cover letter gap years

An Example Cover Letter Explaining a Gap in Employment

When you are applying for jobs, hiring managers will always notice gaps in employment. They’ll understandably wonder what happened. Are you at high risk of quitting? Have you experienced performance issues or exhibited irresponsible behavior in the past? 

It’s very important that you don’t ignore or gloss over an employment gap. The best way is to deal with it is honesty. And the best place to do this is in your cover letter. The tips below will explain how to address common scenarios where you may have a gap in your employment, both good and bad. Keep reading, there’s also a sample cover letter explaining a gap in employment.

How Long is Too Long of an Employment Gap?

There’s no “unacceptable” length for an employment gap per se as there are many valid reasons why you have been out of the workforce for a year — continuing education, raising a family, or dealing with an illness. Most HRs will view a 1-5 year gap in employment as a reasonable break. But longer gaps, think 5+ years, will likely warrant a more detailed explanation in your cover letter. 

How Do You Explain a Gap in Employment in a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is meant to complement your resume — highlight your strengths, showcase your motivation, and address some of the shortcomings such as an employment gap. The best place to clarify the gap in employment is the body of your cover letter. Think second or third paragraph. 

Here’s a sample cover letter structure you may want to go for:

• Introduction: Hook the reader with your motivation and key qualifications.  
• Second paragraph: Reiterate the main skill or experience you are bringing to the table.
• Third: Briefly address your employment gap and state why you are eager to get back on track. 
• Conclusion. End on a high note. Mention the value you can bring to the company or speak about your passion for the job at hand. 

Now let’s look at greater depth on how you can turn the above outline into a persuasive cover letter explaining the gaps in employment!

Be Direct When a Gap in Employment is Objectively Positive

Some gaps in employment are positive things. Even so, you still need to address them. Otherwise, a potential employer might make assumptions. Instead, take advantage of the opportunity to share something positive. Address your gap directly if you are a homemaker returning to work , received a fellowship to pursue an academic interest, taken a hiatus to do volunteer work, or worked on an independent project. Not only will this clear up any misunderstandings, but it could also be a positive addition to your application packet.

Some Gaps Can Be Ignored

Before you spend time worrying about an employment gap, ask yourself if you need to address the issue at all. For example, if you have five or more years of steady employment history, there’s no need to bring up a gap in employment before that. Likewise, you don’t need to mention gaps in employment that occurred while you were a college student. You can also ignore any gap that is less than six months. 

Finally, job hopping can be a problem, but it is not the same as having an employment gap. How you handle job-hopping really depends on the industry, and what you were doing at the time. For example, some fields like retail , hospitality, customer service , etc, tend to have a quick turnover, and employment periods tend to be shorter.

Add The Gap in The Closing Paragraph as a Power Move

If you can put a positive spin on a gap in employment, especially a recent one, add it to your closing paragraph. You can use the gap to tell prospective employers that you are now ready to move forward and do great things in your career.

For example, imagine that you are returning to work after studying for a year. You could close your cover letter by writing:

‘I was fortunate enough to spend the past year studying Organizational Psychology at Boston University. I am now ready to take the skills I have acquired and apply them as your new manager of human resources. I would love to meet with you to discuss your needs.’

Never Give Too Much Information

Remember that you are not obligated to share all of the details about a negative gap in employment. Keep in mind that a previous employer is likely to be pretty tight-lipped about a negative relationship with you unless it is something they are legally obligated to disclose. While you shouldn’t lie, you don’t have to go into great detail. 

For example, don’t go into detail about an ongoing personality conflict with a previous employer that culminated in a heated argument, and resulted in damaging your reputation on the local business scene. Instead, simply mention a difference in opinion or conflicting working styles that led to your decision to rethink your career options.

Employment Gap Cover Letter Sample in .docx Format

Download example (Word version)

Example Cover Letter Explaining a Gap in Employment – Text Format

Dear Ms. Wilkerson, 

I am writing this letter to apply for the position of General Manager of your San Diego restaurant division. I have ten years of restaurant management experience, before that, I worked in both fronts of the house and back of house positions in the fine-dining space on the west coast. I believe the experience I have closely mirrors what you need in a GM.

As someone who works in the food-service industry, I have a passion for catering people. That passion extends beyond providing delicious food to the customers who come into my venus. Because of this, I recently took a year-long hiatus to help create nutritional programs for schools in developing nations. In addition to being privileged to help others, I learned quite a bit about reducing food waste and working within a very stringent budget. I know that I can turn those skills into cost savings for any restaurant that I manage.

I am ready to jump back into the game and restart my career as a restaurant manager. I am confident that I am the perfect person to lead your restaurants in the San Diego area. Let’s meet to discuss this further!

Thanks for your time,

Jeffrey Ninja

How To Address a Gap in Employment? More Examples!

Still not sure how to compose the right narrative? Here are several quick snippets you can use in your cover letter:

Explaining a Gap in Employment Due to Family 

For the past three years, I’ve been serving as a Resident Home Educator, to my two kids, aged 6 and 9. While I’ve been out of my original career lane as a Communications Manager, I still practiced and developed my skills. Homeschooling my children have helped me improve my presentational skills and research skills. I’m now an expert in breaking down complex concepts into engaging short narratives and feel that this ability will help me find success in a new role as an Editorial Strategist with your firm. 

Explaining a Gap in Employment Due to Mental Illness

After successfully completing the $50 million M&A deal at my previous consulting firm, I decided to take a year off to restore my mental health. This time has also helped me reflect on my priorities and re-evaluate my career path, leading me to the idea of transitioning to a non-profit sector. I believe Charity Quest can greatly benefit from my past financial advisory experience to ensure better P&L management and cash flow. 

Explaining a Gap in Employment Due to Covid-19

I greatly enjoyed working at Nightime Lounge, where I served as a chief mixologist for the past 1.5 years and a half. The restaurant manager, James Welsh, can provide further reference on my performance. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, I was furloughed. However, I used my free time to create a YouTube channel and short cocktail mixology course with several signature recipes. You can review both on my website. 

How Do You Explain Gap Year in Cover Letter?

The easiest way to bring up your gap year is by briefly explaining what you did and what skills or experiences you’ve obtained along your journey. Don’t talk about the fun travel you did or lounge time you had. Instead, focus on the vocations, interests, and perhaps extra education that you’ve pursued along the way. 

Here’s a quick example of how to address a gap year in your cover letter:

“After completing my BS degree in Biology at Denver State University, I chose to take a gap year to reflect on my studies and determine which career path may work best for me. During that time, I volunteered with the West Coast Marine Savers and my experience lead me to discover my passion for water conservation. When I noticed an opening at your firm, I was excited to jump at the opportunity for applying.”

How to Explain Gaps in Employment Due to Disability?

Becoming temporary or permanently disabled can have a severe mental toll on you, which is understandable. But don’t let your doubts or negative emotions get into the way of your job search. Instead of treating (and thus speaking about) your disability as a weakness, merely acknowledge it as one of the facts. Then move on to highlighting some of your other strengths. 

Here’s a quick example of how you can address disability in your cover letter:

“ Two years ago, I got into a bad car accident and was left disabled for the following 1.5 months. Today, I have fully recovered mentally, yet still, have some difficulties walking. However, my condition in no way affects my ability to create user-friendly website designs and, specifically, material design applications.”

Final Tip: Keep it Brief, Yet Direct

Don’t make the mistake of drawing more attention to gaps in your employment than you need to. Your cover letter should focus on your skills, passions, and fit for the job. If you spend more than a couple of sentences over-explaining a gap in your work history, that’s going to be problematic. Be brief and matter of fact.

Other Cover Letter Samples

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A huge collection of cover letters created by a ninja team of writers and career advisors. Learn how to write, style and file cover letters that employers actually enjoy reading.

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Employment Gap on a Resume - 13 Simple Ways to Explain It

Employment gaps are not uncommon, yet they’re quite scary. Mainly, that’s because recruiters assume the worst when they see them on a resume. 

In most cases, however, employment gaps are nothing to be scared of. There can be many justifiable reasons why someone has an employment gap, from going back to school and deciding to travel to taking time and caring for their growing children. 

So what we’re getting to here is this: employment gaps are not a big deal, as long as you know how to explain them well on your resume

To learn how to explain an employment gap on a resume, we’ve put together this guide for you. Here’s what we’ll cover:

13 Best Ways to Explain Employment Gaps

• Good Reasons for an Employment Gap

Sample Resume with Employment Gap

And more! So let’s dive right in! 

During your job hunt , you’ll have three separate chances to explain an employment gap:

• On your resume
• On your cover letter
• During your interview

To best convey the employment gap (and reasons behind it), you’ll need to touch on it in all 3. So below, we’ll explain the best way to explain an employment gap on your resume, cover letter, and during an interview:

6 Ways to Explain an Employment Gap on Your Resume

#1. be honest .

Your resume is the first thing that recruiters check, so it’s crucial that you’re honest! 

After all, you don’t want to omit a two-year-long employment gap from your resume, for example, only to have it be revealed during your interview. 

As such, it’s super important that you’re honest about your employment history - or lack thereof - right there on your resume. 

What’s important here is to understand that potential employers will find out about your employment gap - especially if it was a lengthy or recent one. As such, trying to hide it will only damage your application and give recruiters even more reason to believe you have something to hide. 

And, if you’re feeling anxious about it, remember that recruiters are also humans and will probably be understanding if you are straightforward about your employment gap - and about what caused it! 

#2. Remove the Employment Gap (If It’s Outdated)

Here’s some good news: if your employment gap is old, you can safely omit it from your resume entirely.

Say, for example, your employment gap is from 10 years ago. Chances are - especially if you’re a seasoned professional - that you won’t even be including jobs from 10 years ago on your resume. After all, you want your resume to be as relevant as possible (and stay within the recommended 1-page resume length). 

As such, it’s totally OK to omit employment gaps that stretch long before your recent employment history (or that are quite short, like 6-month-old employment gaps while you were between jobs). 

#3. Explain the Gap

When it comes to resumes, simply writing down the dates of your employment gap won’t cut it - it would only leave things open to recruiters’ interpretation. 

Take the following example:

Work Experience

Digital Marketer  Airfield Baumax  02/2012 - 04/2015

Marketing Assistant  Walmart 05/2007 - 07/2009 

The only thing that this candidate makes clear to recruiters is that he was not working for a 3-year period. Apart from that, recruiters have no way of knowing whether the employment gap was due to a valid reason or because the candidate decided to be a couch potato for some years.

This is why it’s better to actually write out the exact reason for the employment gap in-between your work experience entries.

Here’s an example that does it right:

07/2009 - 01/2012

From September 2009 to January 2012, I backpacked through Europe and East Asia. This had long been a goal of mine to achieve before turning 30.

#4. Take Advantage of a Different Resume Layout

If your employment gap is longer than just a few short months, you could benefit from using a different resume layout altogether. 

For example, the functional resume format and the combination format put more emphasis on your skills and competencies rather than on your work experience, which is a great way to shift focus from your employment gap. 

That said, taking advantage of a different resume layout does not mean you should omit the employment gap from your resume altogether . Lying is never the right way to go here, and will always end badly for you (even if you manage to get the job).

#5. Use Your Time Away Effectively 

If you’re suddenly in between jobs and are worried about how this will reflect on your future job applications, get proactive! 

Instead of simply explaining your future employment gap as a “career break” or “job searching,” start a personal project and create something more valuable to put on your resume. 

For instance, you can join one or more online courses related to your profession while you’re on a break from work, or start that project you always wanted to work on but never had the chance to! 

That way, you’ll have much more to talk about than simply stating you were looking for jobs or taking a self-discovery break and you’ll be effectively showing recruiters that you’re constantly growing - even outside the office!

#6.  Show That You Never Stopped Learning 

Highlighting your skills and acquired knowledge is also a great way to cover past employment gaps. Sure, you might’ve not been working, but you could’ve still been working on developing yourself as a professional or individual.

You could, for example, mention something like this on your resume to address your employment gap:

06/2012 - 09/2013

Took a year off my career to focus on personal and professional development. Over the duration of the year, I managed to:

• Start my own marketing blog.
• Read 20+ books about digital marketing.
• Attended 5+ networking events.

3 Ways to Explain Employment Gaps in Cover Letters

Want to go more in-depth into your employment gap? Your cover letter is your chance to do so. 

