How to Explain Gaps in Work Experience on Your Resume
Transform your resume gaps into career wins.
Ah, the dreaded 'gap' in your resume—the space where time passed, but no job titles are listed. Take a deep breath! Knowing how to explain work experience gaps on your resume is not as difficult as you think. It's actually a skill that can set you apart from other candidates.
Whether you decided to travel, became a full-time caregiver for a loved one, took a personal sabbatical, or found yourself job searching a little longer than expected, these gaps don't have to hold you back. In fact, with the right approach, you can show employers how those gaps made you more resourceful, adaptable, and ready to hit the ground running.
Read on to find out how to explain work experience gaps on your resume in a way that demonstrates what an excellent candidate you are. We also show you how to mention an employment gap in your cover letter and job interview to help you tell the best possible story.
What Is an Employment Gap?
An employment gap is a period of time when you didn’t work, whether due to personal reasons, career changes, or circumstances beyond your control. It could range from a few months to several years, and while it might raise questions from employers, it’s a common part of many people’s career paths.
Is a Gap in Your Resume Bad?
An employment gap on your resume isn't necessarily a bad thing and is only as significant as you allow it to be. Life doesn't always follow a perfect timeline, and your career won't either.
While a resume gap might stand out on the surface, it doesn't have to define your professional journey. By learning how to explain a work experience gap in your resume with honesty, confidence, and clarity, you can seamlessly weave it into your career story, showing that it's just one chapter in a larger, dynamic narrative.
Do Employers Care About Resume Gaps?
Employers will notice gaps in your resume but not necessarily see them as deal-breakers. What's important to them is understanding why there was a gap and whether it affects your ability to do the job.
Most employers will be open-minded if you know how to explain work experience gaps on your resume clearly and show how you've stayed engaged, learned new skills, or grown during that time.
Common Reasons for a Resume Gap
Let’s be honest—life doesn’t always go according to plan, and sometimes that means taking a break from work. So, before we show you how to explain gaps in work experience on your resume, it’s crucial to understand why these gaps happen. Here are some of the most common reasons for work experience gaps:
- Health issues. Sometimes, life throws curveballs, and taking time off for health reasons is completely understandable.
- Caring for loved ones. Whether it’s your children, an aging parent, a partner, or another family member, taking time to care for a loved one is a valid and compassionate reason for a gap.
- Career change. Transitioning into a new industry often requires some time off to regroup and refocus.
- Travel or sabbatical. Sometimes, you just need to hit the reset button, take a career break and explore the world—or even just take a breather.
- Job searching. Let’s face it: Job searching can take longer than expected, but that’s okay.
- Personal projects. Maybe you started a side hustle, wrote a book, or did some volunteer work—those are all valid reasons for a gap.
7 Tips on How to Explain a Gap in Work Experience on Your Resume
So, how do you explain a gap in employment? Use the following tips to help you present a resume gap in a way that strengthens your candidacy instead of detracting from it:
- Include a brief explanation. Directly in your resume, add a one-liner to explain the gap. For example, you can write “Career Break for Family Care” or “Sabbatical for Professional Development” in the timeline to provide quick context.
- Highlight relevant activities. If you worked on freelance projects, volunteered, or took professional courses during the gap, include these activities in your professional experience. It shows you were actively improving your skills, even during time away from a full-time job.
- Focus on skills gained. Even if you weren’t working a formal job, you may have gained transferable skills during your gap, such as time management, communication, or problem-solving, which are valuable to potential employers.
- Show consistency. If you were involved in activities like volunteering, consulting, or ongoing education during your time off, list them on your resume to show that you stayed active and engaged even while you weren’t formally employed.
- Label it positively. Words matter! Instead of using negative or neutral terms like “gap” or “break,” choose more proactive descriptions like “Career Sabbatical,” “Professional Development Period,” or “Personal Growth Phase” to cast the time in a more favorable light.
- Be honest. If you’re unsure how to explain gaps in work experience on your resume, honesty is always the best policy! Don’t try to cover up an employment gap by extending job dates or leaving it unaddressed. Hiring managers appreciate transparency, and it’s better to be upfront about the gap than risk seeming deceptive.
- Tailor your resume for each job. Customize your resume for each position, highlighting your most relevant experience and skills. When doing this, adjust how you mention your employment gap based on the job requirements, keeping the focus on how your experience fits the role.
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3 Examples of How to Mention a Gap in Your Resume
Knowing how to explain gaps in work experience on your resume is key. Make it brief and keep the focus on what you learned during this gap. Use the following resume examples of employment gaps to help you format your own:
Example 1: Software Developer Resume
Career Sabbatical (Pursuing Advanced Studies)
Jan 20XX – Dec 20XX
- Completed advanced courses in cloud computing and cybersecurity.
- Developed personal projects to sharpen Python and AWS skills.
