Should You Overlook Employment Gaps?

Job seekers’ resumes may contain employment gaps—periods of time, short or long, where it seems as if they were doing nothing.

A gap in employment history used to be a red flag for hiring companies. But is that still the case today?

Reviewing Resumes and Job Applications

Recruiters and hiring managers who review work history with attention to employment gaps may be missing the obvious. For many people, life is not linear; it involves ups, downs, and detours.
Among the reasons a job seeker may have a gap or gaps in employment are:

• loss of job during the recession, when approximately 8.7 million people lost their jobs;
• time spent as a stay-at-home parent;
• time spent to care for an elderly family member;
• personal illness;
• family illness;
• pursuing education or training;
• military service;
• volunteer work;
• relocation because of spouse/partner’s job; and/or
• planned time off to pursue business or life goals

Considering Work Experience

With this in mind, it may be time to review your screening process, electronic and otherwise, and put the focus where it belongs: on experience.
If an otherwise strong applicant has a gap in employment history, or even multiple gaps, don’t assume the person lacks staying power. He or she could turn out to be the most dedicated person you’ll ever hire.
To find out if this might be the case, take a look at the applicant’s job history from the standpoint of work experience. Do previous positions show progression? Are job titles and related duties indicative of this?

Looking at Skills

At the same time, take a look at the applicant’s skills. Does he or she have what it takes to do the job?
If the person’s resume includes skills, are these skills the right ones for this particular job? If skills aren’t listed separately, are they implied based on the scope of positions previously held?
Do accomplishments suggest skills? For example, if the applicant reduced expenses by 25 percent, you can make the assumption that the person has financial skills as well as the ability to negotiate.

Asking the Question

If everything about the resume or job application suggests the person is a strong applicant, why not proceed to the next phase?
During an interview, you can ask about any employment gaps. Ideally, the answer will alleviate any concerns. In addition, it may reveal skills or qualities that will make the person an even more attractive candidate.

Paula Santonocito, Contributing Editor for Recruiting Daily Advisor, is a business journalist specializing in employment issues. She is the author of more than 1,000 articles on a wide range of human resource and career topics, with an emphasis on recruiting and hiring. Her articles have been featured in many global and domestic publications and information outlets, referenced in academic and legal publications as well as books, and translated into several languages.