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However, with the right approach, you can craft a resume that effectively communicates your value to potential employers, despite the gap in your professional history.
This comprehensive article offers expert tips, strategies, and practical advice to help you create a standout resume after a career break.
Understanding Career Breaks
What is a Career Break?
A career break refers to an extended period during which you step away from formal, traditional employment elsewhere. These breaks can last anywhere from a few months to several years and are often taken for various reasons, including:
- Family Commitments: Caring for children, aging parents, or other family members.
- Health Reasons: Addressing physical or mental health issues.
- Personal Growth: Traveling, pursuing hobbies, or exploring new interests.
- Education: Returning to school to gain additional qualifications.
- Entrepreneurship: Starting or experimenting with a personal business venture.
Employer Attitudes Toward Career Breaks
The perception of career breaks has shifted significantly over the years. Many employers today value life experiences gained during these breaks and are more open to hiring candidates with non-linear career plans and paths. The key is to present your career break in a positive light, showcasing how it has enriched your skill set or perspective.
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Resume After a Career Break
Writing a resume after a career break can seem challenging, but with the right approach, you can highlight your skills, experience, and the value you bring to potential employers. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you craft an effective resume that demonstrates your readiness to return to the workforce.
Step 1: Assess Your Career Break
Before you begin writing your resume, reflect on the reason for your career break and the valuable skills or experiences you gained during this time. Possible reasons for a career break include:
- Family care (children, elderly parents, etc.)
- Education or further study
- Health issues
- Travel or volunteer work
- Personal projects or entrepreneurship
Identify any transferable skills, personal growth, or achievements that you can showcase.
Step 2: Choose the Right Resume Format
The format you choose can help address the gap in your employment history. The most common resume formats are:
- Chronological Resume: Lists your work experience in reverse chronological order. This is ideal if you have a continuous career history but need to account for a short break.
- Functional Resume: Focuses on your skills and achievements rather than chronological work experience. This format is helpful if the career break is long or if you want to emphasize transferable skills.
- Combination Resume: Blends elements of both chronological and functional resumes. It highlights your skills first, followed by a chronological work history. This is useful if you want to showcase your skills while still presenting a clear career timeline.
Step 3: Start with a Strong Resume Summary or Objective
A compelling resume summary or objective can immediately grab the employer's attention. This is especially important if you’re returning to the workforce after a break. Focus on:
- What you bring to the table: Highlight your key strengths, skills, and what you’ve learned during your career break.
- Your motivation to return: Show enthusiasm for getting back into the industry and contribute effectively.
Example:Step 4: Highlight Transferable Skills and Achievements
Think about the skills you developed during your career break that can apply to the job you're seeking. For example:
- Volunteering: Project management, leadership, teamwork, communication, etc.
- Freelancing or Consulting: Client management, negotiation, time management, or specialized skills.
- Personal Projects: Self-discipline, problem-solving, creativity, new software/tools, etc.
- Further Education: New qualifications, certifications, or updated knowledge in your field.
Incorporate these experiences into your skills or professional experience sections.
Example:
Step 5: Address the Career Gap Briefly and Positively
Employers may notice a gap in your work history, so it’s important to address it head-on. You don’t need to go into deep personal details; just a brief and positive explanation will suffice.
- Be honest but focus on how the experience benefited you.
- Avoid over-explaining or apologizing for the break.
Example:Step 6: Emphasize Relevant Experience and Education
List any relevant work experience, internships, or freelance projects that occurred before or after the career break. If you have relevant educational achievements or certifications, include them too.
- Work Experience: Focus on your accomplishments rather than just job titles.
- Education: If you’ve taken courses or earned new certifications during your break, make sure to list them.
Step 7: Include Skills and Tools
Highlight your technical and soft skills as relevant skills to the position you are applying for. Make sure to include both hard (e.g., programming languages, tools) and soft skills (e.g., leadership, communication, adaptability).
