Career gaps in a CV have a bit of a bad reputation, with many employers disregarding an application as a result of them. The issue is, career gaps can occur for a number of different reasons such as motherhood/fatherhood, illness, travel and education.
Now, we’re not saying that all employers open your CV, see gaps and automatically assume you’ve decided working isn’t for you, but it’s always worth covering your back when you apply for a new job.
First things first, it’s always better to be upfront and honest about the gaps in your CV – whether that’s to a recruiter or to a company.
Covering it up or trying to lie will only paint you in a worse light should the truth come out – which is not a good quality for a potential employee.
It’s no secret that the pandemic led to a lot of people being furloughed, through no fault of their own. Your potential employers recognise that this will be the case for lots of job seekers and a simple conversation can clear this up.
Cover letters seem to be an outdated concept nowadays, with very few companies still requiring one. However, many job boards such as Indeed or Reed still offer the option to include one.
If this is the case, take full advantage of the space on your cover letter and explain the gaps in your career. This way, you won’t be taking up valuable space on your CV and can cover your bases.
In saying this, it’s worth pointing out that not all employers and recruiters will read your cover letter, so always be prepared to talk about your gaps in your interview.
The same thing applies in your interview, just be open and honest! Chances are that the employer or recruiter will ask you directly about gaps, which gives you the perfect chance to explain them.
Illness related career gaps
The company interviewing you doesn’t need to know all of the ins and outs of your illness, that’s personal to you.
Instead, state that you took time off due to illness and explain any relevant skills or qualities you developed during this time. It can be anything from organisation to resilience.
If you’re looking for a role after being off due to illness, it’s always a great idea to explain why you are now ready to get back into work.
Family commitment related career gaps
Many people take career breaks to care for relatives which again is not something you’re obliged to go into detail about to the employer.
If during this time, you took on new responsibility or learned things that would benefit you in that role, great – mention them!
If not, again explain that you’re ready to get back into work.
You may have taken time out from work to prioritise family or look after children – which is reason enough. Again, talk about the above points, explaining why now is the right time for you to return to work.
Redundancy related career gaps
Unless the person interviewing you has been living under a rock, they will have ample of experience surrounding redundancy, be that through their own company or through interviewing candidates.
Redundancy is never something to be ashamed of and since the pandemic, it’s not at all unusual.
Use your interview to explain that you were made redundant and explain the tasks you were responsible for when you worked.
It’s also a great time to talk about how you dealt with the redundancy and the steps you took to secure the interview – it shows your resilience and determination!
Travelling related career breaks
Majority of the people who opt to go travelling are seeking something more – a great example of wanting personal development.
Planning six months of travelling is a lot of work and takes a lot of organising – both of which are transferrable skills for any job role! Having the ability to demonstrate how these qualities will apply to the role you’re interviewing for is a key place to start.
You can talk about all the experiences that you had whilst out there and explain how they’ve shaped you as a person.
Be sure to mention that you loved the adventure but that you’re now ready to get back into work.
Job search related career breaks
With the current market, it’s understandable that finding the right job for you takes longer than in previous years.
Our advice would be to really go into detail about the ways you’ve proactively been searching for a new job.
If you’ve had struggles with your job hunt, explain these and describe how you have overcome them.
Back to school career breaks
Going back into education is becoming more and more popular and it’s something you should be proud of.
Include all the reasons you chose to go back to school in your discussion and everything you’ve learned.
Going back to school reflects how dedicated you are as a candidate and shows that you’re somebody who is driven.
Despite what people might say, there’s no shame in having gaps on your CV!