Almost every professional is likely to experience an employment break at some point. According to Business Day, Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 5.3% in the first quarter of 2024, with the exit of multinationals and factory closures causing career breaks for tens of thousands of workers. Simply put, career breaks can happen to anyone.
However, 30 per cent of employers still view these gaps negatively. If you don’t explain it, they just fill in the blanks themselves. Most times, it is not always in your favour. That is why how you present or talk about a gap can impact your chances of securing any job.
But not to worry. In this article, we will guide you through how to go about it.
An employment gap is any stretch of time when you weren’t formally employed. It could last a few months or even a few years, and it shows up as a blank space on your CV. And while that gap might’ve been necessary, justified, or even out of your control, it is still something most employers will notice.
Employment gaps can happen for all sorts of reasons, and not all of them are negative. Here are a few common ones:
Personal Reasons: Perhaps you stepped away to care for a loved one, raise a child, or deal with a health issue. Life happens, and sometimes work has to take a back seat.
Layoffs or Company Closure: Your last role might have ended because the company downsized, shut down, or restructured.
Education or Reskilling: This one is more common. It involves taking time off to go back to school, earn a certification, or learn a new skill. That counts as a gap, but it can also be a huge plus if framed the right way.
Travel or Relocation: Travel and relocation can also interrupt your work history.
Burnout or Sabbatical: This entails either stepping away to rest, reset, or rethink your career path.
Recruiters are trained to identify patterns. Gaps in your employment history are one of the first things they look for. It's not like it is personal. It is just their job to assess risk, consistency, and company fit within minutes of scanning your CV.
So now the question is, how exactly do they notice employment gaps?
Keep reading.
It will interest you to know that recruiters don’t read every word on your CV. They skim it. One of the first things they notice is the timeline of your work history. If there’s a big gap, let’s say more than 6 months, and you don’t explain it, it might raise a red flag. A short gap might go unnoticed, but a longer one will stand out.
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There are many ways to explain employment gaps without hurting your chances. Even if you weren’t in a formal job during your time away from work, it’s important to show that you were still active and growing.
Example:
“During my break, I completed two certifications in digital marketing and volunteered with a nonprofit, managing their social media. I’m now ready to bring those skills to this job.”
Don’t also forget that different gaps have different approaches, so you must tailor your explanation. This is how to explain a few common employment gaps:
Family Break Gap: For this type of gap, be honest about the situation, then quickly shift focus to your readiness to return.
Example: “I took time off to care for a family member. During that time, I stayed up to date with industry trends and am eager to apply what I learnt.”
Health-Related Gap: This type of gap is common. However, you are not obligated to share medical details. Just frame it as a resolved chapter.
Example: “I stepped away for a health-related issue that has been fully resolved. I’m back to full capacity now.”
Education or Reskilling: This has the capacity to increase your chances of securing a job. It is so easy to frame to explain growth.
Example: “I used this time to complete a program which has equipped me with new skills that align with where the industry is heading.”
Travel or Relocation: Here you should keep things brief while letting the recruiter know you are fully settled.
Example: “I took a short break to relocate. I'm now settled in and ready to take on new professional challenges.”
Burnout or Mental Health Break: For this type of employment gap, keep it professional. The key is to show that the break helped you reset and that you’re now ready to return.
Example: “After a period of intense work, I took a break to rest and recharge. That time gave me space to regain balance, and I’m ready to fully engage in my next role.”
Layoff: Layoffs are also reasonable explanations for employment gaps but you have to show that you were busy upskilling.
Example: “My previous role was impacted by company-wide layoffs. Since then, I’ve been focused on upskilling.”
The wrong tone or too much information can quickly throw off an otherwise strong application. Here are the biggest mistakes you should avoid when talking about career breaks:
You don’t owe anyone your full life story. Always keep your explanations short and never overshare.
Bad Example: “I was going through a difficult divorce and had to move out. I then fell into depression for a few months.”
Good Example: “I took time away from work to manage a personal family situation and am now ready to return fully focused.”
If you get too personal, you risk making the interviewer uncomfortable or shifting attention away from your strengths.
Even if your previous job ended badly, avoid pointing fingers. Complaining about your boss, your company, or your coworkers makes you look unprofessional and leaves hiring managers wondering if you’re difficult to work with.
Bad Example: “My boss was toxic and didn’t appreciate me, so I had to quit.”
Good Example: “I left after a company restructuring and used that time to reflect and realign my goals.”
One of the worst things you can do is approach the explanation with shame. Taking a break isn’t something to apologise for. Apologizing makes you sound like you're hiding something or not confident in your ability to return. It puts the focus on the gap as a negative, instead of framing it as part of your larger growth story.
Bad Example: “I know the gap looks bad, and I’m really sorry about that.”
Good Example: “That time gave me space to reset, and I’m now back with renewed focus.”
Stretching employment dates or making up freelance work may seem like a good idea, but it’s a huge risk. If employers find out you’ve misrepresented anything, it won’t only hurt your chances, it will kill your credibility. Honesty handled well is almost always respected. Even a long gap can be explained if you show growth and demonstrate you're ready now.
Yes, you need to prepare what you will say, but don’t overdo it. If your answer sounds like it was copied from a blog post or memorised word-for-word, it won’t feel genuine. Interviewers can tell when you're performing.
Bad Example: “Due to extenuating circumstances, I found it necessary to temporarily exit the workforce.”
Good Example: “I stepped away for personal reasons and now I’m ready to jump back into a full-time role.”
Once you've explained the gap, move on. We see too many candidates trying to fill in every month like they’re justifying an absence. The more attention you give the gap, the more it starts to define the conversation.
Say what needs to be said, then shift focus to what you bring to the table and why you’re a strong fit for the role.
Bad Example: “I know it’s been a while. First, I had to move, then I was figuring things out, and then I just wasn’t sure what to do next.”
Good Example: “After my break, I’m now focused on roles where I can apply my skills and contribute immediately.”
Always be honest about your work history, but have some flexibility in how you format dates. If the gap is under a year, consider listing only the years (e.g., 2022–2023) instead of specific months (March 2022 – January 2023). This will soften the appearance of a short gap.
Bad Example:
March 2022 – January 2023: Career Break
Good Example:
2022–2023: Professional Development & Personal Leave
The gap is still there, but it’s positioned professionally and without drawing unnecessary attention.
View 15 Tips to Get Your CV Noticed in Seconds
Your CV’s personal statement, the summary at the top, is a powerful place to shape how your gap is viewed. Use it to briefly mention your break if needed, but focus it on your readiness, strengths, and what you bring to the table.
Good Example: Customer support professional with 5+ years of experience in telecom and fintech. Took a planned break in 2023 to complete a UX Design certification. Now seeking a customer success role where I can apply both my technical and people skills.
Leaving a blank space between roles raises questions. Instead, treat your gap like a role. Give it a line in your CV and briefly state what you were doing. This shows ownership and keeps the timeline consistent.
Even if you weren’t in a formal job, you likely gained or maintained skills. If you freelanced, took a course, cared for someone, or managed a personal project, highlight what you learned that’s relevant to the job you're applying for.
Example
Completed online certification in customer experience (reskilling)
Volunteered with a community health group (communication, leadership)
Managed multiple family logistics and schedules (time management, coordination)
Consider a skills-based format. It lets you lead with your strengths, achievements, and relevant experience. Use categories like:
Professional Skills
Experience
Certifications & Training
Projects or Freelance Work
Employment gaps are normal. What counts is how you explain them and what you’ve done with it. So don’t hide or apologise. Own it and move the conversation forward. If you can show growth and focus, most hiring managers will respect that. This is what helps you land the job.
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