When we start work, we tend not to consider taking an extended break in any way because we want to have steady work and cash flow. If we take an extended break for various reasons, it can be hard to get back to work, and some employers would be reluctant to consider those with considerable gaps in their resumes. Some even go to the extreme and do magic to hide the career breaks in their resume.

If you have taken an extended career break, there are some positives in including it in your resume and here are some of them:

• It provides you with the opportunity to frame the narrative to your advantage. You can say that the career break was intentional and explain how it taught you new skills and what you have done throughout that break. It can also show your character and skill set that they can’t easily read in your resume.
• It may give you an advantage as some employers look for professionals that took a career break. It may even qualify you for one of their re-entry programs if the employers see that you did not hide your career break.

Given these two significant positives, employees can definitely see that they should not fear the career break that will be seen in their resume. But before putting it in the resume, these two questions should be considered:

1. When did you take the career break? If you took more than 10 to 15 years, it is ok not to put it in the resume because it is a long time.
2. How long was your career break? It is safe to add if it is very recent and more than a month. Employers will immediately think you didn’t work during that time. You can add a short explanation as to why you took the career break.

If you are ready to add your career break to your resume, here’s how you can make it easier for employers to see and understand:

1. Change the way you mention “career break” in the resume. You can call it either “Sabbatical”, “Volunteer”, or “School Work.”
2. When listing the company’s name, write down “Career Break” or something similar. If you did do volunteer work, list down the sponsoring company.
3. Write the months you took your career break, just like when you are listing down how long you were working for a company.
4. List notable accomplishments and activities you have done

Conclusion

While it is always good to have a concise resume, don’t be afraid to speak about any career breaks you have done and give employers a reason why you took it. To be honest, it will show that you learnt from it. If employers see how well you explained it to them through your resume, they will acknowledge it and know that you are eager to return to work and grow as a person.

Here are some tips to have work-life balance in your life:
4 Tips For Finding a Work-Life Balance
Why Work-Life Balance Is Important
How To Balance Between Freelancing & Mommyhood

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