Explaining a career gap on your CV

Time away doesn't have to be a red flag. How to frame gaps honestly and keep the focus on your strengths.

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Priya Shah
27 Jul 2026 · 5 min read
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Gaps are common, not disqualifying

Recruiters see career gaps constantly — caring responsibilities, redundancy, illness, further study. What matters is how briefly and confidently it's addressed, not whether it existed.

How to frame it

One line in your summary or a labelled entry in your timeline is enough: what the period was, and what you did with it if relevant. Don't apologise for it in the document.

Keep the focus forward

Spend the rest of the CV on what you bring now. A gap explained in a sentence and followed by a strong case for your skills reads as a non-issue.

PS

Written by

Priya Shah

Resume writer at Set My Resume focused on early-career and achievement-driven CVs. Priya has a background in recruitment and knows what hiring managers actually look for.

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