First, you should be aware that you are one of many who have lapsed in your work history. The vast majority of people have experienced unemployment at some point in their working-age lives, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In this post, we’ll look at some best practices for addressing gaps in your work history in an interview.
Do employment gaps matter?
Significant employment gaps should concern employers, and they should. Companies have to be picky about who they hire because they spend a lot of time and money on hiring, onboarding, and training new staff. A gap in your resume may indicate that you struggled to find employment following a layoff or that you are not very committed. People might wonder what you were up to during your unemployment and if you were hiding something. Hiring managers want to know the “why” behind any gaps in your resume regarding periods of unemployment. More importantly, they want to make sure that your lack of presence in the workforce doesn’t indicate any attitudes or behavioral patterns that would make you a risky hire.
Fortunately, gaps on your resume don’t have to be a deal breaker when applying for jobs. For a variety of reasons, including company downsizing, prolonged illness, taking care of a sick loved one, or returning to school, many older adults have gaps in their work history. These explanations typically have nothing to do with an individual’s capacity to complete the task at hand.
5 Ways to Explain an Employment Gap on Your Resume
#1. Be Honest
Recruiters look over your resume first, so you need to be honest!
You don’t want, for example, to leave out a two-year job gap on your resume only to have it brought up in an interview.
Because of this, you must be upfront and honest on your resume about your employment history, or lack thereof.
Here, it’s critical to realize that prospective employers will become aware of your employment gap, particularly if it is prolonged or recent. Therefore, attempting to conceal it will only harm your application and increase the likelihood that recruiters will think you are hiding something.
Additionally, if you’re nervous about it, keep in mind that recruiters are also people, and they’ll probably understand if you’re honest about your employment gap and the reasons behind it!
#2. Remove the Employment Gap (If It’s Outdated)
The good news is that you can safely leave your employment gap off of your resume completely if it occurred a long time ago.
Let’s take an example where you have a ten-year employment gap. Unless you’re an experienced professional, likely, you won’t even be adding jobs from ten years ago to your resume. Ultimately, you want your resume to be as relevant as possible while adhering to the suggested one-page resume format.
Therefore, it is acceptable to leave out employment gaps that occur much before your most recent employment history (or that are relatively short, such as six months during a period when you were unemployed).
#3. Take Advantage of a Different Resume Layout
You might find it helpful to use an entirely different resume layout if your job gap exceeds a few short months.
One excellent method to draw attention away from your employment gap is to use a combination or functional resume format, which places greater emphasis on your skills and competencies than on your work experience.
Having said that, using a different resume layout does not imply that you should completely hide a job gap from your application. Here, lying is never the wise course of action and will almost always backfire on you (even if you do end up getting the job).
#4. Use Your Time Away Effectively
Take initiative if you find yourself unexpectedly unemployed and are concerned about how this will affect your future job applications!
Rather than just labeling your impending job gap as a “career break” or “job searching,” embark on a side project to produce something more meaningful to include on your CV.
During your vacation from work, you could, for example, begin that project you’ve always wanted to work on yet never had the chance to, do or enroll in one or more online courses relevant to your line of work!
In this manner, you’ll demonstrate to recruiters that you’re continuously evolving – even outside of the workplace – and you’ll have far more to discuss than just saying you were looking for work or taking a break for self-discovery!
#5. Show That You Never Stopped Learning
Emphasizing your abilities and acquired knowledge is another excellent strategy for filling in previous employment gaps. Even though you may not have been employed, you could have continued to work on your personal or professional growth.
5 examples of how to answer career gap interview questions
Although many resumes now inevitably have gaps due to the pandemic, there are other typical scenarios where you might be asked to explain periods of unemployment during an interview. Here are some employment gap interview responses on how to respond to questions about taking time off to care for children or leave:
If you took time off to travel:
I took a six-month sabbatical to live and work in a foreign country. It gave me a fresh perspective and taught me some important life lessons. I’m much more prepared to resume my professional endeavors.
If you were sick:
“I was sick and could not continue working at my previous job. However, I’ve since recovered completely and am prepared for my upcoming task.”
If you were laid off:
“I lost my job at the previous company. A first-in, last-out policy or budget cuts might have been to blame. In either case, as my former manager and one of my references can attest, I am proud of what I achieved there.”
If you were fired:
“We had different expectations, which was the primary reason I left the company. There were other reasons as well. Upon reflection, I see that there were certain things I could have done differently. I’m excited to apply everything I’ve learned to my new position.”
If you took time off to raise children:
“People claim to want to “have it all,” but I don’t think that’s achievable. I want to return to work after deciding to put my career on hold to raise my children.”
Final thoughts
Recruiters concur that having a gap in your resume does not always indicate a bad thing. If you know how to handle the situation and have a positive, forward-thinking attitude when explaining your job gap in an interview, you can advance steadily in your job search.
Regardless of the cause of your career break, consider all of your accomplishments and professional highlights and highlight them in each application. Feeling more confident during an interview can also be attributed to having the best response ready for a career gap.
Parangat Staffing Service: Bridging the Gap to Your Next Opportunity
At Parangat Staffing Service, we understand that life isn’t always a straight path. Whether you’ve taken time off for personal reasons, further education, or other life events, we’re here to help you confidently return to the workforce. Our specialized recruitment team focuses on placing candidates in roles that align with their skills and experiences—while addressing career gaps in a way that showcases your growth and strengths.
We believe that a gap in your resume doesn’t define your career journey. Contact Parangat Staffing Service to explore job opportunities tailored to your goals and aspirations, and take the next step toward your professional success.
