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Question: What is better for my career development and future prospects: to take an open position in a department outside of my professional interests, even if my time there is short, or to have a gap in my resume while waiting for the "right fit"?

Answer: The difficult choice between having a gap in one's employment chronology or taking a position that is less preferred boils down to a personal decision made in the context of one's total circumstance and experience. A singular gap can be explainable and may have less impact if one's previous tenures have been long and sound. Less than optimal employment is employment nonetheless, which provides income and potentially enriching experiences. Yet, if the employment is short and starkly different, it may look odd and create doubts that warrant extra attention.

Gaps in one's resume are most often problematic for one extremely important reason -- they leave questions that must be answered. Provided that one explains in their cover letter why a gap exists, potential concerns are often mitigated. Multiple gaps, however, are more concerning, even if they are all positive. This would be analogous to a pattern of being away from work over a defined time period for a series of legitimate reasons, such as illness, family matters, parental leave, and settling the estate of a cross-country relative. Even if they are excused absences, prospective employers will start to question one's reliability if a pattern emerges. When one does not explain gaps on their resume, it leaves the reader to make assumptions -- and it would be unwise to believe the reader will automatically assume the positive.

On the other hand, the type of employment taken outside of one's primary area of expertise will matter in context. Is it notably different? Is it a lower-level position? Is it distinctly different but still within one's profession? Where is the new position located geographically? Each of these factors -- and more -- will paint a picture for the reader. The story it tells shapes the perception of one's professional background and reputation. Similar to potential gaps, the change may need to be explained. If it is a lateral move within one's profession, it may not be worthy of mention; if it is a lower-level position across the country, it demands explanation.

The challenge is that not all readers will give the applicant the benefit of the doubt. One may simply assume the reader will either contact the applicant or invite them to an interview to ascertain an answer. Both of these scenarios are unlikely if the organization has other viable candidates whose materials do not require explanation. Therefore, one should always explain employment gaps in their cover letter or on the resume itself. An upside to this quandary is that one can offer their version of the truth.

The truth is not every combination fits well, and sometimes even good matches do not work out. Everyone knows this. If there is a professional blip in one's background, a healthy explanation is to offer some context and an explanation that bridges the divide between potentially automatic negative assumptions and real-life facts. A caution is not to lay blame, lambaste, or attempt to discredit one's former employer. Those who do so are usually not viewed favorably by prospective employers. An analogy might be that describing the outcome of a no-fault divorce is better than blaming one's ex-spouse for everything that went badly. Indicating that, despite one's best efforts, a particular position or environment did not allow one to do their best work can be refreshingly sincere. Indicating that one has learned from their missteps is admirable. In any case, taking the opportunity to explain gaps in one's resume allows one to shape the narrative in one's favor within a context of honesty.

There are numerous points and counterpoints when choosing between leaving a gap on one's resume and accepting employment in an area that is not ideal for one's career trajectory. This difficult choice relies on one's analysis of the entire context balanced against one's preferences, with neither path being taken lightly. Either choice will likely bear some explanation, thereby giving the writer the opportunity to tell their story and present the facts in the proper context.

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