Employment gaps have been a controversial topic amongst employers and working professionals for years.
While gaps in working history were traditionally frowned upon, it’s becoming increasingly common for people to have gaps in their employment due to various reasons – especially as attitudes to working change over time.
Below we explore what a ‘gap in employment’ is, why they occur and provide some examples answers that you can use to explain a gap in employment.
What is a gap in employment?
A ‘gap in employment’ is a period where you weren’t working, usually reflected in the work history section of your CV.
Generally, this is a relatively substantial break between two different roles that isn’t for immediately obvious reasons, such as maternity/paternity leave or stopping work to study.
Any period of unemployment lasting over three months is generally considered an employment gap and may prompt questions from future employers. Anything under three months will generally be ignored as this is a relatively natural timeframe for a job search.
While they’re quite common, many people still worry about employment gaps on a CV as they feel it may hinder their chance of getting a role.
Fortunately, employers are generally shifting away from this mindset, especially as more people regularly search for new challenges or opportunities for career development.
It’s unlikely you’ll be asked about your long-term work history as employers generally focus on more recent experience.
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Why do people have gaps in employment?
There’s a multitude of reasons that people have gaps in their work history – whether voluntarily or involuntarily. It’s becoming increasingly common amongst professionals and, more often than not, won’t impact your chances of finding a new role. Some of the key reasons people have a gap in their employment are:
• They’re starting a family, spending more time with family or taking on care of a dependent
• They’re returning to education or completing necessary education
• They suffer from or experience a physical, mental or chronic illness
• They take a break due to work fatigue or burnout
• They experience a longer job search as they’re changing careers entirely
These are all perfectly valid and common reasons for a gap in your work history. The important thing is that you can explain why there’s a gap in your employment history and if necessary, what you did to further your career during that time.
How to explain gaps in employment
If you find yourself in a job interview and someone asks about your work experience, there’s several important steps we advise all candidates to take:
• Be completely transparent about the situation and your own reasoning.
• Don’t go into unnecessary detail. You don’t have to explain why you took a break from work if it was for health issues, for example.
• If you can, highlight any positives that occurred during the gap in your employment. You want to demonstrate that you’re still committed to building a career, even if you had a break.
There’s no need to explain the gap in employment on your actual CV itself – this just takes up space that could be used for more important information. It’s better to prepare an answer for the job interview stage, where it’s much more likely to crop up. Here are some example answers you might give based on the common reasons above:
Taking a break because of health issues
Example answer: “A couple of years ago I developed a chronic condition that stopped me from working at the time. Since then, I’ve learnt how to manage my condition and understand how it impacts me day-to-day. I feel much more confident about returning to work and this position is ideally suited to my skill set.”
Taking a break for education
Example answer: “My last role didn’t provide many opportunities for upskilling and development, which was limiting my chance for broader career progression. I decided that it’d be better for me to step back from that role and take the time to develop my skills before re-entering the field. Now I have significantly better knowledge around the subject and several accreditations which have opened up a number of new opportunities, including this one!”
Taking time off for family
Example answer: “We recently had our first child and I stopped working to ensure my partner was supported and the baby had a stable routine. I felt this was important for all of us, plus it’s ensured that when I do go back to work, everyone at home is more comfortable with the situation. While I’ve really enjoyed the time off, I’m eager to get back into work and carry on where I left off.”