cover letter career gaps

Written Samples

10 sample cover letters explaining gap in employment.

In the contemporary job market, gaps in employment are not uncommon. However, effectively explaining these gaps in cover letters remains a challenge for many job seekers.

Whether the gap is due to personal reasons, educational pursuits, or unforeseen circumstances, it’s crucial to address it in a way that is both honest and professional. This article provides ten sample cover letters, each tailored to different situations and reasons for employment gaps.

Sample Cover Letters Explaining Gap in Employment

These samples aim to guide and inspire job seekers in crafting their own compelling cover letters that transparently and effectively communicate their unique situations.

Sample 1: Personal Health Issue

Dear [Employer’s Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name], as advertised on [Where You Found the Job Posting]. My professional background in [Your Field/Industry], combined with my commitment to personal growth and development, makes me a strong candidate for this role.

I would like to address a gap in my employment from [Start Date] to [End Date], which occurred due to a personal health issue. During this period, I focused on my health and recovery, ensuring that I could return to the workforce with renewed vigor and dedication. This time away also allowed me to engage in various online courses and workshops related to [Your Field/Industry], keeping my skills and knowledge up-to-date.

I am now fully recovered and eager to bring my enhanced perspective and capabilities to your team. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my experience and skills will be beneficial to [Company Name].

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Sample 2: Family Care Responsibilities

I am excited to apply for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. With a strong background in [Your Field/Industry] and a proven track record of [Specific Achievement or Skill], I am prepared to make a significant contribution to your team.

Before delving into my professional qualifications, I wish to clarify the gap in my employment history from [Start Date] to [End Date]. This period was dedicated to providing essential care for a family member undergoing a serious health challenge. While this was a time of personal commitment, it also afforded me the opportunity to develop valuable skills such as time management, empathy, and resilience, which I believe are beneficial in any professional setting.

Now that I am returning to the workforce, I am eager to apply these skills, along with my professional expertise, to the role of [Job Title] at [Company Name]. Thank you for considering my application.

Sample 3: Educational Pursuits

I am writing to apply for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name], as listed on [Where You Found the Job Posting]. My background in [Your Field/Industry], along with my recent educational advancements, positions me as a strong candidate for this role.

I would like to highlight the gap in my employment from [Start Date] to [End Date], which was due to my decision to further my education in [Field of Study]. During this time, I completed [Degree or Certification] at [Institution Name], which has significantly enhanced my skills in [Specific Skills or Areas]. This academic pursuit was a strategic step to deepen my expertise and broaden my capabilities within [Your Field/Industry].

With my updated qualifications and renewed passion for [Your Field/Industry], I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to [Company Name] and achieve [Specific Company Goals or Projects].

Sample 4: Volunteering and Travel

I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to apply for the [Job Title] role at [Company Name]. My experience in [Your Field/Industry], coupled with my commitment to personal and professional growth, makes me an ideal candidate for this position.

I would like to address the gap in my employment from [Start Date] to [End Date]. During this time, I engaged in a combination of volunteering and travel. My volunteer work with [Organization Name] in [Location] allowed me to develop [Specific Skills or Experiences], while traveling provided me with a broader world view and an appreciation for diverse cultures and practices. These experiences have enriched my professional abilities, particularly in areas such as [Relevant Skills or Perspectives].

I am now eager to apply these enriched skills and perspectives to the role of [Job Title] at [Company Name]. Thank you for considering my application.

Sample 5: Starting a Business

I am writing to express my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. My extensive experience in [Your Field/Industry] and my entrepreneurial background make me a unique and valuable candidate for this role.

I wish to explain the gap in my employment history from [Start Date] to [End Date], during which I pursued an entrepreneurial venture by starting my own business in [Industry/Field]. This experience was immensely valuable, equipping me with skills in [List Relevant Skills, e.g., leadership, financial management, strategic planning]. While the business eventually closed, the lessons learned and skills acquired are directly applicable to the [Job Title] role at [Company Name].

I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring my unique blend of traditional employment experience and entrepreneurial spirit to your team. Thank you for considering my application.

Sample 6: Mental Health Break

I am interested in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] and am excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience in [Your Field/Industry] to your esteemed organization.

In the spirit of transparency, I would like to address the gap in my employment from [Start Date] to [End Date]. This period was a necessary mental health break, allowing me to focus on personal well-being and self-improvement. During this time, I engaged in activities that enhanced my professional competencies, such as [List Activities or Skills Developed, e.g., online courses, volunteer work].

Fully rejuvenated, I am now eager to re-enter the workforce and apply my refreshed perspective and skills to the role of [Job Title] at [Company Name]. Thank you for considering my application.

Sample 7: Pursuing a Personal Project

I am writing to express my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. With a solid background in [Your Field/Industry] and a passion for continuous learning and development, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to your team.

I would like to bring to your attention the gap in my employment from [Start Date] to [End Date]. During this period, I dedicated myself to a personal project in [Describe Project or Area]. This project not only honed my skills in [Specific Skills], but also provided me with a deeper understanding of [Relevant Industry/Area Knowledge]. The experience has equipped me with unique insights and competencies that I am excited to bring to the [Job Title] role at [Company Name].

I appreciate your consideration of my application and look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my unique experiences can benefit your organization.

Sample 8: Dealing with a Personal Loss

I am applying for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name], confident that my professional experience in [Your Field/Industry] aligns well with the demands of this role.

I would like to address a gap in my employment history, which occurred from [Start Date] to [End Date]. This period was marked by a significant personal loss, which necessitated time away from work to focus on personal matters and healing. Throughout this challenging time, I maintained my commitment to professional development by engaging in [List Any Relevant Activities, e.g., part-time courses, freelance projects].

As I return to full-time employment, I bring not only my professional expertise but also a renewed sense of resilience and emotional intelligence. I am eager to apply these qualities to the [Job Title] role at [Company Name].

Sample 9: Career Transition

I am excited to apply for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. With a diverse background in [Previous Field/Industry] and now transitioning into [New Field/Industry], I bring a unique perspective that can add substantial value to your team.

I would like to explain the gap in my employment from [Start Date] to [End Date], which was a strategic career transition phase. During this time, I focused on upskilling and retraining for [New Field/Industry] through [List Training, Courses, or Certifications]. This deliberate move was aimed at aligning my career with my passions and strengths, and I am now well-equipped with [List Newly Acquired Skills or Knowledge] relevant to the [Job Title] role.

I am enthusiastic about bringing my combination of experience and new skills to [Company Name] and contributing to your success.

Sample 10: Sabbatical for Personal Growth

I am eager to apply for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. My extensive experience in [Your Field/Industry], coupled with my recent sabbatical for personal growth, positions me well for this exciting opportunity.

I would like to discuss the gap in my employment from [Start Date] to [End Date], which was a purposeful sabbatical devoted to personal growth and exploration. This time allowed me to engage in activities such as [List Activities, e.g., volunteering, travel, studying], each of which has contributed significantly to my personal and professional development. These experiences have enhanced my abilities in areas such as [List Relevant Skills or Qualities, e.g., cross-cultural communication, adaptability, creative problem-solving].

I am now ready to re-enter the workforce with a refreshed perspective and a wealth of new ideas that I am excited to apply in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. My unique journey during this period has provided me with invaluable insights and skills that I am eager to bring to your team.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to [Company Name] and achieving new heights together.

In summary, when explaining gaps in employment in cover letters, it’s important to focus on the positive aspects of what you learned or how you grew during that time. Whether it was personal development, acquiring new skills, or overcoming challenges, these experiences can be valuable in the workplace.

The key is to communicate this effectively and professionally, as demonstrated in the samples above. Remember, every gap in employment is an opportunity to showcase resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

An Example Cover Letter Explaining a Gap in Employment

When you are applying for jobs, hiring managers will always notice gaps in employment. They’ll understandably wonder what happened. Are you at high risk of quitting? Have you experienced performance issues or exhibited irresponsible behavior in the past? 

It’s very important that you don’t ignore or gloss over an employment gap. The best way is to deal with it is honesty. And the best place to do this is in your cover letter. The tips below will explain how to address common scenarios where you may have a gap in your employment, both good and bad. Keep reading, there’s also a sample cover letter explaining a gap in employment.

How Long is Too Long of an Employment Gap?

There’s no “unacceptable” length for an employment gap per se as there are many valid reasons why you have been out of the workforce for a year — continuing education, raising a family, or dealing with an illness. Most HRs will view a 1-5 year gap in employment as a reasonable break. But longer gaps, think 5+ years, will likely warrant a more detailed explanation in your cover letter. 

How Do You Explain a Gap in Employment in a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is meant to complement your resume — highlight your strengths, showcase your motivation, and address some of the shortcomings such as an employment gap. The best place to clarify the gap in employment is the body of your cover letter. Think second or third paragraph. 

Here’s a sample cover letter structure you may want to go for:

• Introduction: Hook the reader with your motivation and key qualifications.  
• Second paragraph: Reiterate the main skill or experience you are bringing to the table.
• Third: Briefly address your employment gap and state why you are eager to get back on track. 
• Conclusion. End on a high note. Mention the value you can bring to the company or speak about your passion for the job at hand. 

Now let’s look at greater depth on how you can turn the above outline into a persuasive cover letter explaining the gaps in employment!

Be Direct When a Gap in Employment is Objectively Positive

Some gaps in employment are positive things. Even so, you still need to address them. Otherwise, a potential employer might make assumptions. Instead, take advantage of the opportunity to share something positive. Address your gap directly if you are a homemaker returning to work , received a fellowship to pursue an academic interest, taken a hiatus to do volunteer work, or worked on an independent project. Not only will this clear up any misunderstandings, but it could also be a positive addition to your application packet.

Some Gaps Can Be Ignored

Before you spend time worrying about an employment gap, ask yourself if you need to address the issue at all. For example, if you have five or more years of steady employment history, there’s no need to bring up a gap in employment before that. Likewise, you don’t need to mention gaps in employment that occurred while you were a college student. You can also ignore any gap that is less than six months. 

