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I've seen and reviewed many thousands of CVs throughout my time as a recruiter. I often see gaps and talk to worried candidates about them. But, those gaps in your employment history aren't the deal-breakers you might think they are.
We All Have Gaps
Have you been caring for a family member or taken time for your health? Maybe you've gained additional qualifications or been made redundant during tough economic times. If so, you're in good company. These situations are part of real careers and real lives.
Straight Talk on Handling Gaps
Honesty matters, but so does presentation:
- Don't fudge your dates or invent jobs (we check, and it kills trust immediately)
- Include any gaps in your employment clearly within the employment history part of your CV in date order so it's easy for the reader to understand
- For recent or longer gaps, tackle them head-on in your cover letter
- Match your LinkedIn profile dates to your CV dates. We check, clients check, they need to be the same
Different Gaps Need Different Approaches
- Health issues? Keep it simple: 'I took time to address a health matter that's now resolved'
- Family care? 'While managing family care responsibilities, I maintained professional development through industry webinars and volunteer work'
- Study periods? These are investments in yourself - highlight new skills gained
- Redundancy? Be direct about what happened, then focus on how you used that time productively
Making Your Gap Time Count
Did you do any of these during your employment break?
- Freelance work (even small projects)
- Volunteering that used your professional skills
- Online courses or training
- Personal projects related to your industry
- Community involvement
Create a 'Professional Development' section to showcase these activities. They demonstrate initiative and commitment.
Ready for the Interview Question
When I'm interviewing candidates, I always ask about gaps. Those who answer confidently and then pivot back to why they're right for the role always impress me more than those who apologise or seem embarrassed.
The bottom line? Your career isn't a straight, unbroken line - and neither is anyone else's. What matters is what you've learned, how you've grown, and whether you're the right fit for the role today.
So stop worrying about those gaps and start thinking about how to present your complete professional story - breaks and all.
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