Mother Talkers

How To Explain a Résumé Gap

by Elisa

Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 01:39:46 PM PDT

MSNBC.com recently doled out advice on how to explain a gap in work experience when one takes time to raise children, for example.

The columnist, Eve Tahmincioglu, even went so far as to suggest not writing any dates on the resume, which would raise more flags in my mind. Then again, I am not an HR person:

It’s a good idea not to put any dates on your résumé. Ken Siegel, president of The Impact Group, a Los Angeles-based group of corporate psychologists, says dates only work against you. “If there are no dates, then there are no gaps to explain,” he says.

Interesting. I am curious to hear from you employers if this is effective. Personally, I would want to know the length of time someone spent at a company.

The column specifically addressed the concerns of parents re-entering the workforce:

  • ::

You have several options here.

If you’ve taken a huge chunk of time away from the work world and it’s something you don’t want to elaborate on with a hiring manager, Dr. Loren Ekroth, publisher of “Better Conversations” an ezine, says: “A person is better off saying something like 'personal sabbatical' if they've been between jobs than saying nothing.  Holes draw attention to themselves.”

And don’t belittle the experience you had, whether it was taking a year off to backpack around Europe or a decade off to watch your kids.

Recently I interviewed the CEO of Reuters, Tom Glocer, about his climb to the top, and we talked a bit about the issue of why there weren’t more women in top executive positions. Difficulty re-entering the workforce after taking time off for their kids was, we both agreed, one of the stumbling blocks.

He believes women need to play up the skills they developed when caring for their children, the leadership and organizational lessons they learned. Women, he says, should look at child-rearing as a positive and not make excuses for it.

Indeed, my best friend took eight years off to raise her two sons, and when she decided to re-enter the workforce she was at first apprehensive about how an employer would perceive her time off. She did some free consulting work for several months and went back to school to get a law degree. As for explaining the gap, her tack was not to mention that she stayed at home on her résumé, but to be honest about it when she got her foot in the door.

Now she’s a high-powered corporate attorney in New England.

Good to know.

Tags: resume gap, work experience, SAHM, career advice, employment, sabbatical (all tags)

Permalink | 45 comments

  • I'm pretty up front (0 / 0)

    My CV says "a gap in research between the years of 2004 and 2007 is due to a sabbatical to be with my young children". I figure they can deal with it. But maybe academia (and science) are more forgiving than a corporate job?

    by aussieyank on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:07:46 PM PDT

    • dunno (0 / 0)

      remember Larry Summers and the Hahvids? He was pretty harsh about women... But then again, I'm neither a scientist nor an academic so I'm just throwing things out there with no reliable base.

      by Rachel on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:14:23 PM PDT

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  • I think you have to put dates (0 / 0)

    But I think you can talk up what you did. If you stayed home with the kids, you can put in 'personal sabbatical'. If you did volunteer work, that counts. If you went to Africa for 6 months, hey, no one will forget that applicant.

    A dynamite cover letter is one way in, as is trying to connect to people you know, so that there's someone other than you to vouch for you.

    HR people are terrible about such things. I recall one position, where they were about to make me an offer, and then were horrified to find out that I had already quit my job... like I was suddenly damaged goods if they weren't stealing me from someone else. I don't get that logic - if I were the type to go job hunting on my employer's time, wouldn't you be worried I'd do that to you? (They made the offer anyway, and I turned them down.)

    by shenanigans on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 02:23:54 PM PDT

  • Personal sabbatical is good! (0 / 0)

    Being embarrassed about staying home with kids is so passe! So far, it's been a chance to mentally grow, in spite of myself. I definitely get growing pains.

    by tarantula on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:17:21 PM PDT

  • Ken Siegal's advice is bunk (0 / 0)

    Not putting dates is a bad idea. When looking at resumes, a lack of dates would strike me as weird. I would think that it could be for anything, including a nervous breakdown or incarceration. I'm paranoid anyway, because I've made some bad hires, so I am on the lookout for potential problems.

    Aussieyank's suggested wording would work well for me.

    However, you don't want to veer into territory where you're making a statement about the value or morality of staying home with young children. You never know if the person looking at your resume and cover letter is a parent who didn't have the luxury of staying home with their young children, or chose not to for other reasons.

    Although we may take a dim view of the "Mommy Wars," we can't behave as though there isn't a great deal of tension and insecurity around women's personal choices to go back to work at this point in time.

    by Amy on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:31:32 PM PDT

    • very good point. (0 / 0)

      I wonder if I should change mine to simply read "personal sabbatical", and tell them what it was for when they ask? But then, I read that and just think "Are they just lazy? What were they doing? Laying on the beach?"

