It’s understandable that you feel anxious about career gaps. Should you justify the break on your resume? Will the interviewer ask you tough questions about it? Will you even get a callback?
For starters, career gaps are a lot more common than you think! A 2022 LinkedIn survey found that nearly two-thirds (62%) of employees have taken a break at some point in their careers.
Moreover, LinkedIn released this survey data while introducing a new “Career Breaks” feature, allowing its users to showcase non-employment experiences and skills acquired during a professional pause. LinkedIn’s move says two things very clearly:
1) A lot of users are interested in this feature (which also means that interviewers are seeing more people like you — you’re less unusual than you think!)
2) There is room to explain a gap. The world’s most popular business networking platform seems to be saying so!
Moreover, as studies uncover how women and people from some communities tend to face discrimination that causes career breaks, employers are under increasing moral pressure to give job-seekers with employment breaks a chance.
In this blog, we look at key moves to help you handle employment gaps. We’ve also packed in examples that show you how to explain job gaps in an interview.
Step 1 – Acknowledge the Career Gap
Caregiving duties and medical conditions may cause employment gaps.. Maybe you needed to catch your breath and check a destination off your bucket list, or finally pursue that higher education degree. Being fired from a job has caused many workers an involuntary and unexpected experience gap, too. Such job losses have increased in recent times as technological advancements and economic struggles are changing how companies operate. There may be other reasons.
All your reasons (including those not on this list) are justified, and according to the LinkedIn study, 51% of employers would be more likely call a candidate back if they knew the reason behind the gap in employment.
This means that you’re better off justifying the career break on your resume rather than trying to gloss over it. Offer a brief explanation that puts the employer at ease.e’ll also show you how to position the employment gap as an advantage in steps 2 and 3.
Step 2 – Craft a Clear Narrative
The first shift needs to happen within your own mindset. Recognize that your career gap isn’t a problem in itself. What matters is how you frame it!
Write down every skill, experience, or achievement,even if it was unrelated to your previous role.
Did you take online courses in user experience design? Lead a fundraising campaign for a local nonprofit?
Those experiences aren’t just placeholders; they highlight initiative and adaptability. You might not see them as “career” moves, but a hiring manager could view them as indicators of resilience and leadership potential.
Once you have a ready list, you’re all set to take on the next step.
Step 3 – Play the “Upskilled” Card
Over half (56%) of employees say they acquired new skills or improved existing ones, such as problem-solving, communication, and budgeting during their career gap.
You have surely done the same during your break. In this step, you map skills to the list of experiences that you created in the last step. The goal is to connect the experience, skills gained, and future target positions.
If you plan to apply for product management roles, emphasize the project coordination aspect of that fundraiser you assisted on. If you’re aiming for jobs for unemployed teachers returning to education, stress any tutoring or volunteer teaching you did during the gap. Doing so underscores that your gap wasn’t idle time — it was a chapter of continued growth.
| How To Explain Gaps In Work Experience | |
| Career gap situations | Positioning the gap positively |
| If you left a sales job to catch your breath, and you to explored freelance work, during your break, you could say: | “After spending several months working as an independent consultant, I honed my client-facing and negotiation skills across different industries. Now I’m eager to bring these broadened insights back into a full-time sales role at a forward-thinking company like yours.” |
| If you took six months off to help an elderly relative, you could say: | “During those six months, I managed various medical appointments and schedules, which sharpened my organizational and time-management abilities. I’m now ready to apply that adaptability and empathy to a fast-paced role where I can juggle multiple deadlines.” |
| If you gave up a corporate job (for whatever reason) and conducted social work in the interim, you could say: | “I chose to volunteer with local community programs, from organizing a clothing drive to mentoring underprivileged children. Through these activities, I developed stronger leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving skills—traits I’m excited to bring back to a corporate setting.” |
Step 4 – Strategize Interview Confidence
It’s a good idea to practice for any interview, but for the ones that follow an employment gap, rehearsing is crucial. Jot down a short statement about the gap. Practice it aloud several times and try different versions with your friends and family. After a few attempts, you are sure to find one that rolls off your tongue most naturally. You want to sound genuine rather than rehearsed.
Pro tip: Pay attention to your tone. The goal is to sound firm but approachable, confident but not pompous.
Also, plan for any negative-line questioning that might follow. When tackling potential negative questions, view them as a chance to show your adaptability and willingness to stay updated. It’s not just about defending your career gap — it’s about proving you’ve remained engaged and proactive.
| Hiring Manager | Candidate |
| “It’s nice to know the skills you’ve gathered during your employment gap. But wouldn’t you agree you may have lost touch with your network or fallen behind in such a rapidly evolving sector?” | “I understand your concern. During my gap, I stayed connected to my field by attending online workshops, participating in professional forums, and keeping up with industry news. I also maintained close contact with former colleagues, so I’m confident I’m still current on the latest trends. In many ways, the time away gave me a fresh perspective and renewed energy to excel in this role.” |
After you’ve addressed the experience gap, steer the conversation toward your achievements, unique skill sets, and reasons you’re perfect for the role.
Experience NEWJOBPHORIA with SPECTRAFORCE
At SPECTRAFORCE, we find people new jobs that make them feel euphoria every single day. We believe that jobs should be an extension of who you are — and that includes the commitments, interests, human-ness and sheer tough luck that might prompt a career break.
Our recruiters don’t just throw you into a job profile. We’ll learn who you are, find the best job matches, and prepare you so that you feel confident and positive. We also handle hard negotiations for you.
Ready to return to the workforce with a job you truly love? Fill out this quick form to get started.
FAQs
1) What is an employment gap?
An “employment gap” means any period without official work. It’s not necessarily negative if you highlight growth or skill-building—like volunteering or online courses.
2) Is a gap in my resume bad?
Not automatically. If you have employment gaps in your resume, address them with honesty, focusing on gained insights.
3) Should I put employment dates on my resume?
Employers expect accurate timelines. Leaving them off can raise questions about hidden periods or missing details.
4) Should I list health issues on my resume?
Generally, no. Emphasize relevant experiences or explain gaps in employment; details can remain private.