- Attended tech conferences and meetups to stay current with industry trends.
Example 2: Registered Nurse Resume
Family Caregiver (Full-time)
Feb 20XX – Jan 20XX
- Took time off to provide long-term care for a family member facing serious health issues.
- Maintained clinical knowledge through continued education and certifications during this period.
Example 3: Marketing Manager Resume
Health Recovery Period
Jan 20XX – Feb 20XX
- Took time off to recover from a major health issue.
- During this time, stayed engaged with industry developments through marketing webinars and online courses.
3 Examples of What Not to Write in Your Resume
The secret to understanding how to explain work experience gaps on your resume lies in the details. Adding too many specifics or being too vague can raise a red flag for employers. If your resume includes gaps, check out these examples of what not to write:
Example 1: Providing Too Much Personal Detail
Personal Health Leave
Jan 20XX – Dec 20XX
- Took a year off for surgery and a long recovery process due to a serious illness. Faced multiple complications that required extended hospitalization and rehabilitation.
This is too much detail for a resume. Keep personal health matters brief and professional. Explaining it this way can make you seem unfit for work, even if you're fully recovered.
Example 2: Being Apologetic
Employment Gap
20XX – 20XX
- Unfortunately, due to personal setbacks, I could not secure a job for two years. I regret the long gap but am ready to return to work now.
If you want to know how to explain work experience gaps on your resume, avoid sounding apologetic or defensive. Instead, frame the gap as a productive or necessary period in your life. Confidence is critical when addressing gaps.
Example 3: Using Vague or Unhelpful Descriptions
Career Break
20XX – 20XX
- Took time off for personal reasons.
The key to knowing how to explain work experience gaps in your resume is transparency. "Personal reasons" is too vague and may raise red flags. It leaves the hiring manager guessing about the nature of the break.
5 Tips on How to Explain Employment Gaps in Your Cover Letter
Now you know how to explain gaps in work experience on your resume, your cover letter is where you can really shine. This is an opportunity to tie all the details together. The most important thing when learning how to format resume gaps in your cover letter is the way in which you tell your story.
Here are five tips to help you create an impressive letter:
- Acknowledge the gap briefly and clearly. In a cover letter, it’s all about getting to the point. Address the gap with a quick mention, then move on to the good stuff—like why you’re perfect for the job. Just make sure you add in a bit more detail than in your resume.
- Emphasize your recent skills or growth. If you used your time off to gain new skills and certifications or even just reflect on your career direction, talk about it! A cover letter lets you explain how that gap helped you become an even stronger candidate for the role.
- Pivot the focus to your strengths. Once you’ve mentioned the gap, shift the focus to your qualifications and skills. Highlight what you bring to the table and why you’re the best candidate for the role. Your cover letter should show why the employer needs you on their team!
- Reassure your commitment. Employers want to know you’re ready to commit. Use your cover letter to clarify that the gap is behind you and that you’re 100% focused on getting back into the workforce.
- Focus on your readiness to return to work. Your cover letter is perfect for showing how excited you are to dive back into the workforce. Use this space to explain how you’re ready to hit the ground running and why this role is precisely what you’ve been looking for.
3 Examples of How to Explain an Employment Gap in Your Cover Letter
These examples clearly address the employment gap, emphasize staying engaged or gaining new skills, and focus on enthusiasm for returning to work. You can tweak them to fit your unique situation.
Example 1: Accountant Cover Letter
- "Following a six-month break to relocate and settle my family into a new city, I'm ready to rejoin the workforce. During my time off, I maintained my CPA license and stayed updated on changes in tax regulations, ensuring I'm fully prepared for this role."
Example 2: Teacher Cover Letter
- "After a year-long sabbatical to pursue further education, I'm excited to return to the classroom. My recent coursework in educational technology has given me new tools to engage students, and I'm looking forward to applying this knowledge in your school."
Example 3: Sales Manager Cover Letter
- "I took a short break to focus on personal development and recharge, during which I completed several sales leadership courses. I'm excited to bring my renewed energy and the fresh strategies I've learned to drive growth for your team."
3 Examples of What Not to Write in Your Cover Letter
These examples highlight what to avoid in your cover letter. Stay away from negativity and insecurity, and never play the blame game. A hiring manager will see this from a mile away.
Example 1: Blaming Others or Circumstances
- "I was laid off because my boss was terrible, and after that, I couldn't find a job for several months due to the tough job market. It was really frustrating, and I felt like I was being treated unfairly, which is why there's such a long gap in my employment."
Example 2: Being Defensive
- "I know this gap looks bad, but I had no control over the situation. I did everything possible to find work, but nothing seemed to go my way. I don't think the gap should reflect poorly on me, and I hope you'll understand the circumstances."
Example 3: Sounding Unsure or Uncommitted
- "I had some time away from work, and I'm hoping I'll be ready to jump back in if things go well with this opportunity. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe I can get back into the swing of things if given the chance."
