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How to List Gaps on a Resume (Without Making It a Big Deal)

Learn how to address and explain a gap on your resume with confidence and clarity, whether it's a short-term gap or a 2-year employment hiatus

3 years ago   •   10 min read

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Whether you've chosen to take a breather from the work or faced unforeseen circumstances, gaps on your resume can happen to anyone.

If you've taken a few months — or even a few years — off between jobs, either voluntarily or due to external factors, it doesn't have to be a big deal or a looming shadow over your resume. In this guide, you'll learn how to explain these gaps confidently in a professional and convincing manner.

The truth about employment gaps

In the current job market, the rise of remote work and the gig economy are reshaping traditional views on resume gaps. Many workers now juggle flexible roles, short-term contracts, and prioritize work-life balance, leading to irregular career paths. As a result, employers are learning to reevaluate resume gaps as indicators of adaptability and diverse experience rather than shortcomings.

Why some employers are still wary of gaps on your resume

In and of itself, a resume gap isn't an issue. The reason modern employers notice resume gaps is because they raise questions, such as:

• Were you fired?
• Did you quit on a whim or with no warning?
• Did you leave without another job lined up?
• Have you left one or more jobs off your resume?

These all basically boil down to one thing: Is there a gap on your resume because you're trying to hide something?

When a resume gap is not a big deal

Most resume gaps are unlikely to be a problem. In particular:

If it's short Employment gaps of less than six months aren't likely to stand out. Six months is a fairly standard timeframe for a job search, so you may not even need to explain a shorter gap.

If it's a one-time occurrence If you only have a single gap on your resume, it's unlikely to raise red flags the same way a series of gaps might. Like anything else on your resume, context matters.

If there's a good reason What is a good reason for an employment gap? Basically, anything non-work-related. If you've relocated, had a child, or taken time off for a family or health emergency, those are all good reasons that have nothing to do with your work performance. A career change is another good reason, especially if you've used that time to return to school or update your skill set.

If it’s a 2-year gap While short gaps might go unnoticed, a 2-year gap requires an explanation. Mention any activities you participated in during this time that contributed to your personal or professional growth. Even if the activities aren't directly related to the job you're applying for, showcasing that you were proactive, learned new skills, or took on responsibilities can be beneficial.

When do resume gaps become a problem?

Employment gaps only become red flags if your resume shows a pattern of extended, work-related gaps that aren't explained. A brief explanation of the reason for a gap is far more beneficial than an unexplained hole.

Common reasons for resume gaps

Here are some common reasons to have a gap on your resume:

• Personal reasons: Life events like marriages, births, or health issues.
• Layoffs: Resulting from company downsizing or restructuring.
• Returning to school: Pursuing additional education or certifications.
• Travel: Taking time off to explore or for personal development.
• Caregiving: Looking after a family member, elderly parent, or child.
• Sabbatical: Personal or professional breaks to recharge or refocus.
• Extended job search: Extended periods spent seeking the right opportunity.
• Contract end: Completing a temporary or contract position.
• Starting a business: Trying to establish a start-up or personal venture.
• Economic downturns: Factors like recessions or global crises.

Remember, while these gaps may stand out on paper, what's most crucial is how you address them and showcase your growth or productivity during these periods.

How to explain a gap in employment on your resume

If you've taken a break from your career for any reason, you want to present your time off in a positive and professional way. Here are strategies to help you navigate this potentially tricky area.

Address a career break directly

If your employment gap is straightforward, such as taking time off for personal reasons, it's best to address it head-on by mentioning it briefly in your cover letter .

You can also list a career break under your work experience to provide more details about what you were involved in during this period. Appropriate accomplishments to highlight could include freelance projects, online courses, or entrepreneurial endeavors.

Include your gap as part of your work experience

List your employment gap as you would your regular work experience by using quantifiable, action-based bullet points. Make sure to include keywords , too — anything that's relevant to the job you're applying for can help you get through the initial screening step.

Reframe the gap

Every experience, including career breaks, offers learning and growth opportunities, adding to your unique strengths and experiences. Consider the skills you learned during your time off and transform your gap into an asset that will be of value in your next role.

For example, someone who took time off for caregiving might have developed organizational skills, or someone who traveled extensively may have gained insights beneficial for positions in global organizations.

Highlight freelance or contract work

If you've been involved in freelance or contract projects during your break, group these under one heading on your resume. This helps in maintaining clarity while showcasing your relevant achievements during the hiatus.

Here are more tips for how to list short-term or temporary work on your resume .

If you’re not sure if you’ve listed your freelance/contract projects or volunteer work the right way, upload your resume to the tool below . It’s a good way to check if you’ve used your temporary work to address any gaps in your resume.

Showcase volunteering efforts

Not all work experience has to be paid! Volunteering is a great way to fill any gaps in regular employment. Listing volunteer work on your resume can demonstrate your involvement in the community, show a passion for your chosen industry, and generate some genuinely resume-worthy accomplishments.

Emphasize further education

If you took time off for educational purposes, it's not a gap—it's growth! List it prominently in your education section . Even short courses or online classes can be included, especially if they've enhanced your skills in areas relevant to the jobs you're applying for.

If you’re not sure which skills you need to brush up on, use the tool below to get a list of skills relevant to the job you're applying for.

Mention personal reasons clearly

Whether you took time off to care for a family member, have a child, relocate, or recover from illness, it's okay to state these reasons. Ensure you communicate that these situations have been resolved or won't interfere with your work commitment.

If you were caring for a family member, it's best to keep the entry short. The exception is if you demonstrated transferrable skills relevant to your career, like going into a healthcare or administrative role. In that case, you can add more detail about the exact nature of those skills.

If the gap was due to personal injury or illness, the most important thing is to reassure employers that it won't happen again. You can address that with a short sentence stating that the issue is resolved.

Tackling tough reasons for employment gaps

Navigating employment gaps can be challenging, especially when the reasons are less than ideal; here's how to handle tricky employment gaps with tact and professionalism.

If you were laid off

Being laid off (as opposed to fired) isn't an immediate red flag for employers if discussed openly. State clearly why you were laid off, such as workplace restructuring or company downsizing, and use bullet points to highlight significant accomplishments prior to being laid off.

If you were fired

If you were fired, approach the topic with honesty and brevity. Rather than delving into details, state "Position ended" or "Contract concluded." Instead of focusing on the firing, highlight what you learned during the position and how you've grown professionally since then. And avoid speaking negatively about past employers.

Mental health breaks

For periods away from the workforce due to mental health, mentioning the need for a personal break on your resume is acceptable. Avoid excessive detail and emphasize your recovery and readiness to rejoin the workforce, highlighting any self-improvement or courses undertaken during this period.

Example of a resume that has a career break

If you're struggling to write your own resume from scratch, why not check out our ready-made resume templates ? Here's a sample resume you can use as a starting point when addressing a career break:

Resume gaps do’s and don’ts

• Explain the gap . You can do this with a short sentence or two in your cover letter. Simply explain that you took some time off to raise a child/move overseas/care for a relative (or whatever your reason is) and that you’re eager to return to work full-time.
• Mention what you’ve been doing during your career break . If you’ve spent any time volunteering, pursuing further education, or running a side business, employers will want to hear about it. If you can, use this opportunity to include relevant keywords.
• Optimize your resume . Most of the time, employers fixate on so-called red flags when there are other issues with a resume. Running your resume though a free resume review can help identify any areas for improvement and give personalized suggestions.
• Network . If you can forge a personal connection with the hiring manager — whether through shared connections or reaching out directly — gaps on your resume will start to stand out less.
• Use a resume summary to provide a brief overview of your employment history and highlight your top skills and experience. This can help contextualize any job gaps (but steer clear of mentioning them directly in a resume objective or summary).
• Make sure your LinkedIn profile mirrors your resume and cover letter in addressing any gaps. Don’t leave potential employers or connections wondering what happened.
• Be prepared to answer questions . If you get to the interview stage, you may be asked about anything that stands out on your resume, including a gap. Clearly explain your reasons for taking the break and reassure the hiring manager that it’s unlikely to happen again. If you were dealing with a health issue or other potentially ongoing situation, state that it’s now been resolved.
• Don't try to hide the truth . Don’t stretch out the start and end dates of other jobs to try to cover a gap, or list a job you never held. Lying on your resume is never okay, and it will almost always be caught down the line.
• Don't make a big deal out of it . If you have only a single short or recent gap, you don’t need to call attention to it — most people probably won’t even notice. A study from the Society for Human Resource Management even found that employers increasingly support the need for career break .
• Don't pad out your resume with non-work activities . Things like running a household, planning a wedding, or being a stay-at-home parent might feel like a full-time job, but employers won’t see it the same way you do. Listing your job title as “Family CEO” or “Executive Director of the household” is gimmicky and more likely to harm your credibility than help.
• Don't use a functional resume format . These are often sold as being ideal for people with limited or sketchy work experience, but employers know this and will wonder what you’re trying to hide. Functional resumes don’t include dates of employment or a clear job history and make it impossible to evaluate candidates effectively. Most employers see anything other than a standard chronological resume as an instant red flag, so it'll more likely to get you rejected than owning and explaining any gaps.

Should I proactively address employment gaps or just wait for the interview?

It's always better to briefly address significant employment gaps in your cover letter or resume, especially if you can frame them positively. By addressing it proactively, you demonstrate transparency and can control the narrative rather than waiting for an employer to enquire about a gap during an interview.

How do I explain an employment gap of over 2 years?

Be straightforward about the reason, whether it was for further studies, health issues, or caregiving. Emphasize any skills or personal growth during the gap, even if it's not directly related to the job you're applying for.

What if the reason for my employment gap is personal, and I don't want to share?

It's entirely valid to keep personal reasons private. In such cases, state "personal sabbatical" or "personal break" on your resume. During interviews, if questioned, you can emphasize that it was a personal matter that's now resolved and you're eager to rejoin the workforce.

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Employment Gap on a Resume - 13 Simple Ways to Explain It

Employment gaps are not uncommon, yet they’re quite scary. Mainly, that’s because recruiters assume the worst when they see them on a resume. 

In most cases, however, employment gaps are nothing to be scared of. There can be many justifiable reasons why someone has an employment gap, from going back to school and deciding to travel to taking time and caring for their growing children. 

So what we’re getting to here is this: employment gaps are not a big deal, as long as you know how to explain them well on your resume

To learn how to explain an employment gap on a resume, we’ve put together this guide for you. Here’s what we’ll cover:

13 Best Ways to Explain Employment Gaps

• Good Reasons for an Employment Gap

Sample Resume with Employment Gap

And more! So let’s dive right in! 

During your job hunt , you’ll have three separate chances to explain an employment gap:

• On your resume
• On your cover letter
• During your interview

To best convey the employment gap (and reasons behind it), you’ll need to touch on it in all 3. So below, we’ll explain the best way to explain an employment gap on your resume, cover letter, and during an interview:

6 Ways to Explain an Employment Gap on Your Resume

#1. be honest .

Your resume is the first thing that recruiters check, so it’s crucial that you’re honest! 

After all, you don’t want to omit a two-year-long employment gap from your resume, for example, only to have it be revealed during your interview. 

As such, it’s super important that you’re honest about your employment history - or lack thereof - right there on your resume. 

What’s important here is to understand that potential employers will find out about your employment gap - especially if it was a lengthy or recent one. As such, trying to hide it will only damage your application and give recruiters even more reason to believe you have something to hide. 

