So you have taken time off from your career to raise a family, pursue a personal goal, or assist an aging or ill family member. Now you are ready to go back to work and are concerned about how to handle the gap on your résumé.

The goal of your résumé is to pique the interest of the reader. Use the tips below to create a marketing tool that makes the hiring manager focus on what you can deliver rather than the fact that you have been out of the job market. Draw attention to those skills and accomplishments which will WOW the reader. Sell what you have, nothing more and certainly nothing less. Here are some tips for doing just that.

1. De-emphasize gaps by using a functional format. Taking a functional approach allows you to lead with skills and accomplishments which get the reader to focus on what you offer before they notice your work history.

Using a functional format does not mean that you leave off dates of employment and job titles. It simply means that work history is not the first information the reader sees. Don’t leave off this essential employment data or the manager may think you were doing time in San Quentin or another equally unappealing location!

One downside of using a functional format is that it may raise questions about why you chose not to use the standard chronological format, especially in more conservative industries like finance and banking so be sure your résumé delivers value.

2. Sell what you have. Determine the most valuable, appealing, or intriguing experience you have to offer. Sell that at the top of your résumé. One of my clients has been out of the job market for four years with the exception of a few part-time, temporary assignments. Since he has a great education we are selling that at the top of his résumé. Generally, I would lead with education only when it was recent; however, in his case education is the most compelling part of his experience.

Conversely, if you held a high profile position just prior to taking time off, you may want to start by listing career highlights at the top of your résumé. Of course on page two you will want to include the specifics of the position – employer, dates of employment, and scope of the job(s).

3. Use the standard chronological format and identify what you have been doing for the last few years. You can also use this approach on a functional résumé. For example:

Homemaker, Dayton, Ohio 2005-Present

Managed all aspect of home including child care and budget for family of five.

Or

Stay-at-Home Dad, San Mateo, CA 2006-Present

Focused primarily on raising two infant daughters who now attend grammar school. Used weekends to earn Project Manager certification at San Jose State University.

4. Be creative about what you include. One of my clients had a strong administrative background. However, this field is very competitive and she was having difficulty setting herself apart from other candidates. We decided to include a section called “Evaluation Highlights” near the top of her résumé. This section featured comments from co-workers, supervisors, and seminar participants. It is a unique category and by placing it near the top of her résumé it easily caught the reader’s eye.

As you begin the process of writing your résumé keep in mind that the bottom line is to create value. Employers want to know, “What can you do for me?” Be sure your résumé answers that question and know that ultimately you will have to answer that question definitively during the interview.

However you decide to arrange the information on your résumé, it must be relevant, easy to understand, and make the hiring manager eager to talk with you. And when she calls, be ready to talk about the benefits of hiring you!