Career Break CV example

A career break isn’t a dealbreaker. Employers know that life doesn’t always follow a straight line – and many value the fresh perspective and resilience that time away can bring.

This guide will walk you through writing a CV which positions your break nicely, and shifts the focus back to the value you offer and the direction you’re headed next.

When returning after a break, your CV needs to do two things well: explain the gap, and remind employers of everything else you bring to the table. A clean layout will help make that easy for them, and save them searching through unnecessary details for your value.

Here’s the CV structure to follow:

• Name and contact details – Place your name and personal details prominently at the top of your CV for quick access. Adding a photo is up to you.
• Profile – Open with a compelling introduction that addresses your break and focuses on your strengths.
• Core skills – List the most relevant, transferable skills you bring to the role you’re applying for.
• Work experience – Break down your previous roles in reverse chronological order, and consider adding your career break as its own entry.
• Education & certifications – Include qualifications like a degree, training, or any professional development completed before or during your time away.
• Additional info – Optionally add volunteering, past professional awards, professional memberships or interests, and hobbies and interests that show initiative or personal growth.
  

Strong formatting can make all the difference when it comes to returning candidates. Keep your CV divided into clearly labelled sections so employers can navigate it with ease, and use bullet points to break up longer paragraphs into digestible highlights. 

Stick to a clean, readable font that presents your experience professionally and avoids unnecessary distraction. And finally, keep your CV no longer than two pages – enough length to hold attention, but long enough to do your skills justice: save any more for a cover letter.

Your CV profile is your chance to reintroduce yourself. Keep it short, confident, and forward-looking. Avoid the mistake of dwelling on the gap or avoiding it entirely: acknowledge it briefly and pivot to what you’re ready to offer now. You want to assure recruiters that you’re more than capable of providing genuine value to their company.

Here’s what to include:

• Previous experience – Mention your overall career background and key industries.
• The break – A short reference to your time away, with no need for personal details.
• Current strengths – Emphasise the skills and mindset you’re bringing back to the table.
• Future focus – Outline the kind of role or career direction you’re aiming for.

Returning to work doesn’t mean the skills for your CV are outdated – this section proves that what you’ve learned before (and possibly during your break) is still valuable. Focus on skills that are relevant to the job, and that show you’re ready to contribute from day one.

This might include soft skills you’ve maintained or strengthened (like communication or organisation), as well as technical or industry-specific skills you’re updating or refreshing.

Just because it’s been a while doesn’t mean your work experience is any less valuable. Use this section to remind employers of what you’ve done and the impact you’ve made. List previous roles in reverse chronological order and be proud of your track record.

If you’ve done anything work-related during your break – freelance projects, volunteering, consulting, even managing a personal venture – consider including it too. And if your break was full-time and non-work-related, feel free to include it as a short, clearly-labelled entry (e.g. “Career break for family commitments, 2023–2025″), then focus on what you’re doing now to return.

• Outline – Explain your position, the company, and the type of work environment.
• Responsibilities – Describe key tasks and contributions, using action words like “led,” “managed,” or “supported.”
• Achievements – Include tangible outcomes – performance improvements, cost savings, successful projects, etc. A great tip is to sprinkle in some numbers wherever possible, to make things more tangible.

A strong education section is especially helpful when you’re returning to work. List your qualifications clearly in reverse order, including degrees, diplomas, and professional certifications. That said, your experience is always more valuable: so keep this section brief.

If you’ve taken any training or courses during your time away – whether online, through a professional body, or as part of a returner programme – this is the place to show it. It proves initiative and helps bridge the time between your last role and now.