Finally, job hopping can be a problem, but it is not the same as having an employment gap. How you handle job-hopping really depends on the industry, and what you were doing at the time. For example, some fields like retail , hospitality, customer service , etc, tend to have a quick turnover, and employment periods tend to be shorter.

Add The Gap in The Closing Paragraph as a Power Move

If you can put a positive spin on a gap in employment, especially a recent one, add it to your closing paragraph. You can use the gap to tell prospective employers that you are now ready to move forward and do great things in your career.

For example, imagine that you are returning to work after studying for a year. You could close your cover letter by writing:

‘I was fortunate enough to spend the past year studying Organizational Psychology at Boston University. I am now ready to take the skills I have acquired and apply them as your new manager of human resources. I would love to meet with you to discuss your needs.’

Never Give Too Much Information

Remember that you are not obligated to share all of the details about a negative gap in employment. Keep in mind that a previous employer is likely to be pretty tight-lipped about a negative relationship with you unless it is something they are legally obligated to disclose. While you shouldn’t lie, you don’t have to go into great detail. 

For example, don’t go into detail about an ongoing personality conflict with a previous employer that culminated in a heated argument, and resulted in damaging your reputation on the local business scene. Instead, simply mention a difference in opinion or conflicting working styles that led to your decision to rethink your career options.

Employment Gap Cover Letter Sample in .docx Format

Download example (Word version)

Example Cover Letter Explaining a Gap in Employment – Text Format

Dear Ms. Wilkerson, 

I am writing this letter to apply for the position of General Manager of your San Diego restaurant division. I have ten years of restaurant management experience, before that, I worked in both fronts of the house and back of house positions in the fine-dining space on the west coast. I believe the experience I have closely mirrors what you need in a GM.

As someone who works in the food-service industry, I have a passion for catering people. That passion extends beyond providing delicious food to the customers who come into my venus. Because of this, I recently took a year-long hiatus to help create nutritional programs for schools in developing nations. In addition to being privileged to help others, I learned quite a bit about reducing food waste and working within a very stringent budget. I know that I can turn those skills into cost savings for any restaurant that I manage.

I am ready to jump back into the game and restart my career as a restaurant manager. I am confident that I am the perfect person to lead your restaurants in the San Diego area. Let’s meet to discuss this further!

Thanks for your time,

Jeffrey Ninja

How To Address a Gap in Employment? More Examples!

Still not sure how to compose the right narrative? Here are several quick snippets you can use in your cover letter:

Explaining a Gap in Employment Due to Family 

For the past three years, I’ve been serving as a Resident Home Educator, to my two kids, aged 6 and 9. While I’ve been out of my original career lane as a Communications Manager, I still practiced and developed my skills. Homeschooling my children have helped me improve my presentational skills and research skills. I’m now an expert in breaking down complex concepts into engaging short narratives and feel that this ability will help me find success in a new role as an Editorial Strategist with your firm. 

Explaining a Gap in Employment Due to Mental Illness

After successfully completing the $50 million M&A deal at my previous consulting firm, I decided to take a year off to restore my mental health. This time has also helped me reflect on my priorities and re-evaluate my career path, leading me to the idea of transitioning to a non-profit sector. I believe Charity Quest can greatly benefit from my past financial advisory experience to ensure better P&L management and cash flow. 

Explaining a Gap in Employment Due to Covid-19

I greatly enjoyed working at Nightime Lounge, where I served as a chief mixologist for the past 1.5 years and a half. The restaurant manager, James Welsh, can provide further reference on my performance. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, I was furloughed. However, I used my free time to create a YouTube channel and short cocktail mixology course with several signature recipes. You can review both on my website. 

How Do You Explain Gap Year in Cover Letter?

The easiest way to bring up your gap year is by briefly explaining what you did and what skills or experiences you’ve obtained along your journey. Don’t talk about the fun travel you did or lounge time you had. Instead, focus on the vocations, interests, and perhaps extra education that you’ve pursued along the way. 

Here’s a quick example of how to address a gap year in your cover letter:

“After completing my BS degree in Biology at Denver State University, I chose to take a gap year to reflect on my studies and determine which career path may work best for me. During that time, I volunteered with the West Coast Marine Savers and my experience lead me to discover my passion for water conservation. When I noticed an opening at your firm, I was excited to jump at the opportunity for applying.”

How to Explain Gaps in Employment Due to Disability?

Becoming temporary or permanently disabled can have a severe mental toll on you, which is understandable. But don’t let your doubts or negative emotions get into the way of your job search. Instead of treating (and thus speaking about) your disability as a weakness, merely acknowledge it as one of the facts. Then move on to highlighting some of your other strengths. 

Here’s a quick example of how you can address disability in your cover letter:

“ Two years ago, I got into a bad car accident and was left disabled for the following 1.5 months. Today, I have fully recovered mentally, yet still, have some difficulties walking. However, my condition in no way affects my ability to create user-friendly website designs and, specifically, material design applications.”

Final Tip: Keep it Brief, Yet Direct

Don’t make the mistake of drawing more attention to gaps in your employment than you need to. Your cover letter should focus on your skills, passions, and fit for the job. If you spend more than a couple of sentences over-explaining a gap in your work history, that’s going to be problematic. Be brief and matter of fact.

Other Cover Letter Samples

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Explaining gaps in employment can be intimidating, but there are a couple of effective methods you can use. In this article, I’m going to show you how to explain employment gaps in your interviews, resume and cover letter … with word-for-word examples and sample explanations.

Let’s get started with the interview first…

Explaining Gaps In Employment In Your Interview

Explaining gaps in employment is really just about knowing what reasons are okay to share, and which ones you should tell a white lie about or not share. And then being upfront and comfortable with your answer.

These are all good sample reasons for having a gap in employment:

• Caring for a sick family member
• Caring for a young child
• Any medical or health issue
• Taking time off to relocate and find a job in a new state/city
• Pursuing further education or going back to school
• Pursuing any other type of professional training
• Taking time off to travel, study, work on a solo project, etc.
• Trying to start a business or freelance career
• You were laid off , your former company downsized, etc… and you had trouble finding a job after
• You were actively searching but had trouble finding a job (NOTE: I’ll cover this in detail later but you need to make it sound like you were being selective in your job search and waiting to find the RIGHT fit. That sounds a *lot* better than saying, “I was looking everywhere but couldn’t find a single company that would consider hiring me!”

Once you have your reason prepared… Here are the general steps to follow when explaining gaps in employment in the interview: 

• Explain the situation clearly but briefly. They don’t need a ton of personal details. Just give them the core facts.
• Show that the situation has ended or is no longer a factor, so they won’t be worried you’ll have to take another break from working. If they hire you, they want to know you’re 100% ready to work for them.
• Reiterate your interest in their position and bring the focus back onto this job interview and this position.

Examples Of How To Explain Employment Gaps In An Interview:

Sample explanation 1:

I had to resign from my previous position to care for an aging family member. I did this for the past year. Since then, my siblings and I have hired a full-time caregiver so I no longer need to be present, and am fully available to work now and in the future. So I’ve begun job searching and I’m focused on finding a sales supervisor or manager position that will help me advance my career further now.

Sample explanation 2:

I was laid off nine months ago. I started my job search immediately after, and I’m looking for sales supervisor or sales manager positions now to continue advancing my career. I’ve had a number of interviews but haven’t found the right fit yet. One thing I’m looking for is a chance to mentor and train team members, and manage a team directly. I saw that mentioned on the job description for this position… can you tell me more about that?

Two Things To Remember When Answering:

1. You need to sound like an in-demand job candidate…

If you’re explaining a current gap in employment, you need to sound like you’re being selective and that you’re focused on making sure you find the best fit for the long term, rather than just accepting the first job you come across. That’ll make a 6 month gap (or longer) sound a bit better. If you’ve been job hunting during your employment gap, you don’t want it to sound like you haven’t had a single interview in the last few months. That’s never a good idea. If your gap in employment is related to health, travel, a family member’s health, etc…. then it’s fine to say you haven’t had any interviews.

2. Be upfront and honest…

Gaps in employment happen, and good hiring managers will realize this. If you’ve made it into the interview, there’s obviously something they liked on your resume . So when it comes to explaining gaps in employment it’s best to be honest and upfront.

You probably won’t lose out on the job by explaining the situation. You will definitely lose out on the job by lying or seeming like you’re trying to cover something up.

Explaining Gaps In Employment On Your Resume

Okay, maybe you’re still writing your resume or having trouble getting interviews. How do you explain gaps in your employment on your resume so you can GET interviews in the first place?

Here are a few ways you can explain (or hide) gaps in employment:

• List years instead of months for previous positions. (e.g. “2014-2016”). I’ve used this method in the past when I had a couple of small gaps between jobs (by a small gap, I mean 2-3 months maximum). This won’t work if you have too many gaps though, or gaps longer than one year.
• If your gaps are longer or more frequent, consider providing a brief note on the resume listing your reason for the gap in employment. Just list it like any other job. Put your previous positions with the dates you held them. And for your gap, you’d have dates there too, and a one-line explanation (“I took a hiatus from work in order to care for an elderly family member in need”).

If you use these strategies, consider going onto LinkedIn and making the same changes there too. If these options don’t work for you, write a cover letter ! This is a good idea no matter what. In your cover letter, explain what happened in detail and draw their attention to the gap so that you can tell them the full story instead of allowing them to make assumptions (you’re usually better off attacking controversial topics head-on).

That’s how I’d explain gaps in employment on a resume. Also, nobody can tell you with 100% certainty what will work in your industry, with the specific circumstances of your gap in employment (dates, length, reason for the gap, etc.)

So TEST things out. Send out 10 resumes one way, and if nobody’s responding, change something up. If it’s not working, you can’t just keep doing the same things on auto-pilot. That’s how you end up not finding a job .

