Employment gaps are more common than ever. Redundancy, illness, caregiving, travel, mental health, a failed business, parental leave — life intervenes. The way you handle these gaps on your CV can be the difference between getting an interview and not.
The biggest mistake people with CV gaps make is trying to hide them. Unexplained gaps are more concerning to recruiters than explained ones. A two-year gap with a brief, honest explanation is far less worrying than a two-year gap with nothing at all.
List it clearly: "Career break — maternity/paternity leave (June 2021 – September 2022)." There is nothing to apologise for. If you did any relevant professional development during this time (online courses, freelance work, professional reading), mention it briefly.
You are not obligated to disclose a health condition on your CV. A simple "career break for personal reasons" is sufficient and legally appropriate. If you're comfortable sharing more, you can mention it at interview — but you are never required to.
"Career break — caring responsibilities" is a complete and appropriate explanation. If you maintained any professional skills during this period (online learning, community work), include them.
Include the role with the end date and a note: "Made redundant due to company restructure." This is common, understood, and carries no stigma. What matters more is what you've done since.
"Career break — extended travel and cultural experience" is fine. If you worked remotely, taught English abroad, or did anything remotely professional during your travels, include it.
List it as work experience: the company name, your role, the dates, and what you did. A business that didn't survive still demonstrates entrepreneurial initiative, problem-solving, and resilience. Don't hide it.
Key rule: If the gap is longer than three months, mention it. A note doesn't need to be long — a single line is enough. The goal is to prevent the recruiter from filling the gap with their imagination.
Consider using years only rather than months for your employment dates if your gaps are shorter. "2019 – 2021" hides a gap that "March 2019 – January 2021" reveals. This is an accepted convention, not deception.
If you've been out of work for more than two years, address it in your personal statement and proactively mention what you've done to stay current: online courses, freelance projects, volunteering, professional associations, or mentoring. Show that your skills haven't stagnated.
Return-to-work programmes exist in many industries, and some companies specifically recruit candidates returning from career breaks. Don't assume that a gap disqualifies you — the right employer will value your full range of experience, including what you learned outside the workplace.
Prepare a brief, honest, positive explanation for every gap. Practice it until it sounds natural and confident. End your answer with what you've done since and why you're ready to return. Never apologise and never be defensive.
Build your CV with our free CV generator or get personalised help from a professional CV writer on Fiverr who can help you frame your career story positively.