Unlike your resume, which barely leaves you 2-3 sentences worth of space to explain yourself, you can be way more comprehensive in your cover letter . 

Specifically, you can use the body of your cover letter to give more details about your employment gap.

Here are the best ways to do it:

• Give a valid explanation. The whole point of mentioning your employment gap on your cover letter is to justify it the best way you can. For example, if you had an accident, writing “took 1 year off work because of injury” won’t be as convincing as writing “took 1 year off work after a car accident that required me to do intense physiotherapy sessions to fully recover.” 
• Highlight new skills . Additionally, it’s super important to highlight any new skills acquired during your time off. The good thing about the cover letter is that you have a better chance of explaining the skills and what motivated you to acquire them (e.g. “due to organizational changes, I was laid off from my previous job. However, I used the time it took me to find a new job to catch up on industry-related trends and readings, get online certifications, and network with professionals in the field.”) 
• Don’t overshare. Last but not least, it’s important to know that just because you have more space on your cover letter it doesn’t mean you should overshare the details of your employment gap. If, for instance, you took a one-year break to deal with burnout , you don’t have to give too many details about how that went. So, instead of writing, “took a year off to recuperate from burnout, during which time I consulted 3 different therapists and several support groups,” you can just write “took one year off work to deal with work-related burnout and re-asses my professional goals.” If you think it’s important to share more information, talk about how you grew professionally not about what you went through personally. 

4 Ways to Explain Employment Gaps in Interviews 

If your resume and cover letter make a good impression, chances are you’ll be called for an interview. And, even if you have already explained your employment gap, there’s nothing keeping recruiters from asking you again about it. 

Here’s what you can do to address an employment gap during your interview effectively:

• Rehearse in advance. Your best bet is assuming that you will be asked about your employment gap. That way, you can take the time to prep your answer in advance and won’t be taken back if recruiters actually ask the questions during the interview . 
• DON’T badmouth your former employer. If your employment gap is due to getting fired, bashing your former employer won’t help you get a new position - if anything, it might make you look immature. Instead, try to highlight all the steps you took to bounce back from getting fired and show recruiters why you’re the ideal candidate for this position.
• Focus on what you did right. Now, if you lost your job unjustly (or due to reasons outside of your control), the way to make a great impression is to focus on how you were a stellar employee before the employment gap! That way, you can shift recruiters’ attention to your strengths, instead of simply telling them you lost your job and there wasn’t much you could do about it.
• Be confident. Sometimes, how you say things is just as important as what you say. If recruiters ask that you elaborate on your employment gap and you suddenly get super nervous about it, you’ll probably raise some serious red flags. So, make sure to polish your communication skills in advance and start your interview with a show of confidence. 

Here is an example of how you can address your employment gap during an interview:

Unfortunately, I lost my job due to cuts within the company. During the time I was looking for jobs, I took online courses to hone my skills, stayed updated with all industry trends and developments, and focused on my mental wellbeing. I am now in perfect shape to put all I learned into practice throughout my new endeavors. 

7 Good Reasons For an Employment Gap

There can be countless reasons behind an employment gap and, as long as it’s not related to something like, say, jail time, it shouldn’t hinder your chances of getting employed.

That said, here are some great examples of good reasons for an employment gap:

• Family reasons. Family is super important and most recruiters are guaranteed to be understanding if your employment gap is due to family-related issues. What’s important here is to show that whatever family reason you had for taking time off work, it’s over now (e.g. if you took time off to raise your kids, make a point explaining they’re all grown up and off to school now).
• Self-discovery. Did you take some time off work to redefine your life path and career choices? That’s totally OK - as long as you can convince recruiters that you now have your answers and won’t be leaving this job again after a year or two.
• Illness. Any illness you may have suffered that’s hindered you from working is a totally legitimate reason to explain your employment gap. Just make sure to mention you’re recovered and fully able to work.
• Injury. Just like with illnesses, injuries that render you incapable of work are perfectly fine reasons to explain an employment gap, so mention them without hesitation.
• Failed business or initiative. You may be hesitant to mention a failed startup or business initiative as the reason behind your employment gap, but there’s no reason to! If anything, it shows you have initiative and aren’t scared to act on it. So, as long as you show recruiters how you bounced back, you shouldn’t hide this valid reason.
• Burnout. The World Health Organization defines burnout as an occupational phenomenon that can take a serious toll on someone’s physical and mental health. As such, don’t hesitate to tell recruiters that you took some time off to improve your well-being after experiencing burnout in the workplace .
• Education. No one minds an employee who’s always looking to expand their knowledge, so if you took a break from work to get another degree, go ahead and mention that on your resume.

7 Other Resume Resources

Building a strong resume is hard enough without having to explain an employment gap. Struggling with other aspects of building a resume? Check out some of our top resources: 

• How to Write a Resume . The ULTIMATE beginner’s guide on how to make a resume in 2024. Includes tops of tips, resume examples, and more.
• Free Resume Templates . Want to avoid the hassle of formatting your resume from scratch? Just pick one of our 8 free resume templates and get started with your resume within minutes.
• Career Change Resume . Is your employment gap due to a career change? Learn how to write an awesome career change resume with these 9+ examples.
• What to Put on a Resume . Here are the most important sections to put on your resume and win the job.
• Resume Tips and Tricks . This article covers every single practical resume tip you’ll ever need to create a compelling CV.
• Essential Resume Skills . Want to stand out from other applicants? You’ll need to include the right skills on your resume. This article covers the most in-demand skills in 2024.
• Resume Examples . Struggling to write a resume for your field? This article covers resume examples for almost all popular roles in 2024, including jobs in IT, marketing, healthcare, and more.

FAQ on Employment Gaps 

Do you still have some questions on everything employment gap-related? Find your answers below!

#1. How long is too long of an employment gap?

Any employment gap on your resume that you can’t explain to recruiters can cast a shadow on your job application. 

That said, shorter periods of employment gaps (e.g. time between jobs, illness or injury recovery, etc.) are much more acceptable than, say, 3-year-long gaps in your recent work history. 

So, while there is no specific time limit for a super long employment gap, the longer it is, the harder it will be for recruiters to ignore it.

#2. Is an employment gap bad?

That entirely depends on the reason behind your employment gap. 

If your employment gap is due to illness, failed business, family emergency, and the like, then an employment gap is definitely not bad! All you need to do is be honest with the recruiters and prove that you’re a trustworthy employee. 

That said if your employment gap comes from less socially acceptable reasons, like serving time for a crime or being away in rehab, your employment gap will be more difficult to explain - and, in turn, can be more harmful to your job application.

#3. How do you explain a gap in employment due to being a stay-at-home parent?

Taking time off work to be a stay-at-home parent falls under family-related reasons for an employment gap. 

The best way to explain such an employment gap is to write down the exact period you were off, titling it as a “planned career break.” Underneath, you can include one or two sentences on why you took it (e.g. took three years off work to care for my growing children, who are now in elementary school). 

On top of that, you can also mention any personal projects or other work-related experiences you had over that period. For example, if you took some online classes or started a personal project, that’s a great way to inform recruiters that you weren’t completely idle during your employment gap.

#4. How do you explain a gap in employment due to COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic cost 114 million people to lose their jobs over 2020. So, if you were infected and quarantined due to COVID-19 (or if you were unlucky and had more severe health issues due to the virus), then note that on your resume as an “illness-related employment gap” or simply due to COVID-19.  

In one or two sentences, you can explain you had to take a break from work due to COVID-19 and that you’re now fully recovered and ready to work again.

Similarly, if you were working for a business that got impacted due to COVID-19 (such as an airline company) you can, in one sentence, mention you were laid off due to the impact of the pandemic and mention what you did in the meanwhile to find a job or hone your skills. 

#5. Why do employers not like gaps in employment?

Employers don’t like gaps in employment when said gaps are due to criminality, abuse or addiction, or simple laziness. In such a case, employers assume you’re not a reliable employee and that you may demonstrate the same patterns of behavior while working for them.

On the other hand, if there is a reasonable explanation for your employment gap, employers won’t think twice about hiring you, as long as you’re a good fit for the job.

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! By now, you should know everything about employment gaps and how to tackle them so they don’t hurt your job application.

Before you go, here are the main points covered in this article:

• There are three places where you can explain an employment gap: on your resume, cover letter, and during your job interview. 
• To explain an employment gap on a resume, be honest, elaborate on the gap, show that you never stop learning, or use a different resume layout to remove the gap altogether. 
• Explain an employment gap on your cover letter by highlighting new skills and offering a valid explanation as to why you took it. 
• If you have to explain your employment gap during your interview, rehearse in advance, show confidence, and don’t badmouth your former employer. 
• Some valid reasons for an employment gap are family reasons, illnesses, and injuries, taking time to discover yourself or pursue your education, and even a failed business.

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How to Address Employment Gaps in Your Cover Letter

By: Sean Fitzpatrick

Use your cover letter to explain the employment gaps in your work history and allay any concerns your potential employers may have about your readiness for the job.

If you’ve been in the workforce for a while, chances are you’ve probably experienced at least one employment gap in your work history. Legitimate events may have kept you out of the workforce for some time. You may have been laid off, experienced an illness, taken care of a family member, traveled, or changed careers.

If you have gaps in your employment history, your potential employers might have some questions about these gaps. Their skepticism is reasonable. Most employers would rather avoid candidates who seem to be “job hoppers” or who have a history of job loss due to poor performance. If you’ve spent some time on the sidelines, they’ll want to know why.

Use your cover letter to address the employment gaps that may show up in your resume. Here’s how.

Express your employment dates in years.

In your “work experience” section of your resume, list the start and end years only, not the months or days. This will spark fewer concerns that you’ll need to explain away.

Mention non-family-related gaps directly.

In your cover letter, directly address that gaps that you’re comfortable discussing. For example, if you left your job to start a business, but it never got off the ground, share this proudly. A bold move like this showcases your willingness to take risks and try new things. The same applies to overseas volunteering, artistic endeavors, and other career side-trips that might showcase your strengths as an employee.

Keep family-related gaps to yourself.

While you may openly address your professional gaps in employment, it’s best to keep your personal gaps to yourself. For example, if you left the workforce to raise your children, you don’t have to share this with anyone. In fact, the law protects you from employers who ask during an interview. In cases such as these, keep the conversation focused on your qualifications and skill sets.

Highlight your mid-life career shifts.

If your employment gaps took place when you decided to switch career paths, build your cover letter around this narrative. Explain the reasons behind your decision. Outline the details of your journey from one field to the next. If your new career involved any kind of study or training that took the place of full-time work, state this clearly. Again, be proud of the risks you’ve taken and the accomplishments you achieved by leaving the workplace for a while.

If you really were fired, be careful.

If you did leave the workforce for a while due to performance or unreliability, tread carefully. In this case, it’s best to refrain from mentioning your employment gap in your letter (and in your interview) until you’re directly asked about it. When that happens, be ready to shed a positive, diplomatic light on the incident and explain what you learned during the process.

For more on how to explain your work history to potential employers, rely on the tools and guidelines from LiveCareer .

By Randall S. Hansen

We embrace technology, think beyond the norm, fearlessly try new things, and live and breathe to make a difference in others’ lives.

Fortune favors the BOLD.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“great opportunity for go-getter”, “great place to work”, “i love working at bold”, let’s get social.

How to Fill in Employment Gaps on Resume & Cover Letter

A flawless resume is every professional’s dream. A fulfilling and laurel-filled stint at a reputed company followed by a meteoric rise at another organization… who doesn’t want their resume to include such glories to make them the most eligible candidate for that next job opening? However, it is equally true that most of us, at some point in our careers, end up taking a break… a gap in employment if you will. The reason could be anything: need for some personal time, caring for a sick family member, having and raising children, or simply wanting to travel the world. The question is, how does one explain gaps in employment or periods of unemployment on a resume?

Explaining Gaps in Employment

When you are applying for a new job, you are bound to mention past work experience in your resume and cover letter. While you are at it these gaps in employment will be hard to gloss over. And gloss over you mustn’t. The best approach to explaining gaps in employment in a resume is by being honest about it.