It’s usually better to be upfront than hide employment gaps

I always give the same resume advice to candidates with gaps in their work history: Be straightforward rather than trying to hide dates or other pieces of information. Hiring managers are usually going to be able to tell if you’re hiding something. Your resume should feature a chronological work history on the first page that includes job titles, company names, key responsibilities for each role, and yes… dates of employment.

No matter what you do, there are some employers out there who won’t like the fact that you have a gap in your employment. That’s okay… Companies like that aren’t worth your time. We’re human. Things happen. And there’s more to life than working nonstop for 40 years. So don’t get discouraged if a few companies say they’re not interested, or just don’t respond. I guarantee those are the same companies you do NOT want to work for anyway because they’re going to have horrible vacation policies, bosses who question you every time you take a sick day, etc.

Note: These Tips and Sample Explanations Will Also Work on Job Applications

Sometimes a job application will say, “please explain any gaps in employment.” The advice resume advice above also work for job applications. Follow the same “rules”, be clear and upfront, and you’ll be fine when applying for jobs.

The one adjustment I’d recommend making on job applications (and cover letters): Be clear and direct, but don’t give too much information. The only goal of your job application is to get you into the interview. If they’re concerned about employment gaps, they can ask more in the interview. And that’s where you should be very honest/open and explain things further. That’s where you can gauge their reactions, decide how much to share based on their responses, etc. You can’t do this in a written explanation.

So, by writing too much info on a job application, you might do more harm than good. It’s better to discuss this type of thing in person, so  limit your explanation to 1-2 sentences for each gap in employment on your job applications, cover letters, etc. 

Final Advice on How to Explain Gaps in Employment:

Don’t be apologetic about your work history. Taking time off is not something to be ashamed of. Not every company will want to interview you, but some will. Stand by your decisions and choices, present your skills with a straightforward (chronological) resume format , and be ready to answer questions and explain yourself further in the job interview.

Related reading:

• What to do when you can’t find a job in your field
• How to answer “Why did you leave your last job?”

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

20 thoughts on “How to Explain Gaps in Employment (With Examples)”

Monster’s report The Future of Work 2021 has shown that the employment gap is no longer considered a red flag by almost half of employers in the US. That’s a piece of good news because it indicates that the marketplace is becoming more tolerant of deviance in the workforce.

However, it doesn’t mean that the black holes on your career record will be overlooked. Rather, they will be carefully examined and objectively evaluated so that the right candidates are not going to slip through the cracks just because of an obsolete prejudice.

I’m in the same situation, was an IT contractor for a number of years, then jobs fell away after year 2000 work had finished, and employers would no longer consider me for permanent jobs due to the fact i’d been a contractor, I guess they assumed I’d just leave when the market picked up!

Long story short, mortgage to pay, no income, had to sell my house and downsize to a flat, and then used that to go into property development with friends which has now finished, and now trying to go back to my original career of software development, seems like an uphill impossible task at the moment, but glad to read your advice even if my “career break” is 18 years!

I’ve done a lot of similar temporary jobs, but had several months gap in the middle of them nearly everytime. I’ve had dozens of interviews everytime, always get them easily. Struggle with the interviews though because I have Aspergers’. When I have been successful with that before as soon as I’ve mentioned my Epilepsy I have very mildly too, several places have changed their minds then, stopped me. I keep getting asked more + more now why I’ve got so many long employment gaps, how am I supposed to answer that in a positive way?

I thought it was interesting that you didn’t list caring for young children as a valid reason for a gap in employment. Your tips were still helpful to me, though.

Good point. That’s also a valid reason (and a common one).

Thank you for posting this, I have a ton of different jobs and gaps because being a ex pipe welder I went where the work was, most of the world does not get it. Life is a roller coaster companies will be booming for a couple years then dead as a door nail. This write up really has helped me not to make my crazy work history look so crazy.

Why don´t you just say Sabbatical ? Regardless how long the gap was it provides a plausible explanation and each one fill out with their own reasons…

i have gap of 9 month due to my previous company boss is horrible ,its very much difficulty to survive, so i had reign and taken break of six month ,from last 3 month i have given interview but its not happening so what i suppose to give reason for gap. can you explain can you explain.

Thanks for the nice article. But I am looking for more the answers of where to write this gaps explanations in our cv. My current CV sections are sunsequently like, Experiences, Educations, Technical skills and language skills, Certifications. So I have currently two 6 months gap in my CV. First one was before I started to my current job. I learned german, So I was in intensive german course. Other 6 months is after my last job. And I was preparing for the some certification exams through self study and online courses. So the question, to which section should I write this gap explanations. Thanks a lot for the answers

If you’re explaining a gap in employment, you should write it in your employment history. You should have a section with your chronological work history. I know other people recommend a “Functional” resume and all sorts of other stuff to hide gaps but in my experience, it doesn’t work. You should be listing each previous role and job duties in chronological order, with the dates. (You can choose to show months and years, or just years). And then you can put something to explain gaps of employment right in that section of your resume.

Thanks Biron Clark for the answer. As I understood you right you adviced me to write my gap explanations directly to work experiences section even though they are not work experience actually. Correct me if I understood wrong. But what about writing them to directly their own section. For example I have a section in the second page of my CV which is “language skills” So I have here just written english (business fluent), german (business fluent). Can I put that times combining near it. like below English (business fluent) German (business fluent), MM/YYYY – MM/YYYY German Course…..

or are you still offering me to write in employment history? Thanks for the ideas

I haven’t yet found the situation that applies to me, for good reason – I had taken a leave of absence to pursue a master’s degree. My mother had been ill with cancer, and was in remission, and I had the opportunity, so I went. Before I was able to complete my thesis, the cancer returned, and she died. I was devastated, and needed to take time away from teaching, because I couldn’t give students what they needed. So, though I had found another job teaching, I wasn’t able to do it, and they released me from my contract. I had only taught for a couple of weeks. After a year, I decided that I needed a longer break, and I obtained my real estate broker’s license. Since that time, I have sold real estate, although I have also been a substitute teacher – one year, I subbed the entire year with another teacher. We split the position. It saved the district money, since they didn’t have to pay benefits with two half-time teachers. The year after, I taught half days for several weeks for a teacher with a bad back problem, and I’ve subbed occasionally since then. Now, I want to go back to teaching. I’m ready now. My grief over the death of my mother is complicated, and it really devasted me. I needed the time away from teaching, because it requires everything you have to give, and I needed time to heal. I have 19 years’ experience as a teacher, and I’ve accomplished some things I’m very proud of. I am now applying for teaching positions, and I need a way to explain the past 5.5 years away from teaching full-time without sounding maudlin, or whiny.

This was really handy, thank you.

Hello! I have been unemployed for 9 months. I left my company where i had worked for 4 years to take another offer. Unfortunatey, I did leave this new position afte over 1 month. The main reason is that it doesn’t fit with me as I had thought of it. I don’t know how to explain my employmen gap for the past 9 months positively. I feel very uncomfortable and hopeless.

“You were laid off, your former company downsized, etc… and you had trouble finding a job after”

That’s pretty much why I’m not employed for now. And yet no one wants to even interview me.

I have periods of “good” jobs I would be happy to include on my resume followed by low-level jobs that would get my resume tossed. These cycles correlate to how well I have been able to deal with my depression. I have been leaving those lower-level jobs off my resume and trying to explain away the gaps instead without referring to depression as an issue that has surfaced more than once. I feel fine at the moment, but this is a big problem moving forward.

I would really like advice on how to deal with this situation without lying or oversharing!

Hello, I totally agree with Kero. Indeed, there is more to life than working nonstop for 40 years. I appreciate for your article, now I feel more confident.

Hi !! I just want to say thank you for providing this article and share it with all of us . Im out of job for almost 2 years already despite had a good career background but after continue searching there is no luck so far . Im really touched by the last part of this “So don’t get discouraged if a few companies say they’re not interested, or just don’t respond. I guarantee those are the same companies you do NOT want to work for anyway because they’re going to have horrible vacation policies, bosses who question you every time you take a sick day, etc.” …The moment I read that I burst into tear. So thank you again to at least cheer me up and have hope again .

Thanks for taking the time to write this. I’m really happy to hear this helped you.

Comments are closed.

Employment Gap on a Resume - 13 Simple Ways to Explain It

Employment gaps are not uncommon, yet they’re quite scary. Mainly, that’s because recruiters assume the worst when they see them on a resume. 

In most cases, however, employment gaps are nothing to be scared of. There can be many justifiable reasons why someone has an employment gap, from going back to school and deciding to travel to taking time and caring for their growing children. 

So what we’re getting to here is this: employment gaps are not a big deal, as long as you know how to explain them well on your resume

To learn how to explain an employment gap on a resume, we’ve put together this guide for you. Here’s what we’ll cover:

13 Best Ways to Explain Employment Gaps

• Good Reasons for an Employment Gap

Sample Resume with Employment Gap

And more! So let’s dive right in! 

During your job hunt , you’ll have three separate chances to explain an employment gap:

• On your resume
• On your cover letter
• During your interview

To best convey the employment gap (and reasons behind it), you’ll need to touch on it in all 3. So below, we’ll explain the best way to explain an employment gap on your resume, cover letter, and during an interview:

6 Ways to Explain an Employment Gap on Your Resume

#1. be honest .

Your resume is the first thing that recruiters check, so it’s crucial that you’re honest! 

After all, you don’t want to omit a two-year-long employment gap from your resume, for example, only to have it be revealed during your interview. 

As such, it’s super important that you’re honest about your employment history - or lack thereof - right there on your resume. 

What’s important here is to understand that potential employers will find out about your employment gap - especially if it was a lengthy or recent one. As such, trying to hide it will only damage your application and give recruiters even more reason to believe you have something to hide. 

And, if you’re feeling anxious about it, remember that recruiters are also humans and will probably be understanding if you are straightforward about your employment gap - and about what caused it! 

#2. Remove the Employment Gap (If It’s Outdated)

Here’s some good news: if your employment gap is old, you can safely omit it from your resume entirely.

