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Addressing Time Gaps in Your Resume
If you have a
long time gap in your resume, it may not look good to potential
employers, but there are ways to deal with it.
Did you do anything significant during your gap? For example, if
you did any freelance work, consulting or volunteer work then
that is no problem. You should list those in your resume as if
it was a real job under work history. List the name of the
company or charity organization you worked with, the city and
state, dates of work and your achievements.
If you have nothing relevant to put in a resume to address a
time gap, do a functional resume instead of a chronological
resume. A functional resume highlights your skills and
achievements as opposed to the jobs you held. Split the work
history into 2 sections, in the first, highlight your skills and
achievements that apply to job you are looking for, in the
second, list the jobs and dates. Recruiters are a little wary of
functional resumes, but if you think that it is your best
option, and a chronological format won't get you in the door,
then use a functional resume.
If the gap was recent, it might be a good idea to address it in
your cover letter. Recruiters are interested in what you have
been doing recently, so if the gap was a long time ago, don't
bother explaining it in the cover letter. Make no excuses for
the gap, but just say that you have been out of work for ____
reason and that you are excited to return.
Finally, if your gap comes up in the interview, don't try to
avoid it, make your answer short and to the point. Details are
ok if you did something that you think might help you get the
job such as taking classes or doing volunteer work. Whatever the
explanation, make sure your answer ends positively by saying
that you are eager to start work again.
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