• For starters, you could gear up by providing some well-structured explanations for that employment gap. Briefly explain why you were unemployed during that period of time and emphasize how this time off work helped you grow as an individual and what skills you got to hone apart from some practical experience you might have garnered.
• Don’t shy away from revealing the real reason why you’d taken that break. Most recruiters appreciate honesty; especially given the number of candidates who try to beat around the bush and glorify their time off work. If you took a couple of years off to raise your kids or look after an ailing parent let it be known. If you were traveling, gaining valuable life experiences, more power to you. If you were freelancing or trying your hand at something new, let your recruiting manager know; it is a sign of your proactive nature. If you were studying or adding certifications to your cartel of achievements, even better.
• Whatever the reason for your gap in employment, an open and honest approach without going into too much detail is your best bet. You don’t have to be apologetic for taking the time off. Don’t forget to highlight the new skills you have added and the valuable lessons you learned during your time off work.
• Ensure you explain the situation clearly, but do not give away a tonne of personal information. The recruiter is really not looking to go into the nitty-gritty of it. Facts will suffice. While you are at it, assure your prospective employer that you aren’t going to take off again; they do not have to worry about losing an employee to flights of fancy. You should be ready to work for them… for the long haul.

Reasons for Employment Gaps – Examples

As mentioned earlier, the reasons for the gap in one’s employment history could be many. Here are a few that hiring managers find acceptable.

• Raising your children.
• Caring for an ailing family member.
• Pressing health issues, or a surgery followed by a long recovery period.
• Going back to school for higher education or expanding your knowledge with certifications and professional training.
• Attempting to launch your own business or exploring a career as a freelancer or consultant.
• Taking time off to travel and explore the world while broadening your perspective.
• Being laid off when your previous company was downsizing. Utilizing the time to find yourself another job that you were the right fit for.

Tips for Explaining Gaps in Employment on a Resume

While honesty is the best approach when it comes to explaining gaps in employment when applying for a new job, there are ways to make them less glaring on your resume. The key is to craft a resume that takes the focus off the gap years and instead turns the light on your achievements and impressive skillsets.

• Don’t go into Details : While you do owe a potential employer honesty when it comes to divulging facts about your professional past, you do not owe them minute details. If your employment gap was to care for a sick relative, you do not need to get into the details of who it was and what the ailment was. Similarly, if you had taken time off to recuperate from an ailment yourself or work on your mental health, the details are yours and yours alone.
• Change the Format : The reverse chronological way of resume writing is one of the most common formats chosen by job seekers. You could instead opt for a format that makes the gaps in your employment less visible. Use a functional format instead if you are more comfortable with it. This format highlights skills and abilities when compared to the chronological format. Here you can list your gap year under the Experience section. Since the end objective is to get a recruiter to focus on your skill sets, this might not be such a bad idea.
• Camouflage the Gap with Dates : Oftentimes candidates, in a bid to provide as much information as possible, tend to include dates and months in their resume when listing their past jobs. You could instead only mention the years of employment in a bid to make a gap less obvious. For instance, stick to 2010-2015 and 2015 to present, to take the attention away from an employment gap.
• Experience Matters : Although you might not have been a part of the active workforce during the time you decided to step back from a full-time career, there is no denying the fact that you did end up garnering valuable experiences and life lessons. Use these to your advantage when crafting your resume. For instance, if you used your sabbatical from a full-time job to freelance or consult, do mention the experience that you gained from your endeavors. It counts. Even if it was helping out on a farm to earn boarding and lodging during your travels.
• Leave Some of it Out : If you’ve been in the workforce for more than a couple of decades, it is all right to leave out a couple of jobs here and there. Especially, if you are applying for a managerial position. In most cases, it is acceptable to limit your years of experience on a resume to 15 years for these positions.
• Be Well Prepared : While it is easy to translate all of this in writing on a resume, do gear up for possible questions on these gaps in employment during the interview rounds. Your best approach here would be to go well prepared to avoid fumbling or seeming apologetic for the gap.

How to Include Gap Year Experience on a Resume

Just because you took a gap year does not mean you discount any of the skills you honed during the time. It is quite likely that you gained valuable experience during your time off and there is every reason why you should highlight, not just include, it in your resume.

If you’re using a functional resume format then you could just as easily slot any experience gained during this gap year under the ‘Experience’ section. If you volunteered during your time off, taught, or worked in a completely different field it should figure on your resume. Your gap year is a testimony to your risk-taking nature, ability to toe the line, and independence, qualities most organizations look for in candidates. All you need to do is dress it up in your resume using some action-oriented terms to quantify your achievements .

If you decided to stick to a chronological resume format, then you could always choose to highlight this gap year experience as international experience or volunteer experience. Recruiters and hiring managers are bound to sit up and take notice.

How do You Address an Employment Gap in a Cover Letter

While there is no reason to fear a gap in employment when applying for a new job, a cover letter explaining gaps in employment will be an added bonus. Chances are you picked up some new skills during your employment gap that wouldn’t otherwise figure in your resume. You could use your cover letter to convey this to your hiring manager instead.

You don’t have to have a flawless career history. As long as you offer a proper explanation in your cover letter there is no reason why you shouldn’t be judged by the same yardstick as other applicants. Remember, being honest and upfront is the key here.

If you took a break to travel and explore the world, make a compelling pitch about it in your cover letter explaining how you benefited from it and what you can now bring to the table as a result of it. If the break was to raise your children and you probably did some freelance work in the meantime, say it in your cover letter. Highlight any achievements gained during the time. If you decided to take some time off following a layoff, explain that the previous organization had to let you go due to downsizing while highlighting your skills and abilities to a prospective new employer.

How you say it, is how it will be perceived.

Sample Cover Letter Explaining a Gap in Employment

Dear Hiring Manager

An Introduction With Impact

(Try and make this as creative as you can to catch a recruiter’s attention. But don’t forget to include important details such as who you are, your area of expertise, how you came across the job posting, and why you want to apply).

A Powerful Body

(The body of a cover letter should describe how your employment history, experience, and skillsets will fit the bill for the current job opening. Don’t forget to include phrases and terms from the job description when you do this. You can also make a bulleted list with your accomplishments. Don’t forget to add numbers in these bullet points to quantify your claims. Explain how you can work towards helping the company achieve its goals and vision. Reiterate why you might be the right fit for the position they are looking to fill).

Sample of How You Could Explain an Employment Gap

(After working for 10 years as a journalist, I decided to explore a new area and devoted time to complete a certification course that I had long been wanting to undertake. During my time away from an active workforce I undertook some freelance writing and editing assignments for various publications and websites. While these were starkly different from the work I had been doing in the last decade, they did provide me the opportunity and exposure to newer avenues while encouraging me to hone my skills as well as work on my own terms).

A Strong Conclusion

(Here, inform the hiring manager that you’re keen on getting interviewed and that you will reach out within a given period of time in case you don’t hear from them. Leave your contact information and thank them for perusing your application).

Sincerely, Your Name

If the thought of explaining gaps in employment while looking for a new job is leaving you dismayed then step back and take a deep breath. Do not discount the skills and positive attributes you are now able to offer a potential employer.

Gaps in employment are fast becoming a rather common feature in most people’s professional pasts and employers are a lot more accustomed to them that you might give them credit for.

While explaining gaps in employment you might have had in both your resume and cover letter without obsessing over them or sounding apologetic. Explain it confidently and be well prepared to answer any related questions when you go for job interviews.

1). Do employers care about gap years?

Yes, they do. However, most employers are quite accustomed to dealing with candidates with gaps in employment and are a lot more accepting as well. You do need to have a strategic explanation in place to convince them of your devotion to your job and how you might have benefitted from your break. Not to forget, you also have to find a way to assure them that these gaps will no longer be a regular feature that they need to worry about.

2). How long of an employment gap is too long?

Three months. Anything less than that will not need to be explained. But anything longer than three months usually has recruiters and hiring managers seeking answers explaining these gaps.

3). Why is the gap in employment bad?

A gap in employment usually raises red flags with recruiters. One of the first thoughts to cross many minds is that the gap was a result of being sacked. This is why it is important to provide a satisfactory explanation in both your resume as well as the cover letter, apart from being prepared to field numerous questions regarding this break during a job interview.

4). How to explain a lengthy employment gap?

Emphasize why you took a step back from a full-time career in the first place. Keep it positive when it comes to explaining the motivation behind your decision to quit. Highlight any activities or courses you might have undertaken during your time off from the workforce and how these have shaped you in the last few years.

Related Resume & Cover Letter Articles

Navigating Gaps in Your Resume, Cover Letter, & Interview

People lose their jobs, have health problems, go traveling, or simply decide to quit. Gaps in your employment history are nothing to be ashamed of. At the same time, if you go a long period without working, it’s only natural employers will want to know the reasons.

With the right mind and the actionable tips and advice included in this article, you can transform what might initially seem like a setback into a competitive advantage in the job market.

You’re going to learn how to create a strategic approach that addresses gaps in each part of the application process.

From adopting the right resume format to avoid highlighting them, to using a  resume builder  to create a professional first impression, or to rehearsing difficult questions to be relaxed during the interview.

Let’s dive in!

Should You Mention Employment Gaps on Your Resume or Cover Letter?

It’s worth considering whether you need to include the gap on your resume or cover letter.  You’re not obliged  to include your entire employment history.

If you’ve been working for over a decade there’s no need to include a pause in your work history from more than 10-15 years ago. This means that  if the gap was long enough ago  there’s no need to mention it.

If the gap was in the last 5 years, it is more difficult to conceal, so you should mention  any recent hiatus . The last thing you want to do is  lie to a potential employer .

It will probably come back to bite you, considering  research from CareerBuilder  found that 75% of recruiters claim to have spotted a lie on a resume.

However, short gaps, typically less than three months, may not be worth including in your resume or cover letter for a few reasons.

Let’s explore why this might be the case:

• Keeps focus on the positives:  Including short gaps could divert attention away from your achievements and take up valuable space that could be used to feature your qualifications.
• They’re common place in modern job markets:  In today’s fast-paced job market, short employment gaps are increasingly common. Employers understand that candidates may experience brief periods of unemployment or job transitions. As a result, they may not view such gaps as significant or worth explaining.
• Brief gaps are often self-explanatory:  Short hiatuses are often due to temporary circumstances, such as personal or family-related issues, short-term projects, or other life events. In most cases, employers can deduce these reasons without further explanation and are unlikely to view them as problematic.
• Reduces clutter and maintains readability:  By omitting short gaps, you can keep your documents focused and easy to read, allowing employers to quickly assess your suitability for the position.
• Preserves professionalism and relevance:  Since short gaps are often not pertinent to your qualifications, including them could detract from the overall professionalism of your resume or cover letter.

Reframing Career Pauses: Valid Reasons Behind Employment Gaps

There are numerous reasons for gaps, many of which can be framed positively to  demonstrate your growth and adaptability .

When addressing these reasons, it’s important to  focus on the skills, experiences, and personal growth  you gained during this time.

By framing them positively, you can effectively demonstrate your adaptability, resilience, and commitment to professional development.

Look over the list below to  understand what specific points to address  when mentioning your professional hiatus if you were out of work for any of the following reasons.

• Further education or professional development:  Mention you were committed to learning and personal growth by attending courses and certificate programs during your employment gap.
• Volunteering or community involvement:  Engaging in volunteer work or community projects demonstrates your dedication to social responsibility, teamwork, and leadership – all valuable qualities that employers often seek in candidates.
• Parental or family leave:  Taking time off to care for a newborn, children, or family members shows a strong sense of responsibility and work-life balance, which can be an asset in the workplace.
• Travel or cultural experiences:  Traveling or immersing yourself in other cultures can enhance your adaptability, communication, and problem-solving skills, making you a more well-rounded candidate.
• Starting or managing a business:  Entrepreneurial ventures, even if short-lived or unsuccessful, can provide valuable insights into business management, strategic planning, and leadership.
• Freelancing or consulting:  Working as a freelancer or consultant during an employment gap highlights your ability to adapt to different work environments, manage multiple projects, and maintain a strong professional network.
• Health or personal reasons:  Taking time off to address health or personal issues can demonstrate resilience and self-awareness, two important qualities for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
• Being laid off or fired:  If you were laid off, focus on how you used the opportunity to expand your skill set, network with other professionals, or take on personal projects. If you were fired, be honest about the situation, but also highlight any lessons learned or abilities gained from the experience.

Ways to Address Gaps in Your Resume

It’s not always how you say it, it’s what you say. It’s critical to understand  how to write a resume  correctly and take emphasis away from the gaps.

