5 Amazing Ways to Tackle Employment Gaps for Software Developers

We only have NOW! Don't overthink things, don't wait for the perfect moment, just do it. Now is the time to bridge your career gaps! Getting back to work after an employment gap isn't rocket science. You must plan well, tackle obstacles with confidence, and put your best foot forward. Here are five tips for getting back to work after a gap in your resume.

1. Consider your current situation

Before you begin applying for jobs or attempting to return to the profession after a long work gap, assess your current level of industry knowledge and skills. If you lack these qualities, start by upskilling yourself. If you're applying for a position as a software engineer, check if you need to know about any new technology or tools. Also, do you have any advanced programming certifications to boost your resume's credibility? Doing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis and coming up with the greatest answer is the finest approach to reflecting on yourself. Consider speaking with a career adviser who can help you choose the best career route for you.

2. Improve your skills

Take a certification course to advance your professional opportunities now that you know where you stand. Enrolling in such skill enhancement courses connects you with industry professionals who offer the course content, you may even find some fantastic internship chances, you can take classes remotely, and they are inexpensive.

3. Work on your cover letter and resume

Make the most of your employment gaps by highlighting them on your resume. Here's how to write a great CV for an employment gap:

• Emphasize the certificates and skills you gained during your career gap.
• Concentrate on your previous accomplishments and how you can contribute as a useful resource.
• List your years of experience and previous positions.
• Mention any projects or activities you worked on during your time off. You may add any volunteer work or career comeback programs you participated in, in this section. For example, if you participated in the JP Morgan comeback program and worked on a variety of IT projects, you should include that experience on your CV.
• Mention the number of months you've been out of work. Instead of putting '2017-19,' write 'April 2017 through December 2019,' for example.
• On your resume, highlight your achievements, recognitions, and honors. Always employ the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method when in doubt.
• Mention the cause for the employment gap in the experience section itself, such as a sabbatical from March 2017 to December 2019.
• In the career summary, don't mention any pauses in your employment; this is the moment to highlight your accomplishments.

Read more about the best practices to be followed while creating your resume.

4. Make authentic connections

Nothing beats references and strong relationships when it comes to making a comeback after a career gap. Here are some helpful tips for effective networking:

• Understand where to make connections. Don't limit yourself to social media networks like Linkedin; go to related events, conferences, volunteer programs, and trade show to make more relationships.
• Tell a story about your career gap and how you grew personally and professionally.
• Instead of rubbing elbows with a hundred people, make a lasting impression on a few.
• Don't be afraid to approach the right folks and break the ice.
• On LinkedIn and Reddit, seek feedback and perspectives.

5. Be confident for the interview

This is the most crucial aspect of making a comeback after an employment gap: how will you sell yourself so that the recruiter recognizes the value in your job gap and the best abilities you have to offer? The interviewer will be particularly interested in learning about your career gap. If you left the position freely, you'd have to explain why you did so, and if you were asked to leave, you'd have to explain why. In both scenarios, make a compelling case for yourself and avoid disparaging your previous employer or manager. Tell them the cause for your absence and what you did during that time. Briefly mention personal reasons. Emphasize the abilities and qualifications you earned throughout that time period.

Final thoughts

Career gaps occur when you prioritize your health, family, education, or even if you are asked to quit; there is no need to be afraid or ashamed of it. Confidence, investing in upscaling yourself, taking the time to write a polished résumé, chatting with a consultant for the proper career route, preparing well for the interview, and participating in professional comeback programs will all put you back in the driver's seat.