to explain positively.
Impact on job search
If you’re wondering how gaps affect employer perception, you’re not alone. Employers might hesitate if they see unexplained gaps, wondering if there is a reliability issue. However, more companies today are becoming understanding, especially in light of global events like the pandemic, which has normalized the idea of breaks in employment. Your task is to ensure they see those gaps as non-issues.
Employer Concerns about Gaps
When employers see gaps, they may wonder if you were not working due to performance issues. Anticipating these concerns will help you prepare explanations that reassure hiring managers that you’re still the right person for the job.
Overcoming stigma
There’s a lingering stigma about taking time off, but I firmly believe in breaking that mindset. Career breaks are not failures, they’re just detours. By openly addressing these gaps and showing the value they bring to your personal or professional life, you can diminish the societal biases associated with employment gaps.
Strategic Resume Techniques
Knowing how to fill in employment gaps is essential to making your resume stand out, not because of what it’s missing, but because of the skills you’ve gained.
Omission: When to leave it off
Yes, sometimes it’s best not to mention a gap at all. If your gap was short-term and didn’t impact your skill set, you can simply shift focus to your strengths. You don’t have to mention every gap, especially if it’s brief. Just keep in mind that if the gap may affect your story, omitting it without a solid reason might come across as evasive.
When Omission Works Best
If your gap is less than six months, or if it falls between jobs where your performance was strong, it may not even be worth mentioning. But be cautious—if an employer asks about the gap, you need a clear explanation prepared.
Bridging gaps: Volunteering and freelance work
I always encourage adding any productive activity you did during your gap. Freelance projects, volunteer work, or even taking classes are all perfect examples of how you can fill in that space. These activities show initiative and commitment, and they often provide you with transferable skills that apply directly to your next role.
Freelancing During a Gap
If you’ve done freelance work during your employment gap, I highly recommend listing it on your resume. Even if you were doing short-term gigs, it demonstrates that you stayed professionally active and continued learning.
Volunteer Experience
Similarly, volunteering is a great way to bridge employment gaps. If you volunteered at an organization, worked on projects, or developed skills, these activities can all be highlighted in your resume.
Highlighting transferable skills
No job is wasted experience. I believe that every role, no matter how unrelated to your current career, offers skills that you can bring to the table. Problem-solving, leadership, and communication are all transferable skills that most employers look for. Highlighting how you grew during the gap is key.
Identifying Transferable Skills
Think back to your career gap. Did you learn any new skills? Did you work on time management, take up a course, or do freelance projects? List these skills on your resume, as they’re often just as valuable as traditional job experience.
Tailoring your resume
Your resume is not a one-size-fits-all document. When you’re writing your resume, tailor it to the job you’re applying for. The gaps? They don’t need to be the star of the show. Highlight what’s relevant to the job, emphasizing your experience and competencies that directly speak to the role.
How to Tailor for Each Job
When tailoring your resume, start by analyzing the job description and matching your skills and experiences to what the employer is looking for. Focus on how you can benefit the company rather than fixating on the gap itself.
Crafting a Compelling Cover Letter
If you feel nervous about your employment gaps, don’t worry—you can address them head-on in your cover letter. It’s your chance to explain the gap while focusing on your strengths.
Addressing gaps directly
Being honest is important. I recommend briefly explaining the gap in your cover letter. Keep it positive and frame it as a time of growth. Be careful, though—don’t make the gap the focus. Keep it simple, honest, and forward-looking.
Should You Mention the Gap
If the gap is significant, or likely to raise questions, I suggest you bring it up directly in the cover letter. Be proactive by addressing the gap and emphasizing what you gained from it, whether it’s a new skill set, a fresh perspective, or personal development.
Highlighting growth
Employers love growth. By explaining how your time off was spent improving yourself, whether through learning new skills or overcoming challenges, you can turn the gap into a positive. For example, maybe you learned time management by balancing family responsibilities, or you gained leadership skills by coordinating volunteer projects.
