Free tool
Gap explainer
Turn a stretch of your work history that's hard to explain into three things you can use: a resume line, a cover-letter sentence and a 30-second interview answer.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.
Your drafts
Starting draftsUpdates as you type. Edit until it sounds like you, and keep only what's true.
Cover-letter sentence
30-second interview answer
Go deeper: the guide for this situation
How the gap explainer works
Every good explanation of a gap has the same three parts: what happened, in one factual sentence; anything relevant you did in that time; and why you're ready for this role now. The tool fills that shape in with your details, worded for the three places you'll need it.
It's a template, not a writer. It doesn't know your field, your employer or your story, so treat what it gives you as a first draft to edit. The guides go into the reasoning behind each choice.
What it won't do
- Store, send or log anything you type. There's no account and no server involved.
- Make up activities, results or credentials. If you leave step 3 empty, the drafts say less.
- Ask for medical details. Who you cared for is optional, and you choose how specific to be.
- Give legal or individualized career advice.
What to say, situation by situation
- Laid offYour role was cut, and you want to say so plainly and move on.
- CaregivingYou stepped away to look after a child, parent, partner or relative.
- HealthYour own health took you out of work. You decide how much to share.
- Study or trainingYou went back to school, retrained, or earned a credential.
- Freelance or contractYou worked, just not in one job with one employer.
- RelocationYou moved, for family, a partner’s job, or a fresh start.
- Career switchYou spent time getting ready to move into a different kind of work.