There’s nothing wrong with having a gap in your employment. According to a recent survey by LinkedIn, nearly 80% of hiring managers would hire a candidate with a career gap. Yet 72% of job seekers believe there’s still a stigma associated with having an employment gap.
In this article, I share:
- Whether an employment gap is a red flag.
- How to explain gaps in employment.
- Mistakes to avoid when addressing a gap in employment.
- Examples of how to talk about an employment gap.
Is An Employment Gap A Red Flag?
An employment gap isn’t necessarily a red flag, but the length of your gap in employment may determine whether it becomes an issue during your job search.
For instance, if you were unemployed for 3 to 6 months, a prospective employer may not even ask about it during your interview. However, if you were unemployed for a year or longer, you may encounter questions from recruiters and hiring managers.
In this case, you will need to be ready to answer questions thoughtfully during the interview and should consider proactively addressing the gap on your resume.
How To Explain An Employment Gap
Next, do you need to address a gap in employment on your resume or LinkedIn profile? While recruiters and hiring managers have become more empathetic about gaps since the pandemic, I still advise addressing gaps on your resume, as well as on your LinkedIn profile, to improve your chances of hearing back from employers.
But what exactly should you say about the gap? Is there a best way to talk about unemployment without scaring off potential employers? The answer is a resounding yes. Your goal is to share just enough information to keep the reader’s mind from wandering and incorrectly assuming the worst about the break.
In most cases, this looks like formatting the gap like the other positions on your resume or LinkedIn profile, then potentially highlighting the skills you’ve sharpened, as well as any relevant accomplishments.
Let’s say you took two years off from full-time work to pursue an MBA. You could list the university as your employer during that time, with “MBA student” as your title and your attendance dates as your employment dates. (I share additional examples later in this article.)
[Read: The Truth About Lying On Your Resume]
Mistakes To Avoid When Addressing An Employment Gap
Now, what shouldn’t you do when explaining a gap in employment? For starters, you want to avoid oversharing, especially on your resume or LinkedIn profile. Stay concise and only share necessary details with the reader. Brevity is your friend when trying to mitigate the raising of any red flags with recruiters and hiring managers.
[Read: “How Many Bullet Points Per Job On Resume?” Answered]
Next, you want to be prepared to talk about your gap during a recruiter screening call or interview. Take the time to craft strategic responses to, “What were you doing during [year]?” and “What have you been doing since your last job?” Also, practice pivoting the conversation away from any career gaps and toward your interest in working for the prospective employer.
Lastly, you don’t need to feel embarrassed or ashamed if you have an employment gap. In fact, LinkedIn now allows you to add a Career Break, which should help normalize the practice.
Explaining An Employment Gap: Examples
So how do you go about explaining a gap on your resume? The following are a few examples of how you might strategically do so:
- If you were caring for a family member during a health crisis: “Ready to pursue Product Management roles following an intentional break from employment to care for a family member who is now living in a skilled nursing facility.”
- If you experienced a medical absence: “Prepared to return to the tech industry after tending to a one-time health concern that is now 100% resolved.”
- If you were part of a reduction in force (RIF): “One of ~32,000 employees laid off by Disney as result of the Covid pandemic.”
How Do You Explain A Career Gap Due To Personal Reasons?
It’s normal and becoming increasingly acceptable to have a career gap due to personal reasons. Rather than letting a recruiter or hiring manager make assumptions about how you spent your time, consider being upfront and providing a brief explanation on your resume about the reason you took a break from your career.
For example, you might note “Personal Sabbatical,” along with a 1 to 2 sentence summary that addresses how you spent your time and the skills you learned during the break. Then, prepare yourself to discuss it during the interview.
Regardless of the reason for your career gap, aim to keep your explanation concise and straightforward. After addressing the gap, pivot the conversation to highlighting the value you’ll bring to your prospective employer.
Final Thoughts On Addressing Employment Gaps
Remember that your work history is only one part of your larger story. However, if you’re still struggling, consider partnering with a career coach who can help you rebuild your confidence, develop a career story you’re proud of, and find a job you love. You’ve got this!