Say, for example, your employment gap is from 10 years ago. Chances are - especially if you’re a seasoned professional - that you won’t even be including jobs from 10 years ago on your resume. After all, you want your resume to be as relevant as possible (and stay within the recommended 1-page resume length). 

As such, it’s totally OK to omit employment gaps that stretch long before your recent employment history (or that are quite short, like 6-month-old employment gaps while you were between jobs). 

#3. Explain the Gap

When it comes to resumes, simply writing down the dates of your employment gap won’t cut it - it would only leave things open to recruiters’ interpretation. 

Take the following example:

Work Experience

Digital Marketer  Airfield Baumax  02/2012 - 04/2015

Marketing Assistant  Walmart 05/2007 - 07/2009 

The only thing that this candidate makes clear to recruiters is that he was not working for a 3-year period. Apart from that, recruiters have no way of knowing whether the employment gap was due to a valid reason or because the candidate decided to be a couch potato for some years.

This is why it’s better to actually write out the exact reason for the employment gap in-between your work experience entries.

Here’s an example that does it right:

07/2009 - 01/2012

From September 2009 to January 2012, I backpacked through Europe and East Asia. This had long been a goal of mine to achieve before turning 30.

#4. Take Advantage of a Different Resume Layout

If your employment gap is longer than just a few short months, you could benefit from using a different resume layout altogether. 

For example, the functional resume format and the combination format put more emphasis on your skills and competencies rather than on your work experience, which is a great way to shift focus from your employment gap. 

That said, taking advantage of a different resume layout does not mean you should omit the employment gap from your resume altogether . Lying is never the right way to go here, and will always end badly for you (even if you manage to get the job).

#5. Use Your Time Away Effectively 

If you’re suddenly in between jobs and are worried about how this will reflect on your future job applications, get proactive! 

Instead of simply explaining your future employment gap as a “career break” or “job searching,” start a personal project and create something more valuable to put on your resume. 

For instance, you can join one or more online courses related to your profession while you’re on a break from work, or start that project you always wanted to work on but never had the chance to! 

That way, you’ll have much more to talk about than simply stating you were looking for jobs or taking a self-discovery break and you’ll be effectively showing recruiters that you’re constantly growing - even outside the office!

#6.  Show That You Never Stopped Learning 

Highlighting your skills and acquired knowledge is also a great way to cover past employment gaps. Sure, you might’ve not been working, but you could’ve still been working on developing yourself as a professional or individual.

You could, for example, mention something like this on your resume to address your employment gap:

06/2012 - 09/2013

Took a year off my career to focus on personal and professional development. Over the duration of the year, I managed to:

• Start my own marketing blog.
• Read 20+ books about digital marketing.
• Attended 5+ networking events.

3 Ways to Explain Employment Gaps in Cover Letters

Want to go more in-depth into your employment gap? Your cover letter is your chance to do so. 

Unlike your resume, which barely leaves you 2-3 sentences worth of space to explain yourself, you can be way more comprehensive in your cover letter . 

Specifically, you can use the body of your cover letter to give more details about your employment gap.

Here are the best ways to do it:

• Give a valid explanation. The whole point of mentioning your employment gap on your cover letter is to justify it the best way you can. For example, if you had an accident, writing “took 1 year off work because of injury” won’t be as convincing as writing “took 1 year off work after a car accident that required me to do intense physiotherapy sessions to fully recover.” 
• Highlight new skills . Additionally, it’s super important to highlight any new skills acquired during your time off. The good thing about the cover letter is that you have a better chance of explaining the skills and what motivated you to acquire them (e.g. “due to organizational changes, I was laid off from my previous job. However, I used the time it took me to find a new job to catch up on industry-related trends and readings, get online certifications, and network with professionals in the field.”) 
• Don’t overshare. Last but not least, it’s important to know that just because you have more space on your cover letter it doesn’t mean you should overshare the details of your employment gap. If, for instance, you took a one-year break to deal with burnout , you don’t have to give too many details about how that went. So, instead of writing, “took a year off to recuperate from burnout, during which time I consulted 3 different therapists and several support groups,” you can just write “took one year off work to deal with work-related burnout and re-asses my professional goals.” If you think it’s important to share more information, talk about how you grew professionally not about what you went through personally. 

4 Ways to Explain Employment Gaps in Interviews 

If your resume and cover letter make a good impression, chances are you’ll be called for an interview. And, even if you have already explained your employment gap, there’s nothing keeping recruiters from asking you again about it. 

Here’s what you can do to address an employment gap during your interview effectively:

• Rehearse in advance. Your best bet is assuming that you will be asked about your employment gap. That way, you can take the time to prep your answer in advance and won’t be taken back if recruiters actually ask the questions during the interview . 
• DON’T badmouth your former employer. If your employment gap is due to getting fired, bashing your former employer won’t help you get a new position - if anything, it might make you look immature. Instead, try to highlight all the steps you took to bounce back from getting fired and show recruiters why you’re the ideal candidate for this position.
• Focus on what you did right. Now, if you lost your job unjustly (or due to reasons outside of your control), the way to make a great impression is to focus on how you were a stellar employee before the employment gap! That way, you can shift recruiters’ attention to your strengths, instead of simply telling them you lost your job and there wasn’t much you could do about it.
• Be confident. Sometimes, how you say things is just as important as what you say. If recruiters ask that you elaborate on your employment gap and you suddenly get super nervous about it, you’ll probably raise some serious red flags. So, make sure to polish your communication skills in advance and start your interview with a show of confidence. 

Here is an example of how you can address your employment gap during an interview:

Unfortunately, I lost my job due to cuts within the company. During the time I was looking for jobs, I took online courses to hone my skills, stayed updated with all industry trends and developments, and focused on my mental wellbeing. I am now in perfect shape to put all I learned into practice throughout my new endeavors. 

7 Good Reasons For an Employment Gap

There can be countless reasons behind an employment gap and, as long as it’s not related to something like, say, jail time, it shouldn’t hinder your chances of getting employed.

That said, here are some great examples of good reasons for an employment gap:

• Family reasons. Family is super important and most recruiters are guaranteed to be understanding if your employment gap is due to family-related issues. What’s important here is to show that whatever family reason you had for taking time off work, it’s over now (e.g. if you took time off to raise your kids, make a point explaining they’re all grown up and off to school now).
• Self-discovery. Did you take some time off work to redefine your life path and career choices? That’s totally OK - as long as you can convince recruiters that you now have your answers and won’t be leaving this job again after a year or two.
• Illness. Any illness you may have suffered that’s hindered you from working is a totally legitimate reason to explain your employment gap. Just make sure to mention you’re recovered and fully able to work.
• Injury. Just like with illnesses, injuries that render you incapable of work are perfectly fine reasons to explain an employment gap, so mention them without hesitation.
• Failed business or initiative. You may be hesitant to mention a failed startup or business initiative as the reason behind your employment gap, but there’s no reason to! If anything, it shows you have initiative and aren’t scared to act on it. So, as long as you show recruiters how you bounced back, you shouldn’t hide this valid reason.
• Burnout. The World Health Organization defines burnout as an occupational phenomenon that can take a serious toll on someone’s physical and mental health. As such, don’t hesitate to tell recruiters that you took some time off to improve your well-being after experiencing burnout in the workplace .
• Education. No one minds an employee who’s always looking to expand their knowledge, so if you took a break from work to get another degree, go ahead and mention that on your resume.

7 Other Resume Resources

Building a strong resume is hard enough without having to explain an employment gap. Struggling with other aspects of building a resume? Check out some of our top resources: 

• How to Write a Resume . The ULTIMATE beginner’s guide on how to make a resume in 2024. Includes tops of tips, resume examples, and more.
• Free Resume Templates . Want to avoid the hassle of formatting your resume from scratch? Just pick one of our 8 free resume templates and get started with your resume within minutes.
• Career Change Resume . Is your employment gap due to a career change? Learn how to write an awesome career change resume with these 9+ examples.
• What to Put on a Resume . Here are the most important sections to put on your resume and win the job.
• Resume Tips and Tricks . This article covers every single practical resume tip you’ll ever need to create a compelling CV.
• Essential Resume Skills . Want to stand out from other applicants? You’ll need to include the right skills on your resume. This article covers the most in-demand skills in 2024.
• Resume Examples . Struggling to write a resume for your field? This article covers resume examples for almost all popular roles in 2024, including jobs in IT, marketing, healthcare, and more.

FAQ on Employment Gaps 

Do you still have some questions on everything employment gap-related? Find your answers below!

#1. How long is too long of an employment gap?

Any employment gap on your resume that you can’t explain to recruiters can cast a shadow on your job application. 

That said, shorter periods of employment gaps (e.g. time between jobs, illness or injury recovery, etc.) are much more acceptable than, say, 3-year-long gaps in your recent work history. 

So, while there is no specific time limit for a super long employment gap, the longer it is, the harder it will be for recruiters to ignore it.

#2. Is an employment gap bad?

That entirely depends on the reason behind your employment gap. 

If your employment gap is due to illness, failed business, family emergency, and the like, then an employment gap is definitely not bad! All you need to do is be honest with the recruiters and prove that you’re a trustworthy employee. 

That said if your employment gap comes from less socially acceptable reasons, like serving time for a crime or being away in rehab, your employment gap will be more difficult to explain - and, in turn, can be more harmful to your job application.

#3. How do you explain a gap in employment due to being a stay-at-home parent?

Taking time off work to be a stay-at-home parent falls under family-related reasons for an employment gap. 

The best way to explain such an employment gap is to write down the exact period you were off, titling it as a “planned career break.” Underneath, you can include one or two sentences on why you took it (e.g. took three years off work to care for my growing children, who are now in elementary school). 

On top of that, you can also mention any personal projects or other work-related experiences you had over that period. For example, if you took some online classes or started a personal project, that’s a great way to inform recruiters that you weren’t completely idle during your employment gap.

#4. How do you explain a gap in employment due to COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic cost 114 million people to lose their jobs over 2020. So, if you were infected and quarantined due to COVID-19 (or if you were unlucky and had more severe health issues due to the virus), then note that on your resume as an “illness-related employment gap” or simply due to COVID-19.  

