How to restart your career after a long absence

Workplaces are now more forgiving of those who step away for years at a time.

from the June 11, 2007 edition

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"When my team hires, one of the things we look at on résumés is gaps in employment," says Rena Everton, human resources director for Ikano Communications in Salt Lake City. "We ask about those gaps. It is a major concern. We know they're going to need time to transition back to work life."

Andrea Kay, a career consultant in Cincinnati, finds that prospective applicants often anticipate rejection. "What do they tell the employer? What do they put on their résumé? They just are worried that they'll be seen as damaged goods."

To avoid that, she says, "Describe in an appropriate way to an employer where you've been, so it puts you in a good light. Help them see that you haven't been sitting around eating bonbons for two years." She suggests telling interviewers, "I'm excited about how I can contribute to your company and explore how my skills and background can be valuable in this position."

That background might include freelancing, volunteering, fundraising, and working on teams or committees. "Value comes in different forms," Kay says.

Robin Ryan, a career coach and author, suggests crafting a few statements about why you took a sabbatical, what you did, and how you stayed current.

Above all, be truthful. Kay tells of a man who had been out of work and lied on his résumé. "He had been working as a contractual employee, and now they were hiring him. He was afraid he'd be caught."

Although skills remain paramount in attracting employers' interest, the length of absences can matter, too. "If you've been out less than five years, you have an easier time reentering," says Cali Williams Yost, president of Work+Life Fit, Inc.

Even so, longer absences are not insurmountable. Claire Celsi of Des Moines, Iowa, stayed home for seven years when her daughters were young. She left a job with an insurance company and ran a family day care in her home. During that time, she studied for her undergraduate degree and volunteered for the Democratic Party.

When Ms. Celsi was ready to return to work in 2000, a friend asked if she would like a job with Al Gore's presidential campaign. The pay was low, but she said yes.

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