At Micro Tech Staffing, our advice to you is to deal with it upfront and in a positive way. Don’t hide it, and don’t apologize for it. Most important, be truthful and do not lie. If a prospective employer has an issue with your employment gap, then you want to know that as early as possible. You do not want to spend your valuable time with a prospective employer only to find later in the pre-employment process that your employment gap is a problem. In many states and municipalities it is unlawful to discriminate against the unemployed, and more are considering such laws. Your employment gap is either by choice or it is not. That does not matter. What you need to do is effectively explain what you were doing during the employment gap. Regardless of the reason, most likely you were actively engaged during your employment gap: • Retraining • Volunteering • Recovering from an illness/injury • Caring for a sick relative • Raising a family • Extended (cultural) experience • Job Searching List the employment gap as you would any job on your resume. Indicate the month/year of the employment gap. Then format this section with the details just as your prior employment is presented on your resume. Use your cover letter to explain the employment gap in greater detail, focusing on what kept you actively engaged. Use the cover letter as an opportunity to express your readiness and eagerness to return to work in a meaningful way. However, your primary focus should be on why you are a qualified candidate for the role. When you get the interview, reinforce the statements you made on your resume and in your cover letter.