Handling Employment Gaps on a Resume - Ask the Expert

Resume Questions

Employment gap questions... On this page, you ask & I answer questions about how to handle employment gaps on your resume.

Please take time to peruse the questions at the bottom of this page to make sure I haven't already answered the question you have. I don't want to keep answering the same questions over and over. Skip Down to Questions

But if you don't see your question, then by all means, ask it by filling out the form below and I'll answer as soon as I can get to it...

Have Questions About Employment Gaps?

Do you have a question about how to write a resume if you have an employment gap in your history? If so, our Ask the Expert feature is here to help! If your question isn't already listed here, then click the link just below to open a question form and start typing. I'll get back to you with an answer just as soon as I can...

PLEASE... Take Note

This is a big website and I get a number of questions on these pages every single week. Also, this isn't my only website. Since I am providing free information and advice here for you, I'd like to ask that you treat me with the same courtesy.

Please type your question and personal information (if you include it) with correct punctuation and capitalization. This is not IM or text messaging. Your questions create pages on my site and I want them to look right. And I don't want to have to spend hours going through all your submissions and correcting punctuation and caps. You wouldn't type your resume or cover letter in all lower case, would you? Well, then, don't do it to me either!

So, if you say "I", type it as a capital, not a lower case "i", OK? And begin new sentences with a capital, as well as your name and city/state. I thank you in advance for your courtesy and respect.

But, if you can't be bothered to format your question in a professional manner, then I won't hesitate to hit my delete button either. I don't mean to be harsh, but I just cannot keep spending hours correcting your entries. That's time I could be spending answering your questions. I'd much rather put that time into improving this site!

Have Questions About Employment Gaps?

Do you have a question about how to write a resume if you have an employment gap in your history? If so, our Ask the Expert feature is here to help!

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What Other Job Seekers Have Asked

Click below to see categories of employment gap questions from other visitors to this page. If you click on the category, you can see the individual questions that have been asked.

How to add "waitress" to professional resume? I worked for 11 years in finance and have an MBA...but because of the recession, I have been a waitress for the past year. Should I add that experience ...

Questions About Gaps Due to Tough Job Market Get answers to your questions about employment gaps due to a tough job market.

Questions About Employment Gaps Due to Retirement Get answers to your questions about employment gaps to returning to work after retirement.

Questions About Employment Gaps Due to Unrelated Job or Volunteer Experience Get answers to your questions about employment gaps due to working unrelated jobs or volunteer positions.

Questions About Employment Gaps Due to Time Off for Caregiving Get answers to your questions about employment gaps due to taking time off to care for a family member.

Employment Gap Questions Related to Disability Get answers to your questions about employment gaps due to disability or injury.

Questions About Employment Gaps That Don't Fit Elsewhere Get answers to your questions about employment gaps and employment gap issues.

How do I explain a 2-year employment gap due to work visa issues? My Name is Nithya, I was out of work for 2 years. I was working in India before 2 years, after my marriage I quit my job and came to USA since my husband ...

How to handle being let go for personal reasons? In 2000, I traveled the country for my husband's job until 2004, when we were going to settle in Denver, but then decided to move back to New Orleans when ...

What is the best way to account for a two year gap of unemployment? Long story short, I had a job that I once worked for for 2 years. It is currently on my resume, however... I made a huge mistake while employed with this ...

Should I add child care to my resume? I have not had a business job in about a year and a half. I have been babysitting for about a year, but I do not have it on my resume because it does not ...

How do I explain a low-paying job during a caregiving employment gap? After 20 years as a general manager, my wife was critically injured-electrocuted on high voltage wires. After therapy in a traumatic brain injury hospital,...

How to Explain a Long Gap in Employment History? My husband died in 2001. At that time I quit my job, stayed home with my children and collected widow's social security. One child is almost 20 and out ...

How do I present a 7-year gap in my resume? How do I present a 7-year gap of employment? Reason one: I had some immigration issues so I couldn't get back to work until now. Reason two: I had to take ...

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