Handling Gaps in Employment

Frank Manfre
4 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Don't hide gaps in employment but don't go into a lot of detail.

How a gap in employment should be shown on a resume and LinkedIn is a question I often receive from my job search clients. To start, don’t try to hide it by stretching the time you were at the jobs before and after the gap; but don’t over-explain it. Address it briefly and confidently so recruiters and hiring managers focus on your value, not the gap. Here are some recommended approaches:

Be Honest But Brief

Most recruiters spend 6-10 seconds scanning a resume initially, so they are not expecting a long explanation.

Acknowledge the gap
Keep it short (one line if possible)
Move attention back to skills or results

Example: Career Sabbatical | 2023-2024

Focused on professional development, consulting projects, and industry research.

Label the Gap Professionally

Name the time period rather than leaving a blank timeline. Common neutral labels:

Career Sabbatical
Professional Development
Independent Consulting
Family Caregiver
Career Transition
Entrepreneurial Venture

Example: Professional Development | 2024-Present

Completed advanced training in digital marketing and sales enablement while evaluating next leadership opportunity.

Show Productive Activity (If Possible)

If you did anything during the gap, include it. Even small projects help turn a “gap” into experience. Examples:

Consulting
Volunteer work
Coursework
Certifications
Board work
Caregiving
Writing/research
Industry networking

Example: Independent Consultant | 2023-2024

Advised small businesses on marketing strategy and lead generation.

Use Years Instead of Months (Sometimes)

You can list years only, especially if the gap is short. This visually reduces smaller gaps.

Instead of: Marketing Director | Jan 2022-Feb 2023

Use: Marketing Director 2022-2023

On LinkedIn Add a Position for the Gap

Gaps on LinkedIn often raise more questions than resumes because the timeline is more visible. Add a role rather than leaving a blank time. Examples:

Career Transition & Professional Development Self-Directed | 2023-2024
Completed industry research and training
Advised small businesses on marketing initiatives
Expanded professional network across B2B technology sector

Prepare a Simple Interview Explanation

Provide a short, confident explanation, keeping it to 30 seconds or less.

Situation → What you did → Why you're ready now

Example: “After my last role I took time to help a family member and also did consulting work while evaluating my next long-term opportunity. I'm now fully focused on returning to a full-time leadership role.”

Avoid Overly Personal Details

A professional tone is key; don’t Discuss:

Layoffs in emotional terms
Medical issues (unless you choose to)
Long negative explanations
Blaming previous employers

If the Gap Was a Layoff

You do not need to explain layoffs on your resume. But on LinkedIn, or in interviews, you can say: “My position was eliminated during a company restructuring.” Reorgs and "right sizing" are unfortunately common events and rarely raise concerns.

Bottom Line