      I'm about to put in a job application for a big lectureship (job share with a girlfriend, so I'd only be two days a week), so I'm reading this very keenly.

      by aussieyank on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 03:49:49 PM PDT

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      • wow (0 / 0)

        that sounds awesome. I'll cross my fingers for you!!

        by Rachel on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:15:19 PM PDT

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      • Let them ask (0 / 0)

        Even "laying on the beach" can be spun quite positively - as in, "Yep, in my last job I was so valuable and I made so much money that I was able to take a year off and just enjoy myself. Now I'm ready for a new challenge and  to go back to making myself useful."

        I had an applicant who had taken a year off. She had learned to fly small planes so that she could go to Africa with her boyfriend, who had made a killing via the dot-com years. They went all over places where there were no roads. She's one of the best hires I've ever made... I was sorry for me but glad for her when someone poached her from me, someone who probably wouldn't have hired her when I did because of the resume gap. :-)

        by shenanigans on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 04:39:14 PM PDT

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      • Laying on the beach (0 / 0)

        Laying on the beach would get more respect than having kids.  Laying on the beach in some far-away country, even better.  

        I would tell the truth.  If it doesn't work because of that, do you really want the job anyway?  And if it does work, people will know anyway once you get there.

        One thing I've thought about it writing something short and sweet on the resume and attaching a cover letter explaining the gap a bit more.  

        by NJmom on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 09:25:37 AM PDT

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  • I am concerned about this (0 / 0)

    It's bad enough that I will have perhaps two years or more of a gap for raising children.  But I didn't have much of a "career" before that.  I had a lot of trouble finding professional, full-time jobs in my career.  I sort of laugh when I hear that taking a break to raise your kids will put you off the career path.  I'm not sure I was on a career path to begin with. But when I do try to go back to work, I'll be around 40, with a thorough education and patchy if meaningful job experiences for the past 15 years.  It would be hard to get or work in an entry-level position.

    I get no sympathy from my friends.  They tell me I should just accept the fact that I'm probably meant to work for myself.  But nobody teaches you how to do that in college.

    by cynmill on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 08:09:05 PM PDT

    • COVER LETTER (0 / 0)

      A lot of interviews are really based on personality. If you down play the dates with your fonts (and I SERIOUSLY do not believe employers look at those for anything more than length of time at a job) and address it very frankly in a well written cover letter, you should be fine. Your cover letter is your saving grace here. It allows you to show your style, enthusiasm, and to talk about wanting to put all that wonderful knowledge to work (something along the lines of "I've waited a long while to use my education, and I've never been more ready for that entry opportunity!")

      I was able to get a more than one job offers after being fired... which I thought was going to be difficult but turned out not to even be a problem. I don't even think it registered with my current boss that I was let go from my previous job- we clicked and it worked out. In the long run, you're going to get hired based on who you are and how you fit- if you make clear that you're open to the entry level (or whichever level) pay, you've got education to use and enthusiasm to share, you'll be surprised at how far you'll get. I think a lot of companies would love to have a more mature (won't say older!) entry level person alongside the college crowd- there's more than a little bit of entitlement with today's recent grads and it can be off putting, especially to older companies.

      by lilianna28 on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 07:24:40 AM PDT

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      • Interviews (0 / 0)

        You've reminded me again of the importance of the interview, and how much personalities just have to click.  I generally do pretty well in interviews, if I get there.  It's the getting a bite where I really lack skills and/or luck.  I'm a terrible networker, and unfortuantely, most of my friends are in careers that are completely different than mine, like elementary education, accounting, or medicine.  So I can let them know I'm looking & hope they can pass it on, but I can't really count on anything solid.  DH is in IT, and is always working with dozens of people who are moving around in the industry all the time.  To get a job, he does nothing more than call a few acquaintainces and ask what's going on at their current company.

        Hmmm...maybe we need to pull together the MotherTalkers Guide to Job Hunting!

        by cynmill on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 10:46:06 PM PDT

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    • You will be fine (0 / 0)

      Not sure what your field is, but don't worry.  As long as you are willing to start at the bottom again and work your way up (probably much more quickly than some newbie right out of school), it will all be fine.

      by NJmom on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 09:23:40 AM PDT

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      • Communications is my field (0 / 0)

        Teaching, writing, PR, etc.  I don't mind starting at the bottom but the only problem would be salary.  I'd at least need to make what it would cost for daycare.  If it looks like a position where I'll just languish around, (small companies, for instance, that only have a one- or two-person PR department), I don't think it would be a good fit.  But I like your point about working your way up quick; my academic learning skills are probably a little dusty, but my on-the-job learning curve is probably a lot quicker than a 22-year-old.

