"Why is there a gap on your resume?"

Who hasn't heard that question before and feared judgement?

The reality is that

In the many years that I have been recruiting, I have come across a lot of resumes that show short tenures or a gap.

Often time, this gap is immediately overshadowed with some sort of judgement.

But does this really matter??

Shouldn't the experience - the actual filled space - matter more than a gap?

I can assure you that every time I dug deeper into the reasons, I learned one of the following:

1. Organizational changes:

a)??????The company has lost a contract and needed to reorganize.

b)?????The company has new leadership who bring new ideas and reorganized or bring their entourage with them.

c)??????The company went through a merger and eliminated positions

d)?????The company was bought out by an investment company and eliminated x% of the team.

e)?????Lay off due to economic impact

2. Family reasons:

a)??????My parents were ill and I had to move to take care of them.

b)?????Child was ill and needed special care.

c)??????Personal trauma and needed to take time to focus on personal health

d)?????Previous job required extensive travel that jeopardized family life

e)?????Birth of a child / Parental leave

f)???????Took time to travel

g)??????Recovery after accident or illness

h)?????Spouse’s job relocated

3. Professional decision:

a)??????Took first job after leaving the military to keep a steady income but not knowing a clear path quite yet

b)?????Reached a place without any growth opportunity and moved to a promising opportunity

c)??????Position was misrepresented and decided to look for a better fit

4. Other:

a)??????Company was purchased by a foreign group causing a loss of Visa status

b)?????Visa expired

The bottom line is that nobody likes change!

Humans are creatures of habit!

Most of the time there is always a "good" reason why there is a gap or a short tenure on a resume.

So before dismissing a candidate based on a gap or short tenure who otherwise shows qualifications on a resume take a moment to ask the question.

Give them a chance! Hear them out!

You may be surprised what you learn and end up with one of the best employees!

As a candidate faced with this question: