How To Explain Employment Gaps On Your CV

A couple of weeks back, I spoke with Roseline, who has been unsuccessfully looking for a job for three years now.

Roseline studied Bachelor of Science in Procurement and Logistics. After graduation, she went on a five-month job search journey without any luck.

She finally got a job with a logistics company. She gave the job her best, and the management noticed her efforts and promoted her to a supervisory role.

After two years, she quit her job to take care of her ailing mother. Her mother regained her good health, ad Roseline thought this would be a good opportunity for her to get back into the employment game.

With her experience and achievements, she thought it would be easy to land another job.

“At first, I was eyeing supervisory and managerial roles. But after a while, I started applying for entry-level procurement jobs. Still no success.

“I resorted to applying for any job I could find, I no longer cared about the field it was in… three years later, I am still unemployed. Not even an interview invite has come my way.

Could it be because of the employment history gap on my CV? Do I stand a chance at getting a job as compared to those who have been in the job market most recently? Also, is it possible for me to cover the gap on my resume and at the end of the day make it look appealing to a potential employer?”

You too may be in a similar situation. Whether you left your job to explore other career paths, escape a negative working environment or unjust conditions, was fired, had to leave due to a move, or any other circumstance, having to deal with unemployment gaps on your CV can often feel like the heaviest burden you’ll ever carry.

Truth is, many employers consider significant employment gaps on a job seeker’s CV to be a bad sign. While a consistent work history is associated with reliability and trustworthiness, periods of unemployment carry a negative stigma.

Those with gaps in their work history run the risk of being seen as lazy or unfocused with their careers, and not as an in-demand asset in the eyes of potential employers.

How then do you, as a job seeker, address the employment gaps on your CV and prove to a potential employer that you are the best fit for a job?

Learn something new

Have you always wanted to learn how to speak with confidence? How about SEO or how to market a business online? This is your opportunity!

Research the skills you need to help you advance in the path you’re looking at and take the time to learn them by taking up short courses - whether it be in a formal setting or self-taught through online resources. Reading books and other published pieces will be invaluable to you.

You could also consider going back to school full time, and immersing yourself fully in a learning environment, to hone in on other skills even more.

This is a sign to potential employers that even in your unemployment, you are taking time to learn and invest in yourself.

The more you can prove that you care about investing in yourself, the more others will want to invest in you, too.

Update your CV

Even in your unemployment, ensure that your CV is fully updated, and tailored for each position you are applying for.

Also, use LinkedIn to let employers know that you are open to new opportunities under ‘job-seeking preferences’ in your account’s settings. This way, within no time, they will be the ones reaching out to you!

Network

A quick search for local networking events and seminars will yield results that can really help you get insight on how to start crafting your new career path and help you meet people that can be mentors and friends through that process. These connections can lead to new friendships, valuable advice, or even potential opportunities.

Reach out to new people or people within your network based on the industries, positions, and companies you’re interested in. Send them quick introductory messages explaining who you are, what you’re looking for, and why you reached out to them. This will help them see where you’re coming from and appreciate your proactive and professional demeanor in your job search.

Volunteer

Every individual who has been faced with employment gaps at some point in their life will tell you that volunteering experience makes your CV look great.

A great way to fill the employment gap on your CV is to consider freelancing or taking up temporary work projects. If your plan is to change industries or careers completely, applying for internships and part-time positions can be a great way to get your foot in the door and learn some important skills.

Perfect Your Presentation & Interview Skills

Do you lack the confidence to speak in public? It is crucial that you begin to practice your verbal and non-verbal behaviour as it can be the deciding point of whether you’ll get the job. Strong verbal communication skills are highly valued by most employers, as they are signs of educated and competent individuals.

Research the most commonly asked interview questions and formulate your answers in a way that depicts your interest and skills. Practice your non-verbal behaviour, such as hand movements, posture and even smiling, as this is vital in creating the best first impression.

In Conclusion,

It is not unheard of to have a gap in your employment history. It will only stand out if you do not explain it. All employers want to see is your enthusiasm for the job title, and your readiness to get back into the job market. Be confident and honest and you will have nothing to worry about.

All the best!