Military life comes with constant change, and for spouses, this often means multiple relocations and career interruptions. These employment gaps can feel like a huge obstacle when looking for a job, but they don’t have to be a disadvantage. By reframing the gap, showcasing your skills, and utilizing smart resume strategies, you can turn these interruptions into stories and shows of strength that impress potential employers.

Here’s a guide to help military spouses explain employment gaps during job interviews and in resumes, along with some tips on how to avoid future gaps altogether.

Redefine the gap by telling a story that highlights your skills

First, it’s important to recognize that not all gaps in employment mean you were inactive. Chances are, you were doing a lot during those times away from the workforce—whether it was volunteering, taking care of a family, or learning new skills. Use these experiences to demonstrate your value. Did you help coordinate local events, assist with your child’s school activities, or work with nonprofit organizations? Highlight your organizational, leadership, and teamwork skills in these roles.

If you’ve helped new military spouses or mentored others in your community, this demonstrates strong interpersonal and communication skills, which are highly valued in many professions. If you’ve written blogs, developed newsletters, or managed social media for an organization or community, you can position yourself as a marketing or communications specialist.

Moving frequently means managing logistics, finances, and housing. You can frame these skills as strengths in planning, problem-solving, and time management. For example, if you managed a PCS move by finding housing, coordinating logistics, and handling all the family’s needs, you could list skills such as project management, resource coordination, and creative problem-solving.

Adjust your resume format to make gaps less noticeable

A gap in your employment history doesn’t need to be glaring. Here are some tips to format your resume so that the gaps are less striking:

Use a functional resume. A functional resume emphasizes skills and qualifications over a chronological listing of jobs. This is perfect for highlighting your strengths and downplaying periods where you weren’t employed. 

List years, not months. Instead of listing the exact month and year you started and ended each job, consider using just the years. For instance, write 2018-2021 rather than June 2018 to August 2021 to make gaps less obvious. 

Choose a better header. Instead of labeling a section “Employment History,” use a broader term like “Experience” or “Relevant Experience” so you can include volunteer work and unpaid roles without it seeming out of place.

Gameplan for job interviews and reframe the gap in person

You’ll likely be asked about employment gaps during interviews, so be prepared with a confident and positive explanation. Remember, this is an opportunity to show how your time off from traditional employment was valuable and contributed to your development.

Be honest. Explain that military relocations required flexibility but emphasize how you stayed productive and continued to build your skill set. Pivot to the positive side. Quickly move the conversation from why you left the workforce to what you accomplished during that time. For example, “During my time away from the traditional workforce, I honed my organizational skills by managing complex PCS moves and volunteered as a community coordinator, where I developed strong leadership and communication skills.” Try to show enthusiasm for coming back to the workforce. Make it clear that you’re ready and excited to dive back into your career. Explain how your diverse experiences have prepared you for the role you’re applying for.

Get creative

Beyond traditional volunteer work or homemaking, here are some creative ways to frame career gaps:

Call it “Skill Development.” If you took online courses, attended webinars, or pursued personal development during the gap, mention that you used the time to “upskill.” Could you be considered a freelancer or consultant? If you did any freelance work, even on a small scale, mention it. Freelancing demonstrates initiative, adaptability, and self-management.

Maybe frame your gap as a family sabbatical. In some cases, especially post-pandemic, taking time off to care for family members or focus on personal health is acceptable to mention. Explain that you took a sabbatical to manage important family responsibilities, but you’re now ready to re-enter the workforce with a fresh perspective.

Avoid more gaps

While you can explain past gaps effectively, it’s also a good idea to minimize future gaps by staying proactive between jobs.

If you’re planning to volunteer, be strategic. Align your volunteer work with your long-term career goals. If you want to work in marketing, look for volunteer opportunities where you can manage communications or event planning. Grab a certification or two. Continuing education, whether through online courses or formal certifications, keeps your skills sharp and shows potential employers that you’re committed to your career. Don’t be afraid to freelance or gig work. Pick up freelance work, side gigs, or part-time jobs that allow you to continue building your resume while you move or manage family life.

Gaps don’t have to be roadblocks. They can be opportunities. 

Military spouse life inevitably brings career interruptions, but these gaps don’t have to hold you back. By reframing the time you spent out of the workforce as productive, skill-building experiences, adjusting your resume format, and preparing strong explanations for interviews, you can turn those gaps into strengths.

Employers value resilience, adaptability, and initiative—all qualities military spouses have in abundance. Whether you’ve been managing a household during a PCS or volunteering in your community, you’ve developed skills that are highly transferable to any career. Use that to your advantage and confidently step into the job search knowing you have more to offer than meets the eye.