In one or two sentences, you can explain you had to take a break from work due to COVID-19 and that you’re now fully recovered and ready to work again.

Similarly, if you were working for a business that got impacted due to COVID-19 (such as an airline company) you can, in one sentence, mention you were laid off due to the impact of the pandemic and mention what you did in the meanwhile to find a job or hone your skills. 

#5. Why do employers not like gaps in employment?

Employers don’t like gaps in employment when said gaps are due to criminality, abuse or addiction, or simple laziness. In such a case, employers assume you’re not a reliable employee and that you may demonstrate the same patterns of behavior while working for them.

On the other hand, if there is a reasonable explanation for your employment gap, employers won’t think twice about hiring you, as long as you’re a good fit for the job.

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! By now, you should know everything about employment gaps and how to tackle them so they don’t hurt your job application.

Before you go, here are the main points covered in this article:

• There are three places where you can explain an employment gap: on your resume, cover letter, and during your job interview. 
• To explain an employment gap on a resume, be honest, elaborate on the gap, show that you never stop learning, or use a different resume layout to remove the gap altogether. 
• Explain an employment gap on your cover letter by highlighting new skills and offering a valid explanation as to why you took it. 
• If you have to explain your employment gap during your interview, rehearse in advance, show confidence, and don’t badmouth your former employer. 
• Some valid reasons for an employment gap are family reasons, illnesses, and injuries, taking time to discover yourself or pursue your education, and even a failed business.

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Navigating Gaps in Your Resume, Cover Letter, & Interview

People lose their jobs, have health problems, go traveling, or simply decide to quit. Gaps in your employment history are nothing to be ashamed of. At the same time, if you go a long period without working, it’s only natural employers will want to know the reasons.

With the right mind and the actionable tips and advice included in this article, you can transform what might initially seem like a setback into a competitive advantage in the job market.

You’re going to learn how to create a strategic approach that addresses gaps in each part of the application process.

From adopting the right resume format to avoid highlighting them, to using a  resume builder  to create a professional first impression, or to rehearsing difficult questions to be relaxed during the interview.

Let’s dive in!

Should You Mention Employment Gaps on Your Resume or Cover Letter?

It’s worth considering whether you need to include the gap on your resume or cover letter.  You’re not obliged  to include your entire employment history.

If you’ve been working for over a decade there’s no need to include a pause in your work history from more than 10-15 years ago. This means that  if the gap was long enough ago  there’s no need to mention it.

If the gap was in the last 5 years, it is more difficult to conceal, so you should mention  any recent hiatus . The last thing you want to do is  lie to a potential employer .

It will probably come back to bite you, considering  research from CareerBuilder  found that 75% of recruiters claim to have spotted a lie on a resume.

However, short gaps, typically less than three months, may not be worth including in your resume or cover letter for a few reasons.

Let’s explore why this might be the case:

• Keeps focus on the positives:  Including short gaps could divert attention away from your achievements and take up valuable space that could be used to feature your qualifications.
• They’re common place in modern job markets:  In today’s fast-paced job market, short employment gaps are increasingly common. Employers understand that candidates may experience brief periods of unemployment or job transitions. As a result, they may not view such gaps as significant or worth explaining.
• Brief gaps are often self-explanatory:  Short hiatuses are often due to temporary circumstances, such as personal or family-related issues, short-term projects, or other life events. In most cases, employers can deduce these reasons without further explanation and are unlikely to view them as problematic.
• Reduces clutter and maintains readability:  By omitting short gaps, you can keep your documents focused and easy to read, allowing employers to quickly assess your suitability for the position.
• Preserves professionalism and relevance:  Since short gaps are often not pertinent to your qualifications, including them could detract from the overall professionalism of your resume or cover letter.

Reframing Career Pauses: Valid Reasons Behind Employment Gaps

There are numerous reasons for gaps, many of which can be framed positively to  demonstrate your growth and adaptability .

When addressing these reasons, it’s important to  focus on the skills, experiences, and personal growth  you gained during this time.

By framing them positively, you can effectively demonstrate your adaptability, resilience, and commitment to professional development.

Look over the list below to  understand what specific points to address  when mentioning your professional hiatus if you were out of work for any of the following reasons.

• Further education or professional development:  Mention you were committed to learning and personal growth by attending courses and certificate programs during your employment gap.
• Volunteering or community involvement:  Engaging in volunteer work or community projects demonstrates your dedication to social responsibility, teamwork, and leadership – all valuable qualities that employers often seek in candidates.
• Parental or family leave:  Taking time off to care for a newborn, children, or family members shows a strong sense of responsibility and work-life balance, which can be an asset in the workplace.
• Travel or cultural experiences:  Traveling or immersing yourself in other cultures can enhance your adaptability, communication, and problem-solving skills, making you a more well-rounded candidate.
• Starting or managing a business:  Entrepreneurial ventures, even if short-lived or unsuccessful, can provide valuable insights into business management, strategic planning, and leadership.
• Freelancing or consulting:  Working as a freelancer or consultant during an employment gap highlights your ability to adapt to different work environments, manage multiple projects, and maintain a strong professional network.
• Health or personal reasons:  Taking time off to address health or personal issues can demonstrate resilience and self-awareness, two important qualities for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
• Being laid off or fired:  If you were laid off, focus on how you used the opportunity to expand your skill set, network with other professionals, or take on personal projects. If you were fired, be honest about the situation, but also highlight any lessons learned or abilities gained from the experience.

Ways to Address Gaps in Your Resume

It’s not always how you say it, it’s what you say. It’s critical to understand  how to write a resume  correctly and take emphasis away from the gaps.

To make the gaps seem less important you can use the following techniques on your resume.

Be Enthusiastic

To show your enthusiasm for a job, it’s essential to  do your research  on the company, customize your application, use positive language, and demonstrate your motivation.

Be specific about what motivates you  and explain why you are passionate about the work in the  resume objective  or summary statement.

Discuss the company’s mission and values, show your excitement for the job, and explain how the job fits into your long-term career goals.

Look at the example below for reference:

Detail-oriented and meticulous Laboratory Assistant seeking to re-enter the workforce after a family caregiving gap. During this time, I sharpened my problem-solving and interpersonal skills, while actively engaging in online courses related to laboratory safety protocols. Eager to apply these enhanced capabilities in a Laboratory Assistant role, contributing to the success of [Company name].

Only Use Years as the Dates

By not including months when listing dates on your resume you can close small gaps. Employers may not ask you for  more specific dates  but be ready if they do and be honest.

Change the Resume Format

There are also  resume formats  that draw less attention to  resume gaps . Using a format that focuses on your skills over experience would be the better choice.

Since you don’t want hiring managers to pay too much attention to your gap,  a functional format  is better suited to emphasize your skill set.

Examples of How to Write a Resume With Employment Gaps

You may have been laid off, travel, or simply decided to take a course, whatever the reason, you’ll need to  make your time between jobs look productive .

These examples demonstrate different approaches that you can take in writing a resume with an employment gap,  depending on your specific situation .

Use them as a guide to craft your own resume with confidence.

Travel Experience | 2019

• Traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and South America
• Developed cultural awareness and adaptability through exposure to diverse customs, languages, and social norms
• Enhanced problem-solving and communication skills by navigating unfamiliar territories and interacting with people from different backgrounds

Full-time caregiver | 2014 – 2015

• Provided full-time care for a family member and volunteered for a local non-profit organization
• Strengthened time management and organizational skills by effectively balancing caregiving duties with personal responsibilities

How to Include Employment Gaps in Your Cover Letter

When recruiters see gaps in an application, they may have several concerns.

For example, is the candidate up-to-date with the latest technological advances? Or how will the applicant handle a large workload? Will they be able to adapt?

There are  effective ways to address such concerns  and turn the situation to your advantage:

• Show your commitment to continuous education:  Mention any courses you took to your qualification and knowledge of the industry during your hiatus, as it highlights a proactive approach to self-improvement and a dedication to developing new skills.
• Feature your ability to adapt:  If you spent time traveling, you’ve demonstrated an ability to adapt to new environments and a passion for exploring. Make sure you point it out in your cover letter! It features your willingness to step out of your comfort zone and explore new opportunities.
• Highlight the values and skills you’ve gained:  Taking care of a family member and volunteering are excellent opportunities to develop transferable skills, such as time management and problem-solving. They also showcase responsibility, and empathy, qualities that employers often highly value in candidates. Emphasize it!

Ultimately, your ability to present these experiences positively and confidently will help you stand out as a versatile and adaptable candidate, prepared to contribute meaningfully to your future employer’s success.

Sample Cover Letter for Gap in Employment

This section provides a sample cover letter explaining a gap in employment that demonstrates how to address it in a  positive and professional manner .

Create your own cover letter that reflects your specific situation using this  sample as a guide .

Hiring Manager’s name Company name Company address Date

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I am excited to apply for the teaching position at [school]. I have over ten years of experience in teaching students of various age groups and backgrounds, including supervising student activities, managing classrooms, and overseeing curriculums.

As you will see on my resume, I took a one-year sabbatical to travel and volunteer in different countries. Although it was a challenging decision to take a break from my teaching career, it was also an opportunity to develop important abilities in adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and communication. These skills have given me a renewed focus on the importance of creating a positive and inclusive classroom environment and have helped me develop a student-centered teaching style.

During my sabbatical, I made it a priority to stay up-to-date with the latest teaching methodologies, technologies, and regulations relevant to education. I took online courses, attended workshops, and read industry publications to keep my knowledge and qualifications current.

I am excited to bring these abilities to your school and am confident that I can excel in the teaching role. I am well-versed in using modern teaching tools and techniques, and have experience in creating and implementing lesson plans that cater to the needs of individual students.

Thank you for considering my application. I would be thrilled to meet with you to discuss how I can contribute to your school’s success and support students in reaching their full potential.

Address Phone number Email address

Our  cover letter writing guide  can make the  process easier for you . Take a look and create your letter with confidence and ease.

