Gaps - this is how to correctly indicate them in the résumé
Gaps. They creep into your career faster than you would like. Starting my career took longer than planned.
After the termination, it was only possible to get a job after several months. The fact is: nothing bad per se.
Nevertheless, you should know how to handle it skillfully and how to use it skillfully Curriculum vitae cites. Because these are the ones that give room for speculation and arouse curiosity.
When exactly do you speak of a “gap”?
A month break between two jobs - is that a gap? There is of course no rule of thumb. In general, however, one can say that one speaks of a gap from periods of over two months that cannot be explained, for example by a job or a study / further education. This means that a gap is a period in which you have not had any permanent employment, have not had any vocational or school education or further training. Such "blind spots" are not broken legs. Everyone goes through such phases once in their life and that's okay. It is only important that you include such gaps in your résumé and do not leave open, but argue.
Simply leaving this uncommented is not a wise option. Because this gives wild speculation a lot of room. You shouldn't digress too far or prettify this station of your life. Lying is always a bad choice. Because the shot usually backfires. Logical! Because what happens if the manager asks you about your stay abroad in Asia during the interview and you can't even name a place where your accommodation was? Just! But not only that: you also quickly lose the trust of the HR specialist before you have had the chance to prove your skills. A brief statement of the gap is therefore advisable and one key word is entirely sufficient. Everything else can then be clarified in an interview anyway.
So how do I describe my gap in my resume?
The situation always matters here. Did you graduate from school and then waited a few months to study at the university? Change of studies or the beginning of a course of study or the waiting time in between are usually not viewed as a gap, but rather as an annoying waiting period. Even if it took longer than planned to get started, everyone will understand. In all cases, however, you should be honest. Fill your gap with credible facts and honest explanations. However, this is not a free certificate to sit back and relax. Do valuable internships during these times and show the company that you weren't just lazy.
Even with longer illnesses, you don't need to gloss over. You do not have to name the illness itself on your CV. Because that's a private matter. Just list what was, for example, time out and health recovery.
Temporary unemployment in the past need not be kept silent either. After all, you found a job afterwards. Such phases occur. Only then please describe what you have done during this time to find a new job.
The choice of words is important!
No matter which gap it is: the choice of words in the résumé is important. Therefore, use the word job search rather than unemployed. That sounds positive!
