How to Write a Resume After a Career Break

Carlos Stanza

December 14th, 2024

Rejoining the workforce after a career break can feel overwhelming. Whether your time off was for caregiving, education, personal growth, or unforeseen circumstances, crafting a resume that confidently bridges the gap is crucial. By strategically highlighting your skills, addressing the gap professionally, and presenting a strong narrative, you can transform your resume into a powerful tool to showcase your readiness for the next chapter in your career.

This comprehensive guide dives into proven strategies and actionable tips to create a standout resume after a career break.

1. Acknowledge the Career Break Transparently

Career gaps are common, and employers are increasingly open to understanding life circumstances. The key is to address your career break briefly and professionally in your resume, providing context without over-explaining. Whether you took time off for caregiving, further education, travel, or personal development, framing it positively and connecting it to skills gained can help eliminate concerns.

How to Acknowledge the Break:

• Use Clear Labels: Add a brief entry in your professional experience section for the career break. Example:

Career Sabbatical for Caregiving (2019–2022): Focused on caregiving responsibilities while developing organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills.

• Address It in Your Summary or Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to elaborate, but keep the resume explanation concise.

• Demonstrate Professionalism: If applicable, mention certifications or volunteer work during this period to show productivity.

Bonus Tip: If your break was due to something sensitive (e.g., illness or personal loss), keep the description neutral. For instance:

“Personal Sabbatical for Family Health Reasons”

By owning the gap, you convey confidence and authenticity, two traits that employers value.

2. Use a Functional or Hybrid Resume Format

For those returning to work after a break, traditional chronological resumes can place unnecessary emphasis on the gap. Instead, functional or hybrid formats allow you to highlight your skills and accomplishments while de-emphasizing the timeline.

Functional Resume Highlights:

• Focus on skills and achievements instead of work history.

• Group similar skills under key categories (e.g., Project Management, Leadership, Communication).

• List your professional experience in a separate section without strict chronological order.

Hybrid Resume Highlights:

• Combines a skills-based approach with a brief chronological work history.

• Perfect for those who want to highlight career achievements but still need to address a gap.

Example Structure for Hybrid Resume:

1. Contact Information

2. Professional Summary (Focus on recent certifications or skills gained)

3. Key Skills (List in-demand skills relevant to the job)

4. Professional Experience (Include the career break with context)

5. Education and Certifications

This approach allows you to tailor your resume to the specific job while ensuring the focus remains on your capabilities, not the gap.

3. Highlight Transferable Skills

You’ve likely gained valuable transferable skills during your career break, whether through volunteer work, caregiving, or personal projects. These skills can include leadership, budgeting, communication, or even technical abilities, depending on your activities.

Steps to Identify Transferable Skills:

1. Reflect on Your Activities: Did you manage projects, handle finances, or lead teams (even informally)?

2. Research the Job Description: Identify the key skills employers seek and align them with your experiences.

3. Use Action-Oriented Language: Highlight how you applied these skills to real situations.

Examples of Transferable Skills and Descriptions:

• Time Management: Balanced competing priorities while coordinating caregiving and volunteer activities.

• Budget Management: Managed a household budget, including expense tracking and financial planning, during a sabbatical.

• Leadership: Led a local fundraising initiative, rallying 15 volunteers and raising $20,000 for a community cause.

• Technical Proficiency: Used Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets to organize schedules and budgets efficiently.

Highlighting these skills ensures that potential employers see your value beyond traditional job experience.

4. Update Your Skills with Online Learning

A career break is an excellent opportunity to upskill and refresh your knowledge. Showing recent certifications or coursework demonstrates initiative and a commitment to staying current in your field.

Recommended Online Platforms:

• Coursera: Industry-recognized certifications from universities and institutions (e.g., Project Management Professional Certification).

• LinkedIn Learning: Short courses tailored for professionals.

• Udemy: Practical, affordable courses for various industries.

• edX: Advanced, college-level courses in fields like business, IT, and marketing.

Key Certifications to Boost Your Resume:

• Technology: Google Data Analytics, Microsoft Office Specialist

• Business & Management: Certified ScrumMaster, PMP Certification

• Marketing & Communication: HubSpot Content Marketing, Facebook Blueprint Certification

How to Showcase Courses on Your Resume:

Education and Certifications Section Example:

Google Data Analytics Certificate (2023)

HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification (2022)

Certifications from reputable organizations strengthen your resume and highlight your adaptability in a rapidly changing job market.

