How to Explain Gaps in Employment (Interview Example)

How to Address the Employment Gap

One should always be prepared to address employment gaps as interviewers rarely, if ever, overlook them. There are five main ways to address employment gaps during your interview questions:

1. Prepare the questions.

Always be prepared if the interviewer asks about your employment gaps.

2. Give a reason for your employment gap (even if it’s just “personal reasons”).

Your job gaps can prove beneficial to your story during the interview. For example, you might use the time off to focus on other things, such as pursuing a certification or focusing on volunteer work.
Explanations for your employment gaps don’t always have to be grandiose. Taking personal time off from work is also legal, but you need to be honest about this in your interview. For example, taking time off from work to act as a caregiver to a family member is legal. Maybe your old job is going through a lot of layoffs. The COVID-19 pandemic is also a valid reason for the employment gap.

3. Discuss what you did in the break.

What you do while unemployed is just as important as why you experience a career gap. If you happen to be working on another certification, explain that in your interview. The certification you are seeking may be required for a class or for your personal desire to improve your skills. Whatever the choice, show that you choose to focus on developing new skills during your employment gap. Employers like to see people who can take initiative.

Volunteer work can also showcase your work ethic and reveal your unique traits. Explain the type of volunteer work you do and why you chose that organization.

Again, there are still things to discuss even if you take personal time away from work. Focusing on yourself and/or other family members can reveal who you are as a person. This is just as important to learn in an interview as your qualifications.

4. Discuss why you feel ready to return to work.

You can also discuss with potential employers why you are choosing to return to work. Discuss your readiness to do so. Your desire for work and passion for the company can really shine if you are able to highlight these reasons.

5. Focus on what you learned during the unemployment gap and what changed in your situation to be able to return to work.

Being unemployed does not stop someone from learning and developing. You could be a strong candidate if you emphasize the new skills you developed during your employment gap. You can also explain what circumstances changed to allow you to re-enter the job search. Discuss how you got there. Growth is important to highlight.