How to Explain Gaps of Employment During an Interview

One of the many things that an employer considers during an interview are the gaps in your employment history.  There are many valid reasons for these gaps. To ensure an employer that you have truthfully and accurately reported all of your employment history you need to be prepared to explain any gaps in employment that are more than a couple of months long.  Here are a few simple tips that will help you to do explain.

• Be truthful and forthright - Most gaps in employment are nothing to be ashamed of.  Be the first one to bring up the gap and let the interviewer know your reasons.  If you went back to school, got married, relocated, or took care of a family member, state exactly that.  Do not assume that an interviewer will match your gap with the time that you were in school. 


• Discuss the skills and abilities that you gained during the gap - Ensure that the interviewer sees your gap as productive time.  If you took classes, got a certification or learned new skills during this time, highlight them. 


• List freelance, part-time work and self employment - Many times people will leave off freelance, part-time work or self-employment.  These should be listed especially if they occurred in the place of a gap.  Although it may not be in your professional field, it showcases your diversity.


• Do not be ashamed of your gap - If you have been laid off or unemployed for a while, be willing to state it.  Employers know that the national average of unemployment has exceeded ten percent or more in many areas.  You are not in this boat by yourself. If you chose to stay home and raise your children be proud of the opportunity that you afforded yourself and be willing to state this.  Ensure your potential employer that your children are now at a place where you are no longer needed in the home, or that you have childcare options in place. 


• Do not offer more information than is being asked for - If your gap is more than ten to fifteen years ago, leave it off.  Most employers do not ask for a job history that goes back to your degree, whether that was high school or college.  Most are content knowing what you have been doing for the last ten to fifteen years.  Some types of jobs that require a high security clearance may have to have this information, but most others do not.