Options for Explaining Gaps in Your Employment History
Many of us take time off, for one reason or another, from working. Sometimes, it’s by choice. In other cases, it can take time to find a new job. What is the best way to explain an employment gap on your resume and during a job interview? It depends on the situation and what you did while you weren’t employed.
When to Mention an Employment Gap
If the gap was in the past, you don’t need to mention it. In fact, you don’t need to include all your experience on your resume, especially if you have been in the workforce for years. It’s acceptable to limit the years of experience you include on your resume to fifteen years when seeking a managerial or professional position and ten years when looking for other positions.
Use Dates to Cover the Employment Gaps in Your Resume
When listing dates on your resume, you don’t need to list the month/year if you were in a position for over a year or if your position spans multiple years. For example, you could say 2014 – 2016 (rather than May, 2014 – February, 2016) which would give you some room to cover the gaps: