How does a candidate explain gaps in a resume? (2025)

Job Doc

Pattie Hunt Sinacole shares her advice

By Pattie Hunt Sinacole

April 28, 2025 | 9:51 AM

2 minutes to read

Q: I have a few gaps in the resume. Every company asks about them. There have been times, whether it is a family issue, or moving across country. Should I explain them even if the reasons are very personal? I do not feel like I need to share personal issues like my mother had cancer, or my aunt had a stroke, or I was in a toxic relationship. I want a recruiter to focus on my skills and strengths, not my gaps.

A: Your question is a valid one. Gaps in a resume are often a yellow, or even red flag when interviewing for a job. A hiring manager will often question why there is a gap in your resume. A hiring manager’s brain can sometimes jump to the worst possible reason. Could you have been fired because you were a poor performer? Or did you leave a role without giving proper notice? Were you unable to secure a new job because of something in your background that worried other prospective employers?

Employers are risk averse. They are trying to hire a qualified employee, who adds value. Employers spend time and energy hiring and onboarding a new employee. The employer expects a new employee to be “up and running” in a reasonable amount of time. For a more entry-level role, the expected time frame is likely shorter. For a more senior person, that onboarding time is likely longer. If an employee leaves during that timeframe, an employer feels like they have invested money in an employee, and that money has been wasted because the new employee has not fully contributed to the company. When an employee is hired, the company expects the employee to contribute in a self-sufficient manner within weeks or sometimes months.

In your situation, your gaps may be reasonable and explainable. The more gaps you have though, the more a recruiter will question your credibility as a candidate. You do not have to explicitly state that you were in a toxic relationship. Instead, you could say that you were in a relationship that did not work out, and that is why you decided to return to the Boston area. You could explain that your mother had a serious illness, and you assisted in providing care for her for a period of time.

Gaps should not be the focus during an interview. However, gaps should be explainable. A reasonable response to a question about a gap in a candidate’s employment history would be: “I spent 13 years at ABC Company and then my mother became very ill. I took one year off to care for her. I returned to the workforce in 2023 and quickly found a new role at XYZ Company and I have been there for three years now.” Notice how I highlight the stability and commitment of my role at ABC, mention the time I spent caring for my mother, and then re-focus my response back to my current role at XYZ. It is wise not to hide a gap but also not to dwell upon it. The goal is to be truthful but also present yourself in the most positive way.