And, if you’re feeling anxious about it, remember that recruiters are also humans and will probably be understanding if you are straightforward about your employment gap - and about what caused it! 

#2. Remove the Employment Gap (If It’s Outdated)

Here’s some good news: if your employment gap is old, you can safely omit it from your resume entirely.

Say, for example, your employment gap is from 10 years ago. Chances are - especially if you’re a seasoned professional - that you won’t even be including jobs from 10 years ago on your resume. After all, you want your resume to be as relevant as possible (and stay within the recommended 1-page resume length). 

As such, it’s totally OK to omit employment gaps that stretch long before your recent employment history (or that are quite short, like 6-month-old employment gaps while you were between jobs). 

#3. Explain the Gap

When it comes to resumes, simply writing down the dates of your employment gap won’t cut it - it would only leave things open to recruiters’ interpretation. 

Take the following example:

Work Experience

Digital Marketer  Airfield Baumax  02/2012 - 04/2015

Marketing Assistant  Walmart 05/2007 - 07/2009 

The only thing that this candidate makes clear to recruiters is that he was not working for a 3-year period. Apart from that, recruiters have no way of knowing whether the employment gap was due to a valid reason or because the candidate decided to be a couch potato for some years.

This is why it’s better to actually write out the exact reason for the employment gap in-between your work experience entries.

Here’s an example that does it right:

07/2009 - 01/2012

From September 2009 to January 2012, I backpacked through Europe and East Asia. This had long been a goal of mine to achieve before turning 30.

#4. Take Advantage of a Different Resume Layout

If your employment gap is longer than just a few short months, you could benefit from using a different resume layout altogether. 

For example, the functional resume format and the combination format put more emphasis on your skills and competencies rather than on your work experience, which is a great way to shift focus from your employment gap. 

That said, taking advantage of a different resume layout does not mean you should omit the employment gap from your resume altogether . Lying is never the right way to go here, and will always end badly for you (even if you manage to get the job).

#5. Use Your Time Away Effectively 

If you’re suddenly in between jobs and are worried about how this will reflect on your future job applications, get proactive! 

Instead of simply explaining your future employment gap as a “career break” or “job searching,” start a personal project and create something more valuable to put on your resume. 

For instance, you can join one or more online courses related to your profession while you’re on a break from work, or start that project you always wanted to work on but never had the chance to! 

That way, you’ll have much more to talk about than simply stating you were looking for jobs or taking a self-discovery break and you’ll be effectively showing recruiters that you’re constantly growing - even outside the office!

#6.  Show That You Never Stopped Learning 

Highlighting your skills and acquired knowledge is also a great way to cover past employment gaps. Sure, you might’ve not been working, but you could’ve still been working on developing yourself as a professional or individual.

You could, for example, mention something like this on your resume to address your employment gap:

06/2012 - 09/2013

Took a year off my career to focus on personal and professional development. Over the duration of the year, I managed to:

• Start my own marketing blog.
• Read 20+ books about digital marketing.
• Attended 5+ networking events.

3 Ways to Explain Employment Gaps in Cover Letters

Want to go more in-depth into your employment gap? Your cover letter is your chance to do so. 

Unlike your resume, which barely leaves you 2-3 sentences worth of space to explain yourself, you can be way more comprehensive in your cover letter . 

Specifically, you can use the body of your cover letter to give more details about your employment gap.

Here are the best ways to do it:

• Give a valid explanation. The whole point of mentioning your employment gap on your cover letter is to justify it the best way you can. For example, if you had an accident, writing “took 1 year off work because of injury” won’t be as convincing as writing “took 1 year off work after a car accident that required me to do intense physiotherapy sessions to fully recover.” 
• Highlight new skills . Additionally, it’s super important to highlight any new skills acquired during your time off. The good thing about the cover letter is that you have a better chance of explaining the skills and what motivated you to acquire them (e.g. “due to organizational changes, I was laid off from my previous job. However, I used the time it took me to find a new job to catch up on industry-related trends and readings, get online certifications, and network with professionals in the field.”) 
• Don’t overshare. Last but not least, it’s important to know that just because you have more space on your cover letter it doesn’t mean you should overshare the details of your employment gap. If, for instance, you took a one-year break to deal with burnout , you don’t have to give too many details about how that went. So, instead of writing, “took a year off to recuperate from burnout, during which time I consulted 3 different therapists and several support groups,” you can just write “took one year off work to deal with work-related burnout and re-asses my professional goals.” If you think it’s important to share more information, talk about how you grew professionally not about what you went through personally. 

4 Ways to Explain Employment Gaps in Interviews 

If your resume and cover letter make a good impression, chances are you’ll be called for an interview. And, even if you have already explained your employment gap, there’s nothing keeping recruiters from asking you again about it. 

Here’s what you can do to address an employment gap during your interview effectively:

• Rehearse in advance. Your best bet is assuming that you will be asked about your employment gap. That way, you can take the time to prep your answer in advance and won’t be taken back if recruiters actually ask the questions during the interview . 
• DON’T badmouth your former employer. If your employment gap is due to getting fired, bashing your former employer won’t help you get a new position - if anything, it might make you look immature. Instead, try to highlight all the steps you took to bounce back from getting fired and show recruiters why you’re the ideal candidate for this position.
• Focus on what you did right. Now, if you lost your job unjustly (or due to reasons outside of your control), the way to make a great impression is to focus on how you were a stellar employee before the employment gap! That way, you can shift recruiters’ attention to your strengths, instead of simply telling them you lost your job and there wasn’t much you could do about it.
• Be confident. Sometimes, how you say things is just as important as what you say. If recruiters ask that you elaborate on your employment gap and you suddenly get super nervous about it, you’ll probably raise some serious red flags. So, make sure to polish your communication skills in advance and start your interview with a show of confidence. 

Here is an example of how you can address your employment gap during an interview:

Unfortunately, I lost my job due to cuts within the company. During the time I was looking for jobs, I took online courses to hone my skills, stayed updated with all industry trends and developments, and focused on my mental wellbeing. I am now in perfect shape to put all I learned into practice throughout my new endeavors. 

7 Good Reasons For an Employment Gap

There can be countless reasons behind an employment gap and, as long as it’s not related to something like, say, jail time, it shouldn’t hinder your chances of getting employed.

That said, here are some great examples of good reasons for an employment gap:

• Family reasons. Family is super important and most recruiters are guaranteed to be understanding if your employment gap is due to family-related issues. What’s important here is to show that whatever family reason you had for taking time off work, it’s over now (e.g. if you took time off to raise your kids, make a point explaining they’re all grown up and off to school now).
• Self-discovery. Did you take some time off work to redefine your life path and career choices? That’s totally OK - as long as you can convince recruiters that you now have your answers and won’t be leaving this job again after a year or two.
• Illness. Any illness you may have suffered that’s hindered you from working is a totally legitimate reason to explain your employment gap. Just make sure to mention you’re recovered and fully able to work.
• Injury. Just like with illnesses, injuries that render you incapable of work are perfectly fine reasons to explain an employment gap, so mention them without hesitation.
• Failed business or initiative. You may be hesitant to mention a failed startup or business initiative as the reason behind your employment gap, but there’s no reason to! If anything, it shows you have initiative and aren’t scared to act on it. So, as long as you show recruiters how you bounced back, you shouldn’t hide this valid reason.
• Burnout. The World Health Organization defines burnout as an occupational phenomenon that can take a serious toll on someone’s physical and mental health. As such, don’t hesitate to tell recruiters that you took some time off to improve your well-being after experiencing burnout in the workplace .
• Education. No one minds an employee who’s always looking to expand their knowledge, so if you took a break from work to get another degree, go ahead and mention that on your resume.

7 Other Resume Resources

Building a strong resume is hard enough without having to explain an employment gap. Struggling with other aspects of building a resume? Check out some of our top resources: 

• How to Write a Resume . The ULTIMATE beginner’s guide on how to make a resume in 2024. Includes tops of tips, resume examples, and more.
• Free Resume Templates . Want to avoid the hassle of formatting your resume from scratch? Just pick one of our 8 free resume templates and get started with your resume within minutes.
• Career Change Resume . Is your employment gap due to a career change? Learn how to write an awesome career change resume with these 9+ examples.
• What to Put on a Resume . Here are the most important sections to put on your resume and win the job.
• Resume Tips and Tricks . This article covers every single practical resume tip you’ll ever need to create a compelling CV.
• Essential Resume Skills . Want to stand out from other applicants? You’ll need to include the right skills on your resume. This article covers the most in-demand skills in 2024.
• Resume Examples . Struggling to write a resume for your field? This article covers resume examples for almost all popular roles in 2024, including jobs in IT, marketing, healthcare, and more.

FAQ on Employment Gaps 

Do you still have some questions on everything employment gap-related? Find your answers below!

#1. How long is too long of an employment gap?

Any employment gap on your resume that you can’t explain to recruiters can cast a shadow on your job application. 

That said, shorter periods of employment gaps (e.g. time between jobs, illness or injury recovery, etc.) are much more acceptable than, say, 3-year-long gaps in your recent work history. 

So, while there is no specific time limit for a super long employment gap, the longer it is, the harder it will be for recruiters to ignore it.

#2. Is an employment gap bad?

That entirely depends on the reason behind your employment gap. 

If your employment gap is due to illness, failed business, family emergency, and the like, then an employment gap is definitely not bad! All you need to do is be honest with the recruiters and prove that you’re a trustworthy employee. 

That said if your employment gap comes from less socially acceptable reasons, like serving time for a crime or being away in rehab, your employment gap will be more difficult to explain - and, in turn, can be more harmful to your job application.

#3. How do you explain a gap in employment due to being a stay-at-home parent?

Taking time off work to be a stay-at-home parent falls under family-related reasons for an employment gap. 

The best way to explain such an employment gap is to write down the exact period you were off, titling it as a “planned career break.” Underneath, you can include one or two sentences on why you took it (e.g. took three years off work to care for my growing children, who are now in elementary school). 

On top of that, you can also mention any personal projects or other work-related experiences you had over that period. For example, if you took some online classes or started a personal project, that’s a great way to inform recruiters that you weren’t completely idle during your employment gap.

#4. How do you explain a gap in employment due to COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic cost 114 million people to lose their jobs over 2020. So, if you were infected and quarantined due to COVID-19 (or if you were unlucky and had more severe health issues due to the virus), then note that on your resume as an “illness-related employment gap” or simply due to COVID-19.  

In one or two sentences, you can explain you had to take a break from work due to COVID-19 and that you’re now fully recovered and ready to work again.

Similarly, if you were working for a business that got impacted due to COVID-19 (such as an airline company) you can, in one sentence, mention you were laid off due to the impact of the pandemic and mention what you did in the meanwhile to find a job or hone your skills. 

#5. Why do employers not like gaps in employment?

Employers don’t like gaps in employment when said gaps are due to criminality, abuse or addiction, or simple laziness. In such a case, employers assume you’re not a reliable employee and that you may demonstrate the same patterns of behavior while working for them.

On the other hand, if there is a reasonable explanation for your employment gap, employers won’t think twice about hiring you, as long as you’re a good fit for the job.

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! By now, you should know everything about employment gaps and how to tackle them so they don’t hurt your job application.

Before you go, here are the main points covered in this article:

• There are three places where you can explain an employment gap: on your resume, cover letter, and during your job interview. 
• To explain an employment gap on a resume, be honest, elaborate on the gap, show that you never stop learning, or use a different resume layout to remove the gap altogether. 
• Explain an employment gap on your cover letter by highlighting new skills and offering a valid explanation as to why you took it. 
• If you have to explain your employment gap during your interview, rehearse in advance, show confidence, and don’t badmouth your former employer. 
• Some valid reasons for an employment gap are family reasons, illnesses, and injuries, taking time to discover yourself or pursue your education, and even a failed business.

