Deep breaths! It is going to be ok. We all have them for some reason or another, know you are not alone. Whether you have a gap in your work history because you were sick, needed a break from working, don't want to share your brief stint at an in-between job, had a child, went back to school, or life happened, you are not alone.
Finding a new job is scary enough without you feeling at a disadvantage so imagine your anxiety when you realize you need to find a way for your resume to be seen so you can begin to explain "what had happened".
This learning path shares resources to help you hold your head high and trust the process. We could go deep and I could say "what's for you is for you", or I could stay surface level and offer "life happens to us all, employers are more concerned with workplace culture and fit and whether you can do the job than your resume gaps. Make sure everything else shows you in your best light and forge forward."
How to Manage Gaps on Your Resume
Prior to the interview, you are more concerned with explaining yourself on paper than anything else. If you want to bolster your chances of being chosen out of the slew of applicants you may have to employ some strategic tactics to manage your work gaps. One suggestion is to list years instead of months. Another one is to use your cover letter to draw attention to the gap and leverage it for how it can work for them. The resources below also suggested you send your resume one way (about 10 of them), and if you don't receive any responses, rewrite it and try another way. Keeping in mind you must remain honest, you can try and combine two or more positions under one heading to make it less obvious or even try a functional resume altogether. The activities below appear similar in title, but they offer unique tools and tactics for you to capture your prospective employer's attention.
If HR has seen your resume and called you in for an interview you can breathe easy(ish). Now is the time where you discuss the gap head on and explain the situation clearly, but briefly, without providing too many details. Your goal is to convey to them that the situation or cause has ended and is no longer a factor. Also, they since they want to know if they hire you that you will be ready to work for them, you should reiterate your interest in the position and how you can meet the needs of their organization as a contributing worker. Remember, you want to heavily emphasize the positive. The activities below also offer various ways to ace your interview, regardless of the gap in your employment history.
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