How to Bridge a Gap in your CV
If you have been out of paid employment for a while, there is a possibility that in the near future that you will be asked the question “Why have you been out of work so long?”
Now, this question might sound to you like you are on trial and that everything you say will be used against you but with a little bit of preparation and some creativity you can leverage this interview question and use it to your advantage.
CV gaps may occur for a wide variety of reasons. They could be a result of a layoff, a redundancy exercise by your company, time off taken to pursue further study or to manage an illness in the family. Whatever the reason they can affect the success of your job search process if not handled in the right manner.
The answer is not far-fetched and lies in your ability to structure your professional and non-professional experiences in a coherent manner, such that you can demonstrates to the recruiting manager the value that the sum total of your work related and non-work related experiences can bring to the table.
Here are 5 tips that I propose, which can help you maximize your time away from paid employment and facilitate a smoother conversation with potential recruiters when you do decide to return.
1. Prepare:
Acknowledge that a gap exists and do not try to sweep it under the carpet. Anticipate that recruiters will want to know why the gap occurred and have a ready and plausible explanation available. Also have ready examples to show how you have used your time away constructively to acquire new skills and improve on existing competencies with which you are eager to leverage on and add value to your next assignment.
2. Focus on your skills and competencies:
Highlight your skills and unique selling points in your CV and be sure to re-emphasize them in your cover letter. Instead of simply explaining away your gap you can bring to the fore the experiences and knowledge you have gained in unlikely places. This does not mean you should shy away from your gaps as you would only succeed in coming across as suspicious to the discerning eye. Do talk about your time away but with a view to sharing the skills and competencies acquired.
3. Become an Authority in your field:
Become an authority to in your field by writing papers or articles if you are so inclined. In this day and age of social media expansion, you can start a blog or contribute to existing blogs in your field. If you have done some free-lance work or started a business, it would be a good idea to highlight that in your CV and be prepared to talk about that in your interview. This can add richness and depth to your resume and will count towards valuable work experience.
4. Seek out opportunities to Volunteer:
One major way of staying current in your field while away from paid employment is to volunteer. You should consider volunteering in organizations related to your your field of expertise or related to the field you would like to transition to. These experiences are valuable, and can open you up to opportunities you might not otherwise have had access to.
Ensure to highlight these experiences in your resume as they can help close the gaps and will keep your CV current and up to date.
5. Avoid negativism:
Be positive. Negativism is a very unattractive trait to potential employers. If you were laid off, don’t assume that it makes you a less attractive candidate. Layoffs are quite common these days and do not carry as much of a stigma as they used to. What you can do to increase your chances of employment is to demonstrate to potential employers that you are still actively growing and seeking out learning opportunities and also opportunities to contribute in your chosen profession. Stay positive and highlight how the learning you have acquired during your time away can make you a better candidate for the job in question.
Rather than seeing your CV gaps as a deal breaker. You can see them as an opportunity to shine and showcase softer skills which are very much in high demand in today’s work environment. Whether you are in paid employ or not there is always room to grow in your chosen career and to develop your skills and competencies. What you choose to do with your time when you are out of a job will inform a discerning hiring manager on whether you are as innovative, creative and resourceful as your CV claims you to be.
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Article by Tamkara Adun