How do I handle a gap in employment on my resume?

Answer 1

You can always include extracurricular activities that you pursued while not formally employed. People usuallly take those times for granted in a resume, but if you think about it, it makes perfect sense to talk about a personal project that you developed or performed during that time, or maybe a temporary position you fulfilled, or even a family oriented project. For example, a mother who has been not formally working in a long period of time can mention that she was a full time mother managing the care of their children, as well as any related home activities. You do not need to detail every single activity, but you can write down a brief sentence that describes what you did during that specific time.

Usually those activities that are not seen as formal types of jobs, many times will show your initiatives and sense of creativity, and proactivity.

It is a matter of preparing to have a well organized response when the time for an interview appears ahead.

The best way to answer to those gaps is by being open and honest. Be your self, and act with truth. It is always the best way. And just rememeber, some companies will value your honesty, time management, and your ability to deal with non formal job related activities. Some other companies won't see it that way. But if you keep you mind focused on the job that you want to get and prepare your answers properly for your initial interviews, you are in a good path.

One thing that I always tell my clients is that when you are confident that you are a good and selective professional, you are never looking for a job just to pay your bills. Rather, you are looking for a company that will value your expertise. If you have that last mentality, the time gap will not be an issue. Trust me! I have been there before!

Answer 2

It depends...sometimes you can give less specific dates, or if you were doing something constructive like trying to build a business or building your house or traveling, your resume can show this. If the reason for the gap was less glamorous, don't despair. There are other ways to handle it. The most important thing is not to lie. The best way is to be truthful without lingering on the subject. Show that you have moved on from that place and are making good decisions. If you have to do some menial work, volunteer work, or do a self-employment hustle for a while to show stability, do it. You may need to put in more applications than you would have otherwise. Don't give up. J. D. Rockefeller walked the streets of Cleveland for 8 hours a day, and it took him 6 weeks to get his first job. Be optimistic and persistent, and you will overcome all roadblocks.