Gaps in your CV will look like mysterious and empty spaces to prospective employers who are suspicious of time not accounted for and may fear the worst. Were you hospitalized, in prison, on a secret mission for a government organization? Don’t let your CV be the basis for a potential employer’s paranoia!

The truth is probably not sinister at all as most gaps are periods of ‘chosen’ unemployment, or as actors say, resting between jobs. Of course, in the real world, there is nothing wrong or strange with these periods and most people have the odd gap in their CV, perhaps after being laid off unexpectedly, or just taking time in finding the next job.

But to a human resources department a gap in the CV can be the focus of the CV itself, and so it is always best to actively account for those gaps and even turn them into positive events in our lives.

Make clear the circumstances surrounding gaps

If the gap in your CV occurred after being laid off from a previous position then emphasize the circumstances of your departure. Perhaps it was a sudden redundancy or an unexpected downsizing during a recession. Perhaps there were other circumstances that go some way to explaining why a gap in your career was likely if not inevitable.

By making clear the circumstances of your departure from a position, you can set the tone for how you managed to ride out an awkward career event and get back into work eventually, and how you used the gap in a positive way. Even if you left your previous employment voluntarily, you almost certainly had a reason that seemed right at the time, and you can sell that reason to a prospective employer by making clear your feelings and circumstances at the time, in an honest but positive manner.

It is better that they know, and understand, rather than wonder, right from the offset.

Keep it positive

When explaining the circumstances surrounding gaps in your CV, keep the message positive. Don’t depress your CV, or infect your interview, with stories of hardship, betrayal or a general sense of being hard done by. Even if that is what you feel! Employers want to hear how you succeeded in the end through your own actions, despite tricky circumstances, such as a redundancy or recession or illness.

Emphasise actions during the gap

This is where you can turn a gap in your CV from something awkward into something positive that actually enhances your career story and demonstrates your resourcefulness. Emphasize all the activities you took while you were not employed including:

  • Any courses you took during the period or certificates gained.
  • Any freelance, contract or consulting work you did.
  • Any other valuable experience you attained during the gap.
  • Any volunteering, caring or personal projects you undertook.

Honesty is the best policy

Avoid the temptation to be less than honest about those awkward gaps. Being honest is itself a sign of virtue that appeals to employers, whereas lies tend to unravel under close scrutiny or in an interview situation. See the positive spin on the circumstances surrounding your gaps, and on the gaps themselves, even if you have to dig deep to find it, and communicate this honestly on your CV. Your gap may not close entirely, but it will no longer be a dangerous canyon in the story of your career.

Reduce the risk

When a prospective employer reviews a CV, they are making a number of notes about skills, experience, and personality traits, but they are also conducting a risk assessment. Recruitment is a costly business with a lot of time and resources required to get the job done effectively. Therefore, if your CV contains anything that may be considered risky when there are many other ‘safer’ CVs at hand, it will be very challenging to secure an interview.

Reduce the risk by eliminating any elements of your CV that seem dubious, such as a gap. The best way to get rid of a gap is to fill it, so make sure to write something down so that your CV is voided of potential red flags. Rather than handing your potential employer a CV of cumbersome stutters and starts, provide them with a fluid read from start to finish without any cause for speculation.

This is not a confession

Although it is important to be honest and informative, your CV does not need to include every minute detail of your life. Clarify the gaps in your CV that require explanation, but do not go overboard. Gaps that happened much earlier in your career probably do not affect your recent career history, and, therefore, need not be mentioned.

This is especially the case if the jobs back then are unrelated to your current career goals. If you are unsure, remember that many CV formats only include the years of employment rather than specific dates, so you can adhere to this format if you think it is more appropriate for your application.

Be prepared

Remember that your CV is the precursor to that all-important interview. Therefore, make sure whatever you decide to write in your CV makes sense to you, after all if you don’t understand it how will your potential employer?! Only write down what you are comfortable discussing in person and make sure to keep it simple. Interviews are nerve-racking for everyone, so be prepared. Assume your interviewer will ask about the gaps, and use the information you provided in your CV to inform your answers.

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