At some point, people will experience becoming unemployed, whether you are a graduate struggling to find a job, or you’ve been made redundant, it can happen to anyone.  If you find yourself in this situation, you shouldn’t worry about writing your CV.

Here is our guide to help you handle the awkward gap on your application.

Be Honest

Recruiters like us come across unemployment on job-seekers CV’s all the time and understand that circumstances change.

Don’t be afraid to state gaps in your career no matter what you think it looks like to an employer.  Honesty is the best policy if you want to succeed and employers will respect you for this.

If you are right for the job, it won’t stop you from getting hired. Keep in mind that if you were recruited and lied to your employer, it could end up making the situation worse for you.

Keep it Professional

Remain professional when covering the gap on your CV and why you have been unemployed.  There’s no point in dodging anything if you want to get a job.  Addressing the reason on your CV will help recruiters gain a clearer understanding about what happened.

Remember, you should avoid stating any negative reasons why you left your job – only briefly expanding on this if it ended badly.  You don’t want to give potential employers a reason to avoid hiring you.  Stay professional and unbiased with your input to strengthen your chance of getting that job!

Focus on the positives

Discussing the jobless period on your CV can be extremely intimidating.  However, including positive information such as what you learnt and gained from the job can really help to make your application interesting to the reader (employer)

You should show the recruiter how you can successfully recover from setbacks and overcome difficult challenges in life. Unemployment means lots of free time so reflect on your period away from work and what you did to become a better employee.  Show the recruiter that you are determined to succeed.

Another way of remaining positive on your CV is focusing on the good things you have achieved so far. Include achievements, awards, transferable skills anything you feel would be useful for the employer to read. Tailor you CV to the specific job you are applying for relate your skills accordingly.

 Improve the “Interest and Hobbies” section

If you have experienced unemployment in the workplace, you should make sure the interest’s part of your CV stands out to employers. Have you done any voluntary work whilst seeking employment, it can show to employers that you are a motivated individual that has remained active during unemployment. Expanding on any interests and relating it to the skills you need can make you stand out more.