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How to Explain Employment Gaps on a Resume in 2022

Your journey to discovering your career path can be full of twists and turns. Sometimes, life circumstances can result in gaps in your work history. In this guide, we will teach you all about how to include and explain gaps in your employment to keep your resume looking and sounding strong!

Do I Need to Mention a Gap on My Resume?

There are many reasons why a person may experience gaps in their employment.

These can include layoffs, ill family, or furthering your education.

The problem then becomes when and how to bring up this gap in your work history.

When deciding whether or not to mention a gap on a resume, consider the following 3 factors:

• ‍ Recency of the Gap: Did the gap occur in the past 12 months or was it further back? You can generally omit gaps in your employment that happened a long time ago. ‍
• Length of the Gap: How long did the gap last? Gaps can occur for varying lengths of time, from only a few weeks to several years. Longer gaps are more likely to need further explanation, while shorter gaps often do not. ‍
• Employment Since the Gap: Are you returning directly from the gap? Or have you already returned and started building your employment history back up? Returning from a gap may need extra explanation on why you have chosen now as the time to continue your career.

The general rule of thumb is to only mention gaps if they are very recent or extended over a long period.

If you have already returned to the workforce and are looking for your next job, you can likely avoid including the gap.

Are you writing a resume with little to no work experience at all? Check out our guide on How to Write a Resume with No Experience (with Examples) .

Do I Need to Explain the Gap on My Resume or in My Cover Letter?

You should always try to reserve mention of employment gaps for your resume rather than your cover letter.

A resume cover letter is a supplemental document that introduces the applicant to the employer.

Cover letters typically include information about work history, skills, certifications, and achievements.

They may also describe the applicant’s career goals and why they will make a good addition to the employer’s team.

Bringing up employment gaps or focusing on your periods of unemployment will not do your cover letter many favors.

In fact, this can be a turnoff to employers who are looking for attention-grabbing information that makes them want to read the rest of the resume.

In some cases, there may be little to no way around mentioning the gap in a cover letter depending on the circumstances of the gap.

If you have to mention the gap in your cover letter, try to focus on how you furthered your skills or found your passion during your time away.

You always want to tie the sentiments in your cover letter back to your professional strengths.

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

When to Explain an Employment Gap in a Cover Letter

When deciding whether or not to include an employment gap on a cover letter, you should ask yourself the following question:

How relevant is my employment gap to my career goals?

If you purposefully took the gap to further your education or career, it may be worth mentioning.

If this is not the case, then the cover letter is not the place to discuss your unemployment.

Sometimes, the circumstances of the gap may make omitting an explanation from your cover letter difficult.

The following two scenarios may require a brief explanation of a gap in your cover letter:

• The gap extended over a long period with minimal recent employment to make up for it.
• You have decided to change career paths during the gap and your previous employment is not directly relevant to the job you are applying for.

Here is an example statement discussing a career gap in a cover letter:

“I left the workforce from the dates of January 2017 – October 2018. I chose to take this gap in my employment to care for a sick family member as their primary caretaker. Thanks to the lovely staff at a local nursing home, I am now able to continue furthering my career.”

Why It’s Wrong: This example explains the reason behind the gap. However, it fails to emphasize any personal or professional growth that occurred during it.

“I became the primary caretaker for a sick family member from the time of January 2017 to October 2018. During this time, I worked closely with a medical team. This allowed me to hone my communication, teamwork, and organizational skills.”

Anytime you write a cover letter, you want to focus on your strengths and talents.

This corrected example shows how the applicant was able to use the experience to their benefit.

Focusing too much on why you left the workforce will not allow you to emphasize your more important characteristics to employers.

Instead, focus on what you learned or what skills you gained.

How Do I Explain Gaps in Employment

Employers will inherently have questions concerning employment gaps.

The key to getting past this part of your resume effectively is understanding how to explain and frame your gaps.

To explain a gap in your work history, keep the following in mind:

• ‍ Be Honest: If complications at a previous job caused your gap in employment, don’t try to lie about this. Getting fired or laid off happens to even the best of us. The key is to tell new employers the truth and explain how you have bettered yourself since then. ‍
• Be Upfront: Do not go out of your way to try to hide or mask an employment gap on your resume. Employers are more than likely going to find out one way or another. Being upfront with this information gives your ample opportunity to share your side of the story. ‍
• Be Positive: Try not to focus on the negatives associated with your employment gap. Instead, emphasize was you learned or gained from the experience. Explaining gaps is all about learning to frame that period of your life positively.

When you need to maneuver around an employment gap, you never want to mislead or confuse the person reading your resume.

‍ Highlight Unpaid Experience

If you had a long gap, chances are you sought out unpaid experiences.

These may have furthered your professional growth, education, or passions.

These opportunities can include:

• ‍ Volunteer Work: Volunteer or community service work is still important life experience, even if you were not paid for it. Showing examples of volunteer work on your resume can help explain what you were doing with your time away. ‍
• Internships: Many applicants will make the mistake of not listing internships as work experience. Always inform employers of internships completed during your gap. This is especially true if the internship is directly related to the job you are applying for. ‍
• Personal Projects: Personal passion projects can show employers your ability to carry out a project from start to finish. Highlighting these on a resume can also help to explain a decision to change careers as well. ‍
• Freelancing: Perhaps during your time away you gave freelancing a try. This may have provided you with some supplemental income. Including your freelancing work is important, as it shows employers your drive to keep working even during time off.

Here is an example of how to use unpaid experience to explain an employment gap on a resume:

May 2016 – January 2018 During this period, I took a break from my employment. During my time away, I sought out extra opportunities to build out my resume. I participated in volunteer work and completed a major personal project that led me to a new career path.”

Why It’s Wrong: This example lacks specificity, thus lacking valuable information. Additionally, this kind of information would be better suited in a separate volunteer work section.

Volunteer Experience The Humane Society, Front Desk Volunteer May 2016 – January 2018 Completed an independently-led project to improve the shelter’s digital database system.

In this example, the applicant organizes the information more clearly and highlights personal achievements.

They describe how their personal project helped improve the shelter, showcasing their work ethic and drive.

The applicant could then fill out this entry with more of their responsibilities in their volunteer role.

By creating this separate volunteer section, there is also more opportunity to describe other volunteer experiences as well.

Pro Tip: When describing any type of experience on a resume, you always want to use the most compelling language possible. Use our list of 350+ Action Verbs to Make Your Resume More Effective.

How Should I Format My Resume if I Have Multiple Gaps

Having one employment gap to work around is one thing.

If you have multiple gaps in your employment, you may need to do some serious resume editing.

There are two key methods for formatting your resume to de-emphasize the fact that you have more than one gap in your work history.

These 2 methods are:

• Editing your dates of employment
• Changing your resume format

Generally speaking, you will likely need to opt for changing your format altogether.

However, editing your dates of employment may do the trick in some scenarios.

Edit Your Dates of Employment

Editing your dates of employment will only work if your periods of unemployment were short and sandwiched between times being employed. 

To edit your dates of employment, the key is to remove the months and days from the dates.

Here is an example of changing your dates of employment to take attention away from multiple employment gaps:

Server, Dave and Buster’s June 28, 2020 – March 1, 2021 Description Front Desk Receptionist , Lee’s Dental Associates January 13, 2016 – December 9, 2019 Description

Why It’s Wrong: These work experience entries provide exact dates, making the length of the employment gaps overly apparent.

Server, Dave and Buster’s Mid 2020 – Early 2021 Description Front Desk Receptionist , Lee’s Dental Associates Early 2016 – Late 2019 Description

The applicant in this example is currently in an employment gap, with their most recent job ending in March of 2021.

They have an additional gap between 2019 and 2020. By eliminating exact dates, these gaps are less obvious.

However, it is important to note that this can come across as misleading or dishonest to employers.

In situations involving multiple gaps, our recommended approach is to change your resume’s formatting style.

Change Your Resume Format

There are 3 main types of resume formats:

• ‍ Reverse-Chronological: This format focuses on work experience, detailing your most recent job first and working backward from there. ‍
• Functional: Functional resumes shift the focus of the resume away from work experience and onto skills, unpaid experiences, and education. ‍
• Hybrid: A hybrid resume will combine elements of both of the first two formats to fit the specific needs of an applicant.

Hybrid resumes will likely be the best option for applicants dealing with multiple gaps in their employment histories.

A functional resume may also be a useful alternative.

These formats will allow them to focus more on their skills and talents, while also drawing attention away from their employment gaps. 

Need extra help choosing the best resume format for your needs? Read our guide on How to Choose the Correct Resume Format (with Examples) .

How Should I Explain Gaps in My Employment if I’m Switching Careers?

If you are switching careers, you will want to show the work you have done to make the switch.

This will often come in the form of showing examples of how you have improved your skills during your gap.

This can include:

• ‍ Training: Training programs will often provide you with certificates of completion. Certifications are a great way to further your education without going back to a full university. ‍
• Education: If you returned to school to earn an associate’s, bachelor’s, or higher degree, be sure to highlight this on your resume. ‍
• Internships: Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door for a new career path. Seek out internships in your new field and include these on your resume.

How Can I Still Present a Strong Resume with Gaps in My Employment

Creating a strong resume despite employment gaps is all about positive framing.

To present a strong resume that contains gaps in your work history, you should:

• ‍ Be Prepared: Understand that the employer will have questions about your gap. Think of what they may ask ahead of time and be prepared to give positive answers. ‍
• Don’t Get Defensive: Being sensitive or defensive over a gap will only hurt you in the long run. Maintain a sense of confidence and self-assurance while discussing or writing about gaps in your employment. ‍
• Re-Focus on Your Strengths: Always find ways to tie your experience during a gap back to your professional growth and strengths.

Final Takeaways

Having gaps in your work history does not have to be a death blow to your chances of landing a job.

Here are five key takeaways to remember about including employment gaps on a resume:

• Never try to hide information from employers. They will find out one way or another, and your level of honesty will impact their reaction.
• Frame gaps in your employment positively and focus on your strengths.
• Consider using an alternative resume format that focuses less on work experience, such as a functional or hybrid resume.
• Always include unpaid experiences that are relevant to your career goals.
• Keep a sense of self-confidence! Employers want workers who are self-assured and capable, not self-doubting.

For more help crafting your ideal resume, check out our free resume guides and examples !

Browse more resume templates that fit your role

Ed is a co-founder of Easy Resume. His background in scaling teams at tech startups over the last decade has given him extensive experience and knowledge around how to hire top talent and build successful teams. He enjoys mentoring, coaching, and helping others reach their career goals. When he's not writing about career-related advice, he's playing with his dog, Lilo, or going on long hikes in upstate New York.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• How to Add Employment Gaps on...

How to Add Employment Gaps on a Resume (with Examples)

8 min read · Updated on January 11, 2024

Smooth out a bumpy employment history with these tried-and-true resume tips

Not everyone is blessed with a picture-perfect employment history that matches their career goals. With a less-than-stellar economy over the past decade, many professionals find themselves with substantial employment gaps or a string of short-term or unrelated gigs dominating their resume. Others are battling gaps because they took time off to raise their families, care for an ailing relative, or overcome a health condition of their own.

If any of these situations apply to you, keep reading. Below are some ways you can pump up your professional resume and supplement your work experience to make a better case for your candidacy.

