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How To Fill An Employment Gap On Your Resume

Forbes Coaches Council
POST WRITTEN BY
Tammy Homegardner

One of the questions I'm asked most often by clients is, “How do I fill an employment gap on my resume?” This issue can be tricky, so it is worthy of discussion.

First, and most importantly, never lie. While it may be tempting to fake things a bit to make it easier to close this gap, you'd be making a huge mistake. If a potential employer finds out you lied, they won’t feel they can trust you on other important things such as your skills and qualifications. You could walk yourself right out of the opportunity.

Hiring managers and recruiters are human, and they understand that things happen to all of us in life. Sometimes, situations come up that are more important than working nonstop for 50 hours a week for 30 years. So, honesty is the best policy.

When are employment gaps a concern?

The two factors that really make gaps worrisome for hiring managers are the time period in which you were unemployed and the length of time you were away from the workforce.

It's also important to consider applicant tracking systems. An ATS looks for specific things on your resume and scores you based on its findings, so it's not going to be forgiving of situations like a human might be. For example, if you were unemployed for a month or two 20 years ago, odds are that your prospective employer won’t care. And the ATS system won’t be programmed to look for anything that far back.

On the other hand, if the gap was more recent and longer in duration, you need to have a plan to deal with it.

The reason for the gap matters as well. If you have the bad habit of quitting your job on a whim, you’re going to be labeled a “job hopper” and have a more difficult time explaining why your work history is so unreliable. If you took time off to care for an elder parent, go back to school or were laid off and took on contract work, that gap will be far easier to explain.

How long is too long for an employment gap?

There is no specific length that is carved in stone for employment gaps. It is very unlikely that you will be questioned for a gap of several months, as everyone knows that it takes time to find a new position. And it may take longer to find jobs that there are less of, so job title and location also factor into this equation.

But again, remember those pesky ATS systems won’t be so forgiving. So, it is my opinion that you should cover a gap of over six months of unemployment to avoid any potential red flags.

What are some good reasons for having a gap in employment?

There are many. But here is a list of the best ones:

• You were laid off (company downsizing reorganization)

• Eldercare

• Childcare

• Personal medical issue

• Relocation

• Furthering your education

• Gaining certifications or licensing

• Volunteer work

• Contract work

• Actively searching for the perfect job position

How do I explain the gap on my resume?

You want to create a new position, and you always want to fill in the job title as the job position you are currently seeking. Yup, you read that correctly. Even if you are using a volunteer experience that had absolutely nothing to do with the job position you are seeking, the answer is still yes.

Let’s take a look at a few examples and this should become clear. For this example, we will use a fictional person, James, who is looking for a current position as an IT project manager.

Here is an example where James did volunteer work while he was unemployed:

IT Project Manager — Dec 2017-Present

"Senior information technology professional currently looking to return to the full-time workforce in an IT project manager role. While searching for an opportunity that is a good fit for both me and a potential employer, I also volunteer for the United Way in a financial capacity to keep my data analytics and communication skills sharp."

Here is an example where James was off work taking care of an elderly parent:

IT Project Manager — Dec 2017-Present

"Senior information technology professional currently looking to return to the full-time workforce in an IT project manager role. I left my last position to take care of my elderly father who needed in-home care. During this time, I also took three courses, Agile Methodology, Lean Techniques and Program Management. I am also completing my certification in PMP to further my career in IT project management."

Get the idea? There are three things to remember after you add this bridge position to cover your employment gap to your resume.

1. The ATS will scan your resume looking for your past job titles. You want to make sure this newly created position has the right keywords for you to score well with the ATS.

2. The ATS will scan your resume looking for your last employment dates. By having this position added, it will ensure you score high there.

3. When a hiring manager looks at a resume, they will scan it, and you will have the job title of the position you are looking for in your most current job position, which is important.

It is very common for interviewers to ask what you have been doing since your last job position. You should practice what you have stated in this newly created position and be able to deliver your answer easily and comfortably. Quickly get the interviewer to move on from the past and into hiring you for the future.

Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?