Write a Résumé on Your Phone That Handles a Gap Honestly
A good résumé is short, honest and easy to scan. You can build one entirely on your phone with Google Docs. If you have a gap — from incarceration, treatment, caregiving or anything else — there are honest ways to handle it.
Step 1: Use a simple template
Open Google Docs → Template gallery (easier in the browser version) → choose a simple résumé template. Avoid heavy designs; many employers use software that reads plain layouts best.
Step 2: Contact info at the top
Name, phone, professional email, and city/state. You don't need your full street address.
Step 3: A two-line summary
Example: "Reliable, hands-on worker with 4 years of kitchen and maintenance experience. Seeking a full-time line cook or prep role. ServSafe certified."
Make it about what you offer and what you want.
Step 4: Skills that match the job
List 6–10 skills from the job posting that you genuinely have: forklift, inventory, customer service, food safety, scheduling, basic carpentry, Microsoft Word, bilingual (Spanish).
Step 5: Experience — all of it counts
Include paid work, day labor, family business, volunteering, and work done while incarcerated or in a program: kitchen, landscaping, maintenance, tutoring, peer mentoring, certifications. For each, write 2–3 bullet points starting with an action word and, where possible, a result:
- Prepared meals for 300+ people daily while meeting food-safety standards.
- Trained 5 new workers on equipment and safety procedures.
You can list the employer as the facility, the state department, or the program — whatever you're comfortable explaining in an interview.
Step 6: Handling the gap honestly
Options:
- Fill it with what you did: education, certifications, programs, volunteering, caregiving.
- Use years, not months, for dates, which naturally reduces the focus on short gaps.
- A brief honest line if needed: "2021–2024: Completed vocational training and certifications (see Education)."
Never invent employers or dates. Lies get discovered and cost jobs; honest gaps often don't.
Step 7: Education and certifications
GED, diplomas, vocational certificates, OSHA cards, ServSafe, forklift, CDL permits — list them. These matter a lot.
Step 8: Export and name it
Export as PDF and name it Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf. Read it on your phone one more time for typos.
Know your rights and resources
Many cities and states have fair-chance ("ban the box") rules about when employers can ask about records. Local reentry organizations and American Job Centers offer free résumé reviews and job leads — use them.
A résumé gets you an interview; honesty and preparation get you the job. If you're also exploring side income, our free 7-day course shows how to start with just your phone.
Common questions
Should I list prison jobs on my résumé?
Work you did while incarcerated, like kitchen, maintenance or certifications, is real experience. You can list the employer as the facility or the state department, or the program name, depending on what you're comfortable with.
Do I have to mention my record on my résumé?
Generally no. A résumé presents your skills and experience. Answer background questions honestly when asked, and learn whether your city or state has fair-chance hiring rules.
What format should I send?
Send a PDF unless the employer asks for another format, and name the file with your name, like Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf.
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