The project-based nature of global development means that it is not uncommon for the sector’s professionals to be between jobs. Career gaps are a source of anxiety for many jobseekers, especially if they are over a significant amount of time.
Devex spoke to global development recruiters to find out their impression of career gaps on a candidate’s CV. Recruiters also shared their advice on how and when to explain periods of unemployment to prospective employers. The good news is that, generally, recruiters felt that short gaps weren’t necessarily something to be alarmed by and the sector is increasingly understanding of individuals taking time off, for example due to family commitments or to go back to school.
In the development sector, it’s more acceptable to have some gaps in your CV, in addition to a lot of personal reasons why this could be the case, explained Meaghan Carpenter, business development recruiter at DAI. If your CV strongly reflects the job that you are applying for, then it's not necessarily going to be an issue, she added. Carpenter advised jobseekers to give an explanation of their career gap in the executive summary of their CV.
About the author
Emma Smith
For four years, Emma Smith covered careers and recruitment, among other topics, for Devex. She now freelances for Devex and has a special interest in mental health, immigration, and sexual and reproductive health. She holds a degree in journalism from Glasgow Caledonian University and a master’s in media and international conflict.
