Coming Out of a Career Break: Breaking the Shackles of Uncertainty

For many job applicants, a well-written resume is pivotal to secure an interview. For some professionals, returning to work following a career break can be a daunting and intimidating exercise. This is more so in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professions than in non-STEM careers. A work gap in the resume could result in recruitment bias. The lack of active work experience is a deterrent in getting hired. This article discusses the impact of a career break on some medical writing professionals and addresses ways to repackage the resume or curriculum vitae to effectively project the career break as an asset. Although not all medical writers encounter difficulties in returning to work after a career break, there are some who do face challenges. Because of a dearth in articles that specifically address these challenges for medical writers, the recommendations in this article will certainly help those seeking interview opportunities to stand out from the sea of applications and improve their chances of obtaining an interview.