Tackling the Taboo: Navigating Career Gaps During the Pandemic

In recent years, there has been a trend of many workers quitting their jobs, driving companies to announce waves of job cuts into the new year.  

As a result, workers leaving their positions are left with CV gaps. These gaps are now generally met with open curiosity rather than an assumption of a person’s poor performance or reliability. 

In the past three years, the labor market has seen an abundance of workers transition in many ways. While some moved on to the next role, some ventured into different industries, or chose to become freelancers. Others took a break from work for their mental health.  

According to an Office for National Statistics (ONS) report, due to the pandemic, half a million more UK workers are currently out of the labor force due to long-term illnesses, while 1.75 million employees have had to put their career on hold due to caring responsibilities — 84% of them being women.

However, attitudes around resume gaps are shifting. Employers are now more open to hiring people who have taken a break in their careers, and workers are using LinkedIn to share their experiences of redundancy and career break.

“We’re seeing an increase in people being transparent and honest about having a gap in their CVs, and why,” said Charlotte Davies, consumer communications and career expert at LinkedIn. “It’s showing that a career break can offer an individual new skills, fresh perspectives and a renewed sense of energy when they return to the workforce.”