Career gap
A career gap is a period in your work history when you were outside paid employment or your usual career path.
People have gaps for many reasons, including caring responsibilities, study, illness, travel or looking for work. An employer may ask about these dates. Prepare a brief, accurate explanation that you are comfortable giving, then connect the conversation to your readiness and relevant experience for the role.
Include learning, volunteering or projects that occurred and help explain your suitability. Avoid inventing activity to fill every month. Keep dates consistent across your CV, application form and interview. Questions and disclosure rules differ between countries and jobs, particularly when checks are required. If a form requests personal information, ask what is needed and why before deciding what to provide.
Example
After eighteen months caring for a relative, an applicant describes the period as a family-care break. They then discuss their previous operations experience and the hours they can now work.
What to check
- Are your dates accurate and consistent across application documents?
- Can you explain the period briefly without adding claims you cannot support?
- Is any training or project you mention relevant to the job?