To make the gaps seem less important you can use the following techniques on your resume.

Be Enthusiastic

To show your enthusiasm for a job, it’s essential to  do your research  on the company, customize your application, use positive language, and demonstrate your motivation.

Be specific about what motivates you  and explain why you are passionate about the work in the  resume objective  or summary statement.

Discuss the company’s mission and values, show your excitement for the job, and explain how the job fits into your long-term career goals.

Look at the example below for reference:

Detail-oriented and meticulous Laboratory Assistant seeking to re-enter the workforce after a family caregiving gap. During this time, I sharpened my problem-solving and interpersonal skills, while actively engaging in online courses related to laboratory safety protocols. Eager to apply these enhanced capabilities in a Laboratory Assistant role, contributing to the success of [Company name].

Only Use Years as the Dates

By not including months when listing dates on your resume you can close small gaps. Employers may not ask you for  more specific dates  but be ready if they do and be honest.

Change the Resume Format

There are also  resume formats  that draw less attention to  resume gaps . Using a format that focuses on your skills over experience would be the better choice.

Since you don’t want hiring managers to pay too much attention to your gap,  a functional format  is better suited to emphasize your skill set.

Examples of How to Write a Resume With Employment Gaps

You may have been laid off, travel, or simply decided to take a course, whatever the reason, you’ll need to  make your time between jobs look productive .

These examples demonstrate different approaches that you can take in writing a resume with an employment gap,  depending on your specific situation .

Use them as a guide to craft your own resume with confidence.

Travel Experience | 2019

• Traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and South America
• Developed cultural awareness and adaptability through exposure to diverse customs, languages, and social norms
• Enhanced problem-solving and communication skills by navigating unfamiliar territories and interacting with people from different backgrounds

Full-time caregiver | 2014 – 2015

• Provided full-time care for a family member and volunteered for a local non-profit organization
• Strengthened time management and organizational skills by effectively balancing caregiving duties with personal responsibilities

How to Include Employment Gaps in Your Cover Letter

When recruiters see gaps in an application, they may have several concerns.

For example, is the candidate up-to-date with the latest technological advances? Or how will the applicant handle a large workload? Will they be able to adapt?

There are  effective ways to address such concerns  and turn the situation to your advantage:

• Show your commitment to continuous education:  Mention any courses you took to your qualification and knowledge of the industry during your hiatus, as it highlights a proactive approach to self-improvement and a dedication to developing new skills.
• Feature your ability to adapt:  If you spent time traveling, you’ve demonstrated an ability to adapt to new environments and a passion for exploring. Make sure you point it out in your cover letter! It features your willingness to step out of your comfort zone and explore new opportunities.
• Highlight the values and skills you’ve gained:  Taking care of a family member and volunteering are excellent opportunities to develop transferable skills, such as time management and problem-solving. They also showcase responsibility, and empathy, qualities that employers often highly value in candidates. Emphasize it!

Ultimately, your ability to present these experiences positively and confidently will help you stand out as a versatile and adaptable candidate, prepared to contribute meaningfully to your future employer’s success.

Sample Cover Letter for Gap in Employment

This section provides a sample cover letter explaining a gap in employment that demonstrates how to address it in a  positive and professional manner .

Create your own cover letter that reflects your specific situation using this  sample as a guide .

Hiring Manager’s name Company name Company address Date

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I am excited to apply for the teaching position at [school]. I have over ten years of experience in teaching students of various age groups and backgrounds, including supervising student activities, managing classrooms, and overseeing curriculums.

As you will see on my resume, I took a one-year sabbatical to travel and volunteer in different countries. Although it was a challenging decision to take a break from my teaching career, it was also an opportunity to develop important abilities in adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and communication. These skills have given me a renewed focus on the importance of creating a positive and inclusive classroom environment and have helped me develop a student-centered teaching style.

During my sabbatical, I made it a priority to stay up-to-date with the latest teaching methodologies, technologies, and regulations relevant to education. I took online courses, attended workshops, and read industry publications to keep my knowledge and qualifications current.

I am excited to bring these abilities to your school and am confident that I can excel in the teaching role. I am well-versed in using modern teaching tools and techniques, and have experience in creating and implementing lesson plans that cater to the needs of individual students.

Thank you for considering my application. I would be thrilled to meet with you to discuss how I can contribute to your school’s success and support students in reaching their full potential.

Address Phone number Email address

Our  cover letter writing guide  can make the  process easier for you . Take a look and create your letter with confidence and ease.

How to Justify Gaps in an Interview

Explaining gaps in employment can be tricky. As a  UCLA study shows , unemployment bias is quite real in the world of recruitment.

However, with the right approach and preparation, you can give a confident, honest answer which will  convince the interviewer . Here are some tips to help you prepare:

Be Prepared

If you haven’t prepared an answer, it will be  immediately obvious  to the interviewer. Stuttering and stammering, while you rack your brains for an answer, is exactly what you want to avoid.

This gives the impression that you’re hiding something or, at best, that you’re  badly prepared for the interview . Anticipating the interview questions, and preparing answers is key to a successful interview.

Be Confident

Practice answering questions  about why you’ve got a  gap on your resume . Ask a friend or family member to give you a mock interview. Remember that  gaps in employment  happen. Life happens. There’s no reason to feel embarrassed about the gaps, so  confidently explain  why they’re there.

Be Positive

Always talk enthusiastically about past positions. If you left a job, avoid criticizing past colleagues or bosses, as this can give the impression that you’re difficult to work with. Similarly, when talking about the gap in your resume,  focus on the constructive aspects .

Focus on any projects, freelance work, traveling, or hobbies you’ve spent time on. Employers want positive workers. If you can  avoid negativity  during difficult questions it will give a fantastic impression.

While it’s important to explain your career gap, you  don’t focus too much  on it. A brief explanation respects the employer’s time and allows you to  address the most important information .

By getting straight to the point and highlighting the skills and experiences gained during your career gap, you can show the employer why you are a valuable candidate.

Explaining gaps in your employment history can be a challenging aspect of the job application process, but with the right approach, it’s  possible to turn it into a positive .

Remember to  be honest, concise, and positive  in your explanation, and use your cover letter and resume to showcase your strengths and qualifications for the job.

You’ll also need to be confident and avoid being negative during your interview.

If you struggle with nerves during the job interview, there are  techniques you can use to calm your nerves  and  stay in control  when meeting with the hiring manager.

By being  proactive and strategic  in your approach, you can successfully navigate any gaps in your employment history and land the job you’re looking for.

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How to Explain Gaps in Employment in Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Interview

Employment gaps are periods in your professional career when you weren't formally employed. You'll need to explain gaps in your resume, cover letter, and job interview.

Abi Tyas Tunggal

Find your dream remote job

If you have a gap in your employment history, know that you're not alone. The majority of people have been unemployed at some point in their working life.

There are three places where you'll need to explain a gap during your job search: your resume, cover letter, and during the job interview. While there are ways to minimize the impact of employment gaps, you still need to be honest and forthcoming when explaining them.

This article outlines everything you need to know about explaining gaps in your employment history, including where to explain employment gaps and a list of good reasons.

What are employment gaps?

Employment gaps are periods in your professional career when you didn't have formal employment. An employment gap can range from a few months to several years and occur voluntarily or involuntarily.

How to explain employment gaps on your resume

Recruiters and hiring managers form their first impression of you from your resume and cover letter. Employment gaps on a resume can be a red flag if you don't explain the reason for your gap and the experience you gained during that time. Addressing employment gaps in your resume is essential to ensuring the gaps don't harm your chances of landing an interview.

Knowing how to include employment gaps is a positive as it can help you create a great experience section in your resume.

Follow these steps to explain gaps in your employment history on your resume:

1. Invest your unemployed time preparing for your next job

The best thing you can do to explain employment gaps on your resume is to invest the time you are unemployed preparing for your return to work.

You can do this by using the time for professional development through online courses, continuing education courses, going to events, volunteering, freelancing, or contracting.

Staying active during unemployment gives you positive experiences to fill employment gaps when writing your resume.

2. Determine whether you need to include an employment gap

You don't need to include every job on your resume. If your employment gap occurred early in your career, it might not be necessary to include the job you had before your gap in employment.

As a rule of thumb, you only need to include your most recent and relevant employment experiences in the employment section of your resume.

3. Remove small gaps by committing the month

If the gaps in your employment history are small, you can omit the month from the date of each role. List the years each position employed you.

This method only works if the gaps in your employment were less than a year and you worked in each position for more than a year.

For example, if you were employed as a marketing manager from August 2019 through January 2021 and didn't begin your next job until March 2021, you can disguise this employment gap by listing the dates of your first job as 2019 - 2021 and the dates fo your next job as 2021 - Present.

Keep in mind this can help you get past the initial screening, but the interviewer will still ask you about specific dates during the interview, so prepare an answer ahead of time.

4. Use a functional resume format to make the gap less obvious

A functional resume format focuses on your skills and achievements over experience. Functional resumes make employment gaps less evident than chronological resumes.

In a functional resume, you include sections such as a career summary statement and critical accomplishments to make the positive experiences the focus of your resume.

Then, you can include your employment history toward the end of the resume. You can even combine a functional resume format and the commission of months to minimize the risk of short employment gaps.

Be sure to check out our guides on how to write a remote job resume and cover letter . Even if you're not looking for a remote job, our resume guide includes recruiter-approved resume templates in the functional resume format, chronological resume format, and combination resume format.

5. List longer employment gaps as a job with a reason

If you have an employment gap that is longer than a year, you will need to address it in your resume, as it will be obvious even if you only list years and use a functional resume format.

The best way to overcome this is to include what you were doing in your experience section as if the gap was a job.

Keep the entry brief, so it doesn't distract from your more relevant experience. For example, if you spent four years as a stay-at-home parent until your child was in preschool, you could include the following on your resume:

Full-time parent, 2019 - 2021 Took time away from my career to raise a child

6. Include the relevant experience gained during the gap

Try to relate the knowledge you gained during your employment gap to the position.

For example, if you took three years off to care for your child and you're applying for a remote customer success job, the employment gap entry in your resume experience section may look like this:

Full-time parent, 2019 - 2021 * I took time away from my career to raise a child * Managed household with daily tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and laundry * Ensured my child was developing and happy

How to explain employment gaps in your cover letter

Your cover letter is a great place to explain significant gaps in employment as it lets you go into detail about how you used the time to prepare for your return to the workforce.

Explaining resume gaps in your cover letter also shows hiring managers and recruiters that you're honest and trustworthy, which can help you stand out from other candidates.

For example, you might include a short section in your cover letter that reads as follows:

During the gap in my employment from 2017 to 2019, I traveled through Africa. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experinece that helped me understand more about two parts of the world that are growing rapidly. I really think that they'll be important markets in the future and I think what I've learnde will fit extremely well with your marketing manager position from EMEA.

However, you should be careful dedicating too much to unemployment gaps in your cover letter, as you'll want to use most of your cover letter to emphasize your passion for the role and company.

It's best to use cover letters to dive deeper into your relevant skills, work experience, and expertise.

Think about it this way: Your resume focuses on your qualifications and achievements, and your cover letter expands on those achievements, showcases your personality, and explains why your experience makes you a good fit for the company and role.

Example cover letter explaining a gap in employment

Dear [Hiring Manager Name], My name is Jian Yang, and I'm applying for a software engineering position at Hooli. I'm excited about Hooli's mission to change the world, and I'm passionate about your tech stack that includes Python , Java , React , and Scala . All languages that I have used in the past. I recently took a year-long hiatus to help my friend Erlich Bachman launch a startup accelerator called Aviato. You might be familiar with one of the companies Aviato has backed, Pied Piper. I learned quite a bit about business strategy and going from zero to one while working on a very stringent budget. I know that I can turn those skills into new products for Hooli. I'm ready to jump back into the game and restart my career as a software engineer. I'm confident that I'm the perfect person to lead your middle-out engineering team. Let's meet to discuss further Thanks for your time, Jian Yang

How to explain employment gaps in a job interview

There are a few guidelines you should follow when addressing gaps in your employment history during an interview:

1. Prepare to talk about it

Having a gap on your resume won't prevent you from moving through the interview process, but potential employers will expect an explanation.

Invest time before the interview to develop an answer that shows why you're a valuable employee.

