How you should be explaining a gap in your employment?

There can be a number of reasons to go off work for some time. You need time off. You completed your degree. Wanted to stay home for the kids or took care of elderly parents at the time of need. The reason might be whatever, the come out is that there is an employment gap and it is making you writhe.

 

The thoughts hitting your mind might be that is there even a chance that you could re-enter the corporate world? Do people with a gap in their employment get hired?

 

Of course people with a gap year get hired. But you will have to strategize.

It is not a myth that the hiring managers raise an eyebrow on hearing about a gap, but on the other hand it is not like you have done a crime. And, certainly you are not the first one or the last one to have a gap in your career. Employment gap is more common than you think.

The trick is here to explain your gap strategically on papers and in person when in an interview.

 

Break down your explanation:

 

How Do I Explain a Gap on My Resume?

Simply put in down? Proactively.

Your defence when you have an employment gap is a good offence. It will make the recruiters wonder what the deal is all about. Rather than to give them a chance to make their own conclusions which might not be true. It is always better to keep it clear that what you have been up to.

 

Start with the Summary

First, this is the time when you need to use a career summary. When writing a career summary keep in mind your target audience in mind when you sit down framing it. Use three to five points to introduce yourself as a professional and come across with your strengths that the recruiters (your target audience would be looking forward to).

 

In your summary section you can also construct a statement that succinctly and quickly explains what you want to say.

Your summary section also affords you an opportunity to construct a statement that quickly and succinctly explains what’s up. For instance:

 

You should proactively spell out your recent it and combine it with your past experience. Try and turn the tables in your direction y directly relating to what the recruiter wants. By this you have made the job the recruiter easy and saved yourself some damage control.

Decide Your Resume Type

It might have been years since you were at your last job and you feel like he last date is just magnificent on your reverse chronology resume. The thought hitting your mind could be should you shift to functional resume to further take this date down. Well, you should not. Most employers do not like a functional resume. They are more interested to know what you did, when and where.

Instead, when writing your resume think of adding any freelance work, volunteer work or any sort of part time gigs that you might have taken up in this time. If this is the case, do not segregate this to a separate volunteer work section. Roll it to your experience section so that the gap is either diminished or better eliminated.

 

Do mention though that you are doing volunteer work and if there is any project that is related to your current job search, construct it right to your career chronology.

 

In Your Education Section

If you have a gap because of you have been in school or just graduated, pull out the education section and place it up near the right top listing the graduation date. This is automatically direct the recruiter to a position where the gap is explained by the education sector.

 

Next, In Your Cover Letter

You can also wonderfully use the cover letter to manage the message that tells the recruiter about your gap. A cover letter is a place where you can send out your reasons a little more personally than in a resume. Come out clear and concise with the message and shift to the part where you speak about what you can do for the organization.

 

And Then at the Interview

You are through the screening process and next you have a scheduled interview. Hold your excitement and get prepared. Follow the strategy of walking confidently in a positive manner and explain the reason of your gap. The more confidence you show while talking about it, more the better.

 

On the Ending Note

It is on you how you take your employment gap. The more you think about it as a liability, the recruiter will feel the same. Strategize, plan your answers and list out how you could be beneficial for the recruiter.

Also read: 5 critical documents and reports you need to work on for a successful job search

About The Author:

Akansha Arora is a professional writer and blogger who loves to pen down her views on a number of topics that interest a reader. She writes keeping in mind the current scenarios and wishes to keep her readers well informed.