Career gaps have long been normalized, particularly since the pandemic made us reassess our work-life balance and values. It's now perfectly OK to follow a non-linear career path. In fact, having a gap in your employment history can help your skills and professional convictions stand out.
Whether due to caregiving responsibilities, a layoff, health and well-being, traveling, or education, quitting paid work means redefining your priorities and owning your career decisions.
But how do employment gaps look on a resume? Not as scary as you think.
In this article, we'll offer expert advice on how to transform a career break into a compelling part of your resume narrative. We will also cover:
- The best ways to present a work hiatus.
- When and why to include a career break in your resume.
- Which resume format to use if you’re re-entering the workforce after a break.
- Sample resumes tailored to various scenarios for work returners.
Why should you address career breaks in your resume?
No one takes time off to do nothing. Perhaps you were a stay-at-home parent, on a sabbatical, navigating through a tough burnout, or simply working on a personal project while traveling. Whatever the case, you prioritized yourself and your needs.
Recruiters need to understand how you used this break from work to explore new opportunities and expand your skill set. If you can frame your career break as a journey of self-discovery or dedication, you’re likely to stand out as an ideal candidate when you return to the workforce.
Remember, hiring managers are human too. They understand that career breaks are normal, so there's no need to hide them on your resume—they’ll find out eventually. Instead, be transparent about it and clearly explain what you did during your time away from the workforce and how it’s shaped your career plans and goals.
So, here are 4 reasons why you should include your career break in your resume:
- Take control of your resume narrative.
- Explain your time off as a positive and intentional experience.
- Let recruiters get to know you beyond the traditional resume information.
- Show your commitment to self-development and lifelong learning.
See? Nothing can stop you from transforming your career break into a valuable time away from work. Below, we explore how to write your resume depending on your current circumstances.
How do you explain a career break in your resume?
There's no need to mention career breaks that occurred over 5 years ago on your resume. These details are often irrelevant and could unnecessarily clutter your resume. Instead, focus on providing explanations for any recent breaks, as recruiters are more likely to be interested in your activities during these periods.
Explaining your career break on a resume boils down to a simple formula:
- Be honest.
- Be specific.
- Focus on transferable skills.
- Put your time away from the workforce in the experience section.
Before we explore 10 case-specific scenarios, let's look at a bad example of a work experience section where a career gap sticks out like a missing tooth.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Career Break for Childcare
01/2022 - 12/2024
Took a dedicated period for family care, during which I also engaged in continuous learning and volunteer work involving technology training for local communities.
- Enhanced leadership and time management skills by balancing family care responsibilities with community engagement.
- Kept technical skills sharp by completing online courses in new programming languages and software development methodologies.
- Volunteered to teach basic computer skills to underprivileged children, enriching their educational opportunities and my communication skills.
This version works way better. Instead of leaving a blank spot, it highlights valuable skills like leadership, time management, and continued learning. This approach maintains the resume's flow and presents the candidate as proactive and resourceful, making a strong case for their readiness to re-enter the workforce.
Handling a career break for bereavement on a resume can be approached with sensitivity and professionalism. It's important to communicate honestly while maintaining privacy and focusing on your readiness to return to work. Here’s how you could structure such a break:
EXPERIENCE
Personal Leave
06/2024 - 12/2024
Took a six-month leave to handle personal family matters.
- Participated in webinars, ensuring up-to-date industry knowledge.
- Developed soft skills such as resilience and time management, applicable in all professional settings.
- Prepared to re-enter the workforce with renewed focus and updated skills.
Next, let’s have a look at another common reason for a career break — layoffs. Sometimes, a layoff can be a very productive period where you can pursue your passions or simply rest and explore new paths. Here’s how you can put a layoff on your resume and frame it as something positive.
EXPERIENCE
Career Break
02/2024 - 11/2024
Used this period following a layoff to focus on my passions and explore new career paths.
- •Devoted extensive periods to studying the fundamentals of graphic design, exploring both its artistic and technical aspects.
