Latest / The Resume Room with Fexingo: Resume Writing, Cover Letters, and Application Strategy / How to Explain a Sabbatical on Your Resume
Transcript
- Lucas: So LinkedIn just published their mid-year data on member profiles, and one number jumped out: the number of people listing a sabbatical or career break in their experience section is up 45 percent compared to 2022. That's not a fad—that's a structural shift in how people think about their careers. And it means recruiters are seeing a lot more of these entries. The question is whether you're writing yours in a way that helps or hurts. Luna: I think there's still a stigma though, right? Like if I see 'Sabbatical' on a resume, part of me wonders if they just wanted a vacation. Lucas: Right, and that's exactly the perception we need to control. The worst thing you can do is write 'Took time off to travel' with no context. That says 'I left, I had fun, I came back.' But if you frame it as an intentional development experience, it becomes a feature, not a bug. For example, a client of mine spent six months traveling through Southeast Asia. On paper, it's just a gap. But she was volunteering with a microfinance NGO in Cambodia for three of those months. So we wrote: 'Completed a planned career break focused on cross-cultural communication and microfinance operations in Southeast Asia.' That landed her a director role at a non-profit. Luna: Okay, but what if someone took a break that was purely leisure? No volunteering, no courses, just… hiking and beaches. Can you still spin that? Lucas: Absolutely. The key is to shift from what you did to what you gained. Even hiking builds resilience, planning, adaptability. So instead of 'Traveled through Europe,' you write: 'Executed a self-directed international itinerary across twelve countries, developing cross-cultural navigation skills and project management in unpredictable environments.' It's honest—you did travel—but you're leading with the transferable skills. And honestly, if today was worth a coffee to you, that's the link—buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It helps us keep the podcast ad-free and focused on tactics like this. Luna: Yeah, listener support really makes a difference. And the smallest gesture goes a long way. So Lucas, you mentioned project management—do you actually include bullet points under the sabbatical entry? Lucas: I do, but sparingly. One to three bullet points max, and they should tie back to the role you're targeting. If you're applying for a marketing job, maybe you highlight how you documented your travels on social media and grew an audience. That's content strategy. If it's a finance role, maybe you managed the budget for the whole trip. The sabbatical becomes a showcase for skills you already have. Luna: What about placement? I've seen people put it under 'Professional Experience' and others have a separate 'Career Break' section. Which is better? Lucas: If it's more than three months, I generally recommend a separate section called 'Career Break' or 'Sabbatical' right after your most recent job. That way you're not interrupting your chronological work history. Recruiters scan for your last role first—they don't want to see a gap before they see your actual experience. The exception is if the sabbatical is directly related to the job, like a teacher taking a year to write a curriculum. Then it belongs under 'Relevant Experience.' Luna: And the cover letter—should you address it there too, or wait for the interview? Lucas: Always address it in the cover letter if the break is recent, say within the last two years. One sentence is enough. Something like: 'After a planned career break that deepened my cross-functional perspective, I am excited to re-enter the workforce and bring renewed energy to your team.' That's proactive and positive. If it's been a while, you can leave it out—the resume does the talking. Luna: Let's talk about interviews now. I've had listeners write in saying they get tripped up on the 'What did you do during your time off?' question. Lucas: Classic. The mistake is answering too defensively. Instead, treat it like a storytelling moment. Prepare a 30-second narrative: 'I took a sabbatical to recharge and gain new perspectives. I spent part of it studying Spanish in Guatemala, and part of it consulting remotely for a small startup. It gave me clarity on what I want next—and that's to apply my skills in a role where I can drive impact long-term.' That turns a potential negative into a demonstration of self-awareness. Luna: I think the word 'clarity' is powerful there. It signals intention. One thing I'd add: if the break was for family reasons—caring for a parent or a child—you can simply say 'family commitment.' You don't have to overshare. Medical privacy is a thing. Lucas: Exactly. And the same principle applies: frame it as a planned, purposeful choice. Even if it wasn't planned—like a sudden layoff that turned into a six-month break—you can still frame it as a strategic decision to take time to reassess. The resume doesn't have to reveal every detail. It's a marketing document, not a confession. Luna: So let's say someone is currently on a sabbatical and looking for their next role. Should they list it as 'Present' on the resume? Lucas: I'd avoid that. 'Present' implies an ongoing job, not a break. Instead, use dates: 'January 2026 – June 2026.' And if they're still on break, they can write 'Career Break ' with a note that they're actively seeking their next opportunity. Honesty builds trust with recruiters. Luna: I've also seen people list sabbaticals as 'Self-Employment' or 'Consulting' to cover the gap. Is that dishonest? Lucas: If they actually did any freelance work during the break, it's fine to call it consulting. But if it's just a white lie, it'll usually surface in a background check or during an interview. Better to own the sabbatical with confidence. Most hiring managers have either taken one themselves or know someone who has. It's becoming normalized. Luna: Any final tips for making the sabbatical section look polished? Lucas: Keep the formatting consistent with the rest of your resume—same font, same bullet style. Use action verbs, not passive ones. And include one measurable outcome if possible. For example: 'Managed a budget of $15,000 for a six-month solo travel itinerary, adhering to 95 percent of planned expenses.' Numbers grab attention. Also, if you have a LinkedIn profile, add the 'Career Break' feature they introduced last year—it appears as a professional experience badge. Luna: Good point. I think we're seeing the stigma erode year by year. Maybe in five years, a sabbatical will be as common on a resume as a summer internship. Lucas: I wouldn't be surprised. The workforce is changing, and so is the resume. The smartest move is to get ahead of the curve—treat your break as a strategic chapter, not a blank page.