5. Showcase Volunteer Work or Freelance Projects

Employers value all types of experience, not just formal employment. Volunteer roles, side projects, or freelance work can demonstrate that you remained active and productive during your career break.

How to Include Volunteer Work:

• List volunteer positions in the “Professional Experience” section if they’re relevant to your target role.

• Include tangible achievements and metrics.

Example:

Volunteer Event Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity (2021–2023)

• Organized 12 events, raising over $50,000 in donations.

• Recruited and trained 25 volunteers for large-scale community projects.

Freelance Work Example:

Freelance Content Writer (2020–2023)

• Created SEO-optimized articles for 10+ clients, increasing web traffic by an average of 25%.

These experiences illustrate initiative, self-discipline, and a commitment to growth.

6. Include a Strong Summary Statement

The summary statement at the top of your resume provides an opportunity to reframe your narrative. This 2–3 sentence introduction should emphasize your qualifications, address your career break positively, and align with your target role.

Example Summary for a Marketing Professional:

Results-driven marketing professional with 8+ years of experience in content strategy, project management, and analytics. Recently leveraged a career sabbatical to upskill in digital marketing, earning certifications in SEO and content marketing. Ready to reenter the workforce with a passion for driving impactful campaigns.

Pro Tip: Tailor your summary for every job application by incorporating specific keywords from the job description.

7. Use Metrics to Show Impact

Quantifiable achievements are more compelling than general statements. Use numbers, percentages, or comparisons to provide context for your accomplishments.

Examples of Quantifiable Achievements:

• Implemented a social media strategy that increased engagement by 40% within six months.

• Reduced project turnaround times by 25% through process improvements.

• Managed a $50,000 fundraising budget, achieving 110% of the targeted goal.

Metrics provide tangible proof of your value, making your resume stand out.

8. Leverage Networking and LinkedIn

An updated LinkedIn profile complements your resume and can help you expand your professional network. Many recruiters actively search LinkedIn for potential candidates, so ensure your profile aligns with your resume.

Tips for Optimizing LinkedIn:

• Use a professional headshot.

• Write a compelling headline (e.g., “Experienced Project Manager | Certified ScrumMaster | Leadership Expert”)

• Add a summary that mirrors your resume.

• Include volunteer roles, certifications, and skills.

LinkedIn also allows you to showcase endorsements and recommendations from colleagues or clients, adding credibility.

Example Resume After a Career Break

Jane Doe

jane.doe@example.com | LinkedIn.com/in/janedoe | (555) 555-5555

Professional Summary:

Results-driven marketing professional with over a decade of experience in content strategy, project management, and analytics. Leveraged a career sabbatical to upskill in digital marketing, completing advanced certifications in SEO and social media strategy. Eager to contribute to innovative campaigns and deliver measurable results.

Key Skills:

• Digital Marketing | Content Strategy | Project Management

• Data Analysis | Budget Management | Cross-Functional Collaboration

Professional Experience:

Marketing Manager | ABC Company | 2012–2020

• Increased ROI by 40% through data-driven content strategies.

• Led a team of 10 to execute campaigns, achieving a 25% increase in market share.

Career Sabbatical | 2020–2023

• Focused on caregiving while completing certifications in digital marketing.

• Developed organizational and time management skills through household management.

Education and Certifications:

• Google Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Certificate (2023)

• Certified ScrumMaster (2022)

• Bachelor of Arts in Marketing, University of XYZ (2012)

Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Career?

Don’t let a career break hold you back—your next opportunity is waiting for you! At Resumefin, we specialize in helping professionals like you craft resumes that highlight your unique strengths, address career gaps with confidence, and position you as the ideal candidate for your dream role. Contact carlos@resumefin.com today for a free resume review or explore our tailored resume writing services to start your journey back to success.

Works Cited

1. CareerOneStop. “Resume Writing Tips.” U.S. Department of Labor. Accessed December 2024. https://www.careeronestop.org

2. LinkedIn Learning. “How to Make Your Resume Stand Out.” LinkedIn Corporation, 2024.

3. Udemy. “Courses for Career Development.” Udemy, Inc. Accessed December 2024. https://www.udemy.com

4. Glassdoor. “How to Address a Career Break on Your Resume.” Glassdoor, 2024.

5. Harvard Business Review. “How to Turn a Career Gap into a Selling Point.” HBR, 2024.

6. O*NET Online. “Skills Search.” U.S. Department of Labor. Accessed December 2024. https://www.onetonline.org