Age-old wisdom tells us that having gaps in your CV will hold you back. But is that really the case? The modern working world is increasingly diverse and taking a break from it—for whatever reason—may not be met with the criticism you imagine. So, how can you explain it?
Here at Resume.io, we have everything you need to help you supercharge your job search, including a wide selection of CV examples. In the following post, we will cover:
- The most common reasons for gaps in your CV
- How you can explain CV gaps in five simple steps
- Expert-backed tips on talking about your CV gaps with confidence.
Common reasons for CV gaps
Gaps in employment are not uncommon. The latest government statistics show the UK unemployment rate at roughly 4%. That is not the only reason that a person may not be working. Let’s take a look at some of the additional reasons for CV gaps:
Education and training
Whether you are taking an apprenticeship or studying for a qualification, you may not be able to hold down a job at the same time. If you have chosen to return to education later in life, this can leave an unexpected gap on your CV in the work experience section.
Career breaks
Do you need to hit the ‘pause’ button? There are countless reasons that someone may choose to take a career break. Those struggling with personal issues, mental health problems, or choosing to travel may have decided to take some time out from work.
Redundancy and job loss
Of course, one of the major reasons that people have CV gaps is because they lost their jobs. Whether you have been fired or made redundant by a former employer, you can explain this. However, the last thing you want to do is mislead future employers or hiring managers.
Caring and family issues
For some people, deciding to take time off is less of a choice and more of an obligation. If you need to care for someone close to you, spend more time looking after your children, or be there for an ageing parent, you may need a break from work. Since these types of CV gaps are strikingly common, you should not worry about the need to explain them to the employer.
Don’t be ashamed of CV gaps—they are normal!
In 2023, a BBC report posed the timely question, “Are we done with the CV gap taboo?” The article took a deep dive into the various reasons millions of Brits are out of work, including caring duties, long-term sickness, studying, and the post-pandemic ‘Great Resignation’.
Since CV gaps are becoming more common, the stigma surrounding them is disappearing. As careers advisor Jill Cotton told the BBC, “Missing time in a CV is now generally met with open curiosity rather than an assumption of a person’s poor performance or reliability.”
Where should you explain the gap in your CV?
Keep in mind that there are two main places you can deliver this explanation:
- Cover letter: When writing your cover letter you may briefly touch upon your CV gaps. Offering a quick explanation here could help to answer any questions in the hiring manager’s mind. If they are hesitant to invite you to an interview because of the gap, you can take the opportunity to calm their fears.
- Interview: Should you make it to the interview stage of the hiring process, you may find that questions about your CV gaps arise. The smartest approach is to have a stock answer ready to deliver to the panel. Preparing well in advance will help you be confident in what you say to the interviewer.
Regardless of the situation, the approach you should take when explaining CV gaps will be the same.
5 Steps to explaining gaps in your CV
Now that we have covered why you may have CV gaps, let’s talk about how to explain them.
1. Give a solid reason for your unemployment
First things first, you don’t want to beat around the bush. You cannot lie to a prospective employer, or skirt around the truth. Believe us, the truth will come out eventually. You might as well be upfront about your employment history.
Simply give a reason that you have CV gaps. As covered above, maybe you were made redundant, decided to take a career break, or had caring duties. You don’t want to over-explain here. Just give a pithy sentence that shares the information clearly and concisely.
Lost for words? Don’t panic. Let’s take a look at some example reasons:
- “I took a career break to look after a relative.”
- “I was made redundant by my employer.”
- “I returned to education.”
- “I changed careers and, therefore, took a break.”
There’s no room for flourishes of creativity or unnecessary caveats here. You don’t want the hiring manager to linger on this issue too long. So, get straight down to business.
2. Explain what you did during this period
Now that you’ve covered why you were out of work, let’s address the elephant in the room. What were you doing during that period? The hiring manager is likely to have a real interest in this part of the equation. With that in mind, you should never leave them hanging.
It’s important to show that you were active while out of work. If you were studying or travelling, explaining how you spent the time should be a breeze. You can say something like:
- “During this period, I was travelling in South America.”
- “During this time, I gained a qualification in Health and Social Care.”
Of course, if you were out of work because you were fired or caring for family, it may not be as easy to explain the gap in your CV. However, there are ways you can get it right. Talk about how you strengthened your skill set or learned new things. Here’s a quick example:
- “While I was looking for my next role, I took a Web Development course.”
- “While caring for my mother, I volunteered at a local food bank.”
The key here is to always focus on the positive. The hiring manager will be intrigued by how you spent your time away from work. Give them something solid that they can hold onto. To do this, you only need to pick one or two things that you did to develop your professional roster.
3. Touch upon what you learned or the skills you gained
Now that you’ve covered what you were physically doing during your employment break, let’s delve deeper. However you spent this time, chances are you picked up some handy transferable skills for your CV. Don’t be afraid to talk about them within your explanation.
You might need to think out of the box here. For example, if you spent time caring for a loved one, you will have strengthened your empathy, organisation, communication, and time management skills. Those are all traits that employers value highly. Take the time to think about the talents you honed when you were not working.
4. Avoid apologising for your CV gaps
One of the biggest mistakes that candidates make when it comes to CV gaps is—drum roll—apologising. This is most common when you are sitting face-to-face with an interviewer. If you are a natural people-pleaser, you may be tempted to start saying sorry to them.
Remember, you don’t need to apologise for the gaps in your CV. When you do that, you’re telling the hiring manager that you have done something wrong. That move will only position you in a negative light in their eyes. Instead of being apologetic, be confident and informative.
Stick to the facts!
Apologies happen when you get too emotional about your explanation. You don’t need to do that. Instead, you should stick to the facts and take a matter-of-fact stance on your CV gaps. This approach will help you take all of those anxious feelings out of the equation entirely.
5. Above all else, keep it short and sweet
Dwelling on CV gaps is never going to be a smart move. Whether that means writing two paragraphs on the matter or talking for 10 minutes about it, you need to avoid this pitfall.
If you are prone to rambling, you might have to do a bit of self-editing here. When explaining why you have gaps in your CV, keep things brief. You don’t need to go into excessive detail and tell the hiring manager all of the things that led to this point. Frankly, that is a waste of time.
It’s far better to state your case, be open to any questions, and move on. Using this formula will help you to stay on track when you have to deliver a straightforward answer.
Tips for talking about gaps in your CV
By this point, you should feel ready to explain away the gaps in your CV. However, before you do that, some final pointers could help you.
- Put a positive spin on it. You are in control of the narrative—and don’t forget it. When you are talking about CV gaps, make sure you show them in a positive light. If the experience was largely negative (i.e. you got fired), talk about what you learned instead.
- Prepare, prepare, prepare. If you have gaps in your CV, there’s a decent chance this will come up in the interview. You don’t want to be caught off-guard. Take the time to prepare your explanation well in advance.
- Talk about your career journey. Your career path is a journey. When discussing CV gaps, focus on how they fit your long-term targets and goals. This approach shows the hiring manager that you have a vision of the future.
- Never panic—it shows. While answering questions about gaps in your CV can be tough, try not to panic. The moment you get all hot and bothered, it will show. Looking nervous is a surefire way to put an interviewer off. Try techniques to calm your nerves.
Key takeaways
Don’t believe the hype. Gaps in your CV are not the end of the world. If you are looking to land your next job, use this guide to help you. So long as you are honest and brief about CV gaps— while putting a positive spin on things—you’re onto a real winner.
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