Keeping your fingers crossed in the hope that
employers will not notice the gaps in your CV is not the right strategy. If
there are gaps in your CV that aren’t explained then employers will often
assume the worst as detailed in the cartoon here! Instead, you need to explain CV gaps in a way
that allows you to focus on the positive things that you’ve learned during the
gap and how it has perhaps enhanced your personality or professional profile. It
is better to explain gaps in a cover letter, and ideally in your CV itself,
especially if the gap is for educational purposes or travel. Don’t give
employers a reason to discard your CV as most gaps are explainable and if
communicated correctly could potentially enhance your application.
Illness Gaps
Mention only recent illness. However, employers may
wonder if you could be ill again so assure them in your CV that you are well
recovered, job ready and looking forward to work related challenges.
Termination Gaps
If you have been redundant explain what you did
in the interim to add to your skills. Did you add to your educational
qualifications, or undertake training or do volunteer work? If your services
were terminated, then stick to the truth without showing the company or
yourself in bad light. Explaining a gap may not harm your employability chances
but lying or extending the employment dates to avoid gaps could.
Voluntary Gaps
Everyone, at some point, needs to take time off
to care for parents, children, recover from accidents or simply because there
is going to be an addition to the family. If you have applied for the job, then
you know that it means that these reasons no longer exist; however, employers,
regrettably, may assume differently. Employers aren’t allowed to ask questions about
your family, children or marital status, but it could work in your favour to take
pre-emptive action and detail on your CV that you have made the adequate day
care and other arrangements for your children, etc. so they know that you are fully
committed to rejoining the workforce.
Travelling Gaps
These can be explained more easily in the CV by detailing
specifically where you travelled to and the objectives behind your travels. You could emphasise how the new gained perspectives
could be beneficial to the role that you are applying to. Furthermore, if there
was a bit of adventure travel, you could mention why it was important for you
and the lessons learned from overcoming various challenges.
This is the toughest of the lot. Most employers
will think the worst if your unemployment gap is more than a year. However, if
during that time you did something to qualify you better, like being a full-time
student, doing volunteer or freelance work, or you built a website or blog, did
consultation work or were a full-time parent or needed time to manage/refurbish
the home, then you can explain the gap with positive reasons.
Be prepared to explain rather than hide the gaps.
Have references readily available from your previous manager and colleagues. Take
time to upgrade your knowledge about companies or your area of work so that the
interviewer understands you have kept up with your profession despite the gap.
If you've found this useful then you may want to visit our free career tools section at http://www.aaronwallis.co.uk/career_tools.aspx
