How to explain employment gaps

If you are also facing difficulties in job search or career growth because of any kind of employment gaps, then this blog is for you.

Understand reason for employment gaps

Understand and outline the reason of your employment gap which can be:

• Fresher with a gap after college while finding a job.
• Career gap of a few months for upskilling.
• Came back from significant maternity or paternity break.
• Prepared for Government Jobs but now want to join Private Sector.
• Took career gap to handle personal responsibilities/healthcare.
• Worked on own business and now want to join the job market.
• Gap due to lay off from previous company and not finding relevant job.

Creating a Gap-Positive Resume

Create a resume with gaps filled with your activities during that duration which can be :

• Skills you got.
• Training you performed.
• Prepared for any specific job.
• Handling own business
• Mention achievements and other expertise that can differentiate your resume from others.

Handle question in Job Interviews with Confidence

Very important to handle career gap questions with confidence in interviews else whole interview can go for a toss.

• Prepare questions on career gaps before interviews.
• Carry a positive approach and confidence towards the career gap.
• Be prepared with concrete answers like what you achieved professionally or how it helped to grow you personally.
• Be evidentially and well-documented to justify if asked.

Skill Enhancement and Professional Development During Gaps

It’s very important that if you had not taken a career gap for personal reasons you must justify how you grow up professionally. Take this opportunity to

• Learn new skills. (Online platforms with Certifications).
• Work on personal projects you always wanted to do.
• Brush the business skills you gained working on your business.
• Make a wide understanding of how preparing for specific Government Jobs helped you widen your horizon.

Use Networking and Volunteering

Use online professional networking platforms or volunteer for a cause you like that can help you in

• Skill Development
• Resume Enhancement
• Filling Employment Gaps
• Showcasing Passion
• References and Recommendations

e.g. Website Development for Nonprofits, Open-Source Projects, Computer Literacy Classes, and Tech Mentorship.

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