How to Explain Gaps in Your Resume

How to Explain Gaps in Your ResumeHow to Explain Gaps in Your Resume32A reader wrote Dear Alex, I have two year-long gaps on my resume that reflect unemployment time. One of those gaps was voluntary- I took a year off when I had a baby. The other one, though, was involuntary. My company eliminated my position and I was laid off. I have been out of school for 12 years. How should I address these? Here are some tips for how to explain gaps in your resume.How to Explain Gaps in Your ResumeOn the resume itself, dont address them at all. Deflect from the actual chronology of your employment history by using a functional resume format (i.e., listing your experience by skill area and putting your positions and their dates last).Also, some gaps are notlage difficult to hide if you remember that its completely acceptable to list the years for a position rather than the months. For instance, suppose you worked at X Company from March 2012 to November 2012. You had your baby in December 2012 an d did not resume working (at new Y Company) until December 2013. Your resume would look like thisX Company 2012Y Company 2013-14Formatting your resume this way means prospective employers will likely miss the gap entirely. If they do ask about your chronological history in the interview, its best to explain gaps in your resume honestly.How to Explain Maternity LeaveIn the case of the baby, simply state that you left your job because you wanted more maternity leave than the company was willing to provide.How to Explain a LayoffAs for the termination, carefully explain the circumstances associated with the layoff. Showcase your sternbezogen results at your former organization, and if possible, offer a reference who can attest to those achievements.Demonstrate Continuous LearningA year-long gap is not a particularly large one, but it still cant hurt to demonstrate that you were doing something work-related and keeping your skills fresh while you werent fully employed. For example, perh aps during your maternity leave you took an online IT course, or while you were searching for a job after your layoff, you held a leadership role in an active volunteer organization.Remember that tone also goes a long way in an interview. If you appear upbeat about your career trajectory andexplain gaps in your resume in a positive way,prospective employers will be much more confident in your ability to excel in the duties of the new position.Find Freelance Jobs