Do not address a negative in a cover letter. . .

Remember. Why you send one - to highlight the. positive and get their attention. If they are interested, they'll ask. . That said, make sure you have a good explanation for the gap ready and waiting to answer - concisely and logically. .

Karen, what do you mean by "big gap?" Was it ten years in which you raised kids or went to grad school part-time or is it six months in between jobs? Also was the gap four years ago or recently?
Since I don't know the answer to these questions, I will just say that if the gap was recent and more than a few months, address in the chronological portion of your resume by saying something like "Attended Graduate School 2014- 2016." Then it is not necessary to address in the cover letter (see all the other great advice about not putting too much focus on the issue).
I would do the same if you took lengthy personal time off to do something non-career related like raise children, take care of elderly parents, travel the world, or just couldn't find a job, whatever. Find something that you did productively and continuously during that time. For example, did you organize your church youth program for the past three years, assist with the PTA annual fundraising drives, start a book club, or teach piano on the side? All these are jobs- with titles and job descriptions/expectations even if you did not get paid (which you don't need to mention unless asked), so include them in the chronological portion of your resume like any other job. If the gap is six months or less, or if it was more than two years ago, I would not mention it at all unless asked. You might discover that the gap is not as big as you originally thought. Try these ideas and watch your resume gain new life. Best Regards,

I agree with the advises provided above, you need to connect your downtime with career improvement. If not, just explain it in a positive way during interview if asked it. I say "positive way" in the case if you loose your job because of reasons like economic down turn and similar.

I wouldn't make it a big focus. Address it and move on. You always want to keep your focus on positives and strengths. Good luck darling.

Hi Karen, what did you do when you weren't "working"? How can the time you spent not "working" be applied to future working situations? What lessons did you learn? What new skills did you learn? What transferable skills were applicable? How can that time "off" be beneficial to future work situations? Instead of simply saying you didn't work during that time, tell a story of what you learned, how it will or can apply to jobs you're applying for, and what you're most valuable lesson was. Life is all about experiences, relationships, learning, and of course, love. These are all concepts that make you a better person/worker. Build a story about why that time "off" will benefit the organization lucky enough to get you. Once you have it written, show it to friends, peers, and professionals, who will give you additional pointers or suggestions. Once it is as perfect, use it in your resume and within application processes when you apply for positions.
Sincerely Dr. Terry Southern Organizational Development Change Management

Hi Karen: Thanks for posting this awesome question on Jobcase! I think it doesn't hurt to address it, but don't make it the sole focus on your cover letter. Say that you've been out of the field for some time, but you've been keeping up to date with your skills and knowledge. Let me know if that works for you!