Are you looking for a new job role but have a large, unexplained gap in your employment history? Did you know this may be a showstopper for employers?
We asked our senior recruiters across Europe and the USA how additive manufacturing candidates can still impress potential employers and make their CV stand out even with gaps in their employment history.
So, how do you explain the gap in your resume? First, let’s look at why it’s important.
Why is Explaining Gaps in Your CV or Resume Important?
Explaining time out or gaps in your employment to new employers is crucial for transparency during the hiring process. Employers want to know if you’re reliable and if you learnt any transferable skills during that time. It also gives context to your character.
The gaps could be a few weeks, a couple of months, or years at a time, and it’s crucial to remember that these periods of not working aren’t viewed negatively unless you frame it that way.
What Does a Gap in Employment Represent to Employers?
A gap in employment can represent a few things, both positively and negatively. An extended gap in work can sometimes give employers the wrong impression about both your capabilities and your personality. It may imply that you can’t secure a job, that you were ‘dishonorably discharged’ from your previous job, and worst of all, it may seem like you’re lazy and don’t care about your career.
However, it can also be a sign of:
• Responsible decision-making
• Stepping away from an unsuitable or unaligned workplace
• Taking time to really consider your next career steps
• Having extended family or personal time
• Prolonged illness
• Travelling
Most recruiters and hiring employers will ask what value the break brought you and the experiences you had during that time. You want to show career progression and an increase in scope and responsibility. You don’t want to show career stagnation.
Some people leave gaps on their resume and hope to be able to explain the gap in an interview. The trouble is that the gaps might prevent you from even getting to the interview stage.
So, here’s how you can apply changes to your CV to get one step closer to your dream Industry 4.0 career.
5 Ways to Explain Gaps in Your Employment on Your CV
There are 5 effective ways to explain gaps in your employment to a recruiter or hiring company that will help differentiate your CV/resume between a corporate red flag or a valuable candidate with an accountable time-out.
1. Emphasize Why You Left the Previous Job
Be it downsizing, budget cuts, or the position being moved too far away for you to relocate, make it known and clear why you left the previous job in your resume. Even if you left the previous job voluntarily, mention it. It’s perfectly acceptable to mention sabbaticals and try to highlight what you did during the sabbatical and how it might have impacted you.
2. Mention Activities During Your Gaps
This relates to the previous tip, as you should always make sure to mention:
• Any valuable experience, like volunteer work or major personal projects.
• Any certifications or courses you did during the gap.
• Any freelance, consulting or contract work you’ve done.
These activities show a huge sign that you have taken action and your career into your own hands.
3. Avoid Negativity or Blame
Even if your former employer handled your exit badly, avoid badmouthing them and talking negatively about the company at all costs. Come up with a sincere, simple way of summing up what happened.
For example:
“The former company hired a new Executive VP who decided to bring in his own people from his previous organization. It was a shock and disappointing, but the truth is that the time was probably right for me to pursue a new challenge.”
This is worth considering when recruiters and employers inevitably ask for references from your previous roles.
4. Formatting the Years on Your Resume
If you really want to avoid drawing attention to the dates and possible gaps of a few months between jobs, you can list only the years of employment and leave out the months.
For example:
Instead of:
Company A, January 2010 – January 2012
Company B, August 2012 – December 2014
Write:
Company A, 2010 – 2012
Company B, 2012 – 2014
You should still be prepared to answer questions about why you left Company A, but this will increase your chance of getting invited to an interview.
As an alternative, you could also consider a functional layout instead of a chronological one. This emphasizes skills, experiences, and achievements, and removes the attention from the employment gaps, focusing on the value you would bring.
5. Prepare Positive Reasons
Be sure to prepare for questions and have genuine, positive answers on hand. Here are some tips on ways to formulate typical gaps in a way to impress your recruiter and hiring employer.
Travelling
Do write: “I took six months out to immerse myself in a different culture, and I feel that I have both gained a new perspective and learnt some valuable life lessons. These months made me really ready to focus on my career.”
Do not write: “I spent six months travelling because I was not ready to start working.”
Family Issues
Do write: “I spent the last year caring for a sick relative. Their health is now recovered, and I’m ready to re-enter the workforce full-time.”
Do not write: “I had personal issues that I prefer not to discuss.”
Sickness
Do write: “Due to a recurring medical condition, I was unable to continue in my previous position. However, I have now returned to full health, and I am ready to take on my next challenge.”
Do not write: “I have a recurring health problem that has made it difficult for me to hold down a job.”
Fair or unfair, as it may be, employers often worry about hiring someone coming back to work after a long gap. Especially in this industry where technology and processes change so quickly. Therefore, your task is to update your CV/resume and show that you have been keeping up with new developments and are 100% ready to go back at full speed.
If you have any references available, it may be useful to get quotes from them for insights into your previous roles and your abilities.
Are You a Candidate Looking for More Career Advice in Industry 4.0?
At Alexander Daniels Global, we specialize in recruitment for the additive manufacturing industry and Industry 4.0 sectors. We want you to succeed, which is why we regularly publish free career advice so you can be one step ahead and secure your dream AM role.
You may also want to read:
• A practical guide on how to re-enter the additive manufacturing job market
• What will the additive manufacturing market look like in 2026?
• Unlocking career opportunities for technicians and operators in additive manufacturing
• How to improve your interview skills for an Industry 4.0 role