        by cynmill on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 10:49:00 PM PDT

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        • Volunteer (0 / 0)

          I'd find an organization that you like and volunteer for them to do PR, writing, etc work.  Volunteer work counts on a resume, especially if it is in depth and/or sustained.  And some places would love your mom background -- children's advocacy groups, preschools, schools, etc.

          by Anu on Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 07:51:39 AM PDT

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          • Excellent idea (0 / 0)

            I already edit a newsletter for a heritage organization where I'm a member.  But I should look for some additional areas of interest, and child-based situations would completely suit my experiences right now.

            by cynmill on Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 08:33:26 AM PDT

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    • Hey, Cindy (0 / 0)

      how ya doing? How's gorgeous Gus?

      Boy do I hear you on the perils of striking out on your own and it not being something in the course curriculum. Of course, would you really trust a course teaching you how to be an entrepreneur?!?

      by Rachel on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 03:08:30 PM PDT

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      • Those who can, do; those who can't, teach!! (0 / 0)

        No offense to teachers out there, since I am one of them!  But you do have a point.  While I think it's a bit of a gap in the educational system that we're all trained to work for someone else, anyone else but ourselves, I do wonder how much help it would be to have someone with a PhD in, I don't even know what, trying to teach people to run their own small businesses or simply work for themselves.

        The crazy thing is, I've taught career development, and I'm the worst person ever at actually finding jobs!  But my grammar and punctuation skills are generally flawless and I'm good in front of people, so I can give the basics in a more exciting way than just reading a book.

        Gus is walking everywhere, climbing everything, and trying to repeat just about everything we say.  I've got to clean up my salty language a bit!

        by cynmill on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 10:40:22 PM PDT

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        • you haven't lived (0 / 0)

          until your child has dropped an F-bomb in inappropriate company!

          Glad to hear that Gus is an active boy.

          by Rachel on Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 12:38:51 AM PDT

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        • Our county (0 / 0)

          has a business development department, and they give a grant to a non-profit whose sole purpose is to nurture and assist small businesses - getting them off the ground, planning expansions, etc. They mostly work with microenterprise (5 people or fewer) and are responsible for helping quite a few shops and restaurants become thriving members of the community.

          by shenanigans on Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 11:35:46 AM PDT

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          • I'd definitely be micro (0 / 0)

            Thanks for the tip.  I wouldn't have thought of that, so I'll file it away to look into city, county, and/or state programs.

            by cynmill on Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 01:18:46 PM PDT

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            • I'd love to see you (0 / 0)

              follow your passions professionally, Cindy. I think the work you do with heritage art is so fascinating and would be such a neat way to encapsulate history and such.

              You're also really good at instruction - I've filed all your e-mails on various project ideas and am saving them for when I can sit down and properly put them in order (I'm still working to complete Jess's first year scrapbook.). But they were so clear and so well-organised that it totally helped me - who isn't so great with that sort of thing - get a great plan in order.

              by Rachel on Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 07:21:37 PM PDT

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            • When you get to that point (0 / 0)

              I'd also be happy to give you whatever advice I can. I've been doing this for 6 years now, plus I had a fair amount to do with the nitty gritty of running the business in the other places I've worked. I know there are others here with similar experience. We can be our own MotherTalkers Business School.

              by shenanigans on Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 09:43:30 AM PDT

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  • As an employer (0 / 0)

    I would be more suspicious of an undated resume than an honest one.  In human services, it's not unusual to meet women who've taken time off to raise kids.  Since most of us in my office are parents, it's not a negative thing.

    I sometimes see resumes without HS or college graduation dates.  When I see that, I assume it took this person more than the typical amount of time to get their degree, but I wonder why they weren't honest about the dates.  I would expect a (brief, but honest) explanation of that, too.

    by Sue in Queens on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 04:12:53 AM PDT

  • No dates (0 / 0)

    Everything I've read and experienced says don't put dates on resumes. This is becoming a very very common practice as older people are moving around, looking for jobs, and don't want to get eliminated from the pool just because of their age. I don't have dates on my resume. None of my friends who've updated recently have dates. My friends who are managers see no dates all the time and don't think anything of it.

    by minnmom on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 07:49:40 AM PDT

    • Cultural shift (0 / 0)

      in the 1950's men would put on the resume marital status and whether they had kids. That was common practice. If no dates on resumes is becoming more common, then it's just another shift. It probably also varies by field.

