A gap year on the Resume ruins your chances of getting a job, only if it is left without a solid explanation. If you let a gap be just that, a gap, it will create a gap between you and your new job as well. But how about we fill it? How about we fill that gap with an honest explanation? Think about it for a minute. Your gap year almost always happens for a reason. You could be volunteering in a small village near West Bengal or you could even be nursing an old and sick parent of yours. The one year you didn’t really work anywhere was spent SOMEWHERE, right? So what it wasn’t a Resume worthy “experience” or “education”, it was still something YOU cared about. So, do not worry! There are ways of not letting this gap year do you any damage via your resume-
Explain Your Gap Year
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Instead of trying to hide your gap year or simply go in denial, own up! Mention clearly in your resume either under the experience section or under an entirely new sub section, what you did during your gap year. You can simply include it under the list of experiences. Make sure you write a convincing and well placed description of this particular experience.
If your gap year experience doesn’t really go with the list, you can always include a new sub section like “volunteering experience” or “Additional activities” etc depending upon your indulgence during the gap year and write your experience under that subsection.
If You Really Want To Hide It
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If you see no other option but to hide your gap year, you can always to that in a subtle manner. Your resume doesn’t always have to be chronologically designed. Draft a Resume that is NOT chronological and simply diminish the visibility of your gap year.
If not chronological, what? You can draft a resume with your focus on the functional aspect of it. A functional Resume is more about your skills than from where and when you got it.
If nothing else works out, you are always left with the option of being one hundred percent honest. Go all guns blazing! As I said in the very beginning, your gap year was FOR A REASON. Present that reason in your summary or in your cover letter. Doing that might make a positive lasting impression.
All the best!
