Mind The Gap - Addressing Career Gaps

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Often, CVs come across my desk, and instantly, it’s evident that there is a gap in the career history, and this hasn’t been addressed.? This is a red light to a recruiter or hiring manager.

I know it’s tempting to gloss over any gaps, but it’s much better to tackle them head-on and be open and transparent.

If you find yourself in this situation, and believe me, you’re not alone, there are ways of addressing it and here are some strategies to help you. While there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, there are several techniques you can employ to present your CV positively and effectively.

Remember, your future employer doesn’t want a long monologue, just a clear statement that you will get a clear reference!

Dealing with Gaps Between Jobs

Let's start with addressing gaps between jobs. For instance, if you left a job in March 2019 and began a new one in January 2020, you need to be able to answer these 2 questions:

1.????? Why did you leave your previous role without having another job to go to?

2.????? What were you doing during the period you were not working?

These questions need clear, positive answers. Spend some time developing your answers.

Unfortunately, in the world of recruitment, the initial assumption might be negative - that you were dismissed and struggled to find new employment. To counter this, you should provide context and explanations that highlight your strengths.

A good way to overcome this is to include a 'reason for leaving' for the job that ended. If redundancy was the cause, state this clearly, explaining the circumstances. For example, if your entire department was offshored, mention this to dispel any notion of being individually displaced.

If personal reasons prompted your departure, explain briefly while keeping the tone positive. Avoid overly morbid details and instead focus on personal development or further study. If you took a sabbatical, describe what you gained from the experience, whether it was self-development, additional education, or a meaningful project.

In cases where job dissatisfaction or conflicts are the reason, it's better to be neutral and focus on career goals. For instance, you might say:

Reason for leaving: The role and organisation were misaligned with career goals, leading to a proactive job search for better opportunities.

Or more neutrally:

Reason for leaving: Career progression—limited opportunities for development.

Next, explain the activities during the employment gap. Avoid simply stating 'job seeking,' as long job searches can be perceived negatively. Instead, combine multiple positive activities:

March 2019 to January 2020: Short career sabbatical and studying towards Level 6 Chartered status.

By framing the gap this way, you highlight productive use of time and minimise negative perceptions.

Addressing Ongoing Gaps

Ongoing gaps are more challenging since they are not superseded by new employment.

Being immediately available does have advantages for recruiters and future employers, so it's not all bad. However, it's important to be open about the reasons. When asked, reticence to explain the gap may well be interpreted as having something to hide.

So, the same principles apply as before, emphasising your readiness to return to work. For example:

Current Situation: Short career sabbatical since November 2023 to study towards Level 6 study Chartered status and renovate property. Now fully prepared for a new challenge and career progression.

Returning from Parental Leave or Raising Children

For those with extended gaps due to parental leave or raising children, you will need to address this within your CV.

If you remained employed by the same company throughout your parental leave, there's no gap to explain on your CV. However, if you left your job for parental reasons and did not return, provide a clear explanation.

For instance, if you took four years off to raise your child. Securing some consultancy work - even minimal - can be helpful to address this gap. This shows recent work experience and readiness to return to the workforce. For example:

Current Situation: Financial Advice Consultancy work, studying towards Level 6 Chartered status, and parental leave.

This format doesn’t specify the time spent on each activity, leaving those details for the interview where you can better present your story.

A Word of Caution - Be Aware of Generic AI Content

Nowadays, I see more and more CVs clearly written by AI. Sometimes, the wording is inappropriate and doesn’t present the candidate in the best light.?

Whilst I am not against the use of AI and believe that there is a place for it in today’s world, it is important to be very careful when using it that

(a) There isn’t information included which isn’t true (I’ve seen this first hand) and;

(b) The content is concise and easy to read and understand.

In the last few weeks, we received a CV in which a candidate had included, in error, a whole section in their career history on a company where they had never worked. It turned out they had used a friend’s CV as a template and not fully removed the existing information. This was disastrous for the candidate as it not only shows a lack of attention to detail but potentially portrays them as liars.

Conclusion

Effectively handling CV gaps involves clear, positive explanations and demonstrating continued personal or professional development. These strategies can help you navigate recruitment challenges and present yourself as a strong candidate despite employment gaps. Remember to tailor your explanations to your specific situation.

I can’t overemphasise the importance of a well-written CV.? Please spend time making sure it represents you in the best light and is factually correct.?

If you’re not sure if your CV is top-notch and you’d like to take advantage of our FREE CV Review from our partners at PH Career Services, ?click on the link here

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If you would like to know more about our M&A, Recruitment and Consultancy ?Services, feel free to personal message me or contact me via our website, where you can book a call at?www.paulharpersearch.co.uk, message me here on LinkedIn or call me on 07768 952212