      "We've GOT to make noises in greater amounts! So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!"

      by progressiveinky on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 10:22:03 AM PDT

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      • Want ads (0 / 0)

        I remember going to the library with my mom to copy the newspaper from the day my sister was born as a present for her 18th bday. The want ads from 1970 advertised for "ambitious young men" and "men with sales experience." It was kind of crazy, considering 18 years is not that long a time.

        It probably does vary by field-- perhaps in academia or research professions it is considered relevant how long it took to graduate. But in the straight-up business world, what matters is your experience.

        by minnmom on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 11:09:49 AM PDT

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    • Very different experience, here. (0 / 0)

      As a recruiter, I can tell you every environment I've worked in is wary of a resume with no dates.  With no way to tell how long someone held a position or if they were able to find work quickly, I have no idea what I'm dealing with.  

      It would take some really amazing info on a resume with no dates for me to want to contact that candidate.  It just smells bad.

      by qwerty on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 03:21:20 PM PDT

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  • Such a bad subject for me (0 / 0)

    You'll love this story. Don't want to give TMI, but I recently did the whole job search thing and in our field you have to have a letter from your current "academic supervisor" to support your search. You send packets out to many places and then wait to hear back from a handful. My "supervisor" felt it necessary to put in the cover letter why it took me so long to finish my current program. It did not come across as flattering. I managed to edit it a bit and it ended up not hurting me at all, I got a great job and the right one for me. But let me tell you that being in a male-dominated field-- we were worried. I'm still not sure why it had to be in there but he insisted that people would wonder why I took so long and that otherwise they would assume I was a slacker.

    "We've GOT to make noises in greater amounts! So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!"

    by progressiveinky on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 08:12:03 AM PDT

    • Academia (0 / 0)

      Academia is so ridiculous sometimes, isn't it?  Glad it worked out for you!

      Although, I have to say, I think men would be less critical of a woman who took a few years off for kids than a woman hiring manager.

      by NJmom on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 09:20:44 AM PDT

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      • Perhaps you are right (0 / 0)

        Problem is that it's just so damn iffy-- it all depends on who is evaluating the letters. I've heard of faculty selection meetings where male faculty just say outright, "Well, she won't be committed b/c she has small children." The female faculty who tell the stories say they were thinking, "Well, you won't mind if I call my attorney." But do they ever do it?  No, b/c they are the only female faculty member in their department and they are already getting crapped on. I'm sure plenty of women hiring managers and/or decision makers have the same thoughts. I was lucky that my secured job (haven't started yet) has a great group of supportive people and two very strong women.

        "We've GOT to make noises in greater amounts! So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!"

        by progressiveinky on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 10:17:09 AM PDT

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  • Vague (0 / 0)

    Isn't writing personal sabbatical kind of vague?  

    If I was hiring, I would want to know what the sabbatical was for.

    I think stating you were "home with your children for X amount of years" can be written just as a fact, and not in any sort of judgmental or self-righteous way.  

    If the hiring manager takes it that way, as a comment on their choices, then that is really a comment on their internal issues and conflicts, not the candidate's situation or choices.  

    I also think that if you wrote, "I was on a personal sabbatical exploring India for the past five years" you would get more respect than, "I was home with my young children for five years."  Sad.

    by NJmom on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 09:18:16 AM PDT

  • "Personal sabbatical for family reasons" (0 / 0)

    Maybe I'll go for something like that. I don't care for "personal sabbatical" because it could be for anything, and raises more questions than it answers. But "family reasons" could be kids, sick parent, disabled spouse, lots of things that won't automatically trigger unpredictable feelings about "staying home with the kids."

    by RachelD on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 12:33:48 PM PDT

  • Resumes Just Depress me (0 / 0)

    I have the strangest resume.

    I'm a lawyer, but I don't practice.  I've done years of volunteer work, but I don't appear to be independently wealthy.  (sooooooo not.)  I give up.  I do. I don't care anymore.  I'm tired of sitting across from someone in an interview, trying to convince them I'd like a part time job with benefits.  (Seriously.  How many moms wouldn't?)  

    I am over-qualified, I am under-qualified, I don't fit in any particular slot, and then there's the 6 years I've been home with the kids.  I've tried to explain it, I've tried clever resumes and cover letters and applying to industries I thought would be more understanding (like universities) but being different AND being a stay at home mom?  I'm officially dead, professionally.

    Someday I'll make money doing something, hopefully it will be for something that I'm already doing for virtually no pay.  Hopefully before my husband has had it with all of my extracurricular civic activities.  But whatever it is, it's not going to come from my resume.

    http://www.tacomamama.com

    by jenyum on Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 11:29:53 PM PDT

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