- •Participated in various professional workshops and seminars to enhance my creative capabilities.
- •Established a network with seasoned designers, gaining invaluable insights and guidance.
Moving on, let’s explain a career break due to an illness or a serious injury that left you unable to work. It's important to emphasize that you have fully recovered and are ready to rejoin the workforce.
EXPERIENCE
Medical Leave
02/2024 - 06/2024
Took a necessary medical leave for brain surgery, focusing on recovery and rehabilitation. I have fully recovered and received medical clearance to resume professional responsibilities.
- •Developed enhanced problem-solving and crisis management skills through navigating recovery challenges.
- •Strengthened emotional resilience and adaptability, vital for high-pressure environments.
- •Focused on mental fitness and cognitive exercises to expedite recovery and enhance mental acuity.
Where to put an employment gap in your resume?
The best place to put your career break is in the experience section of your resume to make it an integral part of your professional progression. List it like a normal work experience entry, using reverse-chronological order to arrange the separate elements.
Here’s how you should build it:
- Write the type of career gap in the place you’d use for the job title.
- State the location.
- Add career break duration dates.
- Put a one-sentence description of what you did during your time off.
- List the skills you acquired or the activities you were involved in, using bullet points.
Some say that you can mention your career break in your personal statement at the top of your resume, but we advise against that. Here’s why:
- The resume summary is reserved for highlighting your expertise, top skills, and certifications. A career break doesn’t belong there as it might cause bias among recruiters. On the contrary, if it’s placed in the experience section, it’s more likely to be perceived as a natural career step.
- Similarly, the resume objective is focused on the candidate’s motivation and work goals. You have no more than three short sentences to express your willingness to contribute to a particular company. Why waste this precious space on your time off (which implies you de-prioritized work for a while)?
The best resume format for back-to-workers
Choosing the best resume format after a career break often depends on the specifics of your work history and the type of role you’re seeking. However, a couple of formats generally stand out as particularly effective for emphasizing the strengths you’re bringing to potential employers:
- Combination (hybrid) resume: This format is especially useful for career returners because it allows you to showcase relevant skills and qualifications at the top of your resume, followed by a reverse-chronological work history. This structure helps to highlight your capabilities and accomplishments up front, while also providing the timeline of their professional experiences, including any gaps.
- Functional resume: This format focuses primarily on skills and experiences rather than chronological work history. It’s particularly beneficial for those who have significant gaps in their employment or have frequently changed jobs. A functional resume helps to draw attention away from the gaps in employment and instead emphasizes relevant skills and achievements that align with the job they are applying for.
Refrain from using a reverse-chronological resume as it works best for those with a steady work history and few or no gaps in their employment.
This format emphasizes the timeline of employment, placing a spotlight on gaps in work history, which might lead recruiters to focus more on the time spent out of work rather than the skills and experiences gained during or between employment.
To sum up, choose a resume format that highlights the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. This should be enough to frame employment gaps positively.
Taking a career break for childcare, as many parents do, is a common and respected decision. Incorporating this into a resume, as this candidate has done by listing "Stay-at-Home Mom" alongside her professional role, reflects confidence and reliability. This approach highlights her ability to balance personal responsibilities with professional development, showcasing a well-rounded and committed professional.
Key takeaways
Navigating the return to work after a career break can be tricky, but with the right approach, your resume can make a strong impact. Here are a few strategic tips to help you effectively present your career gap:
- If you took a career break in the last 5 years, it's important to address it directly on your resume.
- Include the employment gap in the experience section, briefly explaining how you spent your time and any new skills you acquired.
- Present the career break positively, emphasizing the beneficial outcomes of your decision. This is an opportunity to control the resume narrative and shift focus away from the gap.
- Consider using a hybrid or functional resume format, which prioritize skills over chronological work history.
- Be prepared to discuss details of your career hiatus in your cover letter or during job interviews. Aim for a balance between privacy and transparency.
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