Caring for family, illness, study, travel, a hard job market: most careers have a gap somewhere. Recruiters see them every day. What they notice is a gap that looks hidden.
Be honest with dates
Use month and year for each job. Hiding a gap by showing years only tends to raise the question you were trying to avoid.
Explain it in one line, if at all
A short entry is enough, and only if it helps:
- "Career break, 2022–2023: caring for a family member."
- "Sabbatical, 2023: travel and a course in data analysis."
You don't owe anyone medical or personal detail. "Career break" is a complete answer.
Show what you did, if it's relevant
Courses, freelance work, volunteering or a project during the gap are worth listing in their usual sections, with their dates.
Then move on
Your summary and your most recent results should carry the page. A gap is a line; your experience is the rest.