There are a variety of reasons that people may have gaps in their work history. Some go back to school, others raise children, many care for elderly loved ones, and some people relocate and have difficulty finding new employment.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to understand how to explain gaps in your employment during an interview or on your resume. While your response depends on the circumstances and how you spent your time unemployed, USA Resume can help position your resume so that it positively reflects you despite work history gaps.

Ways to Make Gaps Less Obvious on Your Resume

When writing a resume, there are certain elements to either include or omit. If a position within the past ten years has no direct connection to what you’re applying for, it’s best to leave it off, but only if the job before it and the job after it are within one year of each other so the dates (years only) do not indicate a gap.

If you do actually have a gap exceeding a year that is impossible to cover up, highlight your activity during this time. If you volunteered, performed freelance work, acted as a consultant, or did other activities that relate to the position for which you are applying, make sure to feature them in your resume. Be sure to add job descriptions, the organizations you worked for, and the time during which you worked there. If you took a career hiatus to care for children, make sure to indicate that. If you spent this time furthering your education, list out all relevant courses that you took in the education and professional development section of the resume.

To make a longer gap look less noticeable, don’t list the exact month of each job. For example, if you worked from June 2015 to July 2017, and your next job began in February of 2018, it becomes very obvious you had an eight-month gap. Instead, list your jobs as: Job #1 – 2015 to 2017, and Job #2 – 2018 to present. The resume doesn’t specifically say when you began and ended the position, which can cover the gap, and you may never be asked about it. However, if you are asked about the dates during your interview, be prepared to answer honestly.

Always highlight any constructive activities during this time such as working on furthering your education, freelancing, or doing volunteer work (not only on your resume, as mentioned above, but during the interview, as well). Make sure you show enthusiasm for returning to work, and explain how your experience makes you a great fit for the job.

With an extensive background in the creation of industry-specific resumes, the writers at USA Resume are certified and highly educated. They are also certified career coaches, thereby adding immeasurable value through knowledge and expertise. Some of the services USA Resume offers include:

  • Professional Cover Letters
  • Custom-Tailored Resumes
  • LinkedIn Profile Optimization
  • A Review of Existing Resumes for Areas of Needed Improvement

The best thing to do when you need an impressively written resume after a gap in your work history is to reach out to USA Resume. We’ll help put you in the best position for hiring opportunities so you can secure the job you deserve. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more.