Getting called in for a job interview is always good news. It means you look good enough on paper to warrant moving onto the next step in the hiring process. On the other hand, interviews are nerve-wracking for many people. The butterflies can triple when you know that you’re going to face some uncomfortable questions.
If you’ve got gaps in your employment history, you know that these questions are inevitable. Hiring managers naturally want to know what was going on, and why you weren’t working. Give the wrong answers, and you might seem flaky and high risk. Give thoughtful, honest, answers, and you can spin what could be an issue into a positive. It also helps to be proactive, employers may not be very vocal about this issue, but you can be sure they have questions. Here are some strategies that will help.
Focus on Showing That You Have a Great Work Ethic
Your employment gaps will be less of an issue if you give the interviewer great reasons to focus on other things. If you can show that you are an effective employee, self-starter, dedicated worker, and have a great work ethic, your gap in employment is more likely to be a blip in the interview process.
This technique is especially effective if you took time off work for reasons that some people may believe to be a bit frivolous. It’s fine to take a year off to backpack through Europe, or enjoy life on the beach. Just be ready to reassure potential employers that you won’t cut and run on a whim.
Show that you were always working to work hard, used leadership skills, and leave no doubt about your work ethic. Do that and the year you spent skiing won’t seem that important. If you do end up discussing your gap, emphasize that you handled your exit in a way that minimized any negative impact:
Example: “While I was working for Partner and Partner, I was given an opportunity to spend a year in Southeast Asia. Before I left, I was able to spend three months helping to find and train my replacement, and managed to close the books on four major projects.”
Use Positive Gaps to Your Advantage
Some employment gaps are a positive. They aren’t something to be explained away, but should be highlighted instead. If you spent the time finishing your degree, earning a certification, or developing important skills, that’s something you should be proud of. Use it as a focal point in interviews.
Example: “I took six months off three years ago to work on my Master’s thesis. I was really fortunate to spend a significant amount of time immersed in my research. Not only did I get my MBA as a result, I also learned things that I’ve been able to apply to my own management style with great success.
Use Your Resume And Cover Letter to Explain Gaps Before The Interview
If possible, cover this ground before you get to the interview stage. If you were attending school, conducting research, teaching a class, or doing relevant volunteer work, you should absolutely include that in your resume. If it’s a better fit, address your employment gap in your cover letter.
The CEO of Pick Writers says, “There’s no getting around it. As an employer, I notice these gaps. Not only can a clear and honest explanation help a job candidate secure an interview. It’s a great way to turn a potential negative into something positive.”
Example: “As an environmental lawyer, my passion for protecting our natural resources goes beyond the courtroom. Two years ago, I took a nine-month sabbatical to travel to South America to help representatives from indigenous tribes prepare documents for a lawsuit against a company conducting illegal logging operations in the rainforest. My dedication to this cause will be clear in every case that I handle.”
Prove That You Learned Something
Sometimes, there’s just no way to finesse the situation. Perhaps you:
- Were fired for cause and were unable to find employment due to damage to your reputation
- Suspended or sanctioned by a professional body
- Dealt with a problem that became public knowledge in your professional circles
- Know that a previous employer is likely to provide negative feedback
Whatever the case may be, your only way forward is to be honest, to provide assurance that you’ve learned from your mistakes, and to bring concrete evidence that you have taken steps to improve. Most importantly, take responsibility. Even if you feel as if you were dealt with too harshly, or there were mitigating factors, own it and show you’ve grown since the experience. Of course, there are things you can do when you are terminated to help address this situation ahead of time.
Imagine you were fired after some inappropriate and offensive social media posts came to light. Now you’ve been between jobs for a while because of the damage that was done. Deleting the posts won’t make the issue go away. Instead, be forthright, accountable, and indicate that you understand the harm that was done.
Example: “I made the regrettable decision to post some comments on social media that embarrassed my employer, hurt the feelings of people I cared about, and showed real immaturity on my part. Since then, I’ve reached out to the people who were most impacted by my actions to apologize personally and make amends. I’ve also taken the time to educate myself about a subject that I chose to treat so disrespectfully. My former employer did the right thing by letting me go, and I’ve done my best to use my time off to learn from my mistakes.”
Final Thoughts
It’s never a comfortable feeling, knowing that you’re walking into an interview having to give an explanation. Still, there’s no reason for a gap in your employment history to prevent you from pursuing great job opportunities. Take into consideration the reason for the gap, what you’ve learned from the experience, then decide the best way to approach the subject during the interview process.
About the Author
Kristin Savage nourishes, sparks and empowers using the magic of a word. Along with pursuing her degree in Creative Writing, Kristin was gaining experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in marketing strategy for publishers and authors. Now she had found herself as a freelance writer. She observes with a special interest how the latest achievements in media and technology help to grow readership and revenue and shares her opinion. You can find her on Facebook.