How to Justify Gaps in an Interview

Explaining gaps in employment can be tricky. As a  UCLA study shows , unemployment bias is quite real in the world of recruitment.

However, with the right approach and preparation, you can give a confident, honest answer which will  convince the interviewer . Here are some tips to help you prepare:

Be Prepared

If you haven’t prepared an answer, it will be  immediately obvious  to the interviewer. Stuttering and stammering, while you rack your brains for an answer, is exactly what you want to avoid.

This gives the impression that you’re hiding something or, at best, that you’re  badly prepared for the interview . Anticipating the interview questions, and preparing answers is key to a successful interview.

Be Confident

Practice answering questions  about why you’ve got a  gap on your resume . Ask a friend or family member to give you a mock interview. Remember that  gaps in employment  happen. Life happens. There’s no reason to feel embarrassed about the gaps, so  confidently explain  why they’re there.

Be Positive

Always talk enthusiastically about past positions. If you left a job, avoid criticizing past colleagues or bosses, as this can give the impression that you’re difficult to work with. Similarly, when talking about the gap in your resume,  focus on the constructive aspects .

Focus on any projects, freelance work, traveling, or hobbies you’ve spent time on. Employers want positive workers. If you can  avoid negativity  during difficult questions it will give a fantastic impression.

While it’s important to explain your career gap, you  don’t focus too much  on it. A brief explanation respects the employer’s time and allows you to  address the most important information .

By getting straight to the point and highlighting the skills and experiences gained during your career gap, you can show the employer why you are a valuable candidate.

Explaining gaps in your employment history can be a challenging aspect of the job application process, but with the right approach, it’s  possible to turn it into a positive .

Remember to  be honest, concise, and positive  in your explanation, and use your cover letter and resume to showcase your strengths and qualifications for the job.

You’ll also need to be confident and avoid being negative during your interview.

If you struggle with nerves during the job interview, there are  techniques you can use to calm your nerves  and  stay in control  when meeting with the hiring manager.

By being  proactive and strategic  in your approach, you can successfully navigate any gaps in your employment history and land the job you’re looking for.

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Welcome to the world of Career twists & turns, where job changes are as common as your morning coffee! 

Crafting a cover letter is a skill that can make ALL THE DIFFERENCE. 

Many of us grapple with the puzzle of career gaps & job hops, but fear not! A well-crafted cover letter is your secret sauce to tackle these twists & turns.  

How to Craft a Compelling Introduction?  

The first impression is everything & your  Cover Letter's  introduction sets the tone.  

Begin by expressing genuine  enthusiasm  for the position, highlighting key skills & showcasing a keen interest in contributing to the prospective employer's success.  

Avoid getting into the career history immediately; instead, aim to captivate the reader's attention & build anticipation. 

How to Navigate a Career Gap?  

One of the most common concerns job seekers face is ‘how to explain a career gap in a cover letter?’.  

It is essential to address this transparently & positively. Rather than shying away from the topic, use it as an opportunity to showcase personal growth,  acquired  skills, or any relevant experiences during the gap.  

“Throughout my professional break (2020-2021), I engaged in numerous freelance projects, upskilling in project management & remote collaboration. This period allowed me to delve into professional development courses, ensuring I stay abreast of industry trends & advancements." 

The Art of Explaining Job Hops 

Job hopping explanations are another critical aspect to master in your cover letter.  

Instead of viewing job changes as liabilities, talk about them as intentional career moves. Emphasize the skills acquired, accomplishments achieved & lessons learned at each stop. Demonstrate how these experiences align with the requirements of the  prospective  position. 

"In the course of my professional journey, I pursued varied roles to expand my skillset & immerse myself in different aspects of the industry. My job changes were thought through, strategic with an aim to identify cultural & value-based alignment; allowing me to bring multifaceted perspectives to your team." 

Navigating Job Hops with Confidence: Overcoming Uncertainty & Doubt 

Embracing job hops can be a transformative journey, yet uncertainties & doubts may arise. Learn effective strategies to navigate these challenges: 

Self-Reflection:  Assess your values, skills & passions to align your career with your personal goals. 

Goal Setting:  Define short & long-term career objectives to provide direction & purpose during transitions. 

Skill Development:  Identify gaps in your skillset & utilize job hops as opportunities for continuous learning & growth. 

Networking:  Build a strong professional network to gain insights, mentorship & support during uncertain times. 

Professional Coaching:  Leverage PaintMinds coaching services to receive personalized guidance, boosting confidence & clarity. 

Remember, job hops can be a catalyst to a fulfilling career when approached with intention & strategic planning. 

How to Strategically unveil your Employment History?  

Your employment history in the cover letter should be compelling.  

Avoid a mere listing of positions; instead, emphasize achievements, growth & how each role prepared you for the one you are pursuing.  

"My tenure at XYZ Corp taught me the art of adaptability, while my role at ABC Inc sharpened my leadership skills. These experiences collectively fuel my passion for contributing to your team & propelling the company forward." 

How to Tackle Career Gaps & Job Hops Simultaneously?

The key lies in seamlessly integrating your career gap jobs & job hops into the broader narrative.  

Ensure a natural flow in your cover letter, allowing the reader to understand the evolution of your career path. Highlight specific achievements & skills acquired during career gap jobs to underscore your continuous commitment to professional  development . 

"While navigating career gaps, I embraced freelancing opportunities, excelling in roles that demanded adaptability & self-motivation. These experiences, combined have built my ability to thrive in dynamic environments—a quality I am eager to bring to your team." 

Cover Letter Strategies 

Incorporate these cover letter strategies to optimize your chances of securing the desired position: 

Tailor Each Cover Letter:  Customize your cover letter for each application, aligning your experiences with the specific requirements of the role. 

Highlight Relevant Skills:  Emphasize skills acquired during career gaps & job hops that directly contribute to the prospective role. 

Quantify Achievements:  Use quantifiable metrics to showcase the impact you have made in previous positions, reinforcing your potential contributions. 

Express Enthusiasm:  Demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for the company & the role, illustrating how your unique journey aligns with their values & goals. 

In conclusion, a cover letter serves as a powerful tool to convey your professional story authentically.  

Be proud of your unique journey, highlight the skills gained,  lessons  learned & the valuable perspectives you bring to the table.  

Always remember that a well-crafted cover letter is your opportunity to shine, leaving a lasting impression on prospective employers. 

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Career Gaps – 10 Best ways to explain gaps in your resume effectively!

Education / November 26, 2021 by Kuntala Banerjee / Leave a Comment

If you want to make sure you communicate the right message about your career gap, this is the article for you. Let’s deep dive into what are career gaps & how to explain them.

What are employment gaps or career gaps?

Career gaps are the time period when a person is not associated with any organization after leaving the prior company. The gaps may be due to study, medical reasons or a break from the professional world. They may sometimes be lengthy from 6 months to 1 year and sometimes less.

In this article, we will learn what is an employment gap, how to explain employment gaps in your resume effectively, resume examples with gaps in employment, cover letter for a gap in employment or letter of explanation for the gap in employment.

Also read:  Career counseling | Why career counseling is important & 15 types of career coaches

What is a career gap?

In the professional profile of a person, a career gap is the employment gap when an associate is not linked or hired into any organization. The duration of the gap can be a few weeks, months or years. It is mandatory to mention career gaps in your resume. The critical part is to explain gaps in employment to the next recruiting organization.

How common are gaps in employment among professionals?

Gaps in employment are not uncommon. Certain professionals consider career gaps as an opportunity to revisit the skill sets and find out ways to build up new competencies. Work-life balance is now the new concept among professionals. A person can think of studying in between job shifts which he or she may find it tough to pursue while being employed full time.

Many opt for such gaps to travel around the world, a break from the busy professional environment. Some may concentrate on health and medical issues and well-being before joining another profession or job.

Also read:  Career Change | 8 step process for the best career moves across any vertical

Why some companies are concerned about resume gaps?

Hiring companies need to understand the resume gaps to find out the genuine interest of the individuals towards the job. They try to find out the reason for career gaps of whether a person has been on bench due to incompetencies or whether the gap is to jack up the skills. Their objective is to recruit the right people for the role they are looking for. Therefore they would scrutinize any resume gaps to extract the correct reason. It helps them to judge the potential and capability of the person applying for the position.

Top reasons why employment gaps occur

In this section, we will find out the top reasons for employment gaps. There are many good reasons for gaps in employment and some may last for many months to years. But these are not unnatural and can occur to any one. Let us discuss those career gaps in the subsequent sub-sections.

1. Employment gap on resume for pursuing higher education

Employment gap on resume can happen if one plans to pursue higher education. Certain academic degrees of qualifications are difficult to continue while being involved in full-time jobs. Hence a break is needed for focused dedication and attention. Higher education is also done for facilitating better roles in the next jobs.

2. Gaps in resumes for medical reasons

Medical reasons are often a major contributor to gaps in resumes. A person with an ill-health may fail to perform well in his or her job in a company. Constant work pressure may also prevent undergoing medical treatments. Hence professionals are sometimes forced to go for a break.

3. Gap in employment to care for a child

Caring for a child is another very common reason for gap in employment. It is essentially the work-life balance that one needs while nurturing a newborn baby or a toddler. This gap normally happens with a woman professional after child birth.

Also read:  Working from home with kids | Parent’s guide to remote working

4. Unemployment gap for travel

Travel rejuvenates and energizes minds. So there are professionals who opt for an unemployment gap to explore travel destinations; a way to enjoy a break from the regular professional and personal life.

5. Take time off between jobs for freelancing

People working in the fixed boundaries of jobs often feel the monotony. So it’s good to take time off between jobs and do some freelancing activities. These open the horizons of exploring the different genres of work and gain more exposure.

6. Work gap to undergo professional training

Work gap is sometimes essential to undergo any professional training which lasts for a long duration in multiple courses. It helps in greater concentration and dedicated focus, ultimately gain in pursuing future ambitions and growth opportunities.

