Resume Gaps That Raise Red Flags

Your resume is an employer’s first impression of you. A gap in your resume, however, can catch an employer’s eye - and not in a good way. There are different types of resume gaps, and several reasons one may have a resume gap. Let’s explore these gaps and the reasons behind them, as well as how to explain them to your employer.

The first type of resume gap is a gap right after graduation. This may be a graduation from high school, college, or grad school. The second type of gap is one between jobs. For an employer, job gaps could raise questions about a candidate’s job search efforts and readiness for the professional world. While a gap of a couple of months is no big deal, it becomes concerning if it exceeds six months and especially concerning if it exceeds a year. However, life happens. Sometimes you need to take a break for one reason or another. What’s important is how you explain a job gap to your interviewer. Let’s explore some common reasons people have gaps in their resume and how you can explain them to your interviewer.

1. Taking care of family members

Many people take time off to take care of their family members. Young kids, for example, require constant supervision, and parents often need to take time off work to provide that care, especially in the early years. Similarly, older adults or ill family members may need ongoing assistance with daily activities, medical appointments, and emotional support. In an interview, make sure to acknowledge this time off. Mention skills you learned during this time, such as communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills. In interviews, make sure to acknowledge this time off. Mention skills you learned during this time, such as communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

2. Finishing education

Another common reason for a resume gap is finishing school. Whether it’s finishing your high school diploma, obtaining a higher degree, or completing specialized training programs, these educational experiences can all strengthen your resume. Furthermore, you will have gained new knowledge and skills that can further enhance your work and make you a stronger candidate for a particular job. 

3. Terminated employment

Whether it was voluntary or involuntary, terminated employment can seem difficult and daunting to explain to an employer. If it was voluntary, you can mention the reason you left your previous company. Maybe you didn’t agree with the company values, or perhaps you wanted to challenge yourself somewhere else. If the termination was involuntary, you should be a little more careful when explaining the reason. If there was a specific situation that caused the termination, you can mention this story and include how you learned from the experience. This will show your growth. 

How to explain a job gap

When explaining a job gap, don’t sweep it under the rug. Acknowledge the gap and provide a satisfactory explanation for it. Mention the story and reason behind it. Then, you can mention what you learned from your time off – new experiences you gained, skills you learned, etc. The most important thing is to keep a positive attitude.