The employment gap is no longer a big problem but isn’t very comforting. Generally, it would happen if the recruiter saw it. The employment gap is rarely scary. Some people are just as likely to have employment gaps in some way. This means there’s not much of an unemployment gap, but how you describe it will help your job interview, and you will be able to explain why.
Types of employment gaps
A break in employment occurs in a variety of ways. Earlier this year, LinkedIn added career gap options for interviewers. How you spend your time during a job gap could often be even more significant than what caused you to lose a job.
Some reasons for employment gaps are:
- Lay Off
- Family Health Situations
- Personal Health Situations
- Sabbatical
- Voluntary or Involuntary Resignation/Termination
- Education Pursuits
- Extended Travels
In a world where work is the norm and people rarely take time away from their jobs, many still take voluntary breaks from their work. Nothing is wrong with this, but you should ensure your resume reflects gaps positively.
Should I Put Employment Gaps on my Resume?
You should never be misleading with your resume. If there are gaps in employment, they should be shown. Employment gaps are not uncommon. Most people have gaps of a few weeks, months, or more.
Gaps of six months or more may cause an employee to request an explanation. Employment gaps don’t have to be written out in summary on the resume; however, when there are significant gaps, a professional resume writer will format your resume that highlights your strengths and skills before highlighting your work history.
How Do You Show Employment Gaps on a Resume?
Filling in a gap in employment can be done through volunteer work, completing a course, or completing a certification. Make a professional network. Attend virtual meetings. Give examples and add them to the resume.
If you have or will have a period of non-traditional work on your resume, consider filling that time with volunteer work or a side hobby. This is a great way to show that even though you were not working, you were still productive with your daily activities.
Other Ways to Explain Gaps in Employment
Cover Letter
A cover letter is a great way to explain employment gaps. Because resumes follow a functional format, it may not always be proper to mention employment gaps on the resume, especially if there are no other types of experience or work that can be listed in a date format to fill the gaps.
This is where a cover letter works well. A professional resume writer helps you write a cover letter that explains why there is a gap in employment.
Professional Summary
The professional summary is a section on a resume that gives a summary of your work experience and skills. You can use this section to describe a work history gap briefly. It should be phrased to let the employer know your intentions and why you are back in the workforce.
Education Summary
The education summary can highlight a period of pursuing a degree or certification. The dates here can explain if there is a gap in employment in your work experience section.
Education summary could require you to explain to the employer that you were in school as it may not stand out so readily to a hiring manager.
Get Your Resume Prepared Professionally in Surrey
An employment gap does not have to be a red flag on your resume. A well-written resume and cover letter help hiring managers to see why there are gaps in employment on your resume. Resume writing is a skill that requires the ability to use language and word formatting to highlight what managers are looking for in their candidates. Contact us if you need a resume professionally written in Surrey.