Ah, the dreaded resume gap, the favourite bugbear of recruiters and HR professionals the world over. And we, the candidates, worry too. But maybe we should be worrying a little less.

If you've been in employment for several years you will only be expected to include the highlights of your experience so small gaps may not really be an issue. A few months' hiatus between periods of employment can also often be concealed through clever formatting - omitting the months and just showing the year. But if it's much longer than a few months you'll probably need to elucidate.

If you're going to explain your gap, though, the trick is not to feel defensive or guilty about it; instead show how you used the time constructively while you were out of the workplace. From short stints to lengthy interludes, here's some advice on how to make your time out work for you.

Read the full article on Career Essentials.