Job applications
Write a factual career-break line for a resume
A career-break line can be as short as dates and a plain label. Add detail only if you want to and it is true. Draft two versions at different levels of disclosure, then pick the one that suits the role and your comfort.
A text to start with
I left work from [month, year] to [month, year]. The reason I am comfortable sharing is [reason, or none]. During that time I did these true and relevant things: [activities, or none]. Write two resume lines, one minimal and one with more detail, each under 20 words. Use no apologies, no activity I did not list and no wording that suggests I owe an explanation.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.Career-break line worksheet
Break start (month, year): [ ] Break end (month, year): [ ] What I choose to disclose: [ ] What I prefer to keep private: [ ] Relevant activities I want to mention, if any: [ ] Facts supporting those activities: [ ] Minimal wording: [ ] Wording with the detail I chose: [ ] Version chosen for this application: [ ] Spoken answer using the same facts: [ ] Dates compared with other resume entries: [ ]
Wording that says too much or too little
Read each line for apology language, such as "unfortunately" or "was forced to," and for filler that implies activity you did not do. Courses, volunteer work and freelance projects belong only if they happened and you can describe them. Check that the dates match your other entries. Look for private details you did not mean to share, including health or family information. If you have no relevant activity, a line with dates and a label is complete. Decide now how you will answer if an interviewer asks.
Ask another agent to check the result
Review these two career-break lines. Find any apology, hedging or implied activity that is not in my facts. Flag any detail beyond the disclosure level I chose. Check that the dates are consistent with my other resume entries. Suggest a shorter replacement for each problem.
Place the line and prepare a spoken answer
Put the chosen line in date order among your other entries and check that its dates line up with your other roles. Write a one or two sentence spoken answer that uses the same facts as the resume line, and say it aloud once. Keep the unused option in a separate file in case you want it later.