2 Years Gap in Career: Turning a Break into a Boost

“You could say a career gap is like taking a long breath in the marathon of your professional life… except inhaling took a bit longer than you planned. Life happens, and sometimes, the career path looks less like a straight line and more like a dance with its own rhythm and pauses.”

“In this post, we’ll lace up our dancing shoes and guide you through embracing, explaining, and leveraging your 2-year career interlude.”

Quick Takeaways:

• Frame your career gap as a period of personal and professional growth, highlighting acquired skills and experiences that are transferable to your desired role.
• Update professional profiles and resumes with activities undertaken during the hiatus, using a functional resume format to emphasize skills over chronology.
• Approach re-entry with a gap portfolio showcasing tangible achievements, and confidently articulate your gap as a strategic intermission, not a setback.

What’s the Real Impact of a 2-Year Career Gap?

Taking a two-year hiatus from your professional journey can seem like a daunting detour. If you’re stewing over what a career gap might mean for your future, you’re not alone. Concerns range from keeping up with industry trends to facing potential eyebrow raises from hiring managers. But before you work yourself into a tizzy, let’s find the silver lining.

A career interruption doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. In fact, it may even be an opportunity in disguise. The key is the narrative. The industry might have evolved, but so have you—albeit in different ways. Instead of fixating on the gap, consider how you’ve grown personally and professionally during this period. Remember, the story behind the gap often carries more weight than the gap itself.

Change is inevitable, and many employers recognize that life happens. Whether it’s raising children, pursuing further education, or exploring the world, these experiences can enrich your character and add a unique perspective to your work.

How Can You Stay Professionally Sharp During a Hiatus?

Staying relevant doesn’t require a 9-to-5 desk job. There are plenty of ways to keep your edge while you’re away from the corporate grind.

• Online Courses: Whether it’s through Coursera, Udemy, or edX, you can take courses from top universities or industry experts. For instance, a marketing professional might take a digital marketing course certified by Google to stay on top of current trends.
• Volunteering: It’s a double whammy of goodness. You give back to the community and hone transferable skills. Leadership roles in nonprofits, for example, can demonstrate project management and strategic planning abilities.
• Part-Time Work or Freelancing: It’s a smart way to keep your hands in the industry pie. Platforms like Upwork or Fiverr offer avenues to stay engaged with your professional field while providing flexibility.
• Personal Projects: Launching a blog or starting a small business can be a practical application of your skills. These ventures speak volumes about your initiative and passion.

Every one of these activities is more than just a line on your resume; they’re conversation starters—proof of your commitment to professional development even when the traditional work environment is paused.

How Should You Address the Gap in Your Resume and Interviews?

When it comes to discussing your career gap, honesty is your best policy. Masking the truth can land you in hot water, and owning your story displays authenticity, which is a valuable trait in any candidate.

Updating your resume and LinkedIn profile is your first order of business. Frame your hiatus as a constructive phase. Perhaps you managed a complex home renovation project that honed your project management skills or took care of a family member, developing strong time-management and organizational abilities. These are transferable skills that employers value.

During interviews, navigate the conversation toward how your time off has enriched you. Have anecdotes ready to illustrate your productivity and growth. This reframing turns a potential concern into a showcase of your resilience and adaptability.

But here’s the unique tip: create a functional resume. Unlike the usual chronological resume, a functional one emphasizes your skills and experiences rather than the timeline of your employment. This nifty trick can draw attention to your qualifications rather than the chronology of your career.

Remember, the narrative isn’t over. You’re simply adding another chapter to your story—one that’s full of learning, exploration, and self-improvement.

And on we go! There’s more to cover. But for now, take a moment to revel in the fact that you’ve got strategies in your back pocket. Getting back out there with confidence is totally within reach.

Can a Career Gap Be an Opportunity for Personal Growth?

Absolutely! A career gap, whether by choice or circumstance, can be a hidden blessing in disguise. Often, we get so entwined in our jobs that we lose touch with our own aspirations and growth. That’s why a break from the nine-to-five can turn into a golden chance to hit the pause button and reflect on our personal journey.

Think of it as an extended sabbatical – sure, you’re out of the traditional workforce, but that doesn’t mean you’re not growing. Personal development is a broad area spanning from skills acquisition, emotional intelligence, to self-awareness. You might have taken up hobbies that sharpen your problem-solving skills, delved into volunteer work that enhanced your empathetic abilities, or even undertook travels that broadened your cultural understanding. All these experiences can enrich your professional persona.

Consider how learning a new language might illuminate a résumé, or how a cooking class can reflect on your ability to follow complex instructions. These aren’t just fun facts about your time off; they’re stories of personal evolution. They demonstrate versatility, adaptability, and a willingness to learn – all highly prized in the modern workplace.

How Do You Plan a Successful Comeback After Your Career Gap?

Re-entering the job market post-gap can feel like gearing up for a major comeback tour. You’re the star, and you’ve got to make sure your audience – potential employers – is ready for what you’ve got.

First things first, start by tuning your instruments:

• Identify Transferable Skills: Reflect on your gap years and jot down the skills you’ve gained. This could be anything from logistical prowess you honed while planning a big move, to negotiation skills from navigating markets abroad.

• Set Realistic and Achievable Goals: Be it climbing back up to your previous position or transitioning to a new field, define what success looks like for you now. And remember, it’s okay if these goals have shifted since your last gig.

• Upgrade Your Knowledge: If there have been significant changes in your industry, consider refreshing your skill set through online courses or workshops. Staying current is crucial. Sites like Coursera or edX offer a plethora of courses that can help bridge any knowledge gaps.

Next, consider your soundcheck – networking:

• Reconnect with Old Contacts: A quick coffee catch-up can do wonders. You’d be surprised how much this can open doors, and at the very least, it keeps you on the radar.

• Make Use of LinkedIn: Update your profile, join relevant groups, and engage with content. LinkedIn is a fabulous stage for professional networking.

• Attend Industry Events: Conferences, seminars, and webinars are not just for learning; they’re potential goldmines for connections.

When it comes to the performance – the job application:

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight the experiences during your gap that are most relevant to the job. An employer might find your backpacking trip less compelling than the blog you wrote about it, which showcases your impeccable communication skills.

• Practice Your Pitch: Prepare to tackle questions about your career gap head-on in interviews. Frame it as a strategic intermission filled with growth and learning, rather than a blank space.

• Be Confident, But Genuine: It’s easy to overcompensate when you’re trying to make up for lost time, but authenticity wins every time. Own your story, your choices, and the valuable insights you’ve gained.

And here’s a nugget of unique advice: Create a “gap portfolio”. Collect any tangible work from your time away, be it a blog, design projects, volunteer work references, certificates, or a vlog. This not only showcases your active pursuit of growth but also offers a visual narrative of your journey, making it unforgettable to hiring managers. This tactic is often overlooked, yet it puts a concrete spin on your experiences that resonate beyond the standard résumé.

Remember that a career gap can be more than just space between jobs; it can be a chapter of self-discovery. With thoughtful planning and a splash of confidence, your comeback can be a chart-topping hit that has both you and potential employers singing a happy tune.