Career breaks can be an opportunity to recharge and gain new skills. Nearly half of women report developing transferable skills during this time, but, as negative perceptions around career gaps exist, many of those returning to work still feel anxious about addressing gaps on their CV. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry. Learning how to write a career gap on a CV can help you position your time away as a strength, not a setback.
Jump to:
- What are career gaps?
- Are career breaks a problem?
- Why is it hard to address a career gap on a CV?
- How to write about a career gap on a CV, with examples
- Addressing it in your professional summary
- Listing the break in your ‘Work Experience’
- Using a hybrid CV format
- Including professional development activities
- Adding a cover letter
- Can you skip mentioning a career break?
- Final tips: addressing employment gaps on your CV
- Re-entering the workforce with confidence
What are career gaps?
Career gaps happen when you take time away from work for personal or professional reasons. These breaks are more common than you might think and can result from a variety of circumstances, such as:
Far from being a liability, these experiences can often enrich your life with skills that benefit your career.
Are career breaks a problem?
No, they’re not, and they shouldn’t be. Recruiters and hiring managers have reviewed countless CVs with employment gaps. In fact, approximately 90,000 workers in the UK have taken some form of career break.
However, ignoring or misrepresenting a career gap on your CV can create confusion or raise questions. Addressing it directly and professionally can make all the difference in how you’re perceived by potential employers.
Why is it hard to address a career gap on a CV?
For many women, career gaps are necessary and deeply personal decisions. Yet, these breaks often come with a stigma that disproportionately affects them. For instance, women in the UK are seven times more likely than men to leave work due to caregiving responsibilities, particularly in their 30s. This caregiving burden contributes to job-search anxiety when re-entering the workforce, as employers may perceive career gaps negatively.
If you’re hoping to return to work after fulfilling childcare responsibilities, for example, understanding how to write a career gap on a CV can help you address these challenges. By framing career breaks as opportunities for skill-building or personal growth, you can overcome stigma and confidently highlight the value you bring to potential employers.
How to write about a career gap on a CV – with examples
Address it in your professional summary
The professional summary is a short paragraph at the top of your CV where you provide an overview of your skills, experience, and goals. You can use this space to briefly express your readiness to return to work while highlighting relevant strengths.
Do this: if your break was recent and this is your first time re-entering the workplace after it.
Don’t do this: if you’re already employed and addressing a gap from several years ago – use the Work Experience section instead to list the breaks you’ve had.
Professional summary examples:
Far from being a liability, these experiences can often enrich your life with skills that benefit your career.
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Learn more!List the break in your 'Work Experience'
While career breaks can be listed in your ‘Work Experience’ section just like any job, it’s important to frame the break as an active, productive period. When applicable, include any relevant student, freelance, or volunteer work.
Do this: if your career break was significant and you gained valuable skills during it, such as from volunteering or freelance work.
Don’t do this: if your break was very brief (a month or less) or occurred over 10-15 years ago.
Work Experience section examples:
Volunteer Data Analyst, Local Food Bank
Jan 2023–Present
- Analysed donor data to improve fundraising strategies, resulting in 15% growth in donations
- Designed dashboards for tracking campaign performance
Freelance work
Freelance Graphic Designer
Apr 2022–Present
- Designed logos, marketing materials, and websites for small businesses, increasing client brand visibility by 20% on average
- Collaborated with clients to deliver custom solutions, ensuring 95% satisfaction rate
Student work/Coursework
Student, Data Science Capstone Project, University of [Name]
Jun 2023–Dec 2023
- Built a predictive model using Python to forecast sales for a retail dataset, achieving 85% accuracy
- Completed an exploratory data analysis to identify key drivers of revenue growth, earning top marks for clarity and practical application
Did not engage in any course, freelance or volunteering projects during your long break? Instead of listing ‘Career Break,’ use a title or heading that’s more descriptive of the activities you did during the period:
Childcare
Full-time Caregiver / Household Manager
Jul 2019–Present
- Cared for child on a full-time basis, overseeing daily routines, appointments, and educational activities
- Developed strong organisational, time management, and problem-solving skills while balancing household responsibilities and caregiving duties
Caring for a sick family member
Personal Caregiver
Jan 2022–Nov 2024
- Provided full-time care for a family member, ensuring their daily needs were met while managing medical appointments and schedules
- Strengthened time management, multitasking, and communication skills through daily coordination and problem-solving
Health reasons
Personal Wellness Sabbatical / Retreat Participant
Mar 2024–Oct 2024
- Focused on health recovery, attending rehabilitation programmes that included physical therapy and wellness management
- Gained resilience and personal growth through dedicated self-care, which enhanced my stress management and coping strategies
Travel or sabbatical
Cultural Research & Exploration
Apr 2024–Sep 2024
- Travelled internationally to explore new cultures, enhancing my global perspective and adaptability
- Volunteered in community projects abroad, developing cross-cultural communication and leadership skills
Use a hybrid CV format
Instead of diving straight to the “Work Experience” section, you can present your core skills first near the top of your CV. This CV format, which spotlights on your abilities, including transferable skills you’ve developed during your break, before your work history, can be especially useful if your career gap was lengthy.
