Whether you voluntarily took time off to take care of your loved ones or you got laid off from a company that eventually closed down, there are several reasons why you may have a gap in your resume. Now that you’re seeking another job, you might be wondering how to best explain it to a recruiter.

Understand employment gaps

These are periods during your career when you didn’t have any formal employment. The length may range from a few months to a couple of years. They may occur voluntarily, like you resigning from a job yourself, or involuntarily, like falling badly ill.

Here are other plausible reasons for you to have an employment gap:

• Raising a child who is still very young or is differently-abled
• Caring for a family member who is sick or unable to care for themselves
• Suffering from any health or medical issue that requires recuperation
• Relocating to a different part of the country or travelling abroad
• Going back to school or pursuing a master’s or doctorate degree
• Undergoing any type of training for honing your skills
• Getting laid off or having your previous employer downsize
• Having a hard time finding another job in the midst of quarantine
• Attempting to start a freelance career or a small business
• Working on a solo project or travelling to your dream destination

It happens to anybody

It’s not something you have to feel ashamed about as an employment gap may happen to anyone. In fact, the Philippine labour force experienced a rise in unemployment rates in 2020. Up to 60% of participants had their livelihood affected by the pandemic.

Around 43% had to temporarily stop working while 17% were permanently removed from their positions, especially those in hard-hit industries like construction, tourism as well as food and beverage. The good news is that businesses have begun moving towards economic recovery and started hiring again.

Arrange the gaps in your resume

An employment gap in your resume is a cause of concern if you are unable to provide a reason for it. It’s when you can’t explain what you have learned through the experience that you run into issues.

Get yourself ready to work again

Use this time for professional development, such as doing contractual or volunteer work, signing up for relevant courses, and earning certifications for skills in your industry. It’s a good idea to join professional associations to broaden your knowledge too.

Consider what to include in your resume

You don’t have to include every single job you’ve had in your resume. If you have years of experience and had the gap early in your career, it’s not necessary to add it. It’s better to put the most relevant and most recent work history instead.

Use a different format or style

Rather than the typical format, consider using a functional one that allows you to highlight your achievements and skills over your employment history. You may include sections the provide a summary of your career and how you contributed to your employers in the past.

Skip the month for small gaps

If the gaps between your jobs are around a month or two, you may disguise them by removing the month altogether. List the years you were in each position, but make sure your experiences have a duration of over a year. Otherwise, it’s going to be strange having two roles within the same year.

Mention experiences earned during gaps

When any of the skills or knowledge you gained during the gaps are related to the position you’re applying for, it might be beneficial to add them in your resume. For instance, if you’re applying to a property management firm, mention times you did real estate or construction work during the gap.

Be ready to discuss longer gaps

When you have longer gaps in your resume, it’s inevitable that interviewers are going to bring it up during your conversations. Prepare to give a thorough explanation while exuding positivity and confidence in order not to lose your job opportunity.

Be as honest as possible

Lying might give recruiters a better impression of you during the interview, but you run the risk of getting caught in your lie in the future. Being labeled as deceitful is going to hurt your career in the long-run so be truthful instead.

Sound like you are in-demand

In explaining employment gaps, you want to come across as selective rather than run-of-the-mill. If you’ve been job hunting for a while, don’t try to garner their pity by saying you’ve had no interviews if you’ve been to a few. The exception is when your gaps are related to travel, health, or childcare.

Keep it short and sweet

In the event that your reason is something you want to keep private, provide a brief summary then go back to your desire to work for their company. Steering the conversation is as simple as asking the interviewer a question about the role.

Get help to land a virtual job

Taking time off is not something you have to feel ashamed of, especially when your reasons are for your health or your family. If you need further advice on job hunting, check out our other blog posts here at Remote Workmate.

We also have a careers page that we keep updated with the latest opportunities in different industries. We’re willing to equip and advise you on how to make yourself a more appealing candidate despite your employment gaps.