Let’s establish one thing for once and all: Having employment gaps in your resume is okay. There are many reasons people take breaks such as caring for an ailing parent, pregnancy, or simply traveling. Whatever the reason may be, there’s a way to present yourself. No recruiter is going to make a case against you because of those gaps as long as you have the necessary skills and are culturally a good fit for their organization.
Here are some of the best ways on what you can do to explain employment gaps
- If the gap is for a couple of months, you don’t have to go into the nitty gritties of it. Just list years instead of months. This method, however, will not work if this pattern is too frequent throughout your employment history.
- If the gaps are longer than a few months and extend to a year or more, give a brief and genuine reason for it. These reasons could vary from caring for a family member to an educational degree that you pursued during that time. Again, be sure that you are upfront about it and don’t beat about the bush.
- Don’t hide the gap. The hiring process includes background checks in some instances; therefore, it is wiser to let the potential employer know about your hiatus. Will there be companies who will mind you having employment gaps? Yes. Are such companies worth your time? No. In fact, an employer not being okay with an employment gap and completely ignoring your skills is a big fat red flag. They probably have awful vacation policies and you surely would not want to work with a company like that, would you?
- Don’t focus too much on the explanation. Add it as a fact on your job application but remember there are more important things you need to highlight; such as your qualifications and achievements. Accomplishing exceptional sales as a result of your past work is a more important detail than writing sonnets about your employment gaps. Remember: Explain the gaps, don’t dwell on them.
To reiterate, there is nothing wrong with having gaps in employment, so there is no need to be apologetic. The good news is that taking time off from work is becoming a norm and a good recruiter will not raise an eyebrow over it. It is important to focus on your skills and what you have to offer to the company. Be upfront about it and stand by your choices. Confidence is key and being straight-forward will give an organization a solid reason to hire you.
