Do you have a chunk of time in your resume when you weren’t working? Have you thought about fudging the dates between jobs to cover the gaps?
Having time out of work can happen for a number of important reasons. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to explain it, though, especially when you’re trying to impress a potential employer.
Here are some tips to help you explain career gaps in your resume.
Firstly, career gaps aren’t always a bad thing. There are several positive reasons why you might have a career gap: having a baby, studying full-time or travelling.
There are also some more challenging reasons, such as health problems, being unable to find work, redundancy, being fired or burnout.
It’s not unusual to have an occassional career gap – perhaps now more than ever, says David George, Managing Director at Michael Page Australia.
“The pandemic has affected almost every sector in the last two years, causing job losses. Employers will probably be much more understanding if you’ve been let go or made redundant.”
You might be hoping that your potential employer simply won’t notice the career gaps in your resume. But chances are, it won’t escape the eagle-eyed hiring manager or recruiter.
A resume that has small unexplained gaps or just one large one may raise alarm bells for employers, and they often won’t have time to find out more information if you don’t give it to them.
“There’s a high chance that the employer will reject your application straight away,” advises George.
You might be tempted to alter the dates and extend the years and months of employment a little to cover the gaps. But there’s a good chance the truth will come up during the reference check, anyway.
Don’t try to cover up your career gap or pretend it didn’t happen, George says. Be honest about career gaps from the start of the hiring process. “Being open from the beginning and explaining your career break will show your honesty, which should work in your favour.”
Here’s some common reasons for career breaks, and how to explain them in your resume and cover letter.
During the interview, you will probably be asked for more details about your career gap. The hiring manager will be looking for more detail to understand how you spent your time, and how it was productive.
An employer wants to know how you dealt with difficult situations, too, and what it shows about your character and resilience.
“Nearly everyone has challenges and gaps during their career path,” George says. “Showing how you dealt with any adversity in a positive way can work in your favour.”
No matter how much you want to work, career gaps can sometimes be unavoidable. The best approach during the application and interview process is to be open and honest. Where possible, always show the employer how you faced any challenges with strength and resilience, and how your experiences gave you skills that you can use in your new role.