Career Advice
·Last updated August 26, 2026
How to Format a Resume With a Career Gap
TL;DR: A gap is far less disqualifying than an unexplained or poorly formatted one.
Use years, not months, if the gap is short
Listing only years (2021-2023) rather than months can smooth over a gap of a few months without being dishonest.
Consider a brief explanatory line
For longer gaps, a short, factual line ("Caregiving leave," "Relocation," "Independent study") in place of a job title can preempt the question before it's asked.
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