Blank Spots in CVs

In the world of recruitment, the infamous “blank spots” in CVs continue to raise eyebrows. Yet, behind these periods of apparent inactivity often lie life stories rich in learning and experience. Rather than raising a red flag, gaps in resumes should prompt questions, not rejection.

At Jump! Recruiters, we believe that a good recruiter doesn’t comb through a resume to find flaws, but to uncover potential.

What Exactly Are Blank Spots In a Resume?

A gap in a resume refers to a period, often more than six months, where the candidate has not held any apparent paid employment. This can be due to several reasons, such as returning to school, parental leave, illness, extended travel, having to care for a loved one, a career transition, burnout, or simply a job search in a difficult market.

This isn’t a marginal phenomenon; a LinkedIn post even states that people without any “blank spots” in their resume will become a minority, reflecting a shift in mentalities. It’s therefore neither rare nor necessarily worrisome.

Why Must We Overcome the Reflex of Distrust?

In a context of labor shortages, continuing to dismiss profiles because they have a non-linear career path amounts to depriving ourselves of valuable talent. This reflex is often based on prejudices:

• “He or she isn’t reliable”
• “There must be an underlying reason”
• “He or she wasn’t motivated enough to return to work sooner”

And yet, each situation deserves to be put into context. Voluntary leave to care for a loved one or travel the world can reveal maturity, project management skills, and an openness to the world. A break to refocus or reorient oneself is sometimes the starting point for greater motivation.

How to Address a Gap in a CV When You’Re a Recruiter?

Here are some best practices to adopt:

1. Let go of quick judgments
   • Blank spots in a CV isn’t a sign of failure, but often moments of transition
2. Ask the right questions, respectfully
   • It’s not about probing, but about understanding.
     • E.g., “Can you tell me about the period between 2024 and 2025?”
3. Promote transferable skills
   • Even outside of traditional employment, a person can develop many skills: organization, resilience, autonomy, self-taught learning, etc.
4. Adapt the analysis to the context
   • The pandemic, for example, has caused professional breaks for many people. As have family realities or international migration.

How Should You Manage These Periods in a CV When You’Re a Candidate?

If you’re the candidate, our advice:

• Be honest and concise
• Add a line of explanation to your resume if relevant
  • E.g., “parental leave,” “humanitarian trip,” “return to school”)
• Prepare a simple and authentic answer for the interview
• Highlight what you’ve learned during this period

Conclusion

Perfect career paths don’t exist and blank spots in a resume aren’t necessarily flaws; they’re sometimes breathing spaces, turning points, experiences that shape a person.

At Jump! Recruiters, we’re interested in candidates as a whole. Because recruiting is, above all, a human encounter.

Contact us! https://jumprecruteurs.ca/equipe/