2. Be honest

Honesty is the best policy, but don't go into unnecessary detail.

Your answer could follow this template: "I [reason you were not employed]. During that time, I [what you did during the gap]. Returning to work over that period was my primary focus, and I'm ready for a new job."

Below are examples you can use based on your situation:

If you left the workforce to be a caretaker

"We had a new family member, and I spent time as the primary caretaker. During that time, my focus was on caring for my child, but I always knew I didn't want to be away from work for an extended period. Now that she is in preschool, I'm ready to return to work."

Your previous employer laid you off

"My former employer restructured and eliminated my position. It was a difficult time for me. I love working. But I left with confidence that the job market had recovered and the new skills I had developed would help me land a new role. I'm looking forward to applying what I learned in my next job."

Your previous employer fired you

"My prior employer and I had different definitions for success. Reflecting on it, I could have done a better job clarifying success. I learned a lot from the process, and I'm excited to get some more work experience."

If you took time off for personal reasons

"I was lucky enough to save some money in my 20s, so I could take a career break when I turned 30. I spent the last year traveling and doing volunteer work at nonprofits that matter to me. I'm incredibly excited about your mission, and I hope that I can work with you for a long time."

If you were training for a new career

"I took time off to get my MBA. I realized that while I was a good software engineer , I didn't have the skills of my peers, and I preferred business problems. I believe that this unique set of skills positions me perfectly for this remote product manager job ."

Volunteering

"I took a year off in 2017 to volunteer at a nonprofit. I was responsible for every aspect of the software development process, including recruitment and project management. I managed over 100 volunteers and read books like High Output Management , which solidified my project management skills."

Personal medical leave

"I had to take two years off for a medical issue. Luckily, the treatment was successful, and I'm back to full health. While I was recovering, I spent a lot of time reading books like Good to Great and 7 Powers , which have given me a fresh perspective on work."

"My partner recently got a promotion, which required us to relocate to Singapore. Since then, I've been looking for the right company to join. While I'm new to Singapore, I'm not new to sales, and I know that my skills in sales development could help you."

3. Fill the gap

While you don't need to detail what caused your resume gap, outline how you spent the time, if you've been sitting around for months doing nothing, it could be a red flag for the hiring manager.

Mention things you read to keep up with the industry, how you stayed in touch with colleagues or online courses you've done to prepare for your re-entry. Also, bring up any freelance, volunteer, or community work you did, events you attended, or anything else that could help you stand out from other job seekers.

The aim is to convey you've been engaged with your career while unemployed.

4. Answer briefly and be prepared for other interview questions

People take time off for many reasons. Some of these reasons are personal, and you may not want to provide them.

Once you've addressed the gap in your work history, explain what you did during your time off, then steer the conversation back to your ability to do the job and your passion for the company and its mission.

You can do this by asking the hiring manager a question after answering. Be sure to check out our guide on the best questions to ask during an interview .

If the interviewer continues to ask about your employment gap, you can say: "I'd prefer not to go into more detail. I'm happy to talk about my work experience."

From there, you can use the STAR method to highlight a situation from your work history that makes you qualified for the job.

You can even end the interview by saying: "I'm not comfortable with where our conversation is heading, so I'd like to end the interview. Thank you for your time."

List of good reasons for employment gaps

When explaining an employment gap on your resume or in an interview, you want to provide a good reason. Several good reasons include:

• Lay off: There are many reasons why a company lays off employees. It could be to cut costs, eliminate positions, or because of market conditions.
• New management: When new managers come in, they may restructure, fire previous employees, or change the company culture.
• Merger: Losing a job because of a merger or acquisition can be challenging, but don't be ashamed.
• Starting your own business: Startups don't always work out. The good news is that you would have learned a lot!
• Medical issue: Getting treatment or recovering from an illness is valid for a career gap.
• Caregiver: If a parent, sibling, or partner falls ill, you might need to take care of them. Chances are, you developed as a person during this time too. Talk about it if you're comfortable.
• Parenting: Most people take time off to raise their children, learning a lot during that period. Emphasize what you learned.
• Relocation: It takes time to settle and find a new job when you move cities or countries.
• Volunteering: Giving your time to a cause that matters to you is fantastic, and there are things you learned during your time that you could bring to your next job.
• Travel: Be proud of your sabbatical. You likely learned a lot about different cultures to bring to your next workplace.
• Education: People often take time off to pursue a higher degree or retrain to transition to a new career path.

The most important thing is that you explain how you spent your time while unemployed, and how you present it is usually more important than the reason for your gap in employment. Focus on the positives you gained from your unemployment gap.

Tips for explaining employment gaps

Explaining gaps in your employment can be stressful, but it's essential to prepare. Below are several tips you can use:

• Mentally prepare to address the gap.
• Don't lie about your employment gap.
• Be concise and don't go into too much detail.
• Don't fret over every gap. Anything less than six months is usually fine, and "job-seeking" will cover it.
• Don't be apologetic.
• Explain how it was a one-time incident and is unlikely to happen again.
• Explain what you learned from the gap that will help you professionally. Such as learning a new language, volunteering, personal growth, exposure to new cultures, travel, or new skills.
• Emphasize your eagerness to work.

Mistakes to avoid when explaining employment gaps

Avoid these mistakes when explaining your employment gap:

• Not having a pre-prepared answer.
• Being negative about an old company, boss, or colleague.
• Blaming others.
• Forgetting to explain the gap on your resume or cover letter.
• Not emphasizing what you learned during the gap.
• Lying or changing dates to cover it up.

Possible follow-up questions

• Describe your work ethic
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• Why do you want to work here?
• Why are you the best person for this job?
• Tell me about a time you made a mistake
• What can you bring to the company?
• Why do you deserve this job?
• Do you have any questions for me? Read our guide on the best questions to ask in an interview .
• What is your greatest weakness?
• Behavioral interview questions . Be sure to use the STAR method when answering.

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How To Explain A Gap Year On Your CV

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Fill in the gap

It isn't easy to have your life mapped out right after high school. You need time to discover your interests and, more importantly, to enjoy yourself! Instead of the pressure of making a job decision, your youth should be filled with wonderful moments you've shared with friends and family. Some students simply need a break before they dive headfirst into college. If you identify with this, you might consider taking a gap year. This can become a problem in finding a job, but you can reduce this gap in CV and showcase the skills you gained during this time. In this article, we will show you how to mention a gap year in your resume. Stay tuned!

What Is A Gap Year?

A gap year is an off year you take from studying; usually, students take a gap year in the transition to high school and University. This has been a popular practice among students in the UK since the 1700s. During this break, students make use of this time to travel, learn new skills, or even work somewhere.

How Can It Affect Your CV?

Taking a gap year can affect your CV in many ways, for example. If not presented properly, it might give the impression that you have wasted your time. The gap year in CV serves as an important period for employers to understand whether the candidate has invested the time in building skills or simply wasted it. Hence, presenting your gap year CV is crucial as many factors depend upon it.

What Is The Employment Gap In A CV?

When we consider an employment gap in CV, it is majorly considered as a period when a person was not employed or not doing any formal work. An employment gap year in CV can occur due to various factors such as a job switch, personal circumstances, or taking a gap year. An employment gap in a CV ranges from a period of months to years and occurs voluntarily or involuntarily. But remember, when you talk about the employment gap year in CV, you also need to be concerned about how to explain the gap year in CV or what experience you have gained during that period.

Different Ways To Explain A Gap In CV

The gap in CV is looked upon as a crucial time for employers to understand whether the candidate is worth the organisation or not. One gets the idea about the time a candidate invested and did something fruitful out of it. Hence, justifying this gap in CV becomes an important task. If you are looking for ways to show a gap year on your CV, here are some ways you can explain a gap year in CV.

1. Own The Gap Year

When you mention your gap year on your resume, you need to own it and present it positively and proudly. Present an honest and realistic explanation of how you used your time fixating on transferable skills and experience that you have received. For more information, refer to our blog- what is a gap year and why you should take one to rethink career choices.

2. Present Your Achievements

Upscale your gap year CV by adding your accomplishments and achievements to present a strong portfolio. We understand that achievements are difficult to pull when trying to give yourself a break, but present the constructive results you have delivered. This will surely reduce the gap in CV and upscale you. Follow our guidelines to prepare the perfect resume for your first job .

3. Emphasize Your Skills

Gap years are one of the best ways to work on your skills; your gap year CV is just waiting for that. When you begin your journey of a gap year, maintain a notebook where you mention every little skill you learn or even develop. If you maintain a record, you will not forget anything, and even the smallest skills can make a big impact, strengthening your gap year resume.

4. Don't Go Into Excessive Details

When you mention a gap year on your resume, the material you give must be concentrated and pertinent to the position you're vying for. Save the anecdotes and information for the interview when you have more time to expound and present them from a personal viewpoint instead of mentioning this as a gap year in CV.

5. Display Your Commitment To The Long-term

Above all, your gap year resume and cover letter should highlight that despite taking a year off and travelling widely, you are eager to start a steady, long-term profession. You want to eliminate the worry that the candidate will go on other adventures as soon as they have received training.

6. Make the Gap Year Relevant to the Role

It will be a primal factor if one highlights the fact that the gap year in CV was spent learning or experiencing something that is vital to the desired or anticipated job. With this, the recruiter may consider the application worthy since the job description is relevant to the person applying. 

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Examples Of A Few Common Reasons For A Gap In CV

You don't take a gap year lightly, so make sure your motivation and enthusiasm shine through on your resume. This is the kind of attitude that a company can benefit from! Below are some examples that will come in handy for you. 

1. Taking a career break to pursue higher education or certifications.

2. For health reasons, rejoin the workforce with full recovery.

3. Taking travel or sabbatical to gain valuable experience.

4. If it is laid off or company closure, explain the situation briefly, emphasising the opportunity it provided for self-assessment and skill improvement.

5. A family-related issue that required your presence for a longer period.

6. Took some time off to redefine your life path and career choices, worked on them, and built some relevant skills. 

How To Be Convincing Irrespective Of A Gap Year On Your Resume?

Being a fine candidate for a job irrespective of the gap year in CV can be a difficult task altogether. However, it is just like a game of chess; you strategically take the right moves, and you might as well get the position. Explore our blog, which stresses the skills employers look for while hiring , as your handbook for achieving an offer letter. Below are a few pointers to becoming a master convincer, irrespective of the gap in CV.

1. Negotiation

How to mention the gap year in resume: we've got you covered. You might demonstrate how working on your own business or interacting with local markets to buy goods improved your negotiating skills. This will be a good addition to your gap year CV and will make a positive impact on the employer as well. 

2. Budgeting and Planning

Describe in your gap year CV how you maintained a strict budget while travelling during your gap year. Any time off of work without a consistent source of income is sure to improve your ability to plan and budget. 

3. Teamwork

Another important thing that will get you a plus point to show a gap year in CV is teamwork. Let the employer know that you are a team player, and you might get a job. Emphasise that if you're volunteering abroad, you've probably collaborated with volunteers from other backgrounds. Adding this to your gap year resume will emphasise that you are good at teamwork.

4. Adaptability

Things can go wrong, and plans might quickly change when travelling. Describe how you were forced to adjust to new circumstances and develop quick fixes for the initial issue. This will be a good add-on to showcase a gap in your CV and will make a huge difference in your candidature. This will reveal a part of your personality that you can adapt to new circumstances and find solutions to it as well. 

5. Communication

One of the best ways to show a gap in CV is by developing communication skills. Effective interpersonal communication is a crucial skill to develop throughout any career sabbatical and can increase your employability in customer-facing employment. 

6. Leadership

If you engaged in activities like teaching overseas, you probably developed important leadership abilities that you may apply in any workplace. Leadership is one such skill that employers highly appreciate and look forward to in a candidate. Hence, it is advisable to showcase your skills to reduce the gap in CV. 

7. Critical Thinking

How to explain gap year! Critical thinking is yet another skill that can make a huge change in showcasing a gap year on CV. This is an excellent talent that can be developed during a gap year on CV and applied in any role, evaluating problems and coming up with quick solutions. 

8. Creativity

Creativity isn't just about having artistic talent; it's also about how you approach problems. Your creativity has likely improved if your gap year has helped you think creatively and develop original solutions to issues. You can fill in the gap in your CV by writing about the projects you worked on for creativity.

