Employment Gap Cover Letter Sample - Free Letter Sample Download
In this article im going to show you how to explain employment gaps in your interviews resume and cover letter with word for word examples and sample explanations.
Employment gap cover letter sample. The strategy you use to explain gaps on your resume and cover letter is dependent on the length of time and nature of your unemployment. On the other hand your employment gap explanation letter is a good idea because you get more space to explain exactly what happened and how you managed it. But no matter how painful addressing unfavorable work situations can be tricky. This is not possible if you are putting it in your cover letter.
However if youre filling out a job application youll need to be more specific. For example see this shortened sample cover letter explaining a gap in employment. How to use a cover letter for explaining gaps in employment. Prospective employers will notice significant gaps in employment on your resume so its in your best interest to address these gaps and offer a viable explanation up front in your cover letter.
Explaining gaps in employment can be intimidating but there are a couple of effective methods you can use. Consider a cover letter. Employment gaps are fairly common. Addressing employment gaps in a cover letter can create the biggest headache.
As you can see the resume doesnt specifically say when the candidate started and ended employment which can cover a brief employment gap. Many jobseekers believe that date gaps in a work history are equivalent to wearing a scarlet letter or so it seems. By carefully targeting resumes for specific jobs and situations you can greatly improve your chances of getting noticed in the job market. Lets get started with the interview first.
In fact many of the employers who conduct interviews have had them according resume and cover letter expert susan ireland. It also lists a relevant achievement. While there are ways to minimize the appearance of employment gaps on your resume it is still important for you to be honest and forthcoming in explaining gaps in your employment. Some experts say yes.
Use a positive spin with your explanation and emphasize that the gaps have no negative impact on your current employability. Your cover letter is a great place to explain significant gaps in employment because it allows you to go into detail about how you used your time unemployed to. Do i need a cover letter if ive got gaps in my resume. In this situation you should mention that you took time off to care for a child but also mention something productive you did that would help your career.
It explains that the gap wont repeat. This could be taking additional courses or studying a relevant subject. Youll also most likely be asked about the dates during a job interview so be prepared to answer accurately. The sample resume shown below is a targeted resume for an experienced professional with a five year unemployment gap who is seeking a project manager position.