It's hard to list your professional experiences on your resume. So many things need to be thought about, like job titles, time frames, key responsibilities, transferable skills, etc. If there are gaps in your work history, the process gets even harder. By looking at your resume, for example, a potential employer won't be able to figure out why there's a three-and-a-half-year gap in your work history. The employer might wonder if you left off one of your jobs because it doesn't fit with your career goals, or they might think that you didn't work at all during the time period that isn't listed on your resume. If there are gaps in your work history, you will have to explain them in writing. Don't leave out any information on purpose.
A few general rules apply to gaps on a resume:
- You don't have to explain any missing time that is less than three months. It's not unusual to have 60–90 days between jobs, and most resumes don't even notice. But you should explain any gaps that are longer than three months in your cover letter or e-mail. Whether you were out of work for personal or professional reasons, you need to explain the gaps in your employment history. You don't want the employer to guess what happened.
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Be honest! We can't say enough about this. If you are honest with a potential employer, they won't check your references, do a background check, or ask you questions out of the blue during an interview.
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Don't leave out the months you worked at the job from the listing. You should explain the gaps in your resume rather than try to hide them. When it comes to your resume, being honest is really the best thing to do.
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Even if the jobs you've had have nothing to do with your goal, you should still put them on your resume. Instead of leaving gaps in your resume, you could explain why you worked in fields other than your field in your cover letter or in an email to a potential employer. Again, whether it's for personal or professional reasons, be honest and don't leave room for your potential employer to make assumptions.
- It's important that your cover letter and resume have a positive tone, even if there are gaps in your professional history. Don't sound like you're sorry. Things happen, and you don't have to feel bad about taking time off work. Be upbeat and show your potential employer that you never lost sight of your career.
Even though we all agree that life is full of surprises and that there will be times when there are gaps in our resumes, we can always take the following steps to stay competitive in our field:
- Use our time and skills to help others through volunteer work, community projects, consulting, or freelancing.
Take a class at a community college or community centre that will help you improve your work skills and put you in touch with people who have similar jobs.
- Find out what's new in your field by reading about it. Get a subscription to a professional magazine or newspaper, or buy the latest books that talk about changes or improvements in your field.
Most importantly, be honest and keep a good attitude. You can't change your work history, so do your best to show the employer that you are the best person for the job by focusing on your experience, education, and qualifications.
