When you're returning to your career, addressing any time off is crucial.

Women often take breaks from their careers to care for children, parents, or other family members, leading to gaps in their resumes.

Statistics show that 60% of caregivers are women, who typically spend more time on caregiving tasks than men. As a result, many women encounter gaps in their employment history.

However, this doesn't have to be a drawback while job hunting. The skills developed during caregiving—such as managing appointments or handling logistics—can enhance your resume if presented correctly.

Bridge the Employment Gap

According to Kathy Downs, a recruiting manager, it's vital to ensure your work experience section flows without gaps from graduation onward.

If you've reduced your work hours or taken a break for caregiving, document activities that relate to your desired job. This can include continuing education, volunteering at schools, or managing logistics for older relatives—anything that showcases relevant skills.

For instance, you might include an entry like this:

Caregiver—March 2016-February 2018

Dedicated time to caregiving for a family member, including care coordination, financial management, and legal matters. Successfully extended the family trust's duration from four years to seven.

Such experiences can be appealing to employers in sales or business development, notes psychologist Stephen Laser.

Don’t bury this information at the bottom of your resume under “Other Skills.” Instead, integrate your caregiving achievements into the main sections, as long as you're comfortable sharing this information with potential employers.

“You need to address the gap in your employment history, regardless of its length,” Downs emphasizes.

Value of Volunteer Experience

Experience gained through volunteer work can be just as impactful on a resume as that from a paid position.

Highlight any financial skills acquired during your time off. For example, many women volunteer as treasurers for local organizations or help fundraise for causes they care about, which should definitely be included on their resumes.

If you've been managing a family trust or involved in fundraising efforts, these experiences are significant additions to your resume, according to Laser.

Moreover, Downs, who serves on several boards, suggests that if you've experienced job gaps, seek special projects while volunteering. Document your contributions, such as leading a membership drive or fundraising efforts.

Quantifying your impact—like how much you raised for an organization—can be particularly impressive, even if it’s for a smaller organization.

Get Straight to the Point

Women often hesitate to quantify their achievements on resumes, which can hinder their job prospects. This may stem from a lack of confidence in sharing their accomplishments.

However, regardless of gender, demonstrating your ability to drive measurable results is critical to recruiters. If you increased your company's sales from $50 million to $100 million, make sure to state that clearly.

Detailing such achievements with numbers is essential. If you’re unsure of specific figures from your tenure, do some research to find out.

Having this data handy is also important, as interviewers often ask about it.

Avoid Clichés

Using vague phrases like “highly qualified” or “self-starter” can hurt your resume, according to a survey of senior managers.

Instead, be precise. Rather than calling yourself “highly qualified,” highlight specific accomplishments and skills. Mention any certifications you’ve earned. Rather than saying “hard worker,” describe how you’ve met challenging deadlines or exceeded expectations. Instead of “team player,” share how you collaborated with others to achieve goals.

Pay Attention to Formatting

As employers increasingly rely on applicant tracking systems and digital tools, incorporating relevant keywords from job descriptions into your resume is vital.

Avoid overly complex designs. While creative resumes may seem appealing, they can become unreadable if not formatted correctly when submitted electronically.

Keep your resume to a maximum of two pages. If you must exclude an objective or summary, consider adding it back if your resume is between one and two pages. It should be either full one page or two pages in length.

If your expertise lies in IT, marketing, or design, consider including hyperlinks or multimedia elements to enhance your electronic resume. For professions like graphic design, ensure your format aligns with industry standards.