Framing Gaps Positively
Make sure to highlight specific skills you gained, and how those skills apply to the position you’re seeking. For instance, managing a household during your gap might have enhanced your organizational skills, a quality valued in many roles.
Connecting to the job
The ultimate goal is to connect the gap to the role you’re applying for. Make it clear how the experiences you had during your time off make you a better candidate. If you took a course, worked on personal projects, or volunteered, show how these experiences helped you develop valuable skills.
Interview Preparation
Once you’ve crafted a stellar resume and cover letter, the next hurdle is the interview. Employers will likely ask about the gap, so preparation is key.
Anticipating questions
You can bet they’ll ask about your gap, so it’s best to prepare. I suggest coming up with a concise explanation that doesn’t dwell on the gap but instead focuses on what you did during that time. Employers respect candidates who own their story confidently.
Common Gap-Related Interview Questions
“Can you explain this period of unemployment?” or “What were you doing during this time off?” are typical questions. Preparing answers that emphasize growth and readiness to return to work is essential.
Storytelling techniques
When you answer questions, I always recommend using storytelling to bring your experiences to life. Explain your career journey, including the gap, as a cohesive narrative. A story that shows growth, learning, and positive outcomes will leave a stronger impression than a list of dates.
Telling a Compelling Story
Think of the gap as part of your larger story. Share what you learned, the challenges you overcame, and how those experiences have shaped you into the ideal candidate for the job.
Confidence and positivity
Confidence goes a long way in job interviews. Employers can sense hesitation, so make sure you practice your answers until you feel secure in explaining your gap. Projecting a positive attitude about your experience will encourage them to view it positively, too.
Unique Perspectives on Career Breaks
Taking a career break can be a bold move, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. Whether intentional or not, these gaps can be a stepping stone to something greater.
Career sabbaticals
A career sabbatical might sound like a luxury, but it can be a time for deep personal and professional development. Many companies today value employees who take time to recharge and return with renewed energy and fresh perspectives. I encourage you to reframe your gap as a period of growth and inspiration.
Why Sabbaticals Are Valuable
If you took time off for personal enrichment—whether to travel, study, or focus on self-care—don’t be afraid to talk about how that time expanded your worldview, increased your productivity, or gave you fresh insight into your career goals.
Remote work
With the rise of remote work, it’s easier to bridge employment gaps. Remote gigs or contract work allow you to stay connected to the workforce while enjoying the flexibility you might need for personal reasons. If you’re entering or re-entering the workforce, remote work can serve as a valuable tool to ease back in.
Using Remote Work as a Gap Filler
If you’ve done remote work during your gap, include it on your resume. It demonstrates that you’ve kept your skills sharp, and with so many companies embracing remote work, it can even make you a more attractive candidate.
Entrepreneurship
Starting a business during your employment gap? That’s an achievement worth celebrating. Entrepreneurship during a gap shows initiative, creativity, and resourcefulness. Whether your business is large or small, the skills you developed—project management, financial planning, and marketing—are impressive additions to any resume.
How to Highlight Entrepreneurial Experience
Running a business, even if small, involves transferable skills like time management, budgeting, and problem-solving. Including this experience on your resume highlights your resourcefulness and initiative.
Returnship Programs
A “returnship” is like an internship for experienced professionals re-entering the workforce. These programs offer valuable opportunities for individuals with gaps to refresh their skills and reintegrate into professional settings. Companies like Goldman Sachs and Microsoft offer programs that acknowledge your gap and help reintegrate you into the workforce.
Conclusion
Having gaps on your resume doesn’t mean you’re less employable. Far from it. I’ve found that it’s how you approach those gaps—whether with honesty, creativity, or strategy—that makes all the difference. Employment gaps can be an opportunity for growth, learning, and skill development. They’re a part of your career journey, not a detour from it. So, when you sit down to write that resume, know that you’re writing about a dynamic, well-rounded candidate—yourself.
