Should I include a "Sabbatical" or "Career Break" on my resume?

12 Comments

1. Kris WolframAugust 13,2023 at 2:04PM UTC

   I am not sure about the ATS portion of your question but have seen many resumes with a break for a sabbatical.

2. Sue Gordon- retired Career CoachAugust 13,2023 at 5:40PM UTC

   Honestly one year-plus is not that long. I would either just not put anything or put the option you listed or “Family caregiver”. If you choose that option you need to be clear that the caregiving need is done when you speak to people. You could try it both ways and see what yields the most results. A lot depends on the recipient.

3. Angela MartinAugust 13,2023 at 6:00PM UTC

   I don't know that I would include it, but I would be honest about the gap if asked.

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 13,2023 at 10:03PM UTC

   I would list that time as "Family Leave"

   If asked, you should explain that you were laid off (it may come up in your background check). I wouldn't bring any of it up unless you're specifically asked about it. The less you say, usually the better.

   You can say something along the lines of "I was laid off which coincided with some obligations to care for family members and those issue have been resolved."

   YOU SAID: "would the ATS "pick up" on my resume WITH "Sabbatical/Career Break" where it would not if I didn't include it?"

   I'm not sure what exactly you mean by this. The ATS is not making decisions about your candidacy.

5. Sarah BordersAugust 14,2023 at 1:38PM UTC

   I think she’s asking whether the career break would register with the ATS if she doesn’t include it on her resume, but your answer holds. The ATS only has the information you provide it, and the TA who reviews it will note the gap whether you explicitly describe it or not. I agree with idea of listing it as “Family Leave”, and not leaving it off entirely. If you don’t offer some general indication of your familial obligation, it may appear as though you’ve been actively and unsuccessfully trying to find a new role this whole time. Good luck!

6. Erin-Kate WhitcombAugust 14,2023 at 2:38PM UTC

   Applicant Tracking System - a bot that scans resumes for keywords to ensure the applicant meets certain criteria before they get moved on to human contact. It’s a way for large organizations to consider hundreds of candidates quickly. IMHO: It’s also horrible and misses a whole lot of very qualified candidates, mostly because they didn’t know how to prep their cv for ATS.

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 14,2023 at 4:50PM UTC

   I'm very well aware of what an ATS is and does - I work in on every single day. What they do is right there in the title - Applicant TRACKING System. It's where recruiters and hiring managers track candidates through the interview process, where offer letters are generated from.

   And that's not how it works when applying. The only one who is scanning resumes is me. With my eyeballs. Every single resume.

   I have experience with 7 or 8 different ATS and with different configurations of those systems.

   There typically is no sorting involved with the application process.

   Here's what happens (on all the systems I've ever used) when a candidate applies to one of my open requisitions: I click on their name in the list of new applicants for that requisition. Their resume has not been ranked. It has not been sorted for keywords. It has not been "scored". It has not been filtered.

   I click "download resume". It downloads in whatever format - Word doc or PDF - the candidate uploaded it. I look at their resume. Every single resume.

   Keywords are just skills or experience that we use in our search strings to find candidates (which is different than applying). Ideally, they should just be an organic part of a person's resume. Loading your resume up with words you think recruiters or hiring managers want to see may get someone to click on your resume but if the experience isn't there, it doesn't matter how many "key words" you stuff your resume with.

   There is no such thing as an "ATS compliant" resume no matter how much someone wants to charge you $1,000 for one.

   I'm the bot. I'm rejecting those resumes.

8. Erin-Kate WhitcombAugust 15,2023 at 6:19PM UTC

   I was simply responding to someone who asked what ATS was. I'm glad you look at every resume! that's great news for candidates. Many companies where I know people in HR/hiring do not, which is why I made the comment about it being unfair to equally-qualified applicants who don't match keywords. That's my experience, and I hear it's different from yours. We are all here trying to help each other.

9. AnonymousAugust 15,2023 at 1:48PM UTC

   I like the “Family Leave” designation. Could you elaborate on whether I should provide any details in that section?

   I have about an 8 month gap. I left my last job because a family member had a stroke and needed help with everything. She passed, and I went into estate/probate mode - selling the house, accounting, etc. I’m thinking that leaving that at a high level for any questions and just putting the dates for “family leave” and that the issue is now fully resolved. If they have questions, I will provide some details.

   Does this sound right?

   Thanks!

10. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 15,2023 at 4:50PM UTC

    Sorry to hear about your family member passing.

    I would just put the dates and "Family Leave" . If asked, you can say something along the line that you took are of a family member and then settled their estate.

    Good luck!

11. AnonymousAugust 15,2023 at 1:41PM UTC

    Thanks for bringing this up! I left a job last November, we moved, and during that time a family member became ill and passed away. I was with her, taking care of her house and pets, and eventually taking care of the estate, selling the property, probate, etc. We have settled into our new place, the estate is with the probate court to be finalized, and I’m starting to job hunt with a 9 month gap in employment. I’m hoping “they” ask why, because the gap was necessary.

12. Explorer539760August 18,2023 at 12:47PM UTC

    I’m a recruiter. Many if ask ask what a person was doing during periods of unemployment. Hiring managers want us to explain gaps in employment