How to Explain Employment Gaps in an Interview
So you got some professional black holes on your resume? We all do. They’re nothing to be ashamed of – it’s all in the way you explain them. Hiring managers and recruiters are used to seeing them, so while you might be nervous to discuss them, fear not, we’ve heard it all before. And further, many people do a lot of personal and professional exploration during employment gaps that provide them with clarity on where they want to go with their lives and their careers. Any good employer will understand that circumstances out of your control with throw a wrench into your career plans or times of self-reflection or self-discovery require you to take some time away from your career.
The general rule of thumb with these responses is that you are honest, genuine and as transparent as you feel comfortable being. Employers want to get to know you beyond professional qualifications and performance metrics, but you are not obligated to provide more information than is necessary to convey you have the skills and experience for the job.
Here are some common reasons for employment gaps and how to discuss them in an interview:
Time Off for Travel
This is a common scenario especially for younger professionals who can’t pass up an opportunity to travel across Southeast Asia with their bae. Are people still saying bae anymore? I don’t know, help me out here. Depending on the length of time and reason for the trip I’d say something like this:
“I just resigned from a job where I was working 60 hours a week and I had an opportunity to travel with my sister for a few months, reset, and re-evaluate where I want to take my career. It was an incredible experience and one I knew I wouldn’t always get especially as my sister and I progress in our careers. While I was there I met [person] or experienced [event] that made me realize [or confirmed] I want to work in this [job/field], but with a company better aligned with my professional goals and values. I’m grateful the trip gave me the clarity I was seeking and also thankful to have had that time with my sister. Plus I learned how to charm a snake in Thailand. Not sure if that’s something you’re looking for, but I’ve got that skill.”
One of the key things in this scenario is to not oversell a personal experience as having had a great impact on your career decision if it did not. If you took time off simply because you were overworked and wanted to spend time with a family member or loved one because these opportunities are rare, then just say that. A red flag to an employer is if your resume shows a pattern of bailing when work gets tough. Also, humor is always a good way to endear an interview panel and a good segue to the next question.
Extended Family Leave
I don’t have kids, but any time I see a child having a meltdown in public, I immediately want to gift that parent a spa day. Being a parent is tough work and a full-time job. That is why it’s acceptable to list this experience on your resume if you want to. Employers and recruiters are accustomed to seeing “full-time parent” on resumes and if all your other experiences stack up to the job requirements, then you should have no problem sharing this with prospective employers.
If you kept in contact with your professional network via play dates and/or lunches, or you attended virtual or in-person conferences or networking events during this time, make sure you share this in the interview. You can still maintain a presence in an industry without having a full-time job in it.
Other forms of family leave include the death of a family or friend, or to care for an elderly or sick family member. You don’t have to share the details, but simply saying “I took some time off to grieve the loss of a family member” or “to take care of a sick family member” is sufficient. I never interviewed a candidate and felt the need to push for more information.
Laid Off
Company mergers, buy-outs, loss of business, restructures, and many other reasons may lead to you being laid off “without cause” (not related to employee performance or poor conduct). Be honest and add in that while that was a tough time it allowed you to explore new opportunities with the company you’re interviewing with. It’s even more helpful if you let the employer know you’ve had your eye on them before the layoff.
Fired
When you’ve been fired, it’s important to outline the steps you took to improve the situation even if the circumstances were truly out of your hands.
“The job I interviewed for drastically changed outside of my initial scope and my expertise. I worked with my supervisor to put together a six-month plan to get me up to speed, but it just wasn’t the right fit. I learned a lot and realized I’m best suited for [X].”
“I was brought on to grow the division and my ideas were constantly met with resistance as a new VP joined around the same time I started, and we didn’t see eye-to-eye on the growth strategy. I met with her one-on-one to gain more insight into her vision and collaborated with her on [X] initiatives but they didn’t work for [X] reasons. I met with my boss and agreed that it wasn’t a good fit. I could have approached some things differently, but ultimately it wasn’t the right fit so we agreed to part ways.”
In this instance, you’ll need to be honest and fair, as an employer checking references – backdoor or formal – may ask your former employer about the circumstances of your departure or performance (unless you specifically tell them NOT to contact your former employer, which, in that case, you most certainly have raised a red flag to the hiring team or recruiter). An employer will understand that some opinions and details will differ between the candidate and their former employer, but the main reasons for the departure should match.
No matter the reason for the employment gap, be honest and confident in your responses and rest assure, hiring managers and recruiters have heard it before, and are much more understanding of employment gaps than you may think.