Honesty is the best policy

At some point, almost everyone – even the hiring manager – has had a gap in their employment. If you take the time to explain what was going on, they're highly likely to understand and not hold it against you. However, if you try to skirt around the issue to downplay it, you put across that you have something to hide. 

You should try to frame the explanation for your gap in a way that highlights your skills, so the person interviewing you knows what you have to offer to their company and team. After all, that's all hiring managers care about. So, focus on skills, achievements, and experiences when you write your resume. 

Highlight unpaid employment 

If you volunteered for a role or took on an unpaid internship that allowed you to build relevant skills or gain industry experience, then these positions deserve a place in your resume employment history. Treat each opportunity as you would a paid job, by describing your role and highlighting your major contributions and accomplishments.

If you stayed at home to raise your children, don't discount the valuable experience you gained while managing the household and caring for your family. Here's a great article about getting back into the workforce after staying home to raise children .

If you're looking for opportunities to help fill your current employment gap, check out resources like Catchafire and HandsOn Connect for volunteer work and FlexJobs for flexible and telecommuting internships.

Group freelance work together

If you did any freelance work for different clients over a period of time, consider grouping these experiences together under one position and then combining the dates. When breaking down the position, use the role description section to describe your expertise (i.e. the services you offered). Then, focus each bullet to highlight the work you did for a particular client and the results you achieved. This will give your resume a cleaner look and make you appear less like a job hopper and more like a committed consultant.

Here's an example of what freelance work can look like on your resume:

Freelance Job Title | City, ST        

PROJECT TITLE (CLIENT) |  yyyy - present

Write two to three sentences that briefly explain your role. DO NOT copy and paste your job description. Talk about what you did on a daily basis and at least 1 major thing you accomplished.

Write out three to five bullets (max) that show your achievements with this client

Anytime you can use numbers, it's best to do so

PROJECT TITLE | yyyy - yyyy

Do the exact same thing you did for the first project you listed – describe the things you did on a daily basis in two to three sentences. 

Then, list up to five bullet points that show how you benefited your clients

Keep using numbers to show achievements 

If you held a series of temporary jobs that were similar in nature, you can apply this same technique to make your resume look less cluttered.

Remove a position

In some instances, it may be best to omit full-time gigs with incredibly short tenures from your resume altogether. The general rule of thumb is to remove full-time jobs from your resume employment history if they lasted less than three months. This is especially true if the short-term position isn't relevant to the job you're trying to obtain. 

If you're concerned about deleting the work experience entirely, you have the option to briefly mention this position in a Career Note at the end of your work history section. Click on the following link to learn more about using career notes on your professional resume .

If you are removing month-long employment that is professionally relevant to your target career and want to include a career note, here's what that would look like:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Company Name | yyyy - present

Title of role

Company Name | yyyy - yyyy

Career Note: Additional experience includes [Title of Role] at [Company Name], mm/yyyy-mm/yyyy

You would not add bullet points to the career note. The idea is that the employer can see you worked at a place and can ask you questions about it during the interview if needed. 

Invest in professional development

If your recent work experience has little to do with your current job goals, look for opportunities to bolster the skill sets your target employers care about. If you're unsure which of your skills need an extra boost, search your network for individuals who work in the field you're pursuing and ask them. It's amazing how many insights and resume tips you can gain over a lunch or coffee date.

There are many free and low-cost training opportunities available online and in person. Take a look at SkillShare, edX, Coursera, Lynda.com, and CourseHorse, to name a few. Also, use sites like 10times.com to find conferences related to your target field. In addition to being networking goldmines, these types of events often offer certification programs on site. If you're considering a major career change, you may need to go back to school for more extensive training.

You'd insert any professional development or continuing education courses into the Education section of your resume. Here's how:

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | State University

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Coding Boot Camp, Artificial Intelligence for Dummies, Python Programming

As you can see, the extra courses you take are simply listed beneath any degree you have. When you use these courses to fill in employment gaps on your resume, then you'd want to include the dates you took the classes. 

Include “Sabbatical” on your resume

Sometimes you take time off from work and do nothing in that downtime. That's 100% okay! When you have an employment gap on your resume and nothing to fill in that time, then you can simply put that you were on a break from work. Add it into the Professional Experience section in reverse chronological order. 

This is an example of what it looks like to have an employment gap on your resume show up as just time off:

Company name | mm/yyyy - present

Sabbatical [or Planned Career Break] | mm/yyyy - mm/yyyy

Intentionally left the workforce to raise children who no longer need full-time support, now excited to return to work

You technically do not have to include bullets for this listing, but expect it to come up during an interview and be prepared to talk about it then

Company name | mm/yyyy - mm/yyyy

This option works well whether your employment gap is for being laid off during COVID-19, you stayed home to raise a family, or you have a 10-year gap in employment. Again, the key is to be honest.

Consider using a different resume format

If it's impossible for you to make your skills and experience shine with the standard resume format, you do have the option to use a functional resume. A functional resume is a different approach which focuses more on skills than professional experience, which can be helpful for someone who has employment gaps on their resume.

Proceed with caution, though: this type of resume should only be used as a last resort. Recruiters and hiring managers generally dislike the functional resume because of the way it strays from the traditional layout. It can also give the impression that you're attempting to hide something. Perhaps most importantly, the ATS may not read this type of resume accurately, taking you out of the running for many jobs before you've even had your chance. 

Keep your employment history consistent

A word to the wise: however you decide to modify your resume, don't forget to edit your LinkedIn profile to match. 93% of employers will review your social media profiles before contacting you for a job interview. Make sure the person they see online matches the one they read about on your resume.

You should also consider including details about the gap in employment on your cover letter. 

Employment gaps aren't the end of the world

You can get back to work even when you have a gap in employment on your resume. The most critical thing you can do is to be honest about it and talk about things you learned or did while off work to augment your skills. Remember to focus on what you bring to the table for the new employer and you'll be able to win the day.

How are you handling employment gaps on your resume? Get a free resume review to find out.

This article was originally written by Amanda Augustine and has been updated by Marsha Hebert. 

Recommended reading:

Ask Amanda: How Do I List Self-Employment on a Resume?

Make a Great Resume With No Work Experience

Resume Tips for Freelancers

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

There's Nothing Wrong With Having a Gap Between Jobs

How to Create a Resume With No Education

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• Job Search Tips

How to Address Employment Gaps in Resumes

11 min read

Strategic job seekers want to know how to explain employment gaps, or if unemployment gaps will look bad to prospective employers or recruiters. Many people have employment gaps of six months or less, while others have been out of the workplace for years.

The truth is that very few people – even hiring managers and recruiters – have a perfect, linear career history. 

In this article, we will discuss how to best handle each situation that led to gaps in employment. We also have resume samples with gaps in employment. By the end of this article, you will know how to address employment gaps in your resume.

What is an employment gap on your resume?

Employment gaps on your resume denote any period of time you were away from the workforce and can range from a matter of weeks to any number of years. Sometimes these gaps in employment are caused by getting fired due to performance issues or quitting a job, while other reasons for being unemployed may include caretaking, personal health concerns, or long-term traveling.

The bottom line is if there is some empty time between when you left one job and started another, that’s a gap and you’ll likely have to explain why it exists.

Why do employers care about employment gaps?

A lot of people wonder why they have to explain employment gaps on their resumes. Why do hiring managers and employers care that you took some time off work? 

There are several things they want to know: 

When you were unemployed

How long the unemployment lasted

What was the reason you were unemployed

Whether you did anything during that period of unemployment to boost your skills or qualifications

For example, if you were unemployed for a month or two twenty years ago, odds are that your prospective employer won’t care. On the other hand, if the gap is more recent and longer in duration – over six months – you need to have a plan to address this concern.

Employers and hiring managers also want to know the reason for the employment gap. If you have a habit of quitting your jobs, resulting in multiple gaps on your resume, you’re going to have a more difficult time explaining why your work history is so unreliable.

On the other hand, if you have a good reason for the gap, your unemployment on your resume will be far easier to explain. Good reasons include taking time off to care for your mother or going back to school for an advanced degree. 

Basically, they want to know that you didn’t embezzle a bunch of money from your last job and end up in jail. Of course, this is a wild example of what you’re trying to disprove when you are explaining employment gaps on your resume, but it’s important for you to know that hiring managers aren’t trying to back you into a corner to trick you into saying something that will disqualify you for an open position. 

All they really care about is what you bring to the table for their company and team. So, if your skills match and you have the basic qualifications for the job, then go ahead and apply without worrying about that gap. 

How to address employment gaps in your resume

The best way to address employment gaps is to be honest and strategic without drowning the hiring manager in explanations.

1. Don't lie

Don’t change dates in an attempt to stretch out periods of employment so that they cover up any gaps, and don't fabricate experiences. It’s unethical, and there’s a good chance that the employer will find out.

Being honest doesn’t mean excluding other relevant experiences like volunteer work or professional experience classes you’ve taken. Also, if you were off because you had to take care of a family member who was in the final stages of life, it’s okay to say that, too. 

2. Be strategic

If the employment gap on your resume is just a few months long, then you can omit the months from the timeframe listings on your resume. 

Write this: ABC Company | Finance Consultant | 2022-2024 DEF Inc | Finance Analyst | 2012-2021

Don’t write this: ABC Company | Finance Consultant | 06/2022-01/2024 DEF Inc | Finance Analyst | 09/2012-11/2021

In the first example, it’s not obvious that you were out of work for six months in 2022, but in the second example it’s plain to see that there is an employment gap on your resume. 

Another strategy you can use is to only include roles on your resume that are professionally relevant to the role you want. You don’t have to include every job you’ve ever had; keep your professional experience section to the last 10 years and put other roles as a list under “Additional Career Experience.”

Here’s what that looks like:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Company A | Title of Position | mm/yyyy-mm/yyyy

Company B | Title of Position | mm/yyyy-mm/yyyy

ADDITIONAL CAREER EXPERIENCE: Company C | Title of Position Company D | Title of Position

If you opt to include an “Additional Career Experience” section, put it beneath the “Professional Experience” section and simply list the company name and the title of the role. This way, employers can see that you had other jobs, which could help explain any employment gaps on your resume before they even talk to you.

3. Don't overshare

It is so easy to provide too much information about something that’s happened in your life. This is especially true when you get into a defensive mode. The first thing to do to avoid oversharing information about employment gaps in your resume is to calm your defenses, remembering that the employer isn’t trying to trick you into saying something that will hurt your candidacy. 

Once you calm your defensive nerves, prepare a statement about what you were doing during the time you took off work. 

Here are a couple of short and sweet examples of how to explain employment gaps on your resume:

“I took six months off work to augment what I knew about [SKILL]. I took [Class A and Class B] and am now able to perform [JOB REQUIREMENT].” 

“I was out of pocket for a little over a year because a dear family member was diagnosed with an illness and had no one to help her. At this point, I’m ready to re-enter the workforce and leverage my background in [SKILL 1 and SKILL 2] to fulfill [JOB REQUIREMENT].”

Did you notice a trend in those two examples? They both ended with what you will be able to do for the company. Yes, the gap was addressed, and now you’ve directed the conversation back to your skills and qualifications. That’s a WIN!

4. List the gap right in line with the rest of your work history

The most common way to bring to light an employment gap is to list it just like you would any other job listing on your resume. Depending on what the employment gap on your resume was for, you could opt to include bullet points or exclude them altogether. For example:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Company A | Title of Position | mm/yyyy-Present

Full-time Parent | mm/yyyy-mm/yyyy

Or, with bullets:

Work Sabbatical | mm/yyyy-mm/yyyy

Traveled abroad to open clinics in underprivileged areas of Africa

Acclimated to new customs and traditions

Managed and delegated tasks to a team of 4

Maintained and updated financial record to keep track of donations and fundraising money

The test for whether to add bullets or not lies in whether you did anything during your time outside the workforce that would call attention to RELEVANT skills and qualifications 

When to use these resume gap tips

If you have an otherwise strong history of employment that is marred by one noticeable gap, you can often use the chronological resume format . You should still be honest when listing your work experience, and you will need to explain gaps in employment so that the employer understands why you were unemployed.

On the other hand, if you’ve had periods of unemployment lasting for more than a year, it's hard to gloss over them – even using a functional resume format . While the functional resume format is great for minimizing the appearance of job hopping, it’s critical that you know there is a bit of a stigma associated with its use. So, use this format for addressing employment gaps in your resume only as a last resort.

Instead of using your resume to explain the gap, you can address your unemployment in another part of your job application. As you’ll see below, the cover letter can sometimes be the perfect place to address this issue.

How to use a cover letter for explaining gaps in employment

Many experts recommend that you commit to using part of your cover letter to deal with gaps. Your cover letter is your introduction to the prospective employer and your first opportunity to make a positive impression – but that also means that it can be an ideal place to dispense with potential distractions so that the hiring manager can spend his time focusing on the value you offer.

1. Don’t dwell on the negatives

Don’t lose sight of the positive benefits from your previous employment. There are lots of valid reasons for unemployment, but you can still focus on the periods of employment.

Did a personal tragedy disrupt your life and send you off in search of new meaning for your life? Skip the tragedy and focus on what you learned from that sabbatical.

Did your company shutter its doors, resulting in a lengthy period of unemployment? Give less emphasis to the closing and more on how you used your time on the unemployment line to make yourself an even more valuable hire.

2. Focus on your strengths

Your cover letter should serve as a primer for your resume. It should emphasize your strengths. Since hiring managers only care about how your abilities and character can benefit their companies, your cover letter needs to draw a straight line between your skills and the company’s bottom line.

With that in mind, try to de-emphasize small gaps and quickly explain larger periods away from the workplace. How you do that will likely depend upon the reason for the gap and what you accomplished in your time off. Here are two examples of the types of explanations that might be useful for your unique situation.

Sample cover letter explaining parental leave

“After a successful nine-year career as a computer programmer for XYZ Corp., I took maternity leave, and then completed my bachelor’s degree in business management. During that period, I have been preparing for the next step in my career development by developing the exact set of skills that your company is presently seeking.

Here are some more useful tips for maternity leave .

Sample cover letter explaining a layoff

“I spent 22 years working in the widget industry, with the last seven of those years employed as a senior floor manager. After the widget industry moved its operations overseas several years ago, our plant was closed and all domestic employees were laid off. In the time since that closing, I’ve completed (insert educational accomplishment or training) to develop the skills needed for this job.”

Sample cover letter explaining medical leave

"After spending 7 years as an accountant I had to take a break to deal with an illness. During this time I read and studied all the changes to accounting principles and procedures. I've fully recovered and am really excited to join the workforce again"

We wrote a good post here on how to deal with employment gaps on your resume due to a disability .

Employment gaps on your resume are now addressed

You should be cognizant of the need to deal with work gaps, but not to the point where it paralyzes you and prevents you from focusing on the skills and positive attributes you bring to the table.

It’s valuable to remember that today’s employers are far more accustomed to work gaps than in times past. While companies of the past once hired and retained employees for life, that is a far less common occurrence today. Most workers today have career paths that include a variety of different jobs.

Still, there is a need to explain frequent gaps and gaps that last for more than a few months. What you shouldn’t do, however, is obsess over them in your resume and cover letter. Explain them in a confident manner, and then get on with the more important task of selling your skill set to that employer!

Good luck with your job search!

If you’d like, ZipJob can give your resume a once-over to make sure that any employment gaps you have on your resume are properly formatted. We’ll review it for you for free .

Recommended reading:

What A Good Cover Letter Looks Like

How To Format Your Resume For An ATS Test

Why Is It So Hard to Find a Job? (+ 6 Tips)

Marsha Hebert, Professional Resume Writer

Marsha is a resume writer with a strong background in marketing and writing. After completing a Business Marketing degree, she discovered that she could combine her passion for writing with a natural talent for marketing. For more than 10 years, Marsha has helped companies and individuals market themselves. Read more advice from Marsha on ZipJob's blog .

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How to Explain Gaps in Employment on a Resume (with Examples)

Gaps in employment don't have to be a dealbreaker when it comes to finding a job. Here's how to turn them into an asset on your resume.

By Kelli Mason Posted on January 9, 2024

Crafting a resume can be a daunting task, especially for those who have gaps in their work history. It’s natural to feel anxious about how potential employers might perceive these breaks.

The good news is that a resume gap doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker. In fact, it can be an opportunity to highlight other valuable skills and experiences you’ve gained during your time away from the workforce.

Whether the gap was for personal development, education, travel, family, or any other reason, it often equips you with unique attributes such as resilience, adaptability, and a fresh perspective. These qualities are highly sought after in the professional world.

The key is to use your resume and cover letter to tell a compelling story about your break, focusing on how it has prepared you for the job you’re applying for.

How to address an employment gap on a resume

If you have a gap on your resume, don’t lie about your employment dates to cover it up. Instead, consider one of these strategies.

1. Explain gaps as their own experience. 

The second tip is to include a brief explanation of any gaps as their own experience. This could be a short sentence explaining the gap, along with any relevant skills you may have acquired or put to use during that time. Even if your time away was for family reasons, you can note the experience that you gained during that time.

Giving a brief explanation will instantly clear up any questions that a recruiter may have about the employment gap.

RELATED: How to Write a Resume with No Experience

2. Minimize appearance of gaps by including only years of tenure.

An easy way to minimize the appearance of small gaps in employment is to include only years, rather than months, on your resume. This helps prevent potential employers from making assumptions about why you were unemployed and instead focuses them on the larger picture of your work history.

3. Provide more information in your cover letter.

Don’t be afraid to provide more information or context in a cover letter, if needed. A cover letter allows for more flexibility than would be possible within the confines of a traditional one-page resume format.

By including additional details here, you are able to add further clarity around any areas which may need further explanation without feeling like it takes away from the overall professional story presented by your resume experience section.    

4. Include education, certifications, or personal projects you worked on during your time off.

If you did anything to further your career during your time off, whether it be additional education, certifications , or personal projects, be sure to include that.

These can help fill those gaps and show potential employers that you used those times productively and are ready for the next big thing! 

5. Use a different format.

If none of these options work for your situation, consider using a different format for your resume altogether. Although chronological order (most recent to oldest) is the most common resume format , it doesn’t necessarily mean it is the right fit for everyone’s situation.

For example, you can opt for a resume format that highlights job experience most pertinent to the role rather than just listing all prior roles chronologically, which may draw attention to any existing gaps.

How to explain gaps in employment in an interview

If you’ve made it to the interview process— congrats! Your employment gap may come up again in conversation, but it’s no reason to fret.

Keep the following tips in mind.

1. Be upfront and honest.

The first thing you should do if you’re asked about gaps in your employment history is to be upfront and honest.

There’s no need to try to hide it or make excuses— just be honest about what happened. For example, if you took some time off to care for a family member, simply say that. If you were on sabbatical, say that. Honesty is always the best policy.

2. Reframe your gap as a positive.

You might worry that employers will see your gap as a sign of unreliability or lack of ambition. However, there are ways to reframe it that can make your gap into an asset.

Here are a few examples to keep in mind.

Reframing a gap due to a sabbatical

If you’ve taken a break from work to travel, this is an opportunity to highlight the skills and experience you gained during your travels. Employers are often looking for candidates who have transferable skills such as problem-solving, creativity, resourcefulness and resilience— all great qualities which can come out of taking some time off.

For example, if you spent some time abroad working on projects with local communities or businesses, be sure to emphasize the interpersonal skills you developed while working with others. 

Reframing time spent job searching

If you took an extended period of unemployment due to a rough job market, don’t feel embarrassed. Instead use the opportunity to showcase how proactive and determined you are when pursuing new opportunities.

Emphasize that you were actively taking the time to find the right role and company for you— not just taking the first job that was available.

Highlight any additional activities or classes you took during that time. This works as evidence that even though there weren’t many jobs available at the time, you still took advantage of every opportunity for growth that presented itself. 

Reframing caring for a loved one

If your employment gap came from caring for children, a family member, or an elderly relative, this can be seen as evidence of your commitment and loyalty. You could also focus on how it has made you better prepared for the role you applied for. In addition to helping care for someone else, chances are good that you acquired useful communication, management, and leadership skills during this period too! 

Reframing a business failure

Finally, if your gap was due to business failure, highlight what lessons you’ve learned from this experience. Discuss how they’ll help make you successful in the future. This could include anything from managing stress or dealing with tight deadlines more effectively to honing your marketing and sales techniques. All of these are valuable insights which could prove invaluable in future roles. 

The bottom line

Gaps in employment don’t have to be a dealbreaker when it comes to finding a job. By being upfront and honest about why there’s a gap in your employment history and sharing any skills or experience you might have gained during that time, you can demonstrate that you’re a great candidate for the role.

How to Explain Gaps in Employment (With Examples)

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Interview Preparation | Resume/CV

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

Explaining gaps in employment can be intimidating, but there are a couple of effective methods you can use. In this article, I’m going to show you how to explain employment gaps in your interviews, resume and cover letter … with word-for-word examples and sample explanations.

Let’s get started with the interview first…

Explaining Gaps In Employment In Your Interview

Explaining gaps in employment is really just about knowing what reasons are okay to share, and which ones you should tell a white lie about or not share. And then being upfront and comfortable with your answer.

These are all good sample reasons for having a gap in employment:

• Caring for a sick family member
• Caring for a young child
• Any medical or health issue
• Taking time off to relocate and find a job in a new state/city
• Pursuing further education or going back to school
• Pursuing any other type of professional training
• Taking time off to travel, study, work on a solo project, etc.
• Trying to start a business or freelance career
• You were laid off , your former company downsized, etc… and you had trouble finding a job after
• You were actively searching but had trouble finding a job (NOTE: I’ll cover this in detail later but you need to make it sound like you were being selective in your job search and waiting to find the RIGHT fit. That sounds a *lot* better than saying, “I was looking everywhere but couldn’t find a single company that would consider hiring me!”

Once you have your reason prepared… Here are the general steps to follow when explaining gaps in employment in the interview: 

• Explain the situation clearly but briefly. They don’t need a ton of personal details. Just give them the core facts.
• Show that the situation has ended or is no longer a factor, so they won’t be worried you’ll have to take another break from working. If they hire you, they want to know you’re 100% ready to work for them.
• Reiterate your interest in their position and bring the focus back onto this job interview and this position.

Examples Of How To Explain Employment Gaps In An Interview:

Sample explanation 1:

I had to resign from my previous position to care for an aging family member. I did this for the past year. Since then, my siblings and I have hired a full-time caregiver so I no longer need to be present, and am fully available to work now and in the future. So I’ve begun job searching and I’m focused on finding a sales supervisor or manager position that will help me advance my career further now.

