How Should You Explain the COVID-Gap on Your Resume?
Hi friend,
I’ve been talking with a lot of job seekers who have a substantial gap on their resume in 2020. Some of them were laid off due to COVID, others were just returning to the workforce when COVID hit, and some were new graduates who struggled to find a job in the COVID economy. In our very first meeting, most of my coaching clients ask: How can I explain the gap on my resume? Who’s going to hire me?
But before we dive in, some perspective— the entire world is in a pandemic, and you are not the only one with a COVID gap on your resume. It’s not a sign that you are unemployable, and any good employer is not going to be concerned to see it. There is nothing wrong with you.
Why do employers ask about gaps on your resume anyway?
Employers are looking for potential red flags, but they aren’t looking for a “correct” explanation of why you took time off work, and they are unlikely to care. One of my current coaching clients told me that she took a whole year off between jobs earlier in her career, which employers always asked about during her last job search. “As long as I gave an answer, they didn’t really seem to care what it was,” she reflected. So what are some answers about resume gaps that might give employers pause?
Answers that lead them to believe they’ve overlooked a severe negative trait, i.e. I’ve been applying to every job I can find for the last twelve months and no one will hire me.
Answers that lead them to doubt your maturity and preparation for the workforce, i.e. I don’t want to work but my parents are forcing me to pay for my cell phone and food bills.
Answers that lead them to think you are not yet able to return to work because you are still dealing with the issue that caused you to leave the workforce, i.e. I had a lot of issues with a family member, which are still ongoing unfortunately.
How should I explain the gap on my resume in 2020?
How to explain a resume gap on your cover letter or in your resume if you were laid off due to COVID:
… after being laid off due to the economic impact of COVID, I am looking for opportunities to…
How to explain a resume gap in an interview if you were laid off due to COVID:
Unfortunately my last company was heavily impacted by COVID, and I was laid off. However, I hope this is an opportunity for me to [learn a new skill | join an organization doing something interesting to you | pivot your career], and I’m excited about this role because…
How to explain a resume gap on your cover letter or in your resume if you had to quit your job due to COVID-related family care OR delayed/postponed a job search due to COVID family care challenges:
… after taking time away from the workforce to care for family members during COVID, I am looking for opportunities to…
How to explain a resume gap in an interview if you had to quit your job due to COVID-related family care OR delayed/postponed a job search due to COVID family care challenges:
Unfortunately, due to the impact of COVID, I needed to take time off of work to care for family members. Now that I’m able to return to full time work, I’ve been looking for roles were I can [learn a new skill | join an organization doing something interesting to you | pivot your career], and I’m excited about this role because…
How to explain a resume gap on your cover letter or in your resume if you did not search for work, or struggled to focus your job search due to depression, anxiety, or stress:
… after taking time away from the workforce for personal reasons during COVID, I am looking for opportunities to…
How to explain a resume gap in an interview if you did not search for work, or struggled to focus your job search due to depression, anxiety, or stress:
Unfortunately, COVID substantially impacted my personal life, and I needed to take time off work and my job search this last year. Now that I’m able to return to full time work, I’ve been looking for roles where I can [learn a new skill | join an organization doing something interesting to you | pivot your career], and I’m excited about this role because…
When should I mention the gap on my resume?
A lot of people want to know where to bring up the gap on their resume. Should you talk about it in your cover letter or resume? Should you wait until you are asked about your resume gap in an interview? Bring up your resume gap preemptively! Put it in a summary statement on your resume, put it in the last sentence of the opening paragraph of your cover letter, and add it to your answer to “tell me about yourself”. By addressing it head on in every context, you will probably avoid any further questions.
Don’t let your resume gap hold you back or make you feel embarrassed! You are worth hiring! No matter your reasons for being out of work in 2020, you are not alone; there are many, many other job seekers going through the same thing.
See you next week,
Karissa
