Sometimes, even though we plan out our lives down to the hours, situations force us to make a detour. It may be caused by something that we don’t choose to happen such as a sick family member; sometimes it’s our own choice, like going back to school. As a result, our executive jobs takes a break for months and even years. That’s where we will find the resume gaps – significant periods of time where we didn’t have a job.
The problem with this is that the gap will never be filled. It will stay in your resume (because of course you need to be as honest as possible in your CV), and you might have to explain it over and over again. That’s good, rather than not being asked about it and instead only getting dismissed as someone who did not work for two years or so. As long as you’re ready and prepared to respond to questions regarding your gaps, you’ll be fine. Here are some tips:
Wait for the question to be raised. You don’t need to explain resume gaps in your cover letter, nor do you have to insert an explanation somewhere in your resume. Remember that the purpose of both your resume and your cover letter is to get you an interview. If your cover letter sounds guilty or defensive, employers might get turned off.
Be honest. Better to be genuine than to sound fake. Recruiters talk to different applicants on a regular basis, and so you can expect them to know if somebody is not telling the truth. Moreover, they have heard all sorts of cliché type of answers, such as “I was in between jobs” or “I was exploring my options.” For three years you were exploring your options? We don’t think so. Just state the true reasons if you ever get asked about the time gaps in your resume, and state them as a matter of fact. Not defensively; not emotional.
Prove that you’re relevant. Amid the gaps in your resume, you can still prove yourself worthy of being accepted into the job that you are applying for. Cover up the gaps with your strengths, skills and competency.
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