Do this: if your career break has led to acquiring specific skills (e.g., problem-solving, project management) that directly apply to the role. A skills-based CV works best when your work history has noticeable gaps or when you’re changing industries.
Don’t do this: if you have a strong, uninterrupted work history that directly relates to the role you’re applying for. Employers might expect a traditional chronological CV if your experience – despite the career break – clearly matches the job requirements.
Hybrid CV format example
Project Management
- Successfully led a cross-functional team to deliver a marketing campaign, achieving a 20% increase in customer engagement within three months.
- Oversaw a product launch project, ensuring it was completed two weeks ahead of schedule and under budget by 15%.
Data Analysis
- Analysed sales data to identify trends, leading to a 25% revenue increase by optimising pricing strategies.
- Developed dashboards that reduced reporting time by 40%, improving decision-making efficiency for senior leadership.
Adaptability
- Transitioned seamlessly from a corporate role to full-time caregiving, implementing time-management strategies to coordinate daily schedules for a family of four.
- Designed and managed a home-learning programme during childcare responsibilities, fostering a 30% improvement in academic performance for children.
Include professional development activities
Highlight any courses, certifications, or training completed during your career break in a dedicated section. This shows that you remained engaged and proactive about your career, even while on a break.
Do this: if you completed relevant certifications, upskilled through online courses, or attended industry workshops during your break.
Don’t do this: if the activities are unrelated to the role or if they don’t add measurable value to your qualifications.
Professional development section example:
Trainings, Courses & Certifications
Google Data Analytics Certification (2024)
Leadership in Remote Teams, Coursera (2023)
Consider adding a cover letter
Not all recruiters and hiring managers require a cover letter. But when they do, a well-crafted one can contextualise your career break and highlight your enthusiasm for returning to work. Use this opportunity to frame your break as a time of personal or professional growth.
Do:
- Acknowledge your break briefly, focusing on the skills and perspective gained.
- Align your experiences with the job you’re applying for.
Don’t:
- Over-explain or apologise for your career break.
- Dwell on irrelevant details. Keep the focus forward-looking.
Cover letter explanation example:
After a fulfilling two years dedicated to caring for my family, I am eager to leverage my organisational and multitasking skills in a professional setting. My time away has deepened my ability to adapt to challenges, which I am excited to bring to [Company Name].
Can you skip mentioning a career break?
Honesty is key. While short breaks, like a two-month gap, may not need detailed explanation and can naturally blend into your timeline by listing only years on your CV, longer breaks should be acknowledged.
There is no need to include career breaks that occurred over a decade ago. Focus on highlighting your most recent and relevant experiences instead, ensuring your CV stays concise and impactful.
Join the ivee community!
Join our Facebook group. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with like-minded returners, seek advice on returning to work after maternity leave, or share your experiences, our Facebook community is here to help you navigate your journey back into the workforce.
You’ll find:
👉 Latest regulatory changes regarding maternity leave
👉 CV templates for women returning to work
👉 Latest industry updates
👉 Resources and guides to help you on your job hunt
👉 Confidence-building events, webinars and advice on all aspects of returning to work
Our Facebook community
Final tips: addressing employment gaps on your CV
Keep it brief
You don’t need to provide excessive details when explaining career gaps on your CV. Be prepared to discuss your career break further during interviews, but keep your CV concise.
Focus on your skills
Highlight any skills you have, including those gained during your career break. Share both technical (industry- or job-specific skills) and soft skills, such as communication or time management, relevant to the role.
Tailor your CV to the role
Chances are, the recruiters will be more interested in your qualifications than your career gap. Read the job description carefully and include keywords that match the employer’s requirements. This helps position you as a strong candidate.
Re-enter the workforce with confidence:
Career breaks are common and, at times, necessary. But remember: they’re just that – breaks, not endpoints on your professional journey. By learning how to write a career gap on your CV, you can reframe your break as an opportunity and unlock new possibilities. With the right mindset and a thoughtfully crafted CV, you’ll be ready to stand out and reclaim the career of your dreams.
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