Life happens. You may need to take time out of your career to care for a loved one, travel, return to school, deal with an illness, and the list goes on. You may have taken the time voluntarily or involuntarily. The length of the time may also vary from a few months to several years. When you are ready to return to work you may be concerned about how to explain that employment gap on your resume. This article provides six ways you can explain employment gaps on your resume and provides additional resources for future reference.
Here are six ways you can describe the employment gaps on your resume.
1. Decide which jobs to include in your resume.
If the employment gap was early during your career, depending on the length of time and your level of experience, you may not need to include that gap on your resume.
2. List the year of each position, omitting the months.
This strategy works well if the gaps in your employment are short and occur between jobs. By omitting the months for each position, you can draw less attention to any breaks in employment. You should be prepared to discuss any short gaps during interviews and be able to frame them in a positive light.
4. Select a resume format that makes the employment gap less apparent.
A functional resume format focuses more on your achievement and skills instead of experience. This resume format may help you make those employment gaps less obvious. You can download a ready-to-use template below.
5. Provide explanations for longer gaps in employment.
If your employment gap is more than a year, you need to explain what you were doing during that time in the experience section of your resume. Treat it as if it were a work experience. Keep the entry very brief. Here is an example:
Full-time parent, Los Angeles, CA, 2018-2021
- Provided care for two young children and managed the household.
6. If the employment gap is relevant to the job you are applying for, include the skills you gained during that time.
For example, if you were a full-time caregiver for a loved one during your employment gap and you are applying for positions as a nurse, highlighting the work you did as a caregiver is beneficial in demonstrating the skills and experience you can bring to the job. Here is an example:
Full-time caregiver, Tucson, AZ, 2019-2021
- Maintained medication records and distributed medication to relative four times daily.
- Assisted relative with daily personal tasks including, bathing, grooming, dressing, and feeding.
There are three instances where you should address any employment gaps: your resume, cover letter, and during an interview. In both your cover letter and interview you will be able to provide a more detailed explanation. It is important to show your potential future employer that you are trustworthy and honest about your experiences.
As you prepare to return to work, you can add relevant skills and experience to your resume by taking continuing education courses, earning relevant certificates, volunteering, and doing contract work.
To read more about these tips and a list of good reasons for employment gaps, visit How To Explain Gaps in Employment on Your Resume.
Learn more about explaining employment gaps in your resume by watching these videos:
