A Career Gap on a Resume Can Kill Your Job Search

[Joyzfsddt66]

A career gap can be defined as a period of months or years when an individual was not employed at a job, either by choice or circumstance. A gap in employment history on a resume, particularly extending a year or more, may cause concern by a potential hiring manager and could be the sole reason your resume was rejected.

For the unfortunate job seeker whose last paid role ended in 2013, and now we’re in 2015, it becomes imperative the downtime in employment be addressed in your resume and cover letter with honesty and positivity.

There are numerous reasons why an individual may find themselves in a period of career transition. Let’s start with maternity leave. Numerous companies now offer extended maternity leave options while other employees choose cayman islands whatsapp phone number to quit with the goal of staying home indefinitely. I refer to this as a personal sabbatical. If you used the opportunity to not only raise a family but took some online courses, volunteered within the community, or project managed the family business, share those details with the reader. For example:

Personal Sabbatical, 2014 – present

Completed online courses in sales, marketing and promotions to heighten professional competencies and remain current while on an extended maternity leave.

Similar statements can be made if you halted your career to assume full time care giving duties to a family member. As Boomers, we’re the children of aging parents, thus I’m now seeing more clients who have taken family medical leave. It is a perfectly acceptable reason for a career gap so don’t feel inhibited in sharing with the reader.

Perhaps as part of your career plan you determined the need to advance your educational qualifications, necessitating a career gap to return to school. I recommend you show this in two areas: list your Academic Sabbatical in the Professional Experience section to avoid there being a gap in your career timeline when the resume is quickly scanned by HR. Secondly show your academic credentials including name of the institution, full degree / certification name and graduating year under the Education section of your resume.