Got Employment Gaps on Your Resume? Here are 3 Ways to Address Them
You decided to become a stay-at-home mom or dad for a few months or years.
You had a family emergency that required you to put your career on pause.
You wanted to quit your job to travel the world for a while.
You needed a break from the 9 to 5 life.
...And now you have a gap in your resume. You’re not alone. It’s reported that 3 in 5 Americans, approximately 59% of the U.S. population, have a resume gap. Having a gap in your resume is more common today than ever before.
HIRING MANAGERS STILL WANT YOU IF YOU HAVE A GAP
An estimated 72% of jobseekers believe a stigma still exists regarding employment gaps that prevent them from starting or continuing their job search. But 79% of hiring managers said they would still hire a candidate with a gap in their resume in 2021 - especially given the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Having a few years or a few months in between jobs used to be a big hurdle for jobseekers to overcome in the past. It raised eyebrows for recruiters and hiring managers, and also prompted a slew of uncomfortable and overbearing questions about the candidates’ faithfulness and loyalty to their job.
Are you dependable?
Are you reliable?
Can we trust that you’ll stay?
Regardless of whether the reason for your employment gap is by choice or due to circumstances out of your control, there’s no reason to be ashamed of having to or needing to take time off work. Your gap doesn’t make you undesirable, unemployable, or damaged goods.
As a society, we’ve been conditioned to believe that we’re failures or lazy if we’re not working every single day of our lives, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
WHAT ARE THE TOP REASONS FOR A RESUME GAP?
According to a Benefits Pro survey, 48% of resume gaps are family-related. This includes taking time off to start or raise a family, take care of a sick family member or friend, and taking an extended paternity/maternity leave.
Getting laid off was another top response, with 37% of survey participants saying that the gap on their resume was the result of the company downsizing, going out of business, relocating, or their position being eliminated.
16% of people stated being fired was the reason for employment inconsistency, as well as unexpected or unforeseen job loss.
Other reasons include going back to school, which accounted for 18% of answers and needing a mental and/or physical break from work.
There can be many reasons why resume gaps occur and no reason is better or greater than the other. However, you should never lie or try to fudge details surrounding it on your resume by falsifying the end date or start date of your current or last job. This could cause you to lose an offer if it’s revealed that you’ve been deceptive.
IS THERE A SUCH THING AS A RESUME GAP THAT’S TOO LONG?
While gaps have become more acceptable, there's still a debate surrounding the length of them. Gaps that are 6 months or less can easily be explained and are typically favored, while gaps that last years can raise red flags. Ultimately, as long as you have a solid reason why you weren’t working during that time, you shouldn’t be critiqued or put through the wringer.
If you had a gap for any reason in the 80’s, 90’s, and early 00’s, you were perceived to have a poor work ethic, deemed as someone who can’t “cut it” in the real world, and as someone who lacks the skills to be successful or “make it”. But all of that is false. You’re still a talented, skilled, top-notch professional even with a gap.
As long as you’re qualified with the necessary skills, have a solid resume that pitches you as a strong candidate, and you are able to speak to your abilities and understand the needs of the company during the interview, your gap, no matter the length, shouldn’t matter.
HOW TO ADDRESS RESUME GAPS
There are many ways to address gaps in your resume. The key is to be honest, upfront, and open. Don’t try to hide it, lie about it, or ignore it. This will only alarm recruiters and hiring managers even more. Here’s how to list, include, or state your gap on your resume.
1. List it on your resume as if you were listing a job - give yourself a title and include the year(s)
The same way that you would list your job title, company name, city/state, and to and from date for one of your actual jobs is the same way you should list the reason for your gap. By incorporating it into your resume, you’re not leaving the recruiter guessing or creating scenarios about why you were out of a job for months or years.
Your resume should be answering every single question they may have regarding your work history, skills, and experience. The more accurate, targeted, and qualified information you give them, the more interested in you they will become.
Example: Head of Household, Mom of Two | Gates Residence - Chicago, IL (2013-Current)
2. Give a general description of the tasks you were performing
Even though you’re not working, that doesn’t mean you’re at home doing absolutely nothing all day. After you give yourself a title and include the timeframe, list a few things that you are doing or were doing during your gap.
If you were a mom taking care of a 5 person household, talk about your overall duties no matter how boring or cheesy they may sound.
If you are taking time to travel, talk about the trips you planned, the places you’ve seen, how you manage your budget, and the content you create. No one does nothing during a gap - tell recruiters what you did. Be transparent and provide value if you can.
Example:
Head of Household, Mom of Two | Gates Residence - Chicago, IL (2013-Current)
Manage activity, school, and eating schedules for two young girls aged 6 and 9.
Allocate a monthly household budget of $5K for necessities such as groceries, cleaning supplies, clothing, etc.
Oversaw the full renovation and remodeling of kitchen.
Cook 5+ meals per day for entire family.
Complete 10+ loads of laundry bi-weekly.
3. Address it in your cover letter
In addition to being clear about your gap in your resume, you can also list it in your cover letter along with a brief explanation. The reason for your gap shouldn’t take up a full paragraph; it should be one to three sentences only.
If the recruiter or hiring manager wants additional details or clarification, that’s what the interview is for. Stating your gap in your cover letter is also a great way to prepare them for seeing your gap in advance.
Doing this makes you appear genuine, sincere, and honest about it, rather than springing it on them when they read your resume.
For more cover letter tips, watch the video above or click here.
DON’T SWEAT YOUR GAP
Many professionals are self-conscious about their gap and let it hold them back during their job search. They worry about scrutiny from recruiters, not being good enough, and the judgment they may receive. A gap shouldn’t stop you from applying to or getting a job.
If you happen to experience any negativity regarding your gap, it could be that that opportunity isn’t the best fit for you. As long as you are investing in yourself, learning new things, and staying current with trends and evolutions in your industry, you’re just as capable as competing applicants.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a resume writer if you’re having trouble listing and explaining your gap.