How to Explain An Employment Gap on Your Resume

I was chatting with someone I know who is considering getting back into the workforce after a 6-month gap. Here’s how the conversation went:

Me: “How do you plan to explain the gap in your work history?”

Them: “I plan to interview as if I’m still working at my last position.”

I almost had an aneurism trying to understand this logic. Several questions were running through my mind:

The list goes on, but I was immediately concerned for this person.

Let’s make this clear: there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a gap in your resume, but it is wrong to deny or hide it.

Regardless of the reason, you need to have an answer prepared. It’s a valid question and without an answer, it can give the interviewer feelings of unsettlement to the point where you might lose out on the job opportunity.

Here are 3 things you can do to prepare (and nail) the question, “Why is there a gap in your work history?”:

An employment gap is nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, with the rise of Covid since 2020, just about everyone in any industry you can think of has an employment gap due to a lack of business and supply chain issues. I, myself, was laid-off in May of 2020 (whilst working on a Covid project!) and didn’t find employment until later that year.

Even if the reason for your employment gap is not due to Covid, being upfront about it will get you points with the interviewer in the long run. Less time will be spent talking through the gap rather than going around it.

2. It’s not about having a gap, it’s about what you did during the gap.

Instead of focusing on why you’re NOT working somewhere, focus on what you HAVE been doing in the meantime. Did you take a break from work for your mental health? Maybe you took some time off to pursue a…

Related posts:

Isolation. In a world where solitude is becoming the norm, what happens to those who were always a little lonely? This is a poem to highlight….

Did you know that banks in America have the legal right to close your accounts with them for any reason, but without any warning or explanation to you? I’ve recently learned that the hard way. Last…

Who am I? This was not a question in my head when I decided to live frugally for months to build up my savings. At the time the only thought in my head was to have enough money to cushion me against…