LinkedIn Introduces Career Break Feature, Helps Users To Explain The Gaps In Resumes

The Microsoft-owned social networking platform LinkedIn will introduce a Career Break feature that allows users to positively explain the employment history gaps they had.

LinkedIn Career Break Feature

LinkedIn is a career or business-oriented social networking platform created last 2002.

In comparison to the other social media apps like Facebook and Twitter that are commonly used for entertainment purposes only, LinkedIn provides users' professional connections on the platform.

Britannica explained that "Users create profile pages that have a structure similar to a resume, in that users can summarize their career, advertise their particular skills, and list their education and employment history."

Similar to how connections work on Facebook, LinkedIn connections also occur when one user accepts another's offer to be part of his or her network. Britannica further emphasized that users can utilize LinkedIn to advance their careers by looking for jobs, making contacts at a company, and receiving recommendations from other users.

Since this platform acts as an online resume, it also requires information that is vital for building a profile. Some of this information includes the name, educational history, skills, seminars attended, and employment history.

In current times, numerous people are taking breaks from their corporate works and choose to start their own business or learn some new skills.

With the said breaks, the employment history on LinkedIn will be affected showing an obvious gap.

To the delight of jobseekers, the Microsoft Corporation-owned social networking platform released a Career Break feature to solve this matter.

To further emphasize, CNET reported that LinkedIn will be attempting to eliminate the stigma associated with career breaks by encouraging users to share what they have learned from it. On Tuesday, March 1, the business-oriented social platform will launch a feature that will allow users to add a career break to their LinkedIn profiles through desktop sites or mobile apps, allowing them to explain gaps in their resume.

For those curious about what the feature covers, CNET stated that parenting, layoffs, bereavement, job transition, and travel are all part of professional breaks.

LinkedIn Career Break feature will be placed under the user's experience.

How To Add Career Break to LinkedIn Profile

To add this feature to the LinkedIn profile, just follow these steps:

1. Head to the LinkedIn profile then locate the "add section" button under the profile picture.
2. Once add section was located, choose "add career break."
3. After adding career break, select a career break type on the selection.
4. Right after choosing a career break type, fill out all the information needed including the length of the career break.
5. Lastly, describe the career break and attach any relevant media.

For those unfamiliar, LinkedIn also offers free online courses that will "help build important skills such as remotely managing a team, finding a job, and coping with new stressors."

They have online courses for the following people:

• Job seekers
• Remote workers
• Managers and leaders at all levels
• People who aim to reduce stress
• Educators
• Talent acquisition professionals
• Sales professionals
• Small businesses