The modern workplace continues to evolve. Many job seekers feel like disclosing an employment gap on their CV will harm their employment prospects.
According to the Office of National Statistics around 25% of UK workers have had a period of unemployment or inactivity in the last five years.
There are several reasons why many people have a gap in their work histories. But if this is not addressed, employers might make unhelpful assumptions based on this gap. There is no reason for people to be embarrassed about a gap, and there are ways to show it as beneficial to future employment. In this blog, we take you through the most common reasons for gaps, and how to address these professionally on jobseekers CVs.
Redundancy
Redundancy can be a challenging event and many advisors struggle to address this on CVs.
There’s no need to go into a lot of detail about the reasons of the redundancy, a simple line about company restructuring, consequences of the pandemic, or company closure is as much information as most employers will require.
Instead, use the space to focus on the positives and highlights of skills. Concentrate on what was gained from working at the company, even if time was cut short. Reflect on the experience and key achievements, just like any other role, and link it to the job description of the role that is being applied for.
Make sure to highlight ways where the person made the best of the situation. Maybe they took up a volunteer role in the time off or learned a new skill which will help for future roles. This can show recruiters resilience and flexibility.
Care Responsibilities
Childcare is the number one reason for gap on a CV. Despite the pressure placed on parents, and particularly mothers, to choose between their professional and family life, taking a break to be a parent isn’t the career killer it was often portrayed to be.
Simply state the period of the break from work to care for family, and highlight that they are ready to return to their work. To take it a step further, you can note the skills and experiences they picked up. Some parents take on freelance work or are part of pyramid schemes such as Avon. You can also highlight volunteer roles, such as PTA activities.
Similarly, if time was taken off to care for an ill relative, you don’t need to disclose any personal details about this. Ensure that the main focus on the CV is what can be contributed going forward.
Illness
After taking a break for mental or physical health, it’s important to strike the right balance between being honest to potential employers and protecting privacy.
Remember: you do not have to disclose any medical information that the person is not comfortable sharing, and it’s illegal for potential employers to ask for details.
It’s enough to simply say that the health concern is resolved and that they are ready and motivated to re-enter the workforce. This can be done in the cover letter or during the interview.
Dismissal
Dismissal is a tricky subject to address on a CV. You don’t need to say this directly on their CV as to why they left their previous job, just the dates they worked there and their role. But if the question does arise, it is best not to lie. Here is what individuals can do instead:
- Briefly explain the situation surrounding the dismissal
- Reflect upon what was learned from the experience
- Focus on the positive impacts that were made in the position
- Avoid negative comments about the former role or employer
They need to make it clear what they have learned from the previous role and that their ready to move on to a new chapter.
Change In Direction
Starting afresh is never easy, and often when moving into a new role or industry, jobseekers struggle when highlighting their experience and achievements.
If a career change has created a gap in your CV, show potential employers how they’ve used the time to their benefit through new skills, work experience and voluntary roles which are relevant to the industry they wish to move into. This will work in their favour, as it shows enthusiasm and commitment outwidth the workplace to the role they would like to secure.
Criminal Convictions
If the person did serve a custodial sentence, then ask if any work experience was gained during this time. This can be presented as ‘Various Contracts’ and describe the work experience undertaken. Offploy have very helpful tips on when and when not convictions should be disclosed.
Candid AI embeds all of these best‑practice approaches into the CV‑building process, helping advisers create accurate, strengths‑based CVs in minutes. If you’d like to see how it works in practice, you can book a short demo with our team
