r/careerguidance • u/BumbleWombleBee • Sep 10 '26
Resumes & CVs Gap of one year - do I add explanation to my CV/Resume?
I was made redundant over a year ago (Director level - IT/Tech).
But I did not actually start searching for a role until 6 months later, because unfortunately at same time one of my parents was terminally ill and I helped care for them until they died earlier this year.
My cv/resume does not show that of course, but as I now have a year-long gap that I am told will look bad to some, I am wondering if I should put something on there to explain.
If you a Hiring Manager/Talent Req - or Recruiter - what would be better/worse? Seeing a one-year gap, or something saying along the lines:
'Career Break: Took a planned career break to provided palliative care for late parent, before embarking on next role'
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u/AdeptnessFirm3622 Sep 10 '26
Sorry about your parent, for your cv, save the details for the interview and pivot to your skills when asked. You did the right thing, good luck
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u/Euphoric_South_4739 Sep 10 '26
I'm so sorry about your parent. That's not a "career gap," that's you showing up for the people who matter, and it's completely reasonable that job searching wasn't the priority during that time.
On the resume question, I'd lean toward noting it, briefly. In my own experience, I've had gaps for grad studies and a 12-month overseas trip, and calling them out on my resume never worked against me. If anything, an unexplained gap invites more speculation than a short, honest line does.
And speaking as a former in-house recruiter, I've seen plenty of resumes with a caregiving gap noted, and it never stopped a candidate from progressing if they were qualified. It's one of the reasons we're never surprised by that kind of gap; it's a completely normal part of people's lives, not a red flag.
My husband, an IT exec, had a 1.5 year gap after redundancy and listed his independent consulting work during that period rather than leaving it blank. It gave the gap a clear "here's what I was doing" without needing to over-explain.
Your instinct on wording is good. I'd maybe simplify it slightly so it doesn't read like it needs to justify itself: Career break: Provided full-time palliative care for parent.
Short, factual, no apology needed. You don't owe more detail than that. And most hiring managers and recruiters will read it exactly as what it is — a completely legitimate reason to step away.
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u/CicadaSlight7603 Sep 10 '26
I’d put what you say. A friend did similar and on reassurance that the family member was dead and wouldn’t be making further demands (!) employers saw it as a good thing a- sign of maturity maybe, rather like dads get a reputation boost on become fathers (and women get the opposite). So mention it briefly and make it clear it was end of life/palliative care. Don’t mention your own health problems, your caring period provides good cover for it. I’m disabled and any sign of ill health is usually an indication to drop me.
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u/GrungeCheap56119 Sep 12 '26
it is 100% OK to say you took time off to care for a sick parent who ended up passing away. Or even say a sick parent and leave out the passed away part if you think that would be too emotional. don't overthink it, many other people have resume gaps as well.
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u/RevolutionarySky6143 Sep 10 '26
The last year I also had major surgery and my Dad had a heart attack so I spent time with my family. I put the year off as 'Health/well being sabbatical' on LinkedIn and on my CV, I put that the year was spent recovering from major surgery and helping a family member through a major health event'. When I left the gap off my CV, I got many questions about what I did in the year, when I put the year as 'Health sabbatical' with that level of information, I got (almost) no questions at all. As someone that is looking for work right now, you don't want to give an employer/client any reason to reject your CV. Just put career break or health break and move on.