Talented professionals can have gaps in their resume for all kinds of 
reasons.
Maybe during the recession you were laid off. Or you went back to school to add some additional skills. Or perhaps you took time off to have a baby or care for a loved one.
Landing a new position immediately after having been unemployed isn’t always easy. And sometimes this in-between period can lead to a seemingly unexplainable gap in your resume.
There’s no way around it. A gap isn’t ideal. Most employers are looking to hire someone who has been steadily employed and advanced over the years. However, a gap in your work history also isn’t the end of the world. With some planning, you can easily justify your career trajectory to a prospective employer. You might even be able to put a positive spin on it.
Here’s how to get started.
Begin with Your Cover Letter.
As soon as a hiring manager looks at your resume, chances are that they’re going to do the math and notice the gap. This means that there’s no point trying to pretend that it isn’t there. Use your cover letter to explain your situation and your reason for taking time off. If you simply couldn’t find a job during that period, go over the additional skills that you worked on while unemployed and how they’ve better equipped you for new opportunities. If you get everything out in the open in your cover letter, you’ll be in a much better position to discuss things further in an interview setting.
Be Truthful.
There’s nothing worse than lying when it comes to a gap in your resume. If you have an extended period of “off-time” in your work history, nothing good will come of trying to make up a story about what you were doing during that time. You want to face the situation head on. Plus, a prospective employer will appreciate your honestly.
Choose Your Words Wisely.
You want to pay very close attention to the way that you describe the gap in your resume. Write with confidence. Avoid making any negative comments about companies that didn’t hire you, or places you worked previously. Even if you experienced a frustrating period of unemployment after being laid off, don’t express this in a job application. Employers are looking to hire someone with a positive attitude and good energy. When you let this shine through in your application, they’ll be much more willing to overlook something like a gap in your history.
Looking for employment? Let the expert recruiters at PrideStaff North Dallas help! Contact us today!