If you’ve learned new tools, software, or methodologies during your break, briefly mention them. For example, if you completed a certification in project management, list tools like Trello or Jira.
Example:Skills:
- Digital marketing strategy
- SEO & SEM
- Google Analytics, SEMrush
- Social media management tools (Buffer, Hootsuite)
- Excellent communication & problem-solving skills
Step 8: Address Gaps in Experience with a Cover Letter
In addition to your resume, write a cover letter that further addresses your career break. This is an opportunity to explain your situation in more depth, outline how you stayed productive, and explain why you’re excited to return to work. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm and highlight how your previous experience combined with your time away will make you a valuable asset.
Example Cover Letter Excerpt:Step 9: Use Networking and References to Your Advantage
Networking is crucial when returning to work after a career break. Reach out to former colleagues, mentors, or industry peers who can vouch for your skills and work ethic. They can provide references or even help connect you with job opportunities.
Example Cover Letter Excerpt:Step 10: Optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Many employers use ATS to scan resumes. Make sure your resume is ATS-friendly by:
- Use standard job titles and keywords that match the job description.
- Avoiding complex formatting (e.g., tables or graphics).
- Including specific terms and skills that are relevant to the role.
Final Tips:
- Keep it concise: Aim for one page if you have fewer than 10 years of experience; two pages if you have more.
- Be confident: Emphasize the value you bring to an organization and focus on your skills, achievements, and the positive aspects of your career break.
- Update your LinkedIn: Ensure that your LinkedIn profile aligns with your resume. You may even want to use LinkedIn to explain your career break more thoroughly.
Writing a resume after a career break doesn’t have to be intimidating. By focusing on your skills, experiences, and the positive aspects of your break, you can present yourself as a strong candidate ready to return to the workforce. Remember that employers value diverse experiences, and your time away from the workplace could give you a fresh perspective and unique skills to offer.
Additional Tips for Re-Entering the Workforce
Prepare for Interviews
Once your resume lands you an interview, be ready to address your career break confidently. Practice your responses to common questions, such as:
- "Can you tell us about your career break?"
- "What skills did you develop during this time?"
Focus on how the break helped you grow personally and professionally. For example: "During my career break, I focused on raising my family and also pursued certifications in data analytics. This experience enhanced my time management and organizational skills, which are highly transferable to this role."
Network Actively
Leverage your professional network to find opportunities. Attend industry events, join LinkedIn groups, and connect with former colleagues. Networking can often lead to job referrals and valuable insights into potential openings.
Consider Temporary Roles
Temporary, part-time, or freelance positions can help you ease back into the workforce. These roles provide an opportunity to update your skills, build confidence, and demonstrate your commitment to potential employers.
Addressing Common Concerns
Re-entering the workforce after a career break comes with a unique set of challenges. It’s common to feel uncertain about how employers will perceive the gap in your career or whether your skills are up-to-date. Below are some common concerns and actionable strategies to overcome them.
Challenge 1: Overcoming Employer Bias
Some employers might view a career gap as a potential red flag, assuming your skills have lapsed or questioning your commitment to returning full-time parenting full-time. This perception can make re-entering the workforce feel daunting. However, a carefully crafted resume and a confident approach can help you address this issue.
Solution 1: Reframe Your Career Break
Instead of viewing your career break as a setback, present it as a period of growth. Highlight the transferable skills you developed or the certifications, volunteer work, or freelance projects you completed during this time. Use this break on your resume to show that you’ve remained proactive, even if you weren’t in a formal work setting.
Solution 2: Leverage Your Cover Letter
A cover letter offers job seekers the opportunity to address any lingering concerns an employer might have. Use it to explain your career break in a professional and positive light, focusing on how it has prepared you for the role you’re applying for.
Challenge 2: Feeling a Lack of Confidence
After a long break, it’s natural to feel unsure about your ability to compete with candidates who have continuous work experience. Self-doubt can often be a significant barrier when applying for roles or attending interviews.
