A resume gap is a period of unemployment during your career that lasts several months or years. Addressing resume gaps is essential for finding a new job because it informs your potential employer about the reasons for your unemployment during that time, what you learned along the way (e.g., skills, education), and your future ambitions.
The reasons for unemployment can be many, personal reasons (focus on mental health), career breaks (taking time to work on self-employment projects), etc. Regardless of why they exist, you should know that resume gaps are common and can be addressed effectively.
What are Resume Gaps?
Resume gaps are intervals in your career during which you had no professional employment. Usually, a span of several months up to several years counts as an employment gap on your resume.
Gaps can be a consequence of voluntary or involuntary occurrences. For instance, an individual may have to step down from a position due to an illness or rehab. In contrast, you may start a private business and create a resume gap because of no formal employment during its development.
It’s important to note that having resume gaps does not have to be an obstacle for your future career. If you address it properly, you can continue your career and advance faster.
5 Common Reasons for Resume Gaps
As mentioned before, career gaps on a resume can occur due to events that are both within and outside our control. The reasons for resume gaps may also be positive or less favorable.
Career Change or Exploration
At some point in life, you may switch careers or try new paths in search of your true calling. This sounds like a good idea, especially if you believe your new job will improve your overall well-being.
Still, you may not be formally employed during this process, as it requires dedication to researching a new niche and developing new skills. But don’t worry, as there are many different resume examples (including the one for a career change) that you can use to present your career change professionally.
Personal Health or Family Care
Health comes first for most people. This is why some individuals leave jobs and take time to improve their health. In extreme cases, some people are forced to stop working due to different incapacities.
Additionally, you can take a break from work to focus entirely on family care. For example, you may decide not to send your grandparents to a senior living facility and take care of them instead.
Educational Pursuits
If you want to level up academically, you may quit work to devote your time to pursuing a degree or title. This may not be the case for short courses or programs, but for obtaining higher education degrees, such as a PhD. Education means more knowledge and skills, which also increases employment chances.
Volunteering
Volunteering is gaining knowledge and experience that implies working without formal compensation. It may not be formal employment, but it is a career aspect worth adding to your resume. This is because volunteering also suggests someone’s diligence, will to help, and ambition for growth.
Self-employment Project
Another experience that does not officially count as employment includes businesses, projects, and entrepreneurship that you start yourself. For instance, you can start a catering business.
Even with no experience, you can put much effort into your culinary, bakery, and catering management skills. If your endeavor is successful, your time and effort will compensate for the gap in your resume.
How to Explain Resume Gaps in Interviews
To explain resume gaps in interviews, you should use a suitable resume format, be honest about your unemployment period, and focus on the skills you learned during this time.
Be Honest and Straightforward About It
You should not try to cover up the tracks of your resume gap. Instead, you can be open about it and explain why it exists. For example, you can tell the interviewer about being a stay-at-home dad for three years. You can also mention that you wanted to focus on your family and provide your children with the necessary care.
Being straightforward about this will prevent interviewers from pondering and using subtle methods to discover the reason for your gap. It will also build trust between you and the interviewer, resulting in a higher appreciation of your honesty and transparency.
Emphasize What You Learned During This Time
Periods of unemployment may bring various types of progress, such as development of technical, interpersonal, communication, and other skills. You may attend courses, obtain certificates, or undergo education programs that make you qualified for new jobs or positions in the same profession you haven’t done before.
In addition to this, you can emphasize skills you developed during unemployment informally. For instance, you may have regularly listened to TED Talks and watched other educational material where you learned many valuable and practical skills.
Highlight Transferable Skills or Experiences Gained During the Time Off
You can fill your time off work with spare time activities, during which you can learn skills for a new job. For example, you may be creative and make decorations for parties and weddings as a hobby. This can later help you land a job as an interior decorator.
Moreover, your reason for leaving work may allow you to learn new skills. You can learn much about fitness, training, calisthenics, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle if you are set on losing weight. Once you decide to find a new job, this knowledge can be very useful.
Use a Functional or Combination Resume Format
A functional resume format incorporates work experience differently than a standard one. Specifically, it focuses on your skills and accomplishments rather than your experience. It allows you to summarize your work experience and give an overview without specific details such as time and date.
Furthermore, a combination resume format lists your relevant work experience and chronology, as well as your skills and achievements. Focus on the skill section and make it larger while making the experience segment smaller.
Also, try to disguise employment gaps by listing only years of working experience (this only applies to resume gaps lasting a few months). You still need to be ready to answer questions about specific employment dates during an interview.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Resume Gaps
What counts as a resume gap?
A resume gap is any period during your career when you were not formally employed. This can range from a few months to several years and can occur due to personal, professional, or educational reasons. Even short periods of unemployment can be noticeable on your resume.
Are resume gaps a red flag for employers?
Not necessarily. Many employers understand that career gaps are common, especially in today’s job market. What matters most is how you address the gap, the skills you gained during that period, and your ability to demonstrate readiness for your next role.
How should I address a gap on my resume?
You can address gaps by:
Using a functional or combination resume format that emphasizes skills and achievements.
Including relevant projects, volunteer work, or self-employment experiences during the gap.
Being honest and transparent about the reason for the gap in your cover letter or interview.
Should I lie about a resume gap?
Absolutely not. Being dishonest can damage your credibility and may lead to losing job opportunities. Instead, frame your gap positively by highlighting skills or experiences gained during that period.
Can volunteering or self-employment fill a resume gap?
Yes. Volunteering, freelance projects, or self-employment are valuable experiences that demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and skill development. These can be included on your resume as professional experiences or under a dedicated “Projects” or “Relevant Experience” section.
How do I explain a resume gap in an interview?
When asked, be honest and concise. Explain the reason for your gap, focus on what you learned or achieved during that time, and highlight how it prepared you for the role you’re applying for. For example, you can mention acquiring new skills, attending courses, or taking care of family responsibilities.
Do resume gaps affect career advancement?
Not necessarily. A well-explained gap, combined with up-to-date skills and experience, usually does not hinder career progression. Employers value honesty, personal growth, and relevant skills over continuous employment history.
How can I minimize the impact of short gaps on my resume?
For gaps shorter than a year, consider listing only the years of employment rather than specific months. You can also emphasize transferable skills, certifications, or part-time projects completed during the gap.
Are there types of gaps that employers find acceptable or even positive?
Yes. Employers often view gaps due to educational pursuits, self-improvement, volunteering, or family care positively, especially if you can demonstrate growth, skills development, or practical experience during that time.
Can a resume gap be a career advantage?
Yes. A resume gap can be an advantage if it reflects deliberate choices, such as pursuing further education, exploring a new career, or personal development. Framing it strategically shows initiative, self-awareness, and dedication to growth.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, resume gaps are a normal and increasingly common part of many career journeys. Rather than seeing them as setbacks, view them as opportunities to reflect, grow, and acquire new skills. By being transparent about your gaps, confidently highlighting the experiences and competencies gained during that time, and framing them strategically, you can turn what might seem like a disadvantage into a strength, enhancing your appeal to potential employers and accelerating your path to your next opportunity.
Most employers will have no remarks about resume gaps after you provide objective reasons for them. Additionally, presenting your skills or new competencies acquired during unemployment can increase your chances of getting hired.