How To Explain Employment Gaps In Your Resume

If you’re worried about the gap in your resume, don’t worry because you’re not alone. 

The pandemic has caused an upheaval and instability in employment so having a gap in your CV is not rare. However, an employer may still end up asking you about it. To help you effectively deal with any gaps, here’s a short guide.

Be prepared to talk about it.

If you’re secretly hoping that the hiring manager won’t notice the employment gap in your resume, we’re sorry to tell you, but they will. They will most likely bring it up and expect an explanation. So take the time beforehand to think of an answer that will put it into a positive light. 

For instance, you might have to take a career break because of an illness. And while it’s understandable that you don’t want to divulge all the details about it, the recruiter would still like to know. So what you can do is give a brief explanation and focus more on putting forth a message that you’re ready for work. Even though you took some time off, you are now set to get back into the workforce.

Be honest and upfront.

When explaining your employment gap, it’s better that you’re honest and upfront about it rather than lying to make yourself look good. Again, gaps in employment are not uncommon, and hiring managers know this. You probably won’t lose out on the job if you give an honest explanation. But you will definitely lose out if you lie in your resume. Honesty is always the best policy. 

So if you were let go, for example, explain that your previous company had budget cuts or had to downsize. Or if you left your job, tell the truth without talking badly about your previous employer. You can then turn it into a positive note by sharing what you learned at your last job or that you enjoyed your time there.

Fill the gap

Instead of sharing all the details of the gap in your employment, you can mention how you spent your time productively. For example, include in your resume any volunteer or community work you’ve done, or upskilling in your field via classes or skills training you’ve participated in. Perhaps you did freelance work on the side?

If you’ve done some travelling before applying for the job, you can also turn it into a talking point during the interview. Your experience can be a demonstration of independence and personal development. You can also use it as a new perspective that you can potentially apply to the role. It’s okay if what you did during your time off is not career-related as long as you did something productive. It shows instead that you did not just sit around doing nothing. 

Be positive

Finally, remain optimistic. Having an employment gap in your resume isn’t an automatic deal-breaker. There are still employers who would understand. If you got as far as the interview, then that means that they found something in your resume that interested them. So stay upbeat and highlight your accomplishments instead. You can also practice your answers when asked about the gap. That way, you’re more comfortable and confident.

An interviewer asking about the gaps in your resume is likely more interested in how you spent your time away from work, whether it was productive or not. It says more about your character and how you deal with difficult situations. So showing them how you dealt with it may help you secure the role instead of outright ruling you out.

Now that you know how to explain your resume gaps, time to get hired! Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.