Solution: Reflect on Your Strengths
Start by recognizing your accomplishments from both your previous paid work experience and your career break. These could include managing complex family schedules, organizing events, or completing online courses. Translate these achievements into professional terms to remind yourself of your value.
Strategy: Practice Your Elevator Pitch
Prepare a concise and confident explanation for your planned career breakup. Focus on how you’ve used the time productively and why you’re excited to return to work.
Building Confidence:
- Mock Interviews: Practice with friends, mentors, or a career coach.
- Positive Affirmations: Remind yourself of your skills and achievements.
- Networking Conversations: Engage with professionals in your field to rebuild your professional identity.
Challenge 3: Addressing Skill Gaps
In fast-evolving industries, it’s common to worry that your skills may no longer be relevant after a career break. Employers often look for candidates who can quickly adapt to new tools developed skills, and technologies, making it essential to demonstrate your willingness to learn and grow.
Solution: Upskill and Reskill
Dedicate time to updating your skills through online courses, workshops, training, or certifications. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer accessible options to enhance your expertise in various fields.
Highlight Ongoing Learning:
Include a “Professional Development” or “Certifications” section in your resume to showcase your efforts.
Research job descriptions in your target industry to identify the most sought-after skills. Tailor your learning efforts to these areas, and incorporate them into your resume and interviews.
Industry-Specific Skill Updates:
- IT/Tech: Programming languages, cloud platforms, cybersecurity certifications.
- Marketing: SEO, social media marketing, content strategy.
- Healthcare: Updated medical terminology, and patient care techniques.
Challenge 4: Competing Against Candidates Without Gaps
You may feel at a disadvantage compared to candidates who haven’t taken a break. However, employers and hiring managers often value diverse perspectives and life experiences.
Solution: Play to Your Unique Strengths
Leverage the personal and professional growth you’ve experienced during your break. For example, managing a household or other caregiving responsibilities often requires leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving—qualities every employer values.
Frame Your Experience Strategically:
- In interviews, share anecdotes that demonstrate how your break strengthened your skills.
- On your resume, quantify achievements from both your professional past and your recent activities (e.g., volunteer roles or freelance work).
Challenge 5: Addressing Potential Employer Questions
Employers are likely to ask about your career break during interviews. These questions are not meant to intimidate you but to understand your career journey much better.
Solution: Prepare and Rehearse
Anticipate questions about your career gap and prepare honest yet professional responses. Emphasize the productive activities you undertook during this period and how they’ve prepared you for the role you’re applying for.
Sample Interview Question:
- "What have you been doing during your career break?"
- Response: "During my career break, I focused on caregiving and completed certifications in project management and data analytics. I also volunteered with a local nonprofit, where I led event planning and community engagement efforts. These experiences enhanced my leadership and organizational skills, which I’m excited to bring to this position."
Challenge 6: Overcoming Rejections
Job rejections can feel more personal after a career break, especially if you’re returning with some trepidation.
Solution: Build Resilience and Adaptability
- Treat rejections as learning opportunities. Reflect on interview feedback to identify areas for improvement.
- Adjust your job search strategy if needed, such as exploring industries or roles that align with your skills and interests.
Stay Persistent:
Remember that returning to the workforce is a journey. With each application and interview, you’ll grow more confident and find opportunities that align with your career goals.
By addressing these common concerns with a proactive and positive approach, you can rebuild your confidence and position yourself as a valuable candidate in the job market. Remember, your career break is just one chapter of your professional story, and it can serve as a foundation for your next great opportunity, Start creating your resume with Resume Builder.
Conclusion
Writing a resume after a career break is an opportunity to showcase your resilience, adaptability, and readiness to contribute to the workforce. By focusing on your skills, achievements, and proactive efforts during your break, you can create a resume that not only addresses gaps but also highlights your strengths.
