Here’s how to explain employment gaps on your resume:
- Use your resume summary to briefly explain why you weren’t working during the gap
- Highlight volunteer experience or independent projects you worked on during that time
- Explain what you learned or gained during your employment gap
- Provide a convincing cover letter that explains your situation
Having employment gaps on your resume isn’t as bad as many job seekers think it is. Employers understand that there are many legitimate reasons why you might have gaps in your work history. As long as you explain those gaps, employers are unlikely to hold them against you.
For instance, any of the following examples are good reasons for gaps in your resume:
- Caring for a sick family member
- Raising a child or children
- Going back to school
- Being laid off from your previous job
- Long-term health issues
- Undertaking a personal project
