CV template: Career gap
Presenting career gaps on your CV can seem daunting, but there are a variety of reasons career gaps exist, from being dismissed and travelling, to looking after children and illness, and employers are no stranger to these reasons.
Therefore, if you provide an honest reason as to why you were out of work, you have nothing to fear
To help you phrase your career gap in the best possible way, we’ve worked with experts at Standout CV to produce a ‘career gap’ CV template for you.
Remember that this is just a template and should be used to guide the structure and content of your CV. It’s vital that you use the template to influence your CV rather than copy it directly, or your CV is likely to read a little unnaturally.
For more tips on how to write a CV for a career gap check out our guide or keep reading for a handful of tips and tricks.
What did you gain?
Often, when it comes to career gaps, you will have learnt something during your break – and it’s usually soft skills which are valued greatly in every job, such as self-motivation, communication and confidence.
This is your edge.
If you can show your prospective employer that despite being out of work, you still learnt key skills which you can bring to any new role, you’re onto a winner.
Discuss your hobbies and interests
Employers don’t just want someone who’s qualified for their role, they want someone who’s a great cultural fit for the company too. Therefore, it’s as much about personality as it is skill.
If you have room, you could try discussing your hobbies and interests to make you stand out from the crowd and depict you as an interesting person. But make sure you get creative – it turns out listing ‘reading’ is on the verge of a criminal offence in the job-hunting world because it’s too generic and boring.
Provide decent references
When writing your CV, it’s perfectly acceptable to write ‘references available on request’ at the end, rather than list your referees’ contact details.
However, it’s worth thinking about who you will ask for a reference in advance of submitting your application. While all references should be decent, this is even more vital when considering a career gap or break as you have been out of employment and need to show that you are still competent.
Previous employers, family or close friends are a good start; just make sure they’re credible and are aware of your gap.
For more tips on how to write a CV, see our guide.