How to Update Your Resume When You’ve Been Out of Work

Been out of the workforce for a while? You’re not alone — and no, your resume doesn’t have to hide it. Here’s how to confidently update your resume after a career break:

1. Start with a powerful professional goal. Speak to your strengths and readiness. Highlight adaptability, multitasking, and renewed goals.

2. Use a “Skills” section to your advantage. Add skills gained during your break (organization, project management, communication). These matter.

3. Don’t ignore the gap — reframe it. Use a brief line like: Career pause to raise a family while maintaining leadership and time management skills.

4. Highlight volunteer work or freelance roles. PTA leadership, side hustles, or community work? All valuable.

5. Tailor every resume to the job. Generic resumes get skipped. Use keywords from the job description.

6. Keep it clean and modern. You don't need fancy templates. Keep it readable, professional, and no more than 1–2 pages.

Your time away from the office doesn’t erase your value. Own your story — and let your resume reflect the full you.