How to Explain Employment Gaps on Your CV
Published on August 19, 2026
Having a gap in your employment history does not automatically mean you will be rejected for a job.
People leave work for many reasons, including further education, family responsibilities, career changes, relocation, health or simply taking time to find the right opportunity.
What matters is how you present the gap and how you show employers that you are ready to work.
What Is an Employment Gap?
An employment gap is a period when you were not working in a formal job for a significant amount of time.
For example, you may have worked from 2021 to 2023 and then started another job in 2025.
A short gap between jobs is usually not something you need to worry about. Longer gaps may attract questions during the hiring process.
Should You Hide an Employment Gap?
No.
Avoid changing dates or creating jobs that you never held just to make your CV look continuous.
Employers may verify your employment history, and providing false information can damage your chances of getting the job.
Instead, explain the gap honestly and professionally when necessary.
How to Explain an Employment Gap on Your CV
You don't always need to write a long explanation on your CV.
If the gap was used for something productive, you can briefly mention it.
For example:
Career Break — 2023–2024
Completed professional training and developed skills in Microsoft Excel and digital marketing.
Or:
Professional Development — 2024
Completed online courses and worked on practical projects while preparing to return to full-time employment.
Keep the explanation short and focus on what you gained during that period.
Common Reasons for Employment Gaps
1. Further Education
If you left work to study, mention the qualification or programme.
Example:
Education — 2022–2024
Completed HND studies in Business Administration.
2. Career Change
If you took time to move into a new career, explain the skills you developed.
Example:
Career Transition — 2024
Completed training in digital marketing and built practical experience through personal projects.
3. Job Search
Sometimes you simply couldn't find another job after leaving your previous position.
You don't need to invent a reason.
You can say:
Career Break — 2024–2025
Focused on securing a suitable opportunity while developing relevant professional skills.
4. Family Responsibilities
You may have taken time away from work to care for a child or family member.
You don't have to provide private details.
A simple explanation can be enough:
Career Break — 2023–2025
Took a planned career break to manage family responsibilities.
5. Relocation
If you moved to another city or country, you can briefly mention it.
Relocation — 2024
Relocated to Lagos and prepared to resume full-time employment.
6. Freelance or Self-Employment
If you were freelancing or running a small business during your employment gap, don't automatically leave that period blank.
Include it as experience if it is relevant.
For example:
Freelance Virtual Assistant — 2023–2025
- Managed client emails and calendars
- Conducted online research
- Prepared documents and spreadsheets
This can turn what appears to be an employment gap into useful experience.
What If the Employer Asks About the Gap During an Interview?
Keep your answer honest, brief and positive.
For example:
"I took some time away from full-time employment to focus on family responsibilities. During that period, I also worked on improving my professional skills. I'm now ready to return to full-time employment and I'm particularly interested in this position because..."
You don't need to become defensive or give unnecessary personal information.
The goal is to answer the question and then bring the conversation back to why you're ready for the job now.
What You Should Avoid
Don't Lie
Never create fake employment dates or experience.
Don't Overexplain
Your employer doesn't need a detailed personal story.
Don't Apologise
An employment gap doesn't automatically mean you did something wrong.
Don't Focus Only on the Gap
Your CV should focus on your skills, experience, achievements and what you can offer the employer.
How to Make Your CV Stronger After an Employment Gap
If you have been out of work for some time, use your CV to show that you continued developing yourself.
You could include:
- Professional certifications
- Online courses
- Freelance projects
- Volunteer work
- Internships
- Personal projects
- Relevant skills
- Professional achievements
For example, if you were unemployed but completed a course in Excel, don't simply leave the period blank. Include the course under your education or professional development section.
Final Thoughts
An employment gap does not have to prevent you from getting a job.
Be honest, concise and professional when explaining it. More importantly, show employers what you have learned, what you can do and why you are ready for your next opportunity.
Your employment history is only one part of your CV.
Focus on where you are going, not just where you have been.
Looking for new job opportunities in Nigeria? Check Joblink Nigeria regularly for the latest vacancies and career resources.