So there’s an employment break on your resume. It could be months, but it could also be years.
Few people who work to live can afford to be unemployed. There may be some who pause working to pursue new horizons. But some stop because they burned out. You may have resigned or been laid off for circumstances beyond your control. Whatever the reason, you still have to explain the gap to every recruiter who interviews you.
Luckily, there are ways to navigate employment breaks. So, if you plan to spend months off work or are struggling to explain why you had to take a break, this article has answers that can help keep your career in check.
Why Do People Have Employment Gaps?
It would be a perfect world if most employment gaps centered around skill building, leisure, and travel.¹ However, mental health, caregiving, illness, stress, and job termination are a few of the main reasons for employees to take a break.
No matter the cause, it’s best to be prepared to explain what happened during your gap. This will help strengthen your application and increase your chances of being a potential candidate.
Here’s the rule of thumb: Present your story in a positive light. Did you learn anything? Did you engage in any community activities? Did you actively seek education? An employment gap becomes easier to manage if you have the right answers to back up your time off work.
9 Good Reasons for an Employment Gap
Career gaps don’t always need to be a bad thing. The following are not just good reasons; they can also help you in the future if you decide to take a break. Whether you’re already taking a break or are just planning to, these nine good reasons for gaps in employment can help you get back on track:
1. Professional Growth
Employers appreciate dedicated employees. If you spent time learning new skills, getting a certification or license, or enrolling for higher education, let your recruiter know. This can easily clarify gaps in a job interview and even make you a stronger candidate.
Read more: Acing Your Phone Interview
2. Personal Development
Explain how you worked on your personal growth during that time. Aside from acquiring new skills and knowledge, your personal development can also be leveraged in job hunting. Present yourself as a well-rounded person by sharing about your new hobby, language, or transferrable skill.
3. Managing Personal Matters or Health Concerns
Be honest if your employment gap is due to personal reasons like taking care of a family member, being a stay-at-home parent, or addressing health issues. Now, explain how you managed your responsibilities and overcame the difficult time. This can show resilience, determination, and enthusiasm to get back to work.
4. Networking and Industry Engagement
Maybe you’ve been out of work for a long time, or maybe unemployment looms in your near future. You can turn this into an opportunity to attend networking events and industry conferences. Don’t stagnate. Stay connected and informed about industry trends—it means you made the effort to keep your knowledge updated.
5. Freelance Work
If you happened to secure short freelance projects during your work gap, it may be good to mention this to a recruiter. Your new skills could be valuable to the potential job that you’re applying for.
6. Traveling with Purpose
Traveling without a purpose can be misinterpreted as carefree or even careless. Instead, frame your traveling experience in a broader perspective. Did you immerse yourself in new cultures? Did you develop your adaptability and communication skills? Did you overcome specific obstacles? What did you learn from all these?
7. Preparation for Career Transition
If you’re seeking a new career, chances are that you must do it the hard way. Explain the steps you took and how you prepared yourself. Mention any courses, certifications, and relevant experience you acquired.
8. Time Spent Looking for a New Job
Being laid off is an unfortunate thing. However, the economy can be unpredictable. If you spent a large portion of your time looking for a job, explain why it had to take so long. Ideally, you can back up your story with learning experiences and how you spent your time acquiring new skills or information.
9. Relocating to a New Place
Moving to a new place can be tricky. While remote jobs are available, this is not always the case for jobs that require physical presence, such as the light industrial, retail, healthcare, and utility industries. If you had to move to a new place, explain what actions you took and how you were able to adjust to the new environment.
Handling Tricky Employment Gaps
While there are valid reasons for an employment gap, there are also times when explaining these gaps gets tricky. To secure your employment history, here are a few additional tips:
1. Prepare yourself before you get back to work.
Even if none of the reasons listed above apply to you now, they do present you with options for spending the time you still have. If you are currently in need of a job, make the best use of your time by learning new skills, earning a certification, or doing relevant work as a freelancer.
2. Determine whether you need to include the gap.
Remember, not all gaps need to be explained (like that employment gap after graduation!). If you already have years of experience under your belt, you can focus on your most recent work instead of opening a discussion on your work gap from ten years ago.
3. Minimize noticeable employment breaks by removing the month.
A simple way of disguising your work gap is by omitting the months from your resume, especially if it only took a few months. Indicate the year of your previous work through a range, like “2018-2020.”
4. Use a functional resume format.
Traditional resume formats are chronologically arranged. However, a functional style focuses on your skills and achievements rather than your chronological job experience.
- A summary can showcase your unique traits and skills.
- A “major accomplishments” section makes your wins the main focus of your resume.
- You can add a “work history” section at the bottom with only the job title, company, and year.
5. List what you did during your gap on your resume.
Longer employment gaps are more challenging to hide. If you have a gap of more than a year, it will still be visible even if you exclude the months or use a functional resume format. One option is directly mentioning the reason for the employment gap in the resume itself. Make it short and simple so it doesn’t distract your recruiter.
If you learned skills relevant to the position you’re applying for, include them here as well. Think of how you can apply your new skills in a professional environment and be ready to communicate this to your recruiter or interviewer.
Read more: The Interview Is Over: What Happens Next?
APPLY TO YOUR NEXT JOB WORRY-FREE WITH HORIZON AMERICA
Here at Horizon America, we understand that employment is not always linear. There is always uncertainty, and things may not go as planned. That’s why we focus more on our candidate’s values and what they can bring to the job.
We have a lineup of light industrial, manufacturing, warehouse, sanitation, produce, and sanitation job opportunities. The good thing is that you can enter temporary or temp-to-hire contracts.
Give us a call today and we’ll help you find an employer that best matches your skill and dedication.
References
- Bert, Jamie. “How To Explain Gaps in Employment on Your Resume.” Indeed, 16 Aug. 2024, https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1801053/half-workers-reluctant-disclose-career-gaps-study-finds
