There are a number of effective techniques, and

A: Many workers of all ages have gaps in their employment. The good news is that these gaps do not need to be stumbling blocks when it comes to landing the job you want.

Gaps in employment history are something many workers, of all ages, will have to address during their job search. But be assured, gaps in work history are not deal breakers when it comes to landing a job opportunity. There are many ways to tackle this situation.

First, consider writing a resume that highlights key functions or skills versus a traditional chronological version. This gives you the opportunity to draw attention to your key accomplishments over the years and not the specifics (i.e. dates) of your previous positions. This works particularly well for mature workers who have a wealth of employment history and skills to convey in their resume.

Even if you decide to go this route, prospective employers may still be interested in the types of companies you’ve worked for so you may want to simply list the employer names and industries at the end of your resume.

Second, be prepared to explain the gap in your career. There may be occasions where you are required to complete a job application which mandates specific dates of your previous employment. Or, your job history may not lend itself to a functional resume and you’d prefer to stick with a standard, chronological version.

A verbal explanation should be short, simple and most importantly, not defensive in nature. In your case, an example may be “I made a decision to exit the workforce for a brief time to pursue personal interests and am now anxious to reapply the many skills I’ve acquired during my career.”

If you choose to include the explanation on your resume, again keep it simple, such as: Dec. 2004 to Present: Left work to pursue personal interests and spend more time with family. Now eager to return to the workforce.

Lastly, make sure your employment gap doesn’t get the best of you. You should feel confident and assured in marketing yourself. Focus on the wealth of expertise and experiences you bring to the table, and don’t allow a small needle in a large haystack to undermine your job search process.

Good luck Madeline!
Seymour