Sample explanation 2:

I was laid off nine months ago. I started my job search immediately after, and I’m looking for sales supervisor or sales manager positions now to continue advancing my career. I’ve had a number of interviews but haven’t found the right fit yet. One thing I’m looking for is a chance to mentor and train team members, and manage a team directly. I saw that mentioned on the job description for this position… can you tell me more about that?

Two Things To Remember When Answering:

1. You need to sound like an in-demand job candidate…

If you’re explaining a current gap in employment, you need to sound like you’re being selective and that you’re focused on making sure you find the best fit for the long term, rather than just accepting the first job you come across. That’ll make a 6 month gap (or longer) sound a bit better. If you’ve been job hunting during your employment gap, you don’t want it to sound like you haven’t had a single interview in the last few months. That’s never a good idea. If your gap in employment is related to health, travel, a family member’s health, etc…. then it’s fine to say you haven’t had any interviews.

2. Be upfront and honest…

Gaps in employment happen, and good hiring managers will realize this. If you’ve made it into the interview, there’s obviously something they liked on your resume . So when it comes to explaining gaps in employment it’s best to be honest and upfront.

You probably won’t lose out on the job by explaining the situation. You will definitely lose out on the job by lying or seeming like you’re trying to cover something up.

Explaining Gaps In Employment On Your Resume

Okay, maybe you’re still writing your resume or having trouble getting interviews. How do you explain gaps in your employment on your resume so you can GET interviews in the first place?

Here are a few ways you can explain (or hide) gaps in employment:

• List years instead of months for previous positions. (e.g. “2014-2016”). I’ve used this method in the past when I had a couple of small gaps between jobs (by a small gap, I mean 2-3 months maximum). This won’t work if you have too many gaps though, or gaps longer than one year.
• If your gaps are longer or more frequent, consider providing a brief note on the resume listing your reason for the gap in employment. Just list it like any other job. Put your previous positions with the dates you held them. And for your gap, you’d have dates there too, and a one-line explanation (“I took a hiatus from work in order to care for an elderly family member in need”).

If you use these strategies, consider going onto LinkedIn and making the same changes there too. If these options don’t work for you, write a cover letter ! This is a good idea no matter what. In your cover letter, explain what happened in detail and draw their attention to the gap so that you can tell them the full story instead of allowing them to make assumptions (you’re usually better off attacking controversial topics head-on).

That’s how I’d explain gaps in employment on a resume. Also, nobody can tell you with 100% certainty what will work in your industry, with the specific circumstances of your gap in employment (dates, length, reason for the gap, etc.)

So TEST things out. Send out 10 resumes one way, and if nobody’s responding, change something up. If it’s not working, you can’t just keep doing the same things on auto-pilot. That’s how you end up not finding a job .

It’s usually better to be upfront than hide employment gaps

I always give the same resume advice to candidates with gaps in their work history: Be straightforward rather than trying to hide dates or other pieces of information. Hiring managers are usually going to be able to tell if you’re hiding something. Your resume should feature a chronological work history on the first page that includes job titles, company names, key responsibilities for each role, and yes… dates of employment.

No matter what you do, there are some employers out there who won’t like the fact that you have a gap in your employment. That’s okay… Companies like that aren’t worth your time. We’re human. Things happen. And there’s more to life than working nonstop for 40 years. So don’t get discouraged if a few companies say they’re not interested, or just don’t respond. I guarantee those are the same companies you do NOT want to work for anyway because they’re going to have horrible vacation policies, bosses who question you every time you take a sick day, etc.

Note: These Tips and Sample Explanations Will Also Work on Job Applications

Sometimes a job application will say, “please explain any gaps in employment.” The advice resume advice above also work for job applications. Follow the same “rules”, be clear and upfront, and you’ll be fine when applying for jobs.

The one adjustment I’d recommend making on job applications (and cover letters): Be clear and direct, but don’t give too much information. The only goal of your job application is to get you into the interview. If they’re concerned about employment gaps, they can ask more in the interview. And that’s where you should be very honest/open and explain things further. That’s where you can gauge their reactions, decide how much to share based on their responses, etc. You can’t do this in a written explanation.

So, by writing too much info on a job application, you might do more harm than good. It’s better to discuss this type of thing in person, so  limit your explanation to 1-2 sentences for each gap in employment on your job applications, cover letters, etc. 

Final Advice on How to Explain Gaps in Employment:

Don’t be apologetic about your work history. Taking time off is not something to be ashamed of. Not every company will want to interview you, but some will. Stand by your decisions and choices, present your skills with a straightforward (chronological) resume format , and be ready to answer questions and explain yourself further in the job interview.

Related reading:

• What to do when you can’t find a job in your field
• How to answer “Why did you leave your last job?”

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

20 thoughts on “How to Explain Gaps in Employment (With Examples)”

Monster’s report The Future of Work 2021 has shown that the employment gap is no longer considered a red flag by almost half of employers in the US. That’s a piece of good news because it indicates that the marketplace is becoming more tolerant of deviance in the workforce.

However, it doesn’t mean that the black holes on your career record will be overlooked. Rather, they will be carefully examined and objectively evaluated so that the right candidates are not going to slip through the cracks just because of an obsolete prejudice.

I’m in the same situation, was an IT contractor for a number of years, then jobs fell away after year 2000 work had finished, and employers would no longer consider me for permanent jobs due to the fact i’d been a contractor, I guess they assumed I’d just leave when the market picked up!

Long story short, mortgage to pay, no income, had to sell my house and downsize to a flat, and then used that to go into property development with friends which has now finished, and now trying to go back to my original career of software development, seems like an uphill impossible task at the moment, but glad to read your advice even if my “career break” is 18 years!

I’ve done a lot of similar temporary jobs, but had several months gap in the middle of them nearly everytime. I’ve had dozens of interviews everytime, always get them easily. Struggle with the interviews though because I have Aspergers’. When I have been successful with that before as soon as I’ve mentioned my Epilepsy I have very mildly too, several places have changed their minds then, stopped me. I keep getting asked more + more now why I’ve got so many long employment gaps, how am I supposed to answer that in a positive way?

I thought it was interesting that you didn’t list caring for young children as a valid reason for a gap in employment. Your tips were still helpful to me, though.

Good point. That’s also a valid reason (and a common one).

Thank you for posting this, I have a ton of different jobs and gaps because being a ex pipe welder I went where the work was, most of the world does not get it. Life is a roller coaster companies will be booming for a couple years then dead as a door nail. This write up really has helped me not to make my crazy work history look so crazy.

Why don´t you just say Sabbatical ? Regardless how long the gap was it provides a plausible explanation and each one fill out with their own reasons…

i have gap of 9 month due to my previous company boss is horrible ,its very much difficulty to survive, so i had reign and taken break of six month ,from last 3 month i have given interview but its not happening so what i suppose to give reason for gap. can you explain can you explain.

Thanks for the nice article. But I am looking for more the answers of where to write this gaps explanations in our cv. My current CV sections are sunsequently like, Experiences, Educations, Technical skills and language skills, Certifications. So I have currently two 6 months gap in my CV. First one was before I started to my current job. I learned german, So I was in intensive german course. Other 6 months is after my last job. And I was preparing for the some certification exams through self study and online courses. So the question, to which section should I write this gap explanations. Thanks a lot for the answers

If you’re explaining a gap in employment, you should write it in your employment history. You should have a section with your chronological work history. I know other people recommend a “Functional” resume and all sorts of other stuff to hide gaps but in my experience, it doesn’t work. You should be listing each previous role and job duties in chronological order, with the dates. (You can choose to show months and years, or just years). And then you can put something to explain gaps of employment right in that section of your resume.

Thanks Biron Clark for the answer. As I understood you right you adviced me to write my gap explanations directly to work experiences section even though they are not work experience actually. Correct me if I understood wrong. But what about writing them to directly their own section. For example I have a section in the second page of my CV which is “language skills” So I have here just written english (business fluent), german (business fluent). Can I put that times combining near it. like below English (business fluent) German (business fluent), MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY German Course…..

or are you still offering me to write in employment history? Thanks for the ideas

I haven’t yet found the situation that applies to me, for good reason – I had taken a leave of absence to pursue a master’s degree. My mother had been ill with cancer, and was in remission, and I had the opportunity, so I went. Before I was able to complete my thesis, the cancer returned, and she died. I was devastated, and needed to take time away from teaching, because I couldn’t give students what they needed. So, though I had found another job teaching, I wasn’t able to do it, and they released me from my contract. I had only taught for a couple of weeks. After a year, I decided that I needed a longer break, and I obtained my real estate broker’s license. Since that time, I have sold real estate, although I have also been a substitute teacher – one year, I subbed the entire year with another teacher. We split the position. It saved the district money, since they didn’t have to pay benefits with two half-time teachers. The year after, I taught half days for several weeks for a teacher with a bad back problem, and I’ve subbed occasionally since then. Now, I want to go back to teaching. I’m ready now. My grief over the death of my mother is complicated, and it really devasted me. I needed the time away from teaching, because it requires everything you have to give, and I needed time to heal. I have 19 years’ experience as a teacher, and I’ve accomplished some things I’m very proud of. I am now applying for teaching positions, and I need a way to explain the past 5.5 years away from teaching full-time without sounding maudlin, or whiny.

This was really handy, thank you.

Hello! I have been unemployed for 9 months. I left my company where i had worked for 4 years to take another offer. Unfortunatey, I did leave this new position afte over 1 month. The main reason is that it doesn’t fit with me as I had thought of it. I don’t know how to explain my employmen gap for the past 9 months positively. I feel very uncomfortable and hopeless.

“You were laid off, your former company downsized, etc… and you had trouble finding a job after”

That’s pretty much why I’m not employed for now. And yet no one wants to even interview me.

I have periods of “good” jobs I would be happy to include on my resume followed by low-level jobs that would get my resume tossed. These cycles correlate to how well I have been able to deal with my depression. I have been leaving those lower-level jobs off my resume and trying to explain away the gaps instead without referring to depression as an issue that has surfaced more than once. I feel fine at the moment, but this is a big problem moving forward.

I would really like advice on how to deal with this situation without lying or oversharing!

Hello, I totally agree with Kero. Indeed, there is more to life than working nonstop for 40 years. I appreciate for your article, now I feel more confident.

Hi !! I just want to say thank you for providing this article and share it with all of us . Im out of job for almost 2 years already despite had a good career background but after continue searching there is no luck so far . Im really touched by the last part of this “So don’t get discouraged if a few companies say they’re not interested, or just don’t respond. I guarantee those are the same companies you do NOT want to work for anyway because they’re going to have horrible vacation policies, bosses who question you every time you take a sick day, etc.” …The moment I read that I burst into tear. So thank you again to at least cheer me up and have hope again .

Thanks for taking the time to write this. I’m really happy to hear this helped you.

Comments are closed.

How to explain gaps in your resume

Gaps in your resume can cause you lots of stress.

You know that employers generally don’t like them, but you don’t know whether you should include yours, or how you should explain it.

But don’t worry if you have a gap (or two or three) it’s not the end of the world.

In this guide, I will break down everything you need to know about employment gaps, including which ones you should include in your resume, and how to describe them in a way that will keep recruiters happy and ensure you still get lots of interviews.

Resume templates 

What is an employment gap in your resume?

An employment gap in your resume is any substantial period of time that you have been out of work, after you have left full time education.

It could be anything from a month off whilst looking for a job, or 6 months out to care for a sick relative, to a year off spent travelling the world.

Why don’t employers like seeing gaps in your resume?

Employers do not like to see gaps in your resume because they do not know what you were doing during that time period, and that makes the task of assessing your suitability more difficult them. It can also sometimes cause recruiters to wonder if you are trying to hide something from them, especially if there are lots of gaps.

However, gaps in employment on their own are not necessarily a bad thing.

It’s really unexplained gaps that will cause you problems in your resume.

If you’re able to explain gaps in your employment within your resume effectively, they should not have a negative impact on your job applications. In some cases, a well described employment gap in your resume can even become a major selling point for you.

When should I explain gaps in my resume?

If you have a gap in your employment, it only needs to be included if you feel it would make a difference to your applications.

This can be difficult to judge sometimes, but you have to put yourself in the employer’s shoes and ask yourself, “ If I was reviewing this resume, would I need to know what the candidate was doing during that time?”

Ultimately the two variables are;

• How long the gap is – The longer the gap, the more likely it is that you should explain it.
• How recent the gap is – The more recent the gap is, the more likely it is that you should explain it.

For example, if you took a month off work 5 years ago, a recruiter is unlikely to care about that – nor would they question the gap (they probably wouldn’t even notice it)

However, if you’ve had 6 months off in the past year, recruiters will definitely want to know what you’ve been up to.

Should I explain a current resume gap?

If you are currently not working (whilst you are job searching) then you would probably not need to explain the gap, unless it’s been for a long period of time (e.g., over 4 months).

For example, if you’ve just left school and have been looking for a job for a few months, there’s no need to explain that – it’s a common situation and it should be obvious to recruiters. But if you’ve been out of work for a year, caring for a relative and are now re-entering the job market, that would need to be explained.

Quick tip: If you are currently unemployed, looking for work, and worrying that your current employment gap is getting too long; Try doing some study, freelancing, or volunteering if you can. This gives you something to write about in your resume if you do decide to add the gap.

Should I explain a recent resume gap?

In most cases a recent resume gap should be explained because recruiters will always scrutinize your recent work history (the last 3 years in particular). So, if there is a gap of 3 months or more in your recent career, they will question it – and it’s best to pre-empt that question in your resume.

Should I explain old resume gaps?

If you have gaps in your employment from 5 or 10 years ago, you wouldn’t normally need to include them in your resume, because recruiters generally will not be interested in anything that happened such a long time ago.

Should I explain a one-month or less resume gap?

You should not need to explain an employment gap of one month or less – such a short time would not bother recruiters or employers.

Should I explain a 3 month resume gap?

The 3 month mark is where you should start to consider explaining an employment gap in your resume, especially if it has happened within the last 1 or 2 years – as a recruiter would probably spot and question it, if you left it unexplained.

Should I explain a 6 month resume gap?

A 6 month resume gap should almost definitely be explained in your resume. 6 months is a significant amount of time and potential employers will definitely want to know what you have been doing during that period, if it fell within the last 5 years. However, if the gap happened many years ago, you would not need to explain it, as recruiters are only interested in your recent career history.

Types of resume gap and how to explain them

There are many justifiable reasons why you might need to take some time off work.

Let’s take a look at each one and how you can explain each one on your resume in a positive way which keeps recruiters interested in you.

Whether it be physical or mental illness , time out of work for poor health is not something you have any control over – and it’s nothing you should feel guilty or ashamed about.

If you have had any significant time out for illness, you just need to include a brief sentence stating just that – you don’t have to go into any detail about what the illness was if you don’t want to, and it’s probably best to keep it brief to save space on your resume.

If you are currently returning to work from illness, it may be beneficial to say that you are now recovered and fit for work.

Travel / Gap year

Time spent out travelling can actually be very attractive to employers.

If described in the right way on your resume, a travel experience can show recruiters that you’re organized, confident and hard-working.

Detail where you’ve been and highlight some of the constructive things you’ve done (including part-time jobs) to show some of the transferable workplace skills you’ve picked up.

Job seeking

If you’ve been unfortunate and not managed to land a job for a long period of time, it can be beneficial to show some of the constructive things you’ve been doing between searching for jobs. Maybe you’ve taken some courses, done some volunteering, or even tried your hand at freelancing – any of these things will show employers that you are committed and proactive.

Caring for family

If you’ve been caring for a family member or friend full-time, you’ve probably picked up a lot of skills and experience that employers will value – not to mention showing that you have some great personal qualities.

Keep this section brief, writing a sentence or two about the type of care you have been providing and the commitment you’ve made.

Any time out of work caused by Covid restrictions in the past year or so should not come as a surprise to employers. If you were laid off or your whole industry was shut down, simply write a short description of this.

Redundancy/job loss

If you’ve been made unemployed , it’ nothing to be ashamed off. If the time out has lasted for more than a few months, then it’s worth mentioning it and detailing any study, volunteering, freelancing, or anything constructive you’ve been doing.

Maternity / childcare

Time spent away from work to raise children is something that many of us will do in our lifetime, so it shouldn’t cause a big shock to employers. A sentence detailing that you’ve taken paternity/maternity leave should be enough to explain this. If you have taken maternity leave through an employer and returned to work for them afterwards, you don’t have to mention the time-out, because you never actually left the job.

Study leave can be a valuable asset on your resume if you’ve been studying for relevant qualifications – you just need to write a few short sentences on what you’ve been studying and where.

Career break

If you took a planned career break or sabbatical to do anything that’s not covered by the above examples (a year out to play music, paint or tend to you garden) then just be sure to explain what you’ve been doing and highlight some of the skills involved.

Addressing resume gaps in your cover letter

Another way to handle employment gaps and ensure they don’t have a negative effect on your job applications, is to mention them in your cover letter when you first contact recruiters.

For example, if you’ve been recently made redundant and have been out of work for a few months, you could explain the reasons why in your cover letter. You could also be creative and highlight the benefits of the situation, such as the fact this means you are immediately available.

Prepare to discuss resume gaps in interview

It’s very likely that hiring managers and recruiters will ask you questions about your employment gaps at interview stage, so make sure that prepare for this and are able to give a good explanation of what you have been doing in a positive way.

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How to Explain an Employment Gap on Your Resume

• Do You Need to Mention a Gap?

What to Include on Your Resume

• How to Make Gaps Less Obvious
• Explaining an Employment Gap

Many of us take time off, for one reason or another, from working. Sometimes, it's 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 weren't employed.

Do You Need to Mention a Gap on Your Resume?

If you haven't 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 you've been employed since it occurred, you don't need to call it out on your resume.

There is no requirement that you include all your experience on a resume. That's especially true if you've been in the workforce for many years.

If you are looking for a midcareer position, an entry-level role from decades ago is probably not very relevant.

It is 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. Employers  verify work history , and if you put incorrect information on your resume, it'll be discovered.

4 Ways to Make Employment Gaps Less Obvious on a Resume

1. Use Years on Your Resume:  When  listing dates on your resume , you don't 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 2017 - 2019 (rather than May 2017 - August 2019) for a position.

Then, if your next job began in November 2019, you can list it as 2019 - Present, which makes the nine-month employment gap less obvious. Here's an example of how that can look:

Store Manager, XYZ Store 2019 - Present

Sales Associate, ABC Store 2017 – 2019

As you can see, the resume doesn't specifically say when the candidate started and ended employment, which can cover a brief employment gap. However, if you're filling out a job application you'll need to be more specific. You'll also most likely be asked about the dates during a job interview, so be prepared to answer accurately.

2. Consider a Different Resume Format:  You can  format your resume  to minimize the visibility of gaps in your  employment history .

For example, you can put the dates in plain font instead of bold. Or, you can use a smaller font size than the one you're using for the company name and your job title. These small design and formatting choices can make a big difference. 

Start your resume with a  summary statement and career highlights  section, so you are highlighting your skills and accomplishments, rather than what you did when. 

Or  consider using a functional resume , where you highlight your skills and qualifications at the top, followed by your chronological work history.

3. Omit a Job (or Two) on Your Resume:  You don't need to include all your experience on your resume, especially if you have been in the workforce for years. It's acceptable to limit the  years of experience you include on your resume  to fifteen when seeking a managerial or professional position, and to ten years when looking for other positions.

4. Include Other Experience Gained During the Gap:  What did you do while you weren't 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 your other jobs — with job title, company name, job description, and dates of employment.

If you took a class, you could list that  in the education section  of your resume. If you  participated in a gap year experience , you could include that information 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.

Prepare an Explanation

Provide a clear rationale for taking time off if the break was voluntary. If you took time off to deal with a particular issue like caring for a sick relative or completing coursework—and you are ready to return to  full-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.

Focus on Your Skills

If you are now targeting a job that requires  different skills  or competencies, then you might emphasize how your strengths are better suited to the job at hand. If you have taken action to correct any problems that led to your dismissal, you should mention the steps you have taken to strengthen your abilities.

You should avoid any negative characterization of your former employer because many prospective employers would take the employer's side.

A proactive approach providing evidence of your competence, and any positive recommendations from previous jobs, can be helpful.

Whenever possible, secure recommendations from supervisors, colleagues, and customers confirming your competence. Incorporate these into your  LinkedIn profile  when feasible. Of course, it will be more difficult to make a strong case if you were fired due to performance issues.

There are ways you can almost seamlessly  return to work after a career break . Make sure that you emphasize any constructive activities during your gap period, such as 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.

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How to Address a Resume Gap When Switching Careers

• Rebecca Knight

The do’s and don’ts of navigating a career transition that’s taking longer than you hoped.

The prospect of a new career can hold a sense of excitement. But what should you do if your job search has become a disheartening slog and the gap on your resume just seems to be growing wider by the day? What can you do to protect your mental health and rekindle your optimism for the future? In this article, the author offers practical advice  to help you navigate your career switch when you’re worried about a widening gap on your resume. 

You likely felt a surge of excitement when you made the decision to switch careers . But what should you do if your job hunt starts to become a tedious and disheartening slog — and the  gap on your resume is growing wider by the day? How can you address your extended absence from the workforce without making excuses? And how can you stay motivated and resolved in the face of setbacks?

• RK Rebecca Knight is a journalist who writes about all things related to the changing nature of careers and the workplace. Her essays and reported stories have been featured in The Boston Globe, Business Insider, The New York Times, BBC, and The Christian Science Monitor. She was shortlisted as a Reuters Institute Fellow at Oxford University in 2023. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as an editor and reporter at the Financial Times in New York, London, and Boston.

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• How to Explain Gap in Resume...

How to Explain Gap in Resume Due to Family (+ Examples)

7 min read · Updated on October 12, 2022

Caregiving-related absence can make you feel ill-equipped for tough questions. Here's your blueprint for acing the interview!

If you are feeling nervous about heading into that first job interview after you've taken time off to care for a child, spouse, or ailing family member, take a deep breath. According to a recent study from the Pew Research Center , nearly one in four adults have stayed at home and taken a career break to take care of a family member. An additional quarter of respondents have not had to take this step yet, but foresee it in their future. If you're dreading the unavoidable interview question about your caregiving employment gap, you are not alone.

While there is strength in numbers, it's not uncommon for professionals during the job search to feel alone and lost during the all-important career re-entry process. Addressing the employment gap on your resume is the first step . However, preparing for the interview has its own set of underwater currents and obstacles to avoid.

Here's your map for explaining your employment gaps and navigating the path to your next career success.

Process the experience internally

This might sound like advice from a therapist but don't discard it as “too fluffy” for interview prep. You must allow yourself time and space to reflect on what has happened and to integrate it into the complete picture that describes you as a human and as a professional.

