Handling a Gap in Your Résumé (Travel experience)

Question

After saving up money for a year, I quit my last programming job in the fall of 2011 to go travel around the world. Now I'm starting to look for a new job. I feel like this would be easy to talk about in an interview, but I'm more worried about getting the interview in the first place, with such a long gap on my résumé.

• I live in the US, where years off like this are less common.
• The year I worked and saved was my first of full time employment after graduating, and although I left on good terms, it's not my first choice to go back to.

Hence the question:

• How should I mention my travel in my résumé?

Answer 1

Present a cover letter explaining the gap. Indicate your lengthy planning and willingness to save for the trip. Make sure they understand this is something you've wanted to do for quite some time and isn't a result of burning-out after only one year of work (Maybe the nature of your previous project required an excessive amount of hours, so you prepared yourself?). Make sure you indicate the amount of notice you gave your previous employer. Hopefully, you left on good terms and can possibly get a recommendation from them.

You made a sacrifice and did something enviable (especially in the US) Don't give anyone any indication it's because you're a slacker. Address these concerns upfront and show them you have the skills to do the job.

Answer 2

Handling gaps in your employment may be tricky. Here are several ideas that may help:

1. Never lie. Employers usually check details, and dates are the easiest to compare.
2. A good wording may be helpful. Here are some hints:
   • Personal Travel
   • Adventure Travel
   • Full-time Study and Travel
3. Emphasize positive aspects. Indeed, you weren't just watching TV all that time, were you?
   What have you learned? Language? Culture? Architecture? You may have interests in different aspects of life, so it is normal if you dedicated one year for another interest.
   Take into account how your past activity was related to a position you are seeking. If it is not too much related, don't be wordy.
4. If you had some part-time activity for your former employer, mention this in CV. They would value you as a current employee.
5. Stay up to date with your technical level. If you have studied a new technology, that would be a great accomplishment during a vacation.
6. Stay in touch with your professional associations (nowadays, you may just restore it). If you took part in any online meetings, conferences, etc., mention them in CV.
7. Be prepared for questions during an interview. Provide a clear rationale for taking time off if the break was voluntary. Don't let people thinking you've been fired.

Answer 3

It's to your advantage right now that the poor economy in the US right now has led to many people having lengthy gaps in their resume due to unemployment. Initial HR screeners will usually take this into account at most companies (there are exceptions). I had nearly a 6 month gap in my employment due to illness followed by a period of temporary disability and this gap never came up during interviews. Someone else I know had nearly a year off for similar reasons and it didn't come up for them either.

So, it may never come up although if all you have is a year experience it will probably be more likely to come up in an interview. If it does come up, just explain, honestly, why you took the time off.

I think it reflects well on you that you saved up to do this and didn't run up huge debts doing this or going to school (I'm assuming this is correct). Few people can afford take time off after college these days since they have enormous school loans to pay and other heavy debt and don't have the financial discipline to save money to achieve a goal.

Edit in response to your edit:

I don't think you need to mention it on your resume unless there's something related to the position you're apply for. For example, if you were applying at a travel company or if foreign language knowledge was a plus. Otherwise, it's like other personal info, you leave it off.