Getting Back in the Game – How to Explain a Gap in Your Resume

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by Keith Ferrazzi

RMAer Veronica Volk is looking to get back into the job market after a two-year sabbatical. While she is a seasoned real estate and structured finance professional, she told me she was worried she’d be at a disadvantage because of her time off.

So many people get caught up with the positioning of how to explain a gap in their resume.  There’s no need to be apologetic! Speak with great zeal about your time away. Talk about what you did – people love stories. Tell them about that trip you finally got to take, that project you finally got around to completing, whatever it may be. What did you learn about life and you? Most people WISH they’d had some time off to pursue other things.

And then, of course, let them know you’re ready to dive back into work! After time away, you’ve had time to get your batteries totally charged and are ready to devote as much passion and energy to work as you did to your time off.

How have you made the most of a sabbatical or transition between jobs?

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5 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. Well said Keith!

    Employers don't expect you to be a career junkie. And if they do, they're the kind of employers you don't really wanna work for in the first place. A gap in your CV is actually a good thing if you know how to position it as a fun and growing experience for you.

  2. Jerry Palmer says:
    July 29, 2010 at 6:15 am
    Reply

    I left a top tier consulting firm after 20 years and have been training for Ironman Florida. The journey has been amazing. I'm looking forward to telling the story when I return to work. I have a whole new perspective on goal setting and persistence

  3. If there is a voluntary gap because one decides to step off the career ladder to "find oneself", it can be disastrous. In what is a highly competitive market place for jobs, employers need only the slightest excuse to shorten their shortlist. Employers are generally risk averse. What happens if the person who took time out to become a qualified pilot decides to fly around the world after 3 months of rejoining the rat race. Beware! Your stories may be fascinating to the potential employer but you may not get a chance to tell them.

  4. Keith,

    Instead of worrying about the gap, I suggest people like Veronica focus on articulating the value they bring to potential employers *BECAUSE OF THE GAP* ie the specific benefits to an employer of hiring someone with a gap in their resume rather than someone who hasn't had a gap:

    Examples:
    - the gap period helped you build a stronger network. this means you could be someone who bring you new clients, strategic partners or talent via your network
    - the gap period gave you time to read and learn much more about your industry and so you're far more tuned into market trends and intelligence than most people actually in those industries
    - the gap after redundancy and subsequent job search forced you to deal with set backs and uncertainty on a daily basis. But this has made you far more resilient and better equipped to deal with change and uncertainty
    -etc
    -etc

    ie build the gap into your value proposition and a key differentiator from competitors, rather than it being a perceived disadvantage

  5. Keith,

    I agree with your comment about candidates being enthusiastic regarding their gap in employment when they've done something positive between jobs. Unfortunately, the vast majority of candidates with employment gaps of 6 months to a year don't have anything positive to talk about other than a mediocre and failed passive job search. Their job search is luke-warm and reactive, their increase in knowledge is nil, and basically they've been a coach potato waiting for the phone to ring.

    Yes - I realize this is one of the worst employment markets since the great depression. However, as a recruiter, get me excited - turned on - engaged - about all the wonderful things you've done since you left your last job. Use the gap as an opportunity to learn a new computer skill, read everything there is to know on employee engagement, take an extension course from your local university, attend a few webinars, volunteer in a community organization, or take a leadership role in a trade group. The list is endless of how you can demonstrate initiative and personal growth - even in a down period of your life.

    Here's a good statistic: Out of over 5,000 candidates interviewed in the last year, less than .1% had anything positive to talk about in their employment gap -- and these are all executive level candidates in the $150K-$500K range.

    Barry Deutsch
    Partner
    IMPACT Hiring Solutions
    http://www.impacthiringsolutions.com/careerblog

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