7. Gap in resume due to depression

A person may undergo any mental ailments which result in depression. Treatments and cures are needed to overcome it. Hence he or she decides for a break in job and thus a gap in resume. The gap is essential for a complete cure.

8. Gap furlough

Gap furlough can happen due to a temporary economic condition prevailing in a region forcing companies to operate under low wages and interim leaves. Employees may undergo such a situation and that may lead to a gap in the resume.

Also read:  How to start a business with no money and make it super successful in 3 years?

9. Gaps in resume for relocation

Digital nomads or professionals looking to relocate to a new city or country often opt for a gap in their career to find out the relevant choices and arrangements. Thus gaps in resume is common for them, usually leading to 4 to 6 months duration.

10. Work gaps due to family care

Sometimes there are medical emergencies in the family for which people need to take an off from a job and concentrate on the same. Work gaps are hence needed to ensure continuous care and attention to the members of the family.

How to explain gaps in employment?

Now that we have understood the various reasons for career gaps, the next question that comes up in mind is, how to explain gaps in employment?

In this section, we will point out the various ways to explain any gaps in employment.

1. Resume fillers with certifications and training courses

The best way on how to explain gaps in resume is to create resume fillers. Enter the certifications and training courses attended during the gaps. This will ensure that you were not sitting idle but elevating yourself for progression.

2. Employment gap for gaining experience

Another best way to explain employment gap is to specify the experience gathered during the time to enhance professional efficiency. This is one of the interesting how to explain employment gaps examples; ensuring you did not spend time in leisure.

3. Omit small gap work

If you have a small gap work then it is better to omit that. The recruiters will not realize or pay attention to such minor breaks. Gap cover-ups for negligible durations are acceptable and will not act as a hindrance for being recruited in the next job.

Also read : Best resume software | Give the finest first impression

4. Employment gaps on resume to be mentioned in brief

Whenever you mention employment gaps on your resume, you must keep it brief. The gap explanation can be mentioned during the interview . As your focus must be on your skillset and experience and not on how to explain a lengthy employment gap. The more you speak it out the better.

5. Use resume format to conceal gap employment

A good idea on how to fill in employment gaps on resume is to use a unique resume format. Ensure the format has sections where you can highlight your accomplishments and experiences. The recruiters will look into those sections first and can gain a good understanding of your professional background, and may heedless attention to gap employment.

6. List down the reasons for careers gap

For the career gap, list down the exact reasons and explain the same to the recruiters. Your reasons must be convincing, not de-focusing on future growth or opportunity. It is recommended to emphasize on the work or activities done during that tenure.

7. Be honest in explaining gaps in employment

Be honest and truthful while explaining gaps in employment. There may be an employment gap due to personal reasons, medical emergencies, academics, health issues and many more. But you must state the reasons briefly and clearly to leave out no ambiguities.

8. Explain unemployment gaps but focus back to the interview

It is crucial that you explain unemployment gaps but try to deviate back to the interview. Express your interest for the job and the role. Relate the same to your skillset and experience. Showcase your knowledge to earn the interest of the recruiters.

9. Add freelancing experience in the job gap

In the job gap, add freelancing experience to the resume, if you have any. You can also speak about the freelancing experience to emphasize that your focus is steady on your career, ambitions and growth. You must know how to list contract jobs on a resume taken up as a freelancer.

10. Employment gap explanation with interest and poise

Employment gap explanation must be done with poise. It is recommended to show interest while recruiters request you to please explain any gaps in employment. They will not prefer you to avoid or ignore the question. Remember there is no harm in career gaps.

Also read:  Business Lawyer | How to find a business lawyer

11. Sample resume with gaps in employment

Let us now check a sample resume with gaps in employment:

“I resigned from my previous job to care for an ageing and ailing family member. Now I have hired a full-time attendant. I am available for full-time work and in the future.”

“I have quit from my current job to pursue my MBA. My course was for 1.5 years. Now I am back to work with much higher knowledge, competence and confidence; ready to take up new roles and job positions.”

“I had to relocate to New Jersey, US since my spouse shifted. I had to leave my present job for the relocation. Now since I am settled, I am looking for a new job to start with.”

For mentioning the duration, ensure to check how to right justify dates on the resume.

Sample unemployment letter of explanation

Here is a sample unemployment letter of explanation for your reference.

To whom it may concern, I am writing this letter to explain the 4 month gap in my employment from July 2021 to October 2021. Recently there has been a serious medical emergency in my family. I had to take care of my ailing father. But now the situation has normalized and I have a full dedicated attendant for my father. I am now available full time for the role and the job”.

You can refer this sample cover letter explaining gap in employment and mention the reasons as appropriate.

Also read: John Maxwell’s 5 levels of leadership explained

Unemployment interview questions

Here are some unemployment interview questions for reference and unemployment phone interview tips:

Question: Please explain any gaps in employment Answer: You need to specify the reasons, the duration and that you are ready for the next job and role.

Question: What have you been doing during the career gaps? Answer: You must mention about any certifications, training courses, freelance jobs etc. which you have undertaken

Question: Have you been ever laid off by any company? Answer: If the answer is Yes, then it is good to be honest about the reason but focus on your skill set and efficiency

How long is too long of an employment gap?

The answer for how long is too long of an employment gap is, potentially more than 6 months is considered as long. But sometimes the gap may extend to 1 year or more due to higher studies, relocation or even sabbatical leave for child care. But it’s, not the duration which is important, but the reason behind it. You must be able to justify that and ensure your experience and knowledge level are not hampered. Furthermore, you must know how to answer unemployment interview questions.

Kuntala is a versatile writer with a focus on diverse areas around work, productivity, collaboration at work, hiring, management, HR, and training. Her background of past experience in technology and consulting helps in molding razor-sharp insights into the research and user-focused content she creates. Professionally she is an IT consultant in a sales role and also a writer of short stories and poems, travel blogger, and fashion influencer.

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Career Gap on Your Resume? Here’s How to Explain It.

Everything you need to know about addressing your time away from the workforce.

Have you been away from the workforce for six months? Six years? Even longer? Well, explaining your career gap may not be as difficult as you think.

What Counts As a Career Gap?

A career gap is time spent away from the workforce. Common career gap reasons include taking care of family, going to school to change careers, taking a sabbatical or being laid off. Contract work, launching a new business, or pivoting your career and then returning are not considered part of a career gap.

That’s because over the past several years, hiring managers and recruiters have been seeing career gaps in resumes with greater frequency, minimizing what once were considered red flags.

Regardless of this shift, it’s still important to artfully address it head on, no matter the length of your career gap.

Why Career Gaps Are No Longer Seen as Red Flags

Career gaps were once an on-going concern for employers, often viewed as potential red flags.

They could signal a prospective employee could be a short-timer or someone who was not focused on their career, Yuletta Pringle, an HR advisor at the Society for Human Resource Management , told Built In.

Or, they’d wonder how the job candidate spent their time while they were out of the workforce and whether they are ready to resume work, Amy Mangan, vice president and branch director at recruiting firm Robert Half , told Built In.

But since the pandemic hit, employers have become more accepting of career gaps because they are now increasingly viewed as part of life, said Tracy Stone, director of diversity, equity and inclusion in tech at fintech company Intuit .

“In an economic downturn or market where there are more layoffs, career gaps can be seemingly more common.”

During the pandemic, employees left in droves for a number of reasons, including to take care of family members , to reevaluate their career choices or to go back to school.

Massive layoffs have also helped normalize career gaps.

In the past month alone, tech companies have slashed an estimated 60,000 jobs , according to CBS News . The tech industry also bore the brunt of layoffs last year, with 97,171 job cuts — up a whopping 649 percent from the previous year, according to a recent report from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

“In an economic downturn or market where there are more layoffs, career gaps can be seemingly more common,” said Jason Buss, vice president of talent acquisition at game development platform company Roblox .

More on Leadership Ask These Questions to Find Out If a Company Values Women in Leadership

How to Explain a Career Gap in a Resume

When putting together a resume or updating it, ensure you include a start month and year and end month and year for each time period you were in the workforce, which is considered a standard format. You should also include the start and end dates for any career gaps if they lasted six months or longer.

These periods when you were working and not working should be laid out in chronological order on your resume under your professional experience, Mangan said. Include any relevant activities, experience or skills you may have picked up during your career gap and tie them to the job you are seeking.

“As the six-month mark approaches, I would start to think about what you can add to your resume to show you weren’t just sitting at home.”

By accounting for any type of career gaps on your resume, recruiters and hiring managers can quickly understand the sequence of events.

“It really goes a long way to prompt folks to say, OK, I get it. I can see what they were up to and how they’re ready to go back to work, great,” said Mangan.

For current job seekers, if you have the luxury of time to update your skills, volunteer for industry organizations, mentor, sit on a board or engage in activities that could potentially tie into the future work you wish to do, it’s a step worth taking.

“As the six-month mark approaches, I would start to think about what you can add to your resume to show you weren’t just sitting at home,” Mangan told Built In. “Did you sit on a board? Were you involved in an industry networking group? All of these could be included in your resume.”

Resume Examples

Cloud Security Student and Volunteer        January 2018-August 2018 Attended cloud security courses at ISC(2) and became a Certified Cloud Security Professional. Volunteered at the RSA Conference for programs on cloud security and worked with high school students on cybersecurity best practices.                 

PTA President and Caregiver                       March 2020-November 2021 Organized and ran the PTA at my child’s school and collaborated with 45 parents to hold fundraising events and other programs, while also devoting time to my child’s online schooling.   

More on Job Searching Why You Shouldn’t Write Off Job Hunting Over the Holidays

How to Explain a Career Gap in a Cover Letter 

Although addressing a career gap in a cover letter is optional, it can provide a vehicle and additional space to share insights and information about the reasons for your career gap and the activities you performed while out of the workforce if they are relevant to the position you are currently seeking. 

This information in your cover letter can play a greater importance if you don’t mention your career gap in your resume. 