We hope our guide on preparing a powerful and impactful gap year CV helped you present yourself in front of the interviewer so that your gap year looks positive and that you gained something from it. And in the end, don't forget that taking a gap year isn't bad as you can learn so much, build many skills, and have fun! 

Frequently Asked Questions

How to put gap year on resume, should i mention a gap year on resume, why do gaps in cv matter, can i get a job after a gap year in my cv, what is a gap year.

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How to explain a gap in your CV

If you have gaps in your CV, you'll need to explain these in your cover letter. Find out how to account for holes in your employment history with our example cover letter

You need to explain interludes in your employment,   so a potential employer doesn't misinterpret a break in your career history. If you approach it positively, it shouldn't be an issue.

Reasons for gaps in your CV include:

• going on a gap year
• having children
• caring for a sick relative
• suffering from a persistent or recurring medical condition
• redundancy.

Talk about the gap in the third or fourth paragraph of your cover letter and explain what you did during this time and the skills and knowledge you've learned from the experience.

Finish by demonstrating your enthusiasm for the position and add that you're now ready to focus on your career.

Please be aware that this is an example. Use this cover letter template to help you explain a gap in your CV and structure your own document but avoid copying and pasting. Your cover letter needs to be original and tailored to the job you're applying for.

Ben Chapman 14 The Park Smalltown Smallshire SM52 6ZN [email protected] 07889987987

Stan Stanislas International recruitment partner International Company International House Northtown PJ7 2LX

5th May 2023

Dear Mr Stanislas

Re: International business graduate programme

I would like to apply for your international business graduate programme which I have seen advertised on the Prospects.ac.uk website and on your company website. I am enclosing my CV.

I am in the third year of an English with drama degree which has equipped me with skills such as:

• Being able to present to groups of all sizes in formal lecture settings as well as on stage.
• Organisation (of myself and others) when staging productions, for my course and in extra-curricular activities.
• Written and verbal communication through coursework, essay-writing and workshops.
• Working with others on timebound projects in groupwork, presentations and productions.
• Set-building, prop-making and lighting and sound.

I am particularly proud of initiating a workshop production of Grease in a local special needs school, as my final-year project. With three other students, I worked with 13 to 19 year olds who had never performed for an audience - increasing their self-esteem, concentration and life skills. As you will appreciate, this involved a lot of negotiation with the school, parents and young people as well as nurturing to bring out unrealised talent. We won the department drama prize for this project.

Before starting at university I took a year out to work and travel. I was pleased to be able to use (and improve) my language skills - French in the Far East and Spanish in South America. I spent some of the time travelling alone which exposed me to local culture and developed my self-reliance and resilience. I also did some casual work, in a bar and a hostel, while in Australia.

Travelling and working abroad has whetted my appetite for an international career. I can see how different parts of the world can learn from each other and work together. I look forward to putting this into practice on your international graduate programme - and with your company in the future.

Yours sincerely

(Sign your name here)

Ben Chapman

Find out more

• Get more information on cover letters .
• Learn more about the 5 things to avoid when writing a cover letter .
• Take a look at our example CVs .

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Career Gap on Your Resume? Here’s How to Explain It.

Have you been away from the workforce for six months? Six years? Even longer? Well, explaining your career gap may not be as difficult as you think.

What Counts As a Career Gap?

A career gap is time spent away from the workforce. Common career gap reasons include taking care of family, going to school to change careers, taking a sabbatical or being laid off. Contract work, launching a new business, or pivoting your career and then returning are not considered part of a career gap.

That’s because over the past several years, hiring managers and recruiters have been seeing career gaps in resumes with greater frequency, minimizing what once were considered red flags.

Regardless of this shift, it’s still important to artfully address it head on, no matter the length of your career gap.

Why Career Gaps Are No Longer Seen as Red Flags

Career gaps were once an on-going concern for employers, often viewed as potential red flags.

They could signal a prospective employee could be a short-timer or someone who was not focused on their career, Yuletta Pringle, an HR advisor at the Society for Human Resource Management , told Built In.

Or, they’d wonder how the job candidate spent their time while they were out of the workforce and whether they are ready to resume work, Amy Mangan, vice president and branch director at recruiting firm Robert Half , told Built In.

But since the pandemic hit, employers have become more accepting of career gaps because they are now increasingly viewed as part of life, said Tracy Stone, director of diversity, equity and inclusion in tech at fintech company Intuit .

“In an economic downturn or market where there are more layoffs, career gaps can be seemingly more common.”

During the pandemic, employees left in droves for a number of reasons, including to take care of family members , to reevaluate their career choices or to go back to school.

Massive layoffs have also helped normalize career gaps.

In the past month alone, tech companies have slashed an estimated 60,000 jobs , according to CBS News . The tech industry also bore the brunt of layoffs last year, with 97,171 job cuts — up a whopping 649 percent from the previous year, according to a recent report from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

“In an economic downturn or market where there are more layoffs, career gaps can be seemingly more common,” said Jason Buss, vice president of talent acquisition at game development platform company Roblox .

More on Leadership Ask These Questions to Find Out If a Company Values Women in Leadership

How to Explain a Career Gap in a Resume

When putting together a resume or updating it, ensure you include a start month and year and end month and year for each time period you were in the workforce, which is considered a standard format. You should also include the start and end dates for any career gaps if they lasted six months or longer.

These periods when you were working and not working should be laid out in chronological order on your resume under your professional experience, Mangan said. Include any relevant activities, experience or skills you may have picked up during your career gap and tie them to the job you are seeking.

“As the six-month mark approaches, I would start to think about what you can add to your resume to show you weren’t just sitting at home.”

By accounting for any type of career gaps on your resume, recruiters and hiring managers can quickly understand the sequence of events.

“It really goes a long way to prompt folks to say, OK, I get it. I can see what they were up to and how they’re ready to go back to work, great,” said Mangan.

For current job seekers, if you have the luxury of time to update your skills, volunteer for industry organizations, mentor, sit on a board or engage in activities that could potentially tie into the future work you wish to do, it’s a step worth taking.

“As the six-month mark approaches, I would start to think about what you can add to your resume to show you weren’t just sitting at home,” Mangan told Built In. “Did you sit on a board? Were you involved in an industry networking group? All of these could be included in your resume.”

Resume Examples

Cloud Security Student and Volunteer        January 2018-August 2018 Attended cloud security courses at ISC(2) and became a Certified Cloud Security Professional. Volunteered at the RSA Conference for programs on cloud security and worked with high school students on cybersecurity best practices.                 

PTA President and Caregiver                       March 2020-November 2021 Organized and ran the PTA at my child’s school and collaborated with 45 parents to hold fundraising events and other programs, while also devoting time to my child’s online schooling.   

More on Job Searching Why You Shouldn’t Write Off Job Hunting Over the Holidays

How to Explain a Career Gap in a Cover Letter 

Although addressing a career gap in a cover letter is optional, it can provide a vehicle and additional space to share insights and information about the reasons for your career gap and the activities you performed while out of the workforce if they are relevant to the position you are currently seeking. 

This information in your cover letter can play a greater importance if you don’t mention your career gap in your resume. 

For example, maybe you spent six months or more focused solely on finding a job and have nothing else to list for that time period on your resume. You can address it in your cover letter with a simple sentence that states you spent that time as a job applicant. 

And in cases where you spent time out of the workforce due to recharging your batteries, helping your family members, or traveling, it too can be noted in your cover letter. 

Other activities can also be noted in your cover letter in a single sentence or paragraph, depending on how relevant they are to the position you are seeking. Make sure to couch your words in a positive tone that shows you are eager to address your next opportunity. 

Cover Letter Example

During the pandemic, I paused my career to assist my children with their online schooling. I also formed a virtual school co-op to support my children and their classmates. I organized, collaborated and led activities and programs for the children with the help of other co-op parents and developed a shared resource system to address student needs. I am very interested in applying these skills and my past software engineering experience to the team lead software engineering role at your organization.

How to Address a Career Gap in a Job Interview

So, you’ve successfully addressed your career gap in your resume and cover letter. Now it’s time to tackle it in your job interview. Ask friends or family to conduct a mock job interview with you in the days leading up to your interview. Or, at a minimum, record yourself practicing how you would respond to an interviewer’s questions, including an inquiry about your career gap. 

An interviewer may ask questions like, “Can you walk me through your work history” or “I noticed this gap in your work history, can you tell me about it?” These types of questions come from their curiosity and aren’t designed to put you in a hot seat.

There is also a chance you may not be asked about your career gap during the job interview and you should not feel compelled to discuss it unless you wish.

“A break sounds more definitive but framing it as a pause can be helpful ... It’s a very positive way to frame it and own it. I love it when I hear people talk about it that way.”

If it does come up, Intuit’s Stone advised calling your career gap a pause during the interview. Careers are long and ever changing, so think about your career as chapters with a pause in between, she said. Briefly explain why you left and how, after your pause, you are looking forward to your next chapter.

“A break sounds more definitive but framing it as a pause can be helpful,” Stone said, offering an alternative word choice that sounds softer to the ear. “It’s a very positive way to frame it and own it. I love it when I hear people talk about it that way.”

You do not need to go into great detail about why you have a career gap, but rather address it briefly, with transparency and confidence, she added. Answer the question about your career gap directly, rather than sidestepping the question with a vague response.

After you briefly touch on your career gap, you should then segue into your interest and enthusiasm for the job you’re interviewing for.

Example Job Interview Responses

• If you were laid off: I was part of a reduction in force that laid off 10 percent of the workforce. I would be very excited to have an opportunity to leverage my experience at your organization for this role. 
• If you left for caregiving: My child needed additional attention and support with their online schooling and I took a pause from work to assist. But with school now returning to in-person sessions, I am eager to return to the workforce and your opportunity is especially appealing.
• If you took some time to reset: Due to some changes in my life at the time, I decided to take a pause from the workforce. Those changes no longer require my time and I am very interested to learn more about this opportunity and your company.    

More on Career Development 5 Ways to Continue Your Skills Development and Grow Your Career

Consider Upskilling

If you are just leaving the workforce or are someone who has been out for months or years and has a plan to reenter, consider devoting some time to updating your skills.

This step would serve two purposes. One, it can help account for some of your career gap on your resume. And secondly, it can further update your skills , making you an even stronger candidate.

Roblox’s Buss said there are a number of things people can do while waiting for their next job. They include continuing education, like classes at Udacity or bootcamps at Fullstack Academy , to fill the skill gaps you have for those positions you are most interested in.

Tech courses and certifications, like Built In’s Learning Lab , are another way to enhance your skill set. And there are a number of programs available based on industry sector. For example, trade association (ISC)2 offers cybersecurity certifications, the Blockchain Council provides blockchain certifications, and Coursera offers AI certifications.

Regardless of a career gap, if a person has kept their skills current, whether it’s getting Google Career Certificates training or doing something like LinkedIn Learning , that is going to separate them from someone who has not updated their skills and only has had a consistent job without ever taking time off, Mangan said.

Great Companies Need Great People. That's Where We Come In.

How to explain gaps in your CV

Gaps in your CV can cause you lots of stress.

You know that employers generally don’t like them, but you don’t know whether you should include yours, or how you should explain it.

But don’t worry if you have a gap (or two or three) it’s not the end of the world.

In this guide, I will break down everything you need to know about employment gaps, including which ones you should include in your CV, and how to describe them in a way that will keep recruiters happy and ensure you still get lots of interviews.

CV templates 

What is an employment gap in your CV?

An employment gap in your CV is any substantial period of time that you have been out of work, after you have left full time education.

It could be anything from a month off whilst looking for a job, or 6 months out to care for a sick relative, to a year off spent travelling the world.

Why don’t employers like seeing gaps in your CV?

Employers do not like to see gaps in your CV because they do not know what you were doing during that time period, and that makes the task of assessing your suitability more difficult them. It can also sometimes cause recruiters to wonder if you are trying to hide something from them, especially if there are lots of gaps.

However, gaps in employment on their own are not necessarily a bad thing.

It’s really unexplained gaps that will cause you problems in your CV.

If you’re able to explain gaps in your employment within your CV effectively, they should not have a negative impact on your job applications. In some cases, a well described employment gap in your CV can even become a major selling point for you.

When should I explain gaps in my CV?

If you have a gap in your employment, it only needs to be included if you feel it would make a difference to your applications.

This can be difficult to judge sometimes, but you have to put yourself in the employer’s shoes and ask yourself, “ If I was reviewing this CV, would I need to know what the candidate was doing during that time?”

Ultimately the two variables are;

• How long the gap is – The longer the gap, the more likely it is that you should explain it.
• How recent the gap is – The more recent the gap is, the more likely it is that you should explain it.

For example, if you took a month off work 5 years ago, a recruiter is unlikely to care about that – nor would they question the gap (they probably wouldn’t even notice it)

However, if you’ve had 6 months off in the past year, recruiters will definitely want to know what you’ve been up to.

Should I explain a current CV gap?

If you are currently not working (whilst you are job searching) then you would probably not need to explain the gap, unless it’s been for a long period of time (e.g. over 4 months).

For example, if you’ve just left school and have been looking for a job for a few months, there’s no need to explain that – it’s a common situation and it should be obvious to recruiters. But if you’ve been out of work for a year, caring for a relative and are now re-entering the job market, that would need to be explained.

Quick tip: If you are currently unemployed, looking for work, and worrying that your current employment gap is getting too long; Try doing some study, freelancing, or volunteering if you can. This gives you something to write about in your CV if you do decide to add the gap.

Should I explain a recent CV gap?

In most cases a recent CV gap should be explained because recruiters will always scrutinise your recent work history (the last 3 years in particular). So, if there is a gap of 3 months or more in your recent career, they will question it – and it’s best to pre-empt that question in your CV.

Should I explain old CV gaps?

If you have gaps in your employment from 5 or 10 years ago, you wouldn’t normally need to include them in your CV, because recruiters generally will not be interested in anything that happened such a long time ago.

Should I explain a one-month or less CV gap?

You should not need to explain an employment gap of one month or less – such a short time would not bother recruiters or employers.

Should I explain a 3 month CV gap?

The 3 month mark is where you should start to consider explaining an employment gap in your CV, especially if it has happened within the last 1 or 2 years – as a recruiter would probably spot and question it, if you left it unexplained.

Should I explain a 6 month CV gap?

A 6 month CV gap should almost definitely be explained in your CV. 6 months is a significant amount of time and potential employers will definitely want to know what you have been doing during that period, if it fell within the last 5 years. However, if the gap happened many years ago, you would not need to explain it, as recruiters are only interested in your recent career history.

Types of CV gap and how to explain them

There are many justifiable reasons why you might need to take some time off work.

Let’s take a look at each one and how you can explain each one on your CV in a positive way which keeps recruiters interested in you.

Whether it be physical or mental illness , time out of work for poor health is not something you have any control over – and it’s nothing you should feel guilty or ashamed about.

If you have had any significant time out for illness, you just need to include a brief sentence stating just that – you don’t have to go into any detail about what the illness was if you don’t want to, and it’s probably best to keep it brief to save space on your CV.

If you are currently returning to work from illness, it may be beneficial to say that you are now recovered and fit for work.

Travel / Gap year

Time spent out travelling can actually be very attractive to employers.

If described in the right way on your CV, a travel experience can show recruiters that you’re organised, confident and hard-working.

Detail where you’ve been and highlight some of the constructive things you’ve done (including part-time jobs) to show some of the transferable workplace skills you’ve picked up.

Job seeking

If you’ve been unfortunate and not managed to land a job for a long period of time, it can be beneficial to show some of the constructive things you’ve been doing between searching for jobs. Maybe you’ve taken some courses, done some volunteering, or even tried your hand at freelancing – any of these things will show employers that you are committed and proactive.

Caring for family

If you’ve been caring for a family member or friend full-time, you’ve probably picked up a lot of skills and experience that employers will value – not to mention showing that you have some great personal qualities.

Keep this section brief, writing a sentence or two about the type of care you have been providing and the commitment you’ve made.

Any time out of work caused by Covid restrictions in the past year or so should not come as a surprise to employers. If you were laid off or your whole industry was shut down, simply write a short description of this.

Redundancy/job loss

If you’ve been made unemployed , it’ nothing to be ashamed off. If the time out has lasted for more than a few months, then it’s worth mentioning it and detailing any study, volunteering, freelancing, or anything constructive you’ve been doing.

Maternity / childcare

Time spent away from work to raise children is something that many of us will do in our lifetime, so it shouldn’t cause a big shock to employers. A sentence detailing that you’ve taken paternity/maternity leave should be enough to explain this. If you have taken maternity leave through an employer and returned to work for them afterwards, you don’t have to mention the time-out, because you never actually left the job.

Study leave can be a valuable asset on your CV if you’ve been studying for relevant qualifications – you just need to write a few short sentences on what you’ve been studying and where.

Career break

If you took a planned career break or sabbatical to do anything that’s not covered by the above examples (a year out to play music, paint or tend to you garden) then just be sure to explain what you’ve been doing and highlight some of the skills involved.

Addressing CV gaps in your cover letter

Another way to handle employment gaps and ensure they don’t have a negative effect on your job applications, is to mention them in your cover letter when you first contact recruiters.

For example, if you’ve been recently made redundant and have been out of work for a few months, you could explain the reasons why in your cover letter. You could also be creative and highlight the benefits of the situation, such as the fact this means you are immediately available.

Prepare to discuss CV gaps in interview

It’s very likely that hiring managers and recruiters will ask you questions about your employment gaps at interview stage, so make sure that prepare for this and are able to give a good explanation of what have you been doing in a positive way.

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• Lewiston-Auburn

Lake Auburn sets records for earliest ice-out, least amount of days with ice cover

The records fell during a year in which most of Maine's lakes and ponds saw very short periods of ice cover due to a mild winter, but that has local water quality experts on guard as spring and summer arrive.

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Lake Auburn shows open water during a rainy March day in Auburn. The ice-out, on March 13, was the earliest on record. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

AUBURN — Lake Auburn set two ominous records last week, marking the earliest ice-out and least amount of days with ice cover since record-keeping began.

The records fell in a year in which most of Maine’s lakes and ponds saw very short periods of ice cover due to a mild winter, but that has local water quality experts on guard as spring and summer arrive.

Erica Kidd, watershed manager for the Auburn Water and Sewerage Districts and Lewiston Water Division, said the March 13 ice-out date was the earliest they have on record going back to 1836. The total number of days between ice-on and ice-out — 55 — is also the “shortest duration of ice cover we have seen since ice-on data started being recorded in 1953,” she said.

Increasingly early ice-outs on Maine waters open up new problems, experts say

Mike Broadbent, Auburn Water and Sewerage Districts superintendent, said staff does not perform any additional or specialized work due to the early ice-out, but that they do start sampling lake water earlier.

In 2023, the lake also broke a record with its latest ever “ice-in” date. It took until Feb. 1 of last year for the lake to completely freeze over. Water district staff told the Sun Journal last year that they “sleep better” the longer ice cover remains on the lake.

As the average duration of ice cover declines, researchers are increasingly concerned for long-term water quality. Bates College professor Holly Ewing, who has continuously studied Lake Auburn, has said the shorter periods of ice cover “means there is more time with lots of light and warmth for organisms to grow in the lake.” Advertisement

And Lake Auburn is already susceptible to algal blooms, which are caused by more nutrients like phosphorus entering the watershed during large rain storms. According to water district staff, sediment in the watershed is already naturally high in phosphorus content due to a mineral called apatite.

Since 2006, Lake Auburn has experienced a total ice cover of 70 days or less six times. Prior to that, it had never happened. Before the year 2000, the shortest duration of ice cover was 90 days, set in 1953. The lake hasn’t reached 90 days of ice cover in the past four winters.

The alarm bells raised by researchers like Ewing over the last few years have caused officials in both Lewiston and Auburn to rethink their approaches to watershed protection, and disagreements over how to handle future development.

Last year, the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission hired a consultant to identify large sources of phosphorus in the watershed, and there have been ongoing talks with the upper watershed towns of Turner, Minot, Hebron and Buckfield regarding water quality protections.

Watershed officials are also monitoring whether they will have to conduct another aluminum sulfate treatment in the lake due to high phosphorus levels. The treatment, last done in 2019, binds to phosphorus and settles to the bottom of the lake, making the nutrient less accessible to algae.

Broadbent said the water district does not yet have an “alum” treatment planned, but said, “we’re monitoring conditions continuously.”

According to recent analysis from the Morning Sentinel, a large number of Maine’s lakes and ponds marked ice-out roughly a month earlier than 2023. State officials told the Sentinel that earlier ice-outs also have severe impacts on trout populations, ticks, moose calves and recreation like snowmobiling.

A graph from the Auburn Water District shows the duration of ice cover on Lake Auburn since 1953, when record-keeping began. City of Auburn

Related Headlines

Increasingly early ice-outs on Maine waters open up new environmental problems, experts say

Lake Auburn’s future needs to be clearer, not green

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What the National Association of Realtors' settlement means for consumers and real estate brokers

A groundbreaking $418 million settlement announced Friday by the powerful National Association of Realtors is set to usher in the most sweeping reforms the American real estate market has seen in a century. It could dramatically drive down homebuyers’ costs — and push some real estate brokers out of business.

Here’s a look at how we got here and what to expect in the months ahead.

NAR already lost a big case

For decades, the NAR has required home sale listing brokers to provide an offer of compensation to a buyer’s agent up front. That usually comes out to about 6%, split between a seller’s broker and a buyer’s agent.

But that model has come under intensifying scrutiny from critics who have likened it to a cartel . Late last year, a jury in a Kansas City federal court found the longstanding practice to be a form of collusion that artificially inflated real estate fees, awarding a massive $1. 7 8 billion judgment against NAR .

What changes now for homebuyers and sellers

If the settlement announced Friday is approved by a federal court, the standard 6% commission goes away. Sellers would no longer have to make a compensation proposal to prospective buyers and their agents. Critics have said the encouraged brokers to push their clients toward more expensive properties.

Another new rule would see homebuyers having to sign an explicit deal with a broker before they start working with one — something experts say would lead many homebuyers to forgo using brokers entirely.

The new rules would kick in within months of approval, currently expected around mid-July.

What about the next few months?

Everyone involved in the market should expect “a certain amount of uncertainty for the coming months,” said Marty Green, principal at mortgage law firm Polunsky Beitel Green.

“The industry will be in transition as everyone digests the settlements and market forces begin working,” he predicted. “We will begin to see some creative buyer’s agent arrangements that may have been harder to get traction on before.”

Home buyers and their agents will need to decide on a commission and put it in writing. Sellers, likewise, will need to work carefully with their listing agents as the new rules come into effect.

U.S. consumers might save in the long run ...

The changes could mean buyers will save on commissions, eventually bringing U.S. fees more in line with the much lower transaction costs seen in other residential property markets around the world.

Some commissions could even be cut in half, Jaret Seiberg, housing policy analyst for TD Cowen Washington Research Group, told clients in a note Friday.

The new rules “should lead to commissions falling 25% to 50%, which we view as benefiting online real estate brokers,” Seiberg wrote, but he warned it’s too early to declare “the end of local real estate agents given their local expertise and reputation in neighborhoods. It is why we do not see this following the travel agency model in which online eclipsed local offices.”

... but buyers could face more confusion

Holden Lewis, a home and mortgage expert at NerdWallet, warned of a “potential negative trade-off”: “Buyer-seller negotiations will become more complex, and buyers with plenty of cash might navigate the process more easily than buyers who don’t have a lot of savings,” he said. Seiberg flagged a similar concern in his note, saying it could particularly affect first-time buyers with limited means to pay for an agent.

Brokers and agents have come out against the settlement, saying it will make the home-buying process more byzantine for consumers and discounts the important role agents play in helping them navigate it.

“I’m a full-service real estate agent, so when I go to list my client’s house, I align their goals with my goal, and that goal is selling for the highest amount possible,” said Roy Remick, a realtor based in Northern Virginia, who said he often pays thousands of dollars of his own for services like staging homes to aid the sale process.

“This is ultimately someone saying, ‘You guys make too much money,’ which I don’t think is right for someone to dictate,” he said.

Buyers’ agents will be left “flying blind” since they won’t know how much they’ll end up making from a given home, Remick warned. “We’ll have to make a bunch of phone calls, because now we don’t know what [the commission] is because we can’t see it in the MLS. But we’ve already got an agreement with buyer how much they’ll be able to compensate us.”

