Indeed Flex Finds 2 in 3 Workers Have Resume Gaps

In a world where life sometimes happens faster than a recruiter can say “tell me about yourself,” it’s no surprise that more than two-thirds of workers have experienced an employment gap. But what is surprising is that three out of five workers believe those resume gaps are making it harder for them to find full-time employment. With reasons ranging from family responsibilities to layoffs and relocation, it’s clear there’s an untapped talent pool out there waiting to be discovered. So, what gives?

Maggie Lee is a seasoned marketer who had always planned to take a break from her career after hitting her 10-year milestone. She wanted to use the time to travel the world, spend time with her aging parents, and learn a new language. However, her plans were abruptly put on hold when her father suffered a stroke.

Maggie became her father’s primary caregiver, putting her professional life on the back burner. The once-vibrant marketer found herself struggling to balance the demands of work and caregiving. Eventually, she realized that something had to give.

“I took a break from my career to care for my dad, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Maggie said. “But when I decided to return to work, I found myself facing a daunting challenge.”

Maggie was confronted with the task of explaining her three-year career gap to potential employers. She worried that they would see her as someone who had lost her edge or was no longer committed to her career.

However, instead of hiding her gap, Maggie decided to embrace it. She highlighted the skills she developed as a caregiver, such as patience, empathy, and problem-solving, and showed how they could translate into her professional life.

To her surprise, her transparency paid off. Not only did she land a new job within a few months, but she also discovered that many of her colleagues had also taken career breaks for various reasons.

“Employers are increasingly realizing that career gaps are not always a negative thing,” Maggie said. “They’re recognizing that people have lives outside of work, and that taking a break can actually make you a better employee.”

Today, Maggie is thriving in her new role, and she credits her career gap for giving her a fresh perspective on her work and life.

Indeed Flex Reveals Widespread Employment Gaps Among Workers

The COVID-19 pandemic shook the workforce to its core, particularly for caregivers who were forced to step out of their jobs. This exposed a flawed hiring practice that ignores the unique skill sets and experiences of workers with resume gaps. This issue was recently brought to the forefront during a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) event where speakers emphasized that caregivers, older workers, individuals with disabilities, and those with criminal backgrounds all have valuable contributions to make to the workforce.

The pandemic also highlighted the plight of workers who found themselves unemployed for the first time, with many unsure of how to present their skills in a positive light. Challenger, Gray & Christmas’ 2021 report confirmed this, particularly for older workers who struggled to bridge the gap in their resumes.

Breaking the Stigma of Career Gaps

To address these issues, LinkedIn introduced new job titles like “stay-at-home parent” and removed specific employer links from resume entries. Meanwhile, many employers have started experimenting with returnships as a way to entice skilled workers back into the workforce. These positive changes can only help to create a more inclusive and diverse workforce that truly values the experiences and contributions of all its members.

While more employers are experimenting with ‘returnships’ to encourage skilled workers to return to the workforce. It’s time to rethink the way we view resume gaps and create a more inclusive, diverse workforce. Here’s what HR leaders can do to shift their focus to the untapped talent pool that these workers represent.

• Emphasize the importance of addressing resume gaps: With more than two-thirds of workers experiencing employment gaps and three in five feeling that it has made it harder to find employment, it’s clear that this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
• Highlight the potential benefits of tapping into this talent pool: The top reasons for employment gaps are family responsibilities, layoffs, and relocation, indicating that many of these workers possess valuable skills and experience that could be put to use. By addressing the issue of resume gaps, employers have the opportunity to tap into an untapped talent pool and create a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Emphasize the positive impact of the changes made by LinkedIn and other employers: By introducing new job titles and experimenting with returnships, employers are taking steps towards creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce that values the experiences and contributions of all its members. These positive changes are a step in the right direction towards creating a more equitable workplace for all workers.

Let this unprecedented situation sparked a transformation in attitudes towards resume gaps, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and flexible work environment that accommodates diverse experiences and challenges.