How to Explain an Employment Gap on Your Resume

How to Explain an Employment Gap on Your ResumeHow to Explain an Employment Gap on Your ResumeMany of us take time off, for one reason or another, from working. Sometimes, its by choice- maybe you were raising a child, traveling, taking care of a sick relative, or went back to school. In other cases, your time off from work may occur because you were laid off or fired and it took time to find a new job. What is the best way to explain an employment gap on your resume and during a job interview? It depends on the situation and what you did while you werent employed. Do You Need to Mention a Gap on Your Resume? If you havent taken a break yet, you can plan it carefully to ensure a smooth return to the workforce. If the gap was in the past, and youve been employed since it occurred, you dont need to call it out on your resume. There is no requirement that you include all your experience on a resume. Thats especially true if youve been in the workforce for many years. If you are look ing for a mid-career position, an entry level role from decades ago is probably not very relevant. It is, however, very important not to lie on your resume - about an employment gap or anything else.If you lie on your resume, it will probably come back to haunt you. Employersverify work history, and if you put incorrect information on your resume, itll be discovered. 4 Ways to Make Employment Gaps Less Obvious on a Resume 1. Use Dates to Cover up the Gap Whenlisting dates on your resume, you dont need to list the month/year if you were in a position for over a year or if your position spans multiple years. For example, you could say 2015 - 2017 (rather than May 2015 - August 2017) for a position. Then, if your next job began in November 2017, you can list it as 2017 - Present, which makes the nine-month employment gap less obvious. Heres an example of how that can look Store Manager, XYZ Store2017 - PresentSales Associate, ABC Store2015 2017 ExpandAs you can see, the resume does nt specifically say when the candidate started and ended employment, which can cover a brief employment gap. However, if youre filling out a job application youll need to be more specific. Youll also fruchtwein likely be asked about the dates during a job interview, so be prepared to answer accurately. 2. Consider a Different Resume Format You canformat your resumeto minimize the visibility of gaps in youremployment history. For example, you can put the dates in plain font instead of bold. Or, you can use a smaller font than the one youre using for the company name and your job title. Start your resume with asummary statement and career highlightssection, so you are highlighting your skills and accomplishments, rather than when you did what. These small design and formatting choices can make a big difference. 3. Omit a Job (or Two) on Your Resume You dont need to include all your experience on your resume, especially if you have been in the workforce for years.Its acceptable to limi t theyears of experience you include on your resumeto fifteen years when seeking a managerial or professional position and ten years when looking for other positions. 4. Include Other Experience Gained During the Gap What did you do while you werent employed? Did you freelance or consult? Take a sabbatical? How about volunteering? All those experiences count as work and can be included on your resume. List them as you would list your other jobs - with job title, company name, job description, and dates of employment. If you took a class, you could list thatin the education sectionof your resume. If you participated in a gap year experience, that information could be include on your resume as well. Explaining an Employment Gap During a Job Interview Explaining a gap in employment during an interview can be tricky. The best approach is usually to address the issue in a direct and forthright manner. Provide a clear rationale for taking time off if the break was voluntary. If you to ok time off to deal with a particular issue like caring for a sick relative or completing coursework and are ready to return tofull-time employment, make it clear that the reason for your time off from the workforce has been resolved. If you were laid off due to a workforce contraction, it would be important to provide any evidence of strong performance as you explain the circumstances surrounding the downsizing. Whenever possible, secure recommendations from supervisors, colleagues, and customers confirming your competence. Incorporate these into yourLinkedIn profilewhen feasible. Of course, it will be more difficult to make a strong case if you were fired due to performance issues. If you are now targeting a job that requiresdifferent skillsor competencies, then you might emphasize how your strengths are better suited for the job at hand. If you have taken action to correct any problems which lumineszenzdiode to your dismissal, you should mention the steps you have takento strengt hen your abilities. You should generally avoid any negative characterization of your former employer since many prospective employers would take the employers side. A proactive approach providing evidence of your competence, and any positive recommendations from previous jobs can be helpful. Emphasize the Positive There are ways you can almost seamlesslyreturn to work after a career break. Make sure that you emphasize any constructive activities during your gap period suchas volunteer work, workshops or coursework, consulting or freelance work. Finally, exude enthusiasm for returning to work and make a very strong case for why your target job would be exciting for you and an excellent fit.