Christine Romans is the senior business correspondent at NBC News.

Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

• International edition
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What does the report on state pension age changes mean for UK women?

Campaigners said older women lost out financially and some say their plans were cast into chaos. What exactly happened?

• Thousands of UK women owed pension payout after Waspi ruling
• ‘I felt like I’d been scammed’: Chaos of state pension changes

Thousands of women born in the 1950s could be in line for compensation linked to changes to the state pension age and the potential bill could end up running into billions of pounds.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said on Thursday that parliament needed to act swiftly to ensure a compensation scheme was set up to remedy the “failings” by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). But there are indications that getting the government to pay out could be an uphill battle.

What’s behind the campaign and report?

Campaigners have claimed for years that large numbers of older women lost out financially and are now struggling with living costs because of the unfair way that the decision to raise the state pension age for women to match that of men was made and communicated.

Many have said that they had always expected to receive their pension at 60, and had made their financial plans based on that – for example, some gave up work – but then they discovered their state pension age had increased by several years.

That meant they would have to wait much longer to get their pensions but they did not have enough time to make alternative plans to bridge this gap. The PHSO has been investigating the matter for years and has now ruled that the women affected are owed compensation.

How did the changes come about?

For decades it was all very clear and simple: the state pension age for women was 60. An increase to 65, phased in between 2010 and 2020, was included in the 1995 Pensions Act, but in 2011 the coalition government sped up the process.

As a result, the state pension age for women increased to 65 by November 2018, and then to 66 by October 2020.

Many women have claimed their plans were thrown into chaos when they discovered their state pension age had increased by four, five or even six years. Some said they only received 12 months’ notice of a six-year delay to their pension.

Crucially the government did not write to any woman affected by the rise for nearly 14 years after the original law was passed in 1995. It was not until 2009 to 2013 that the DWP sent people letters about the 1995 Pensions Act and 2011 Pensions Act changes.

The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign group was set up in 2015 to campaign for compensation.

Eventually the PHSO began investigating. In July 2021 it found the DWP guilty of maladministration in its handling of the changes. This related to specific failings dating back to 2005 and 2006. However, this was only stage one of the investigation.

On Thursday, the ombudsman’s final report, combining stages two and three of its inquiries, was published.

How much money have women lost as a result?

One sample complainant said she had suffered a financial loss of £39,000. Another woman said she lost about £45,000 as a result of her state pension age being six years later than she had expected and planned for.

Some women mentioned much larger sums. One said she lost more than £442,000 in additional pay that she would have earned had she stayed in her job instead of giving up work. However, the ombudsman said it did not consider that these sums amounted to “direct financial loss”.

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How many m ight get compensation, and how much?

There is no clear answer yet to either of these questions.

As to how much, the PHSO said that looking at the sample complainants’ cases, it would recommend they were paid compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 – a lot less than the £10,000-plus that campaigners have called for.

In terms of how many, the ombudsman said that “thousands of women may have been affected” and “are owed compensation”.

Waspi has said that “hundreds of thousands of women” lost the opportunity to plan for their retirement because they were not notified of the changes.

The ombudsman’s report said compensating all of the 3.5 million-plus women born in the 1950s to the tune of between £1,000 and £2,950 each would cost between £3.5bn and £10.5bn, but added: “Not all women born in the 1950s will have suffered an injustice because of DWP’s maladministration in communicating state pension age.”

In response, Waspi said it wanted “justice” for “all the 3.6 million women affected”. It added: “We are now looking to those who have supported us over the years to put their money with their mouth is and back us on a proper compensation package. All the parties are now in the spotlight, with Waspi women watching and waiting to see how they should best use their votes in the coming general election.”

What happens now?

After the publication of the PHSO report, Downing Street declined to say whether the government would pay compensation or whether an apology would be issued.

The ombudsman said the DWP had “indicated it will not compensate women affected by its failure”. The DWP said it would consider the ombudsman’s report and respond in due course.

The PHSO has taken the unusual step of asking parliament to intervene to ensure its recommendations to compensate the women turn into reality.

• State pensions

More on this story

Thousands of UK women owed pension payout after ombudsman’s Waspi ruling

‘I felt like I’d been scammed’: woman describes chaos of state pension age changes

Raising UK state pension age to 71 would bring ‘misery’ to millions

‘We never got off the treadmill’: the Britons who can’t afford to retire

UK state pension age will soon need to rise to 71, say experts

UK women ‘need to work extra 19 years to retire with same pension pot as men’

The Guardian view on the state pension age: mindlessly hiking it is not the answer

Decision on bringing forward UK pension age rise to 68 delayed until after election

Ministers reportedly scrap plan to bring forward rise in UK state pension age

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Blog The Education Hub

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/03/15/how-to-claim-15-hours-free-childcare-code/

How to claim 15 hours free childcare including how to get your code

We’re making the  biggest investment  by a UK government into childcare in history, doubling the amount we expect to spend over the next few years from around £4 billion to around £8 billion each year.  

• Currently, eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds can access 30 hours of childcare support.  
• From  April 2024 , eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.  
• From  September 2024 , 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents with a child from 9-months-old.  
• From  September 2025 , support will reach 30 hours for eligible working parents with a child from 9-months-old up to school age.  

When can I apply?  

Applications are open until 31 March for eligible working parents of 2-year-olds to receive 15 hours free childcare starting from April 2024.  

From 1 April, eligible working parents whose children will be 2 or older by the 31 August, can apply to receive 15 hours childcare starting from September 2024.   

And from 12 May, eligible working parents whose children will be aged between 9- and 23-months old on 31st August, can apply to receive 15 hours childcare starting from September 2024.  

It’s important to remember that codes need to be renewed every three months, so parents applying close to 12 May will need to renew their code prior to the offer starting in September.  

How do I apply?   

You apply online here on   Gov.uk once you have checked our  eligibility criteria .  

You’ll need to make sure you have the following information to hand before starting the application:  

• your national insurance number (or unique taxpayer reference if you are self-employed)  
• the date you started or are due to start work  
• details of any government support or benefits you receive  
• the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) for your child.  

You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days.  

Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code to give to your childcare provider.  

Eligible parents are also able to access Tax-Free Childcare through the same application system. You can apply for Tax-Free Childcare at any time. However, you don't need to apply for Tax-Free Childcare to be eligible to apply for the 15 hours childcare scheme.   

What happens once I receive my code?  

Once you receive your code, you’ll need to take it to your childcare provider, along with your National Insurance number and your child’s date of birth.  

Your childcare provider will process the code to provide your place.  

Places will be available for September in every area of the country, but a significant minority of settings hold waiting lists of over six months. If you have a preferred nursery for September, you should reach out now to secure a place for your child ahead of receiving your code.  

Your local authority can provide support for finding a government-funded place in your area.  

What if I’m already registered for Tax Free Childcare?  

Parents must reconfirm that they are still eligible for Tax-Free Childcare every 3 months.  

Parents who are already claiming Tax-Free Childcare and need to reconfirm their eligibility between 1 April and 12 May will be automatically issued a code in the post from HMRC soon after the 12 May.   

This is to ensure every parent can give their code to their provider in good time. This code will be valid to apply for 15 hours of government-funded childcare from September.   

If I receive a code in a letter from HMRC, does this make my code on my Childcare Account invalid?  

No. Both codes will be valid.   

Do I need to wait for my reconfirmation window to add another child to my account?  

A parent who is already using the childcare service for another child can add a new child to their account at any time.  

Your reconfirmation cycle for your current Tax-Free Childcare will not affect this.  

How are you making sure there will be enough childcare places for eligible parents?  

Parents that have a preferred place for September should reach out now to their local provider to secure a physical place for their child ahead of time.  

To make sure there are enough places available, we’re investing over £400 million in 2024-25 to increase the hourly rates paid to local authorities.  

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has independently reported that the average funding rates for two-year-olds and under 2s paid by government from April 2024 are projected to be substantially higher than the market rate paid by parents last year, and we have committed to further increases to provider rates for the next two years.  

We have also committed to increasing hourly funding rates over the next two years by an estimated £500 million, to make sure providers can increase places at each phase of the rollout.    

You may also be interested in:

• Budget 2023: Everything you need to know about childcare support
• Before and after school childcare: Everything you need to know about wraparound care
• Free childcare: How we are tackling the cost of childcare

Tags: 15 hours free childcare , Applying for 15 hours free childcare , Childcare , Free childcare 2024 , Free childcare eligibility , tax-free childcare , When to apply for 15 hour free childcare

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Press Release

Sec adopts rules to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures for investors.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2024-31

Washington D.C., March 6, 2024 —

The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted rules to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures by public companies and in public offerings. The final rules reflect the Commission’s efforts to respond to investors’ demand for more consistent, comparable, and reliable information about the financial effects of climate-related risks on a registrant’s operations and how it manages those risks while balancing concerns about mitigating the associated costs of the rules.

“Our federal securities laws lay out a basic bargain. Investors get to decide which risks they want to take so long as companies raising money from the public make what President Franklin Roosevelt called ‘complete and truthful disclosure,’” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. “Over the last 90 years, the SEC has updated, from time to time, the disclosure requirements underlying that basic bargain and, when necessary, provided guidance with respect to those disclosure requirements.”

Chair Gensler added, “These final rules build on past requirements by mandating material climate risk disclosures by public companies and in public offerings. The rules will provide investors with consistent, comparable, and decision-useful information, and issuers with clear reporting requirements. Further, they will provide specificity on what companies must disclose, which will produce more useful information than what investors see today. They will also require that climate risk disclosures be included in a company’s SEC filings, such as annual reports and registration statements rather than on company websites, which will help make them more reliable.”

Specifically, the final rules will require a registrant to disclose:

• Climate-related risks that have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the registrant’s business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition;
• The actual and potential material impacts of any identified climate-related risks on the registrant’s strategy, business model, and outlook;
• If, as part of its strategy, a registrant has undertaken activities to mitigate or adapt to a material climate-related risk, a quantitative and qualitative description of material expenditures incurred and material impacts on financial estimates and assumptions that directly result from such mitigation or adaptation activities;
• Specified disclosures regarding a registrant’s activities, if any, to mitigate or adapt to a material climate-related risk including the use, if any, of transition plans, scenario analysis, or internal carbon prices;
• Any oversight by the board of directors of climate-related risks and any role by management in assessing and managing the registrant’s material climate-related risks;
• Any processes the registrant has for identifying, assessing, and managing material climate-related risks and, if the registrant is managing those risks, whether and how any such processes are integrated into the registrant’s overall risk management system or processes;
• Information about a registrant’s climate-related targets or goals, if any, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s business, results of operations, or financial condition. Disclosures would include material expenditures and material impacts on financial estimates and assumptions as a direct result of the target or goal or actions taken to make progress toward meeting such target or goal;
• For large accelerated filers (LAFs) and accelerated filers (AFs) that are not otherwise exempted, information about material Scope 1 emissions and/or Scope 2 emissions;
• For those required to disclose Scope 1 and/or Scope 2 emissions, an assurance report at the limited assurance level, which, for an LAF, following an additional transition period, will be at the reasonable assurance level;
• The capitalized costs, expenditures expensed, charges, and losses incurred as a result of severe weather events and other natural conditions, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, drought, wildfires, extreme temperatures, and sea level rise, subject to applicable one percent and de minimis disclosure thresholds, disclosed in a note to the financial statements;
• The capitalized costs, expenditures expensed, and losses related to carbon offsets and renewable energy credits or certificates (RECs) if used as a material component of a registrant’s plans to achieve its disclosed climate-related targets or goals, disclosed in a note to the financial statements; and
• If the estimates and assumptions a registrant uses to produce the financial statements were materially impacted by risks and uncertainties associated with severe weather events and other natural conditions or any disclosed climate-related targets or transition plans, a qualitative description of how the development of such estimates and assumptions was impacted, disclosed in a note to the financial statements.

Before adopting the final rules, the Commission considered more than 24,000 comment letters, including more than 4,500 unique letters, submitted in response to the rules’ proposing release issued in March 2022.

The adopting release is published on SEC.gov and will be published in the Federal Register. The final rules will become effective 60 days following publication of the adopting release in the Federal Register, and compliance dates for the rules will be phased in for all registrants, with the compliance date dependent on the registrant’s filer status.

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• Rule Details