5 Tips on How to Explain Employment Gaps in a Job Interview
Knowing how to explain work experience gaps in your resume and cover letter is one thing, but what about the big interview? This is where it all comes together. Follow our five tips below to help you explain your employment gap confidently:
- Practice your explanation. Before the interview, prepare a concise explanation of your employment gap and practice delivering it confidently. Being prepared will help you avoid stumbling over your words when answering questions and ensure you come across composed and professional.
- Be honest and direct. When asked about your employment gap, provide a straightforward, honest explanation. Avoid over-explaining or trying to hide the gap. Employers appreciate transparency, so stick to the facts and don’t dwell on unnecessary details.
- Highlight what you learned. If you stayed productive during your gap—by volunteering, freelancing, taking courses, or pursuing certifications—mention those activities. This shows that you remained active and continued building skills, even while not working full-time.
- Focus on skills gained. Even if your gap didn’t involve formal work, you likely gained soft skills like problem-solving, time management, or adaptability. Highlight those skills and explain how they make you a stronger candidate.
- Pivot back to the future. After addressing the gap, quickly shift the focus back to why you’re excited about the opportunity and how you’re ready to contribute to the company. Reassure the interviewer that you’re fully committed and prepared for this role.
3 Examples of How to Answer Questions About Your Employment Gap
Feeling nervous about how to explain work experience gaps on your resume to a hiring manager? Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think. Check out these three examples of how to answer potential questions to help you prepare your own responses:
Example 1: Career Transition
Question: Why is there a gap in your work history, and what were you focused on during that time?
Sample Answer: “I took a step back to reassess my career goals and pursue a transition into project management. To prepare for this change, I completed several courses in Agile, Scrum, and project planning. I'm eager to apply my newly gained expertise in managing projects and teams to help your company achieve its goals."
Example 2: Travel and Personal Growth
Question: What led to the gap on your resume, and how did you use that time?
Sample Answer: “I took time off to travel and immerse myself in different cultures, which expanded my creative perspective. I kept up with industry trends by following design blogs and participating in online communities. This experience helped me develop valuable soft skills like adaptability and cross-cultural communication.”
Example 3: Caring for a Family Member
Question: I see a gap in your employment history—could you tell me about it?
Sample Answer: “I took a break from my career to care for a family member who needed full-time support. During that time, I remained connected to the HR field by attending online seminars on employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and regulatory updates. I'm eager to return to HR, bringing a renewed focus on employee well-being.”
3 Examples of What Not to Say in a Job Interview
Understanding how to explain work experience gaps on your resume to a hiring manager means knowing what to avoid. Here are three examples of what not to do:
Example 1: Ramble or Over-explain
- "Well, first, I took time off because I wasn't happy with my last job, and then I traveled for a bit, but after that, I came back and decided to take a few courses, though I didn't finish all of them. Then some personal things came up, which delayed my job search even more."
Example 2: Show Indifference
- "I didn't really do much during the gap; I just needed a break. It was nice to relax, but I didn't spend too much time thinking about my career."
Example 3: Not Acknowledge the Gap at All
- "There's nothing to explain about that time—I'd rather talk about the job now. The gap isn't important, and I don't think it needs to be addressed."
Sample Resume Explaining an Employment Gap
We’ve covered how to explain work experience gaps in your resume, but what if you’re not sure how to bring it all together? Don’t worry!
This sample resume with gaps in employment clarifies the gap directly under the job history and highlights how the time off was used productively through professional development. It also emphasizes readiness to return to the workforce with up-to-date skills and experience.
Lydia Olsen, LMFT
City, State, Zip | (555) 555-5555 | lydia@email.com
Summary: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 7+ years of experience in individual and group therapy. Took time off to care for a family member while continuing to develop professionally. Ready to return to practice with enhanced skills and a renewed focus.
Skills:
- Individual and Group Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Anxiety and Stress Management
Professional Experience:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Healthcare Facility Name | City, State
May 20XX – December 20XX
- Provided therapy to individuals, couples, and families specializing in anxiety and trauma.
- Developed treatment plans that improved client outcomes by 30%.
- Led group therapy sessions and workshops on mindfulness and stress management.
Sabbatical – Family Care & Professional Development
January 20XX – June 20XX
- Took time off to care for an elderly family member.
- Completed continuing education in trauma-informed care and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Attended virtual mental health conferences to stay updated on the latest therapy practices.
Therapist Intern
Facility Name | City, State
June 20XX – April 20XX
- Conducted assessments and provided therapy under supervision, focusing on anxiety and depression.
- Assisted in case management and created individualized treatment plans.
Education:
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
University Name | City, State | 20XX
Licensure & Certifications:
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Certified in Trauma-Informed Care
- CBT Continuing Education Certificate
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