How Employers View Resume Gaps

If you see someone who has been "open to work" for a 6+ months and they still show up on this platform with a positive attitude, adding value to those around them, and continuing to highlight the impact they can have, that’s top talent. Resume gaps are high on the list of "red flags" but it's 2025. We’re 5 years into the most volatile period of most of our lives. Layoffs have become the norm, hiring processes can take months, and the average job search taking 6+ months Being unemployed is terrifying and people's livelihood, and the well-being of their families is on the line. A lot of people in that situation could shut down, spend their energy complaining and placing blame and focusing on the negative. But these folks are still managing to give grace to those around them, provide encouragement to others, share job opportunities with others, congratulate the people who get the same jobs they were applying for, and continually upskilling, starting small businesses...that’s A-player behavior. Your company is probably talking about all the buzzy stuff right now - AI adoption, T-shaped talent, adaptability and resilience as you face numerous re-orgs and implementations. You probably need people who can navigate ambiguity in these situations, stay positive when things are tough, and bring new ideas to navigate these challenges. So in interviews, you might ask candidates about a time they struggled to meet a goal and they’ll talk about that time a snowstorm threatened the annual event they’d spent 12 months planning and you’ll score their answer against all the other similar responses you’ve heard. But don’t lose sight of the fact that at a time when they could respond with anger and frustration, instead they’ve spent the last 6 months teaching themselves SQL, built 3 websites from scratch for local non-profits, and grew a social media account to 10k sharing insights for product marketers. For too long, those resume gaps have been seen as red flags, and sometimes they are. But often this may be a period where someone has recharged and leveled up their skillset in ways that will bring a lot of upside to your company. Instead of seeing the gaps as red flags, consider leading with curiosity. If someone checks off every other box on your list a resume gap isn't a reason not to consider them, and in fact that gap could be the thing that shows what a great asset they'd be to your team!

"Can you explain this gap in your resume?" Career gaps are NOT a character flaw. In fact, quite the opposite. A career gap can indicate someone who is: ✅ Clear on their priorities ✅ Confident enough to make tough choices ✅ Mature and responsible When my youngest was 3, he had severe asthma (Level 4) which meant that he was hospitalized nearly weekly. My life was a series of doctor's appointments, caring for my older child, and working a full-time job that required travel. I was beyond fortunate that my direct supervisor and my employer told me to do whatever was needed to care for him. Without that grace, I surely would have had to quit my job and it would have been the right decision. As a result, I learned how to: ↳ Set boundaries and manage my time better ↳ Work strategically and efficiently ↳ Delegate and train others But not everyone has that luxury. I recently worked with a client who left a job to care for her aging mother. I discovered that when she got a question about the gap, she was trying to hide it. She's not alone. Most people make these critical mistakes when addressing resume gaps: ❌ Apologizing excessively ❌ Providing too many personal details ❌ Sounding defensive or unprepared ❌ Focusing on the gap instead of their value ❌ Making up elaborate explanations Here's how successful candidates handle gaps with confidence: 1️⃣ Own your story without apology ↳ Be matter-of-fact about what happened 💡Why? Confidence signals that you view your path as valid and valuable. 2️⃣ Focus on growth during the gap ↳ Highlight skills developed, relevant volunteer work, courses, or projects 💡Why? Employers see that you're proactive and committed to growth. 3️⃣ Redirect to your strengths ↳ Quickly pivot to why you're perfect for this role 💡Why? The interview is about your fit, not your past. 4️⃣ Prepare a concise explanation ↳ Practice a response that feels natural with only relevant details 💡Why? Being prepared eliminates anxiety and helps you respond thoughtfully. 5️⃣ Address it proactively when appropriate ↳ Bringing it up first allows you to own the story Gaps happen because of parenting decisions, health issues, caregiving responsibilities, layoffs, career pivots, and countless other valid reasons. What matters most is not the gap itself but how you've grown from it and why you're the right person for the job NOW. ♻️ Repost to help others navigate their job search with confidence 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more career and job search advice 📌DM me if you'd like to discuss your personal situation or get support

