Thanks for the question Harry, it is essential to get the right resume organization after career break and you do not want any unexplained gaps on your resume.


Here is an example of how you can deal with it. This is an actual CV, with the name and all personal details changed, of a client in a similar position recently:

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Chosi Nkondo
12 Temple Walk, Northwich, Cheshire, CW1 1PJ United Kingdom
Home: 01555 6666666 Mobile: 07777 1111111 Email: chodo@yahoo.co.uk

Personal Profile

A highly qualified, self-motivated Personal Assistant with outstanding organizational skills, possessing tact, diplomacy, and excellent communication skills. Experienced in dealing with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Multi-tasking and managing high level workloads within strict deadlines. Mature, energetic and hard-working, able to maintain confidentiality in sensitive matters and display excellent judgement and initiative. Exceptional diary management, coordination and IT skills; work well without supervision both individually and as a team member.

Key Skills

• Organisation Skills: As a Personal Assistant, managed the Chief Operations Officer's responsibilities by coordinating and managing diaries, travel itineraries, and meeting schedules. Managed and coordinated various events from preparation to completion stages.
  
  
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal with a well developed ability to deliver complex information to a wide range of audiences from different backgrounds and cultures.
  
  
• Interpersonal Skills: which demonstrates the ability to deal with individuals on any level. As a Personal Assistant, liaised with over 80 leaders including departmental heads and developed relationships with diverse clients, companies and individuals.
  
  
• Drafting Skills: Ability to draft documents clearly and concisely. As a Research intern in the United Nations, prepared and drafted documents for presentation in the international court.
  
  
• Analytical Skills: As a Personal Assistant, I gathered and analysed feedback correspondence with internal and external stakeholders. Analytical writing and research skills exemplified by achieving a distinction in my postgraduate degree thesis in International Relations.
  
  
• IT Skills: Fully proficient in use of Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher, Access and Outlook).
  

Career History

United Nations - ONDR, Namibia March 2008 to June 2008*
Research Intern: Organized and took part in field, archival and internet research and other missions, information-gathering, fact-finding, analysis and assessment of human rights concerns.

Assisted in drafting and preparing official documents. Conducted research on legal issues relating to judicial proceedings.
Maintained the physical and electronic archives for the Team. Contributed to the development and maintenance of an effective information management system.

Provided support and assistance to Trial Attorneys gathering comprehensive information about preceding cases or actions that may affect the outcome of the Genocide Trial.


Belmaison, Chester, UK January 2007 to March 2008
Personal Assistant to Chief Operations Officer and responsible for the management of the COO's time; providing administrative support to achieve the maximum effectiveness of time. Scheduling and organising internal / external meetings and conferences; diary management, travel and accommodation and coordination of all demands including replying to emails / letters when required, reading and analysing strategic documents and subsequent preparation of reports, briefing papers and presentations.

Provided a consistent support and telephone presence and delivered customer service to internal / external Stakeholders.

Wrote reports and other materials for publication and internal use and contributed to and provided advice in relation to written and other materials produced by other departments.

Represented company to external stakeholders, including governmental, inter-governmental and other external bodies.

Assisted in developing and maintaining effective constituencies of public and confidential contacts and partners in and outside the organization - such as governmental representatives - to optimize information gathering.

Compiled, maintained and utilised an extensive database of contacts - including organisations, individuals, policy-makers and the media.

Belmaison UK November 2004 to December 2006
Events Manager (Voluntary work): Managed all events and related activities; Supported the coordination of the function for the organisation, the Operations Office and Events and Conferences department; Managed several projects one of which included an event that catered for 1800 delegates. Effectively communicated with other internal departments including communications, accounts and facilities to ensure smooth running of events.

Education & Qualifications

University of London 2006-2008

M.A International Relations

Ogun State University,Nigeria 1995-2001

LL.B Law Bachelor of Laws

Personal Information

* Involved in active childcare duties since 2008. Now returning to career and seeking a challenging role where my administrative, organisational and interpersonal skills can be put to good use.

References Supplied on Request

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You will note that I made use of an asterisk at the end of the most recent date and referenced that to a note at the end of the document.

General Rules About Resume Gaps:

• Any unaccounted time that is shorter than three months doesn’t need to be explained. Having 60-90 days in between jobs is not too unusual, and often goes unnoticed within a resume. However, any gaps extending beyond three months should be addressed in your cover letter or e-mail.
  
  Whether you had personal or professional reasons for not working, the gaps in your employment history need to be explained as you don’t want to leave the employer to make their own assumptions.
  
  
• Be honest! We can’t stress this matter enough. If you are honest with your potential employer about apparent resume gaps, you will not have to worry about them checking your references, doing a background check, or surprising you with questions in an interview.

Read more about resume organization after career break at: Resume Gaps