Full Careers

Do I address an employment gap in my cover letter?

I have been out of the work force for two years because of the unpredictability of my husband's military career (unusual circumstances for even military people, I moved 4 times). Our geographic instability coincided with a family crisis, so I used this time to travel to other states to help take care of family members. I have not done anything in those years that directly adds to my resume (such as continuing education, or professional certifications) or volunteer work. I have several years of experience but I am not sure if this employment gap is keeping me from getting an interview. I am unsure if I should address the gap upfront in the cover letter to raise my chances for interviews. Or just wait until the interview to address this (that is, if I even get an interview.) And if I do address the gap in my work history, how do I do it? P.S. Yes, I do have a functional (as opposed to chronological) resume to highlight my experience in specific areas

Public Comments

1. only if it calls for it
2. NO! only if they ask you for it.
3. That's tough. If you've applied for a lot of jobs and haven't gotten an interview, it might be worth a try the other way. If you're just now looking to get back into the workforce after 2 years of caring for family members, there's probably a way to say it that sounds natural and upbeat.
4. You say that you have a Functional resume. GREAT! - Let's work with that format. If the interview or application process asks you for reasons for your absence from employment during those times in question, which they shouldn't if your resume is complete in this format, explain that you were in transition due to military obligations. - Highlight what you did during those times as training opportunities for the specific job you are seeking. View the DOMESTIC DUTIES as educational tools.