6 Ways to Handle Gaps in Your Employment History on Your Resume

It's not uncommon to have gaps in your resume, especially if you've been out of the workforce for a while. But how do you deal with them when you're trying to find a new job?

Here are some tips on how to deal with career gaps in your resume:

• 1. Be honest

Don't try to cover up your career gap. Be honest and upfront about it.

• 2. Be brief

Too much detail will only serve to remind the employer of the time you were out of work. Keep the explanation brief and focus the rest of your resume on your current and past experiences.

• 3. Use positive language

When describing your career gap, use positive language. For example, instead of saying "I was unemployed for six months," try saying "I took six months off to learn new skills."

• 4. Highlight what you did during that time

Just because you weren't working, doesn't mean you were doing nothing. Highlight any volunteering, freelancing, or if you took some time off to travel or care for your family, highlight what you accomplished during that time. For example, you might say "I took a year off to travel the world. I learned a lot about different cultures and I'm now fluent in Spanish."

• 5. Keep it recent

If your career gap was a long time ago, you don't need to include it.

• 6. Don't let your career gap hold you back

Once you've addressed your career gap in your resume, don't let it hold you back from applying for jobs or networking. Remember, you're not the only one with a career gap!

Whatever you do, don't try to hide the gaps when you create a resume. Career gaps are perfectly normal and employers will understand. If you’re asked about them in an interview, be prepared to talk about what you did during that time. honesty is always the best policy!