Everyone has a career gap story, whether you were laid off, shifted focus to your personal life, or something else came up. And, while you might think career gaps are tricky to address (it’s true that you can’t be sure of the mindset of recruiters and hiring managers)—you don’t need to stress. Career gaps are normal (seriously) and don’t need to be an obstacle to your job search goals.
Unsurprisingly, employment gaps are becoming more common, so while they might have once been taboo, they’re not necessarily a red flag. Employers know disruptions to consistent employment can bring opportunities to develop new skills and accomplish personal growth goals, none of which are always easy with a full-time work schedule.
From reframing the traditional narrative about employment gaps to emphasizing how you continue to round out your skills during time away, you can make the job “gap” a non-issue with the right attitude and approach. Read on for ideas on how you can move through career gaps and confidently reenter the workforce.
While a gap in work experience can, in theory, be seen as a “stain” on a seemingly perfect resume, if you convey authenticity, you can help prevent hiring managers from seeing the gap as a downside. While consistent experience and growth is important, being honest about real life can set you apart from other candidates if the company is on the hunt for a cultural match. Besides, it’s easier to be real than to spin what might be almost nothing in the eyes of the potential employer into a harrowing tale. You really don’t need to be defensive or overexplain.
Consider reframing the narrative of the “job gap.” Don’t look at the time as lost, and don’t communicate it that way to others. Instead, consider what transferrable skills you learned or used during this time. Maybe you volunteered in the community or took e-courses to develop applicable technical skills. Whatever the case, don’t default to excuses. Instead, focus on your development and emphasize how what you did during the gap applies to the here and now.
Acknowledge the time between jobs and focus on what you gained that benefits the employer–maybe it’s the insight you picked up through self-reflection, alternative learning methods you sought out, or relationship-building you created time for. You don’t need flowcharts to illustrate what led to the job gap or explain why you decided to take time off. Instead, highlight how you’re a more well-rounded person and how the time led you to apply for the job you’re after. These genuine insights demonstrate originality that will likely set you apart from competitors.
Staying involved in your professional network is a good way to be proactive about your career, even if you’re secure in your current role, and especially during employment gaps. If you don’t already have a LinkedIn page, creating a profile and connecting with former/current coworkers (and people in any industries you target) is good. And if you’ve developed a personal website or enjoy sharing helpful resources with your connections, make sure you have easy access to provide those without being pushy about it. A friendly touch-base with someone you’ve worked with is an excellent way to develop ideas and get intel you can use when you return to the job market or transition to another field, but don’t treat people like that’s why you keep them around.
The importance of authenticity is real.
While not everyone takes it personally when you connect just in time for a hot job lead, most can tell when this is your approach, so don’t fake it. Stay in touch with people you want to work with again, and make the interaction a little more human than not.
It can be daunting (or at least you can build yourself up) to address a gap in your work experience. But you can control the conversation if you can reframe the narrative and discuss the personal growth you experienced during that period. Employers want to hire humans that continue to organically develop their professional and personal skills and experiences, no matter how long they’re out of the traditional workforce. So, stay active in your network and find creative ways to compare the skills you need to get through life’s many phases with those required by the role you want.