As you do this, you may experience pride at having made the right choice. There might be some sadness at having missed out on career opportunities or anxiety at the financial consequences of not working for several months or years. No matter what your emotional mix is, acknowledge it and accept it. Remember that you have made the best possible decision given the circumstances at the time. This internal acceptance should eliminate the temptation to apologize to anyone for that choice. It will also allow you to walk into the interview with genuine confidence and excitement about what's next.

Come prepared

Most interview experts will tell you to not over-rehearse responses to specific interview questions at the risk of sounding robotic and rote. However, skipping interview prep altogether will likely backfire. This is particularly true if you expect having to explain a deeply personal and emotional decision.  

Your decision to stay at home and become a caregiver involved sacrifices, sleepless nights, and emotional upheaval. Talking about this experience with a stranger might make you feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, or even teary-eyed. How do you handle a tough question while maintaining composure and a professional demeanor?

The answer is simple: You must prepare.

Some candidates find it helpful to write out their responses to the difficult interview questions they expect to field, while others prefer to role-play with a trusted friend to try out different question-and-answer strategies. In the end, your goal is to find the words that convey your values and frame the experience in the way that moves you towards your goal. Short and sweet is often a great way to start but be ready to elaborate if needed. Here are some examples.  

“When my son was born, I chose to stay at home and focus on raising him until he was old enough to start school. I feel great about that decision, but I am equally excited about the opportunity to come back to the workforce. Here's why I think this role at your company would be a great fit for both of us.”

“My dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness last year. I am glad that I got the chance to spend my time taking care of him, but now I am ready to return to my professional role. From what I've learned about this position, I believe I have a lot to contribute.”

What makes these responses effective? They provide just enough color to eliminate second-guessing, while strategically leaving out deeply personal details that might make a hiring manager uncomfortable. They are factual, direct, and positively charged. They are also future-focused. Your goal is to address the question and turn the conversation back to your skills, qualifications, and professional potential.  

Watch for inappropriate digging

Tough choices and emotional stories have a way of drawing people in. While experienced and well-trained HR professionals are unlikely to overstep, some hiring managers may be tempted to ask probing questions to show empathy or interest (or just to satisfy their curiosity).

Here's what inappropriate digging might look like.

“Wow, it sounds like your family is really lucky to have you stay at home and take care of your son. Do you plan on having more kids?”

“Was your dad diagnosed with cancer? I've heard it runs in the family. Have you had any genetic testing done to see what your risks are?”

If the line of questioning turns personal (or downright illegal ), remember that you don't have to give a direct answer. After all, if a question isn't relevant or appropriate for evaluating the fit between your professional experience and the job, answering it won't help your candidacy. This uncomfortable situation may require some quick thinking and deflection. Here are some options.

“Kids are great. However, I'm curious about something you said a few minutes ago about this job position. I wonder …” (turns the conversation back to the interview)

“Thank you for your concern. Can you help me understand how this question is relevant for the job I am applying for?”

If you are asked an illegal or inappropriate question, you have many options: answer the question directly, deflect and avoid the question,  or interrupt the interviewer or employer and walk out. If your interviewer's line of questioning about your time as a caregiver is coming off as biased or aggressively intimidating, walking out of the interview is a fine option — why would you want to work for someone like that, anyway? However, if you sense that the interviewer's question is asked with good intentions, then you're better off trying to gracefully steer the conversation back on track.

Address caregiving skills

Many professionals are unsure about whether they should talk about the skills they developed or demonstrated while taking care of a child, parents or an ailing family member. The answer depends on the circumstances. If caregiving helped you develop skills that are directly relevant for the job you are seeking, be prepared to highlight them. Otherwise, don't stretch the reality. Your goal is not to justify your caregiving decision but to focus on the skills and accomplishments that position you as a great candidate.

Excitement is key!

The last piece of advice is no different for a professional seeking a job in the course of uninterrupted employment and someone who is returning to work after a leave of absence. Bring positive energy and genuine excitement about the position. Time away from work, whether due to maternity leave, volunteer work, or a sabbatical, can be a great advantage as it can give you space to reflect on what you want from your career, what impact you want to have, and what you want to accomplish in your next rule. Sincere interest, combined with a set of skills to match the needs of the company, is a sure recipe for success!

Need help explaining the reason for your job gap in employment during the interview? Learn more about our interview coaching services .

Recommended Reading:

How to Rock a Behavioral-Based Interview

How to Answer the “What's Your Weakness?” Interview Question

How to Show Culture Fit in an Interview

Related Articles:

How to Prepare for a Software Engineering Job Interview

27 Financial Analyst Interview Questions (with Great Answers)

27 Supervisor Interview Questions (and Great Answers)

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The job market is getting more competitive. How to write a resume that stands out.

The job market is getting more competitive .

There were 8.8 million job openings in November – down 18% from the year prior and the lowest level since March 2021.  

Meanwhile, roughly 85% of U.S. workers are considering changing jobs this year, up 27% from last year, according to a recent survey conducted by Censuswide on behalf of LinkedIn among 1,013 U.S. working professionals in late 2023.

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For job seekers looking for ways to make their applications stand out, here are tips on crafting the perfect resume.

Make it look nice, but don’t worry too much about the design

Resumes should be organized and easy to scan for information. Experts say a little pop of color is fine, but most professions don’t need the job application to show off their design skills.

In fact, too much focus on design could hurt your application if a resume scanning software is unable to pick up on keywords.

“You might stand out with a very bold, graphical resume, but it’s not necessarily going to be in a good way,” Dana Leavy-Detrick, director of Brooklyn Resume Studio , told USA TODAY. “If you over-focus on the design, you're going to sacrifice the optimization of it.”

She said resumes are considered “safe” with a clean look, sans-serif fonts and plenty of white space. Consider hyperlinking text to sites like your LinkedIn profile. 

“Content is always more important than bells and whistles,” said career coach Jenny Foss . “If you are in an industry where style is going to be advantageous or crucial, you can absolutely have a second version if you're able to send a PDF directly to someone or display it on your own website or portfolio."

Use – but don’t lean on – AI

Artificial Intelligence chatbots can be a great start to people drafting up their resumes, but experts warn not to lean on the technology.

“Recruiters and hiring managers are very good at spotting people are using AI to write the resume,” Leavy-Detrick said . “It may sound very well written, but it falls a little bit flat.”

That can hurt a candidate's chances when hiring managers are “looking for authenticity,” according to Leavy-Detrick . 

“ I have seen just pure AI-written resumes, and they're not great yet,” Foss said. “A big part of what they miss is the person. AI’s not going to capture your unique traits and contributions.”

Resume writing: What to include 

Be specific: For instance, don’t just say you’re a good salesperson – say exactly how many deals you closed in a quarter.“You want to put some meat around what you're saying about yourself,” said professional resume writer Lynda Spiegel .

Add a value proposition: Spiegel suggests adding a short paragraph near the top of the resume that makes clear why the applicant would be the right hire. “Your resume is a marketing document. It's not a history of everything you've ever done.  You’re a product, and you're marketing yourself to the buyer, which is the employer,” she said. “(It should tell) the employer, ‘This is why you want to bring me in for an interview. This is I am the answer to the problem you have.’”  

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Focus on the narrative: With each job listed in a resume, Foss writes up a quick sentence or two that describes what the applicant was hired to do and the overarching focus of that job. The following bullet points highlight the achievements made in that position.“I try to tell the evolution of this person's career story as we go through their career chronology in a way that is kind of like, all roads lead to this being the absolute no-brainer next opportunity for me,” she said. “I am seeing and deploying that storytelling approach more than ever before.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The job market is getting more competitive. How to write a resume that stands out.

More From Forbes

5 ai resume builders you should try in 2024.

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A resume builder should not be used as a magic wand, but it can certainly reduce anxiety in the job ... [+] search process and help you process your thoughts, skills and experiences in a way that will resonate with the recruiting team

In your quest to create the perfect resume, no doubt you've encountered several AI (artificial intelligence) applications all supposedly guaranteeing the same promise: to be able to save you time, worry, and stress, and generate a shiny new document that will get you past the gatekeepers and secure an initial interview.

If you've never used a generative AI tool before, you might be concerned and initially apprehensive.

And you should be.

After all, you don't want to take any chances and wreck an entire application that has already taken considerable painstaking effort.

With the plethora of options you have to choose from, it might be overwhelming to know which resume builders are worth your money (if you do need to pay anything at all) and which ones have the highest chances of success.

But as long as you follow these guidelines to make your resume with AI, you'll be on the right track:

How To Find A Good Resume Builder

When looking for a resume builder, you will need to carefully weigh up several factors including:

• Ease of navigation and user experience
• Your budget and pricing options available—including any free trials or free plans you might be able to take advantage of
• Trustpilot and Product Hunt reviews, Reddit discussions and reviews, and even asking your professional connections on LinkedIn
• Value for the price
• Comparison of features and customization options—customization is extremely important for your resume to be effective
• ATS compatibility

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A note on ATS compatibility: Applicant tracking systems are becoming more modernized, and as such, some features that would have been rendered unreadable and disqualify you from a position (such as double columns) are now accessible thanks to updated parsing technology, according to an Enhancv study .

However, it's worth bearing in mind that according to the study, a resume built with Canva or Microsoft Word tends to fare better overall without double columns—a 93% success rate compared to an 86% success rate for double columns.

At the same time, using a different software such as Google Docs yields an impressive 99% success rate, regardless of whether the resume was created with a single or double column.

5 AI-Powered Resume Builders

Below are five positively-reviewed AI-powered resume builder tools you can use to make your application truly stand out to hiring managers. Some, such as Enhancv, are tested against ATS software (applicant tracking systems that recruiters use to help screen candidate resumes) to ensure full compatibility:

• Resumaker AI

How To Use A Resume Builder

Whichever resume builder you decide to use from the list above, it's essential to understand that AI is not a quick fix. While it certainly provides much needed assistance as you figure out how to make a resume that truly stands out to employers, you will need to ensure that you double check the final output for grammatical issues, spelling mistakes, inconsistencies, needless repetitions, and a lack of human flow in the writing style—all of which can be obvious tell-tale signs that your resume was written by AI.

Additionally, while AI can help with formatting and readability, you need to ensure that the final document reflects who you really are and is one that you are personally happy and comfortable with.

Using a resume builder doesn't take away from the fact that you need to sell yourself effectively. AI will only provide impetus to what you already have. An AI-powered resume builder won't do the selling for you. This means quantifying your achievements where possible and using this data to feed the resume builder.

Resume builders will also help you identify keywords to help you beat ATS—but you'll need to check over these to ensure they apply to you, and look out for any other resume keywords which are familiar terms in your industry so you can highlight the right keywords to catch the attention of recruiters.

Finally, it's essential to note that resume builders will not take away the necessity for mental effort. You still need to closely study job descriptions and highlight relevant experience, education, skills (including soft skills) and certificates that you possess, so that you can input these into the tool.

This is because resume builders may sometimes include skills that are not relevant to you, in an effort to match with the job description for the role you wish to apply for, so you'll need to ensure that you review these for accuracy. Also, some may only focus on your last role, so you'll need to add extra experiences to bulk up your resume and provide deeper context into your skills and experience.

Resume builders offer incredible features such as customization options, free trials, and assistance ... [+] with keywords.

Overall, crafting the perfect resume that actually gets you hired comes down to a combination of your personal input and self-belief in your abilities, and the complementary augmentation of artificial intelligence tools. Job searching can be an exhausting process, so utilize these resume builders to make your efforts easier and give you greater piece of mind—edging you closer to your dream job.

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