How to Answer – “Why there are gaps in your Resume?”

Employment gaps are times in your professional career when you are not working, either freely or involuntarily. Gaps in your career history and résumé are normal. Life occurs, and sometimes it means being out of work for an extended time. It doesn’t mean that it is the end of the world. Explaining it on your resume can assist you in telling employers about your situation. But if you don’t know how to do it, we have got you covered. In this article, we will discuss how to explain gaps in employment, some good reasons for gaps in employment, and mistakes to avoid when explaining gaps in your resume.

Sample Answers of “How to Answer Employment Gaps?”

You may have an employment gap in your career after being a primary caregiver, or because of a merger or being laid off. Here are some good reasons for gaps along with some sample answers that you can use to take an idea for explaining your employment gap in an interview:

1. Laid off

There are many reasons why companies lay workers off and it doesn’t have to do with your capabilities of doing the job. It can be due to various reasons like the company wanting to cut back on costs or they may be eliminating positions. That’s why, you don’t have to hesitate while explaining it. Here is a sample of how you can do it easily.

I was laid off this year and I have been looking for a job from months now. But intially, there wasn’t any lead. Then I decided to utlise this time by leaveraging my skills. I havr learned new skills and enhanced the existing ones like (explain your skills and how it can benefit you with this role.)

It’s very important to mention how you have utilized your gap year in your answer. It gives confidence to the interviewer about you and your seriousness towards the role in such situations.

2. Merger

Losing a job because of a company acquisition or merger can be difficult but it is pretty normal. You can use the mentioned sample answer to tailor your answer. However, make sure that the dummy answer is just for your reference. You can make the changes as per your situation.

During my gap, my previous company underwent a significant acquisition. While my position wasn’t directly impacted, the integration process caused temporary restructuring. I used this time to upskill myself through online courses and freelance projects, which I believe will enhance my value to your team.

3. Started your own business

New business ventures don’t always work out and in this case, relaunching your corporate career is a good option. But you need to assure your recruiter that you are opting to restart your career for career growth, not just for a temporary solution.

The last year I decided to launch a start-up but unfortunately it did not work out. Though I felt devastated at first but then I realised that I upskilled myself because I practically implemented leadership and management and I believe that this experience would help me out during the role of a manager.

4. Medical

Suffering from an illness that demands treatment and recovery time is a valid reason for a career gap. But do not just make it. You may be required to present a medical certificate in some cases. Hence keep it real and explain it wisely.

I took some time off an year ago because of a medical issue. I underwent a treatment, and now I am back to full health. As now I’m doing fine, I’ve enrolled to an online course that is helping me to stay updated about current dynamic in the industry.

5. Education

Many people take a break to pursue a higher degree, such as an M.Tech., or MBA, or take relevant training that would help them transition into a new career. You can add the course and place from where you did it what you have learned during the course and how it can benefit you now as we have presented below.

There is a 2 year gap in my resume because I went on for higher studies. I did my MBA from IIM Ahmedabad which provided me the skills, knowledge and expertise of finance making me a better fit for this role.

6. Caregiver

When someone close to you falls ill, you might have to take some time off to look after them and it is acceptable by the employers.

Last summer, I had to resign from my job to look after my father because he was suffering with Alzheimer. His condition worsened, and now I am not able to take care for him at home. So I got him enrolled in a nursing home which specializes in memory care. Now that he is being looked after, I am ready to re-start my career with full potential.

7. Parenting

Many people take a break after a new child is born. In the situation of COVID-19, many parents went on a career break to home-school their children because kids require attention that could not be given from online classes alone.

I took some time off to look after my kids while they were young. During that period, I did some freelance content writing jobs. Now that my children are back in school full-time, I am looking for a job at a content writing agency and leverage my expertise.

8. Relocation

When you relocate to a new place, it can take some time to get settled and find a job in your new city.

My husband got promoted an year ago, so we had to relocate to Bangalore. Since that time, I am constantly looking for a right job in the city. I met new individuals and established good networking skills during this period, which would help me grow in a sales job.

9. Travel

Did you take a year off to travel around the world? Sometimes people take a break to explore and replenish which is a normal reason for others. So, here is how you can tell about it.

There is a gap in my resume of 6 months because I took a break in order to travel to different countries. During this time I met new people and studied about different cultures. This helped me to learn about new things and an understanding of how different cultures work. But I do not aim to keep doing it. I love my profession and travleling keeps me motivated. Now, that I’ve traveled, I’m all ready to get back to my work and make an impact.

10. Volunteer work

It’s a remarkable thing when there’s a need and you step forward to serve. For example, there is an urgent need for people to feed the hungry right now. It’s great to see how many individuals are standing forward to help with food drives.

I volunteered at Habitat for Humanity from March to September 2021. I was in charge of all aspects of day-to-day leadership, including employee recruiting and development. Managing over 100 volunteers aided in the development of my management and project management skills. Now, as the responsibilities are taken care, I can resume my career without worrying.

Tips to Answer Employment Gaps

When you return to work after a professional break, you should practice what to say and explain what happened. It is critical to be truthful and prepared to discuss it. Here is a more extensive list of explanations for employment gaps:

• Be prepared to discuss it: Just because you have a gap in your resume does not mean that the company is going to ignore your candidature. If they are calling for an interview it means that they want to know your reasons. Take some time beforehand to figure out how you would like to handle it.

• Be truthful: Don’t lie regarding any employment gaps. Also, you don’t have to go into detail about what you were doing, but a brief response will be enough to let the interviewer get an idea of what happened.

• Fill the gaps: While you are not required to provide specifics, you may explain what you were doing at the time. You may discuss how you kept yourself up to date with any article readings or how you prepared for your re-entry. This is also the moment to mention any freelancing or charity work you have done. The interviewer will be curious to know how you made this time productive for yourself.

• Focus on skills: Describe how the skills and experiences you gained during your gap will help you professionally. Learning a new language, charity efforts, personal improvement, travel, and skill-building are some examples.

Common Mistakes While Answering Employment Gaps

When discussing your career gaps, avoid telling a big story about what happened or blaming others. Here are some additional examples of things to avoid while discussing employment gaps:

• Don’t be taken off guard without an answer. Prepare to share your story if requested.
• Don’t forget to mention what you learned and gained throughout your time off.
• Don’t tell a long story about how your previous boss was a nightmare to work for and how you quit. Maintain an optimistic attitude. You could say it was a toxic workplace with a high turnover rate. That conveys the facts while remaining concise.
• Don’t blame others or put anyone down.
• Don’t lie or modify your dates to try to hide it.

Conclusion

Having a professional break is not a red sign. Hiring supervisors will feel more comfortable hiring you if you are open about your career gap. Consider what happened and how you may interpret it in a positive light. Tell them about what you learned or accomplished over your time off. When you can confidently communicate your job gap, you’ll be one step closer to getting that new position.