Closing the Resume Gap

Have you had a break in your career? Are you trying to decide how to account for a gap in your employment history in your resume? This is not unusual. Due to organizational changes resulting in layoffs, time away from a job to care for others, or personal health matters, many people have breaks in their work experience.

Employers know that people’s lives will not always fit neatly into traditional career timelines. However, because your resume is often the first opportunity an employer has to learn about you, it is important that a significant break in work experience is acknowledged. In this blog post, we provide some ideas for you to consider as you draft your “return-to-work” resume.

How to Address a Gap Caused by Disability

You may already know that when you craft your resume, it will be most effective if it is specific to the job you are applying for. This means if you want to return to the same type of job you had prior to your gap, it will be necessary to include that experience and acknowledge the gap.

If your gap was due to a disability, there is no need to provide private medical information. A straightforward explanation that you took medical leave or were recovering from a health issue or injury is sufficient. The reason you had a break from employment is much less important than what you did while you were unemployed.

What did you do to prepare to return to work? Perhaps you took some continuing education courses to learn a new skill. Maybe you earned a certification that is relevant to your industry. Did you stay active in your professional associations or take on some part-time consulting? Did you participate in any volunteer or mentoring activities? Any of these actions can demonstrate that you have taken the initiative to be ready for your next position.

Over the years, the chronological resume has been the standard format. In other words, you list all your jobs, starting with the most recent and your employment dates. This type of format will identify employment gaps.

Another way to write your resume is to focus less on employers and more on your accomplishments. For example, you can start with a career summary and then add your past positions, including your responsibilities and achievements that support your career summary. You can then finish your resume with the chronological list of employers. There you can address the gap with the simple explanation noted above. With this approach, called a functional resume, the reader is drawn to your qualifications first and your work history later.

How a Ticket Program Service Provider Can Support You

If you are returning to work after receiving disability benefits (SSDI/SSI), Social Security’s Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program offers support to help you make that transition. Your employment team can guide you through the job search and help you discuss your work gap in a simple and positive way.

Your provider can help you choose the best resume format, highlight your strengths, and prepare for interviews. They can help you practice how to explain your work gap without oversharing and how to focus on your readiness to work now.

If you want to build new skills or refresh old ones, your provider can help you identify training programs and courses that make your resume stronger. And once you find a job, they continue to support you as you adjust to your new role and work toward long term success.

Most importantly, you have someone on your side who understands your experience and helps you build confidence as you progress toward work.

Want to Learn More?

If you are interested in exploring the Ticket Program, here are several ways to get information and support.

• Connect with a Ticket Program service provider. Service providers can explain how the program works, help you understand your choices, and offer guidance with resumes, training, and job planning.
• Call the Ticket to Work Help Line. The Help Line can answer questions about eligibility, services, and what the program offers. This is a simple way to get clear information from someone who understands the process.
• Contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842. For callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, call 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET, or send us an email.
• Read more about the program. If you prefer to learn on your own, you can find more details about Ticket to Work, the types of support available, and how the program assists people returning to work after a disability related break.
• Explore your options at your own pace. There’s no pressure to decide right away. You can take in the information, think about what feels right for you, and reach out whenever you are ready.

Your Gap Is a Part of Your Story, Not a Barrier

A break in your work history because of a disability is only one part of your story. It reflects a time when you focused on your health and did what you needed to do. With the right support, you can share that experience in a simple, confident way and show employers that you are ready for new opportunities. The Ticket Program is here to help you explore what’s possible and connect you with people who can guide you as you consider your options.