Not every career path is linear. Some of the best journeys have detours. Career gaps aren't flaws either. They are often chapters of resilience. Here’s how some of my clients have addressed career gaps with employers: [Save these] 1. Layoff "My position was eliminated during a company restructuring. Since then, I've worked as a sales consultant, helping a tech startup exceed their quarterly targets by 30%. I'm excited to bring these fresh insights and results-driven approach to your sales team." 2. Termination “I knew soon after I started that the job wasn’t as described, but since I committed to the company, I wanted to give it my best effort. In the end, my skills of X, Y, and Z weren’t being utilized effectively to bring value to the business. We amicably separated which gave me time to find the right job where I can bring the most value based on business need.” 3. Parental Leave "I took an 18-month parental leave to care for my newborn. During this time, I contributed to open-source projects and learned new programming languages. I'm now eager to apply these enhanced skills to help develop innovative software solutions." 4. Caregiving "I took time off to manage my father's complex medical care. This experience honed my skills in stakeholder communication and resource allocation under tight constraints. I also earned my Agile certification. I'm now ready to apply these enhanced skills to lead high-stakes projects in your organization." 5. Medical Leave: "I took a year off to address a health condition. I'm now fully recovered and used this time to earn my CFA certification. I'm excited to apply both my previous experience and these new skills to optimize financial strategies." 6. Travelling the World "I took a planned one-year sabbatical to gain international experience. I worked with NGOs in Southeast Asia on employee development programs. This enhanced my cross-cultural communication skills and understanding of global workforce dynamics, which I believe will be valuable in this multinational HR role." Key Strategies: - Be concise. Don’t linger on the explanation - Be specific about skills gained during the gap - Quantify achievements where possible - Connect experiences to the potential job role In my experience, a resume gap can be a sign of strength. Don’t let it hold you back. If this resonates, reshare to your network ♻ And follow me for more posts like this.

I recently talked to a client with a 3 years employment gap. They were afraid no employer would take them seriously. This fear is real, and I get it. But here’s what I’ve seen time and again: It’s not the gap that matters. It’s how you explain it and what you’ve done with your time. Life happens, and hiring managers understand that. What they’re looking for is growth, accountability, and initiative. This is what I encouraged them to do: 1️⃣ Acknowledge the gap. Own it with confidence. For example: “I took time off to [reason], and during that time, I [productive activity or growth].” 2️⃣ Show the value. Did you upskill, take online courses, freelance, volunteer, or work on personal projects? Highlight how these experiences make you a stronger candidate. 3️⃣ Be strategic and concise. You don’t need to overshare. Keep the focus on how you’re prepared for the role you’re applying for. 4️⃣ Practice your narrative. Hiring managers will sense your ease and trust your explanation if you present it well. The gap you look at doesn’t matter so much, but how you look at it does. Don’t let it stop you from applying. If you need help turning your gap into an asset, message me and we'll map out the steps to ace any interview.

One of the best candidates I ever met had a 6-month gap on her resume. The recruiter flagged it. "No explanation. Just... gone for six months." They almost passed. In the interview, they asked about it. "I worked 90-hour weeks for four years. Missed my daughter's first steps. Her first words. Missed everything." Her voice cracked. "One morning, I collapsed in the parking lot. Woke up in the hospital. Doctor said my body was shutting down." The room went silent. "So I stopped. For six months, I just... stopped. Learned my daughter's favorite book. Made every soccer game. Remembered who I was before chasing job titles." The hiring manager leaned forward. "And now?" "Now I know the difference between working hard and killing yourself. I'll never confuse them again." They hired her that day. Three years later: She runs their biggest division. Highest margins. Lowest turnover. Never misses bedtime. Her secret? She only hires people with gaps. The mom who paused for her sick parent. The exec who chose rehab over revenue. The developer who picked mental health over sprints. "Broken people who heal don't break again," she says. "They've already paid the price others are still accumulating." Last quarter, her team outperformed every "safe" hire in the company. By 40%. Still think resume gaps are red flags? You're not screening for reliability. You're filtering out the only people who truly understand the cost of blind ambition. And those people? They're building empires at companies smart enough to hire them. While you're still wondering why your "perfect" candidates keep burning out. .

Stop Apologizing for Resume Gaps. And if you’re worried it’s what’s getting you disqualified? Say it on your resume. Life happens. You cared for a loved one. You moved across the country for military orders. You fought through health challenges. You weathered a layoff. That doesn’t make you unqualified. It makes you experienced. If you’re sitting there wondering “Is this gap the reason I’m not getting calls back?” address it head on. - Family Caregiver | 2022–2023 | Full-time caregiver for a parent. Strengthened crisis management, medical advocacy, and decision-making skills under pressure. - Relocation due to military orders | 2021 | Maintained professional development and volunteer leadership roles while managing an international move. - Medical Leave | 2020 | Focused on recovery and personal growth. Returned to workforce with renewed resilience and perspective.   Own your story. Control your narrative.