How do you explain a gap year on your CV?

There are multiple ways to explain a gap year on your CV, depending on what you did during your gap year.

If you volunteered during your gap year, then list your volunteering experience in either your work history or volunteering section if you have one.

Be sure to mention in your bullet points that you volunteered as part of a gap year. Employers will see the experience as a sign that you’re self-motivated — and the fact that you decided to work during your gap year will help set you apart from other candidates.

If you took a gap year to travel or study, think about the skills you developed and how they relate to the job you’re applying for. Put highly relevant skills in your CV personal statement or your skills section. You can include interesting but nonessential experiences in your hobbies and interests section.

If you didn’t work, volunteer, or study during your gap year and are concerned about the gap on your CV, consider creating a skills-based CV to direct attention away from when you were and weren’t working.

Skills-based CVs list your knowledge areas and skills as if they were work experience entries, so gap years won’t be immediately apparent. You can then address the gap year during the job interview.