- 1). Explain that the decision was voluntary. A gap in employment is usually a red flag for an employer, who might assume that you were fired. Use the cover letter to explain that your absence from the workforce was due to your choice to take a sabbatical to raise your children.
- 2). Be confident in your choices, and don't apologize for your absence. Convince the employer that you are now ready and eager to get back to work. Explain that you are fully committed to returning to employment to reassure the employer that you will not leave again if you are hired.
- 3). Inform the employer that you have kept your skills updated despite your absence. Discuss any additional college classes or industry certifications you gained during the gap in employment. Mention your continued membership in professional organizations or attendance at work-related conferences.
- 4). Demonstrate the transferable skills you attained while you were out of the workforce. The employer might not consider raising children to be relevant to the job, but you can use the cover letter to explain how your involvement in school and community initiatives directly relate to the job. For example, if you are applying for a financial position, you can talk about your role as treasurer for the PTA.
- 5). Be concise. Spend only a couple of sentences briefly explaining the reason for the gap in employment. The focus of your cover letter should be on the positive attributes you can bring to the job and why you are the ideal applicant for the position.
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