How to Explain a Gap in Your Resume When Asked?
Do you find yourself struggling to answer questions about the gap in your resume? Are you wondering how to avoid mentioning the 2,500 job rejections you faced in the past two years? Perhaps considering mentioning your current pursuit in a different field, but worried about how it may be perceived by potential employers?
Here are some tips to help you navigate this tricky situation:
1. Be honest but tactful: Instead of focusing on the rejections, highlight any valuable skills or experiences gained during this period.
2. Emphasize your current goals: Mention your interest in transitioning to a different field and how it aligns with your career aspirations.
3. Showcase your adaptability: Talk about how you have been actively involved in learning new skills or taking up alternate work opportunities like Ubering.
4. Stay positive: Frame the gap in a way that shows resilience and determination to overcome challenges.
Remember, being transparent about your career journey can actually work in your favor by demonstrating growth and a willingness to evolve. Good luck! #ResumeTips #JobInterviews #CareerAdvice
I would create a ‘small business venture’ where you consulted for businesses.
The reason you didnt continue was the wish to purchase a house
For me it was a reality but it does work very well with interviewers
I hate this question by HR so fucking much. Do you think I WANT to be unemployed? fucking hell.
You see, that’s when I wasn’t working. Then just stare
Gigachad.jpg
I just say I was freelancing and don’t elaborate unless they ask for details. It’s not a lie, but it’s also not the whole truth, because I wouldn’t be freelancing if I didn’t get filtered out in every single group dynamic ever
“I was kickin it”
try the truth – you’ve been looking for work in a tough market
Here’s mine:
“I was freelancing, doing _______ work for private individuals.”
If they ask for references to your work, have a friend or two on standby briefed on how to talk you up if contacted. I was “consulting for home network security and hardening”. I was applying because I was “looking for greater stability and the opportunity to apply my skills as part of a larger organization.” It’s all bullshit, but bullshit I’m willing to front for the sake of getting a job.
I always make factual statements that have nothing to do with me but they can infer something from.
“It’s a sobering fact of life, parents get old and need caring for. I’m thankful for hospice care though, at the end…”
“When caregivers pass away, it takes some serious time and effort to square things away for those with special needs they were caring for. But it has to be done if you want to get back to normalcy…”
They just want to hear SOMETHING to be honest.
“My grandma was dying and I needed to help clear out and renovate her home for selling and i was the only person that could do it” is fine, they don’t want to hear “nothing”
I was asked this one time and replied with the totally unvarnished truth, “My wife passed away from a terminal form of breast cancer leaving me to care for my 1-year old daughter and 4-year old son.”
They did not continue down that line of questioning.
“I was getting [insert education/certificate].”
“I was a caregiver.”
“I freelanced.”
“I took time off for my personal health.”
“I moved.”
Etc.
Anything but that you were unemployed. Say you traveled or lost weight or whatever. All they want to hear is that you did something and that it was “planned,” a planned break.
If you don’t want to lie/can’t stand lying, then just start an online blog or social media channel for a thing you enjoy (can be anything books, TV, games, etc.), and just update that. Go the extra mile and start a website for it via WordPress, Square space, etc. Next time they ask, show them that or send them a link.
Yeah, I’m a recruiter and I hate this question too. If I see a candidate isn’t currently employed, I just ask what they are looking for their next role. It’s my subtle way of letting them know that I’m aware they are unemployed and I want to look forward, not back
“Cause I put it there silly” (proceed to boop their nose)
I’d just tell’em the truth, if it’s taking care of your family members due to illness or pursuing other studies to advance your opportunities in a different career fields because you want to excel and push yourself to your own maximum potentials in different fields. Just not one career field.
Tell the truth in a clear and professional way. In my experience, interviewers don’t even care that much what the answer is, just that there is an answer.
I swear 80% of interviews is just proving that you’re a normal functioning human who can string 2 sentences together.
“Why is there a gap in your teeth?”
State the truth or lie, either way you have a gap.
I suggest “I have been unemployed this whole time, while ubering to pay bills” or “I was taking care of my sick parent who was getting chemo treatments”
I am so past being nice! Just do you the best way you know how! Its a shit show no matter what!
Good for you for trying something different!
Has anyone here ever asked the person why they care about the gap and what they hope to learn from your explanation?
I never ask this question when interviewing or looking for candidates. It could be so personal that it’s awkard to get the answer, so I’d rather just talk about what a candidate HAS done that is relevant to the job I’m hiring for.
My mom was diagnosed with cancer and my father has Alzheimer’s; I was the care-giver.
This answer might be a complete lie and it’s bulletproof.
I have the same problem. According to hiring fuckwits, covid was only 2020 and everything was fine after.
My job gap was from late 2019 to 2022. I worked for 2 months during 2020, but that magically doesn’t count either.
I just saw professional development usually. The truth of wasting my fucking time with assholes just like you wouldn’t be effective.
I went on a spiritual journey to find my inner self ✨️ 🙏 🙄 aka… unemployed 👍
This happened to me from COVID, was out of a job for like 9 months in 2020. One of the recruiters asked about the gap and I told them it was because of COVID lockdowns and they were like “oh interesting I dont think I heard of that” like… Seriously.
And you would think that’s the only time but I had an in person interview and they asked the same thing. I gave them the same answer and the interviewer was like “oh, but how come it was such a long period of time?” …. Like I’m sorry Bertha, not everyone got to keep their employment after the lockdowns ended and few people were hiring???