For example, maybe you spent six months or more focused solely on finding a job and have nothing else to list for that time period on your resume. You can address it in your cover letter with a simple sentence that states you spent that time as a job applicant. 

And in cases where you spent time out of the workforce due to recharging your batteries, helping your family members, or traveling, it too can be noted in your cover letter. 

Other activities can also be noted in your cover letter in a single sentence or paragraph, depending on how relevant they are to the position you are seeking. Make sure to couch your words in a positive tone that shows you are eager to address your next opportunity. 

Cover Letter Example

During the pandemic, I paused my career to assist my children with their online schooling. I also formed a virtual school co-op to support my children and their classmates. I organized, collaborated and led activities and programs for the children with the help of other co-op parents and developed a shared resource system to address student needs. I am very interested in applying these skills and my past software engineering experience to the team lead software engineering role at your organization.

How to Address a Career Gap in a Job Interview

So, you’ve successfully addressed your career gap in your resume and cover letter. Now it’s time to tackle it in your job interview. Ask friends or family to conduct a mock job interview with you in the days leading up to your interview. Or, at a minimum, record yourself practicing how you would respond to an interviewer’s questions, including an inquiry about your career gap. 

An interviewer may ask questions like, “Can you walk me through your work history” or “I noticed this gap in your work history, can you tell me about it?” These types of questions come from their curiosity and aren’t designed to put you in a hot seat.

There is also a chance you may not be asked about your career gap during the job interview and you should not feel compelled to discuss it unless you wish.

“A break sounds more definitive but framing it as a pause can be helpful ... It’s a very positive way to frame it and own it. I love it when I hear people talk about it that way.”

If it does come up, Intuit’s Stone advised calling your career gap a pause during the interview. Careers are long and ever changing, so think about your career as chapters with a pause in between, she said. Briefly explain why you left and how, after your pause, you are looking forward to your next chapter.

“A break sounds more definitive but framing it as a pause can be helpful,” Stone said, offering an alternative word choice that sounds softer to the ear. “It’s a very positive way to frame it and own it. I love it when I hear people talk about it that way.”

You do not need to go into great detail about why you have a career gap, but rather address it briefly, with transparency and confidence, she added. Answer the question about your career gap directly, rather than sidestepping the question with a vague response.

After you briefly touch on your career gap, you should then segue into your interest and enthusiasm for the job you’re interviewing for.

Example Job Interview Responses

• If you were laid off: I was part of a reduction in force that laid off 10 percent of the workforce. I would be very excited to have an opportunity to leverage my experience at your organization for this role. 
• If you left for caregiving: My child needed additional attention and support with their online schooling and I took a pause from work to assist. But with school now returning to in-person sessions, I am eager to return to the workforce and your opportunity is especially appealing.
• If you took some time to reset: Due to some changes in my life at the time, I decided to take a pause from the workforce. Those changes no longer require my time and I am very interested to learn more about this opportunity and your company.    

More on Career Development 5 Ways to Continue Your Skills Development and Grow Your Career

Consider Upskilling

If you are just leaving the workforce or are someone who has been out for months or years and has a plan to reenter, consider devoting some time to updating your skills.

This step would serve two purposes. One, it can help account for some of your career gap on your resume. And secondly, it can further update your skills , making you an even stronger candidate.

Roblox’s Buss said there are a number of things people can do while waiting for their next job. They include continuing education, like classes at Udacity or bootcamps at Fullstack Academy , to fill the skill gaps you have for those positions you are most interested in.

Tech courses and certifications, like Built In’s Learning Lab , are another way to enhance your skill set. And there are a number of programs available based on industry sector. For example, trade association (ISC)2 offers cybersecurity certifications, the Blockchain Council provides blockchain certifications, and Coursera offers AI certifications.

Regardless of a career gap, if a person has kept their skills current, whether it’s getting Google Career Certificates training or doing something like LinkedIn Learning , that is going to separate them from someone who has not updated their skills and only has had a consistent job without ever taking time off, Mangan said.

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How to Address Employment Gaps in Your Cover Letter

By: Sean Fitzpatrick

Use your cover letter to explain the employment gaps in your work history and allay any concerns your potential employers may have about your readiness for the job.

If you’ve been in the workforce for a while, chances are you’ve probably experienced at least one employment gap in your work history. Legitimate events may have kept you out of the workforce for some time. You may have been laid off, experienced an illness, taken care of a family member, traveled, or changed careers.

If you have gaps in your employment history, your potential employers might have some questions about these gaps. Their skepticism is reasonable. Most employers would rather avoid candidates who seem to be “job hoppers” or who have a history of job loss due to poor performance. If you’ve spent some time on the sidelines, they’ll want to know why.

Use your cover letter to address the employment gaps that may show up in your resume. Here’s how.

Express your employment dates in years.

In your “work experience” section of your resume, list the start and end years only, not the months or days. This will spark fewer concerns that you’ll need to explain away.

Mention non-family-related gaps directly.

In your cover letter, directly address that gaps that you’re comfortable discussing. For example, if you left your job to start a business, but it never got off the ground, share this proudly. A bold move like this showcases your willingness to take risks and try new things. The same applies to overseas volunteering, artistic endeavors, and other career side-trips that might showcase your strengths as an employee.

Keep family-related gaps to yourself.

While you may openly address your professional gaps in employment, it’s best to keep your personal gaps to yourself. For example, if you left the workforce to raise your children, you don’t have to share this with anyone. In fact, the law protects you from employers who ask during an interview. In cases such as these, keep the conversation focused on your qualifications and skill sets.

Highlight your mid-life career shifts.

If your employment gaps took place when you decided to switch career paths, build your cover letter around this narrative. Explain the reasons behind your decision. Outline the details of your journey from one field to the next. If your new career involved any kind of study or training that took the place of full-time work, state this clearly. Again, be proud of the risks you’ve taken and the accomplishments you achieved by leaving the workplace for a while.

If you really were fired, be careful.

If you did leave the workforce for a while due to performance or unreliability, tread carefully. In this case, it’s best to refrain from mentioning your employment gap in your letter (and in your interview) until you’re directly asked about it. When that happens, be ready to shed a positive, diplomatic light on the incident and explain what you learned during the process.

For more on how to explain your work history to potential employers, rely on the tools and guidelines from LiveCareer .

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6 ways to help pay for college when financial aid isn't enough

Ndab creativity // shutterstock, financial aid falling short here's 6 ways to close your college funding gap.

College can be a huge financial investment. For the 2023-24 academic year, the average cost of tuition and fees for a full-time student attending a public four-year in-state college is $11,260, according to the College Board. That doesn't include books, supplies and living expenses.

Financial aid can be a tremendous resource, but you might still have a funding gap to cover. Experian compiled six ways to help pay for college if financial aid isn't enough.

1. Appeal Your Award Letter

If your family's financial situation has changed, writing an appeal letter could help you get more financial aid. After completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), each school you've been accepted to should send you a letter explaining your award package. Your expected family contribution (EFC) determines your eligibility for certain types of federal aid. (Starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, this will be replaced with something called the Student Aid Index—SAI—which will serve the same function.)

Financial aid award letters typically include:

• Your estimated cost of attendance
• Your EFC (or SAI beginning in the 2024-25 academic year)
• Your financial need
• Scholarships and grants
• Work-study eligibility
• Federal student loans

You can also appeal your award letter if you made an error on your FAFSA or have received a better offer from another school and want to see if the college will match it. Either way, it involves writing a personalized letter to the college that explains your situation. Providing documentation can strengthen your case.

2. Apply for Scholarships

Unlike student loans, scholarships do not need to be repaid. This type of free money can go a long way when financial aid isn't enough—and there seems to be plenty of money to go around. According to the National Scholarship Providers Association, roughly $100 million in scholarships goes unclaimed every year.

Databases like Scholarships.com and Fastweb can be a great jumping-off point. You can also research state and local organizations, as well as groups that award scholarships based on specific:

• Hobbies and interests
• Extracurricular activities

Stay on the lookout and continue applying for scholarships throughout your college career—not just as an incoming freshman.

3. Look Into Grants

Like scholarships, grants are considered free-and-clear gift aid. If you have financial need, you may be eligible for federal grants. The information on your FAFSA will determine your eligibility. This type of free money can also be available through states, private organizations and colleges.

Start by completing the CSS profile , which is an online application that many colleges and scholarship providers use to award non-federal financial aid. It's operated through the College Board—and fee waivers are available to qualifying students. You can also check with your state to see if any grants are up for grabs.

4. Consider Part-Time Jobs

Picking up a part-time job could be a great way to drum up extra cash if your financial aid isn't enough. In 2022, about 42% of full-time college students worked, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some potential money-making gigs may include:

• Working on campus
• Exploring off-campus jobs at restaurants, retail stores and offices
• Driving for rideshare apps
• Freelancing (writing, editing, graphic design or social media management, for example)
• Babysitting or pet sitting

5. Think About Private Student Loans

Your eligibility for federal student loans should be outlined in your financial aid award letters. If there's still a funding gap, private student loans could help you cover the difference. These are available through financial institutions—not the federal government.

Despite some drawbacks, the right private student loan could help you cover your college costs if there's a shortfall of federal aid. Just be sure to think about how student loans will affect your finances going forward. As of 2023, the average U.S. consumer had $38,787 in student loan debt , according to Experian data.

6. Modify Your College Plans

If your funding gap feels insurmountable, you could think about modifying your college plans. That may mean choosing a different school or starting at a community college before transferring to a university. Either option could greatly reduce your out-of-pocket costs, especially if you're able to live at home. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average local community college student pays roughly $141 per credit hour—compared with $390 per course at an in-state four-year public college (not including room, board and other fees).

The Bottom Line

There may still be ways to pay for college if financial aid isn't enough. Scholarships, grants, part-time jobs and private student loans can all help cover the gap—or you might choose to attend a more affordable college. The right path for you will depend on your college goals and financial situation.

No matter where you go to college, building a strong credit score is a key part of long-term financial wellness.

This story was produced by Experian and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.