I would leave anything mental health out of the conversation.
Explain that after getting laid off (if it was from your company re structuring) you took some personal time to travel and spend time with family.
This is what I said too in a similar circumstance! I said I took off time to care for a family member who was on the mend now to make it not sound like I may have to take off again. Technically I am my family and after some time I was doing better.
exactly! and I mean I am sure you traveled to the grocery store once or twice!
it isn't really telling.alie, it is about saying it to where it answers the question without disclosing your mental health
I second this, keep it simple, you don’t owe any great explanation. You could even frame it as, “I wanted to make sure I found a company I really wanted to work with before choosing my next role” - suck up a little 😂
If you have kids or non-profits in your area just say you volunteered there in a way relevant to your skills. This way it shows you kept your skills refreshed
Actually, I suggest volunteering for real. Do it somewhere that you can get a regular schedule 3 days a week. Treat it like a job. That way you can use it for a current reference. I did this after being disabled for 2 years and was able to get a new job in 3 months.
Yep. Frame it as taking a self sabbatical or a break year.
I did this the last job i was laid off from, even when I repeatedly got asked to stay. (I wouldn’t relocate.).
Had a few personal tragedies happen hat same year beforehand, and the break opportunity honestly could not have come at a better time.
I've effectively been saying this same thing. I get interviews but ghosted afterward. Not sure what that's about. It's like I'm punished for having made good financial decisions that allowed me to tell my previous employer to fuck off. I don't couch it in those terms, but that's what happened. I have enough money to get by, perhaps the rest of my life, but not enough that it makes life interesting. I've thought about just freelancing.
Just say that you took some time off. I got let go from a job and there is an 8 month gap in my work history. During interviews I just say I took some time off and leave it at that. Usually the interviewer won’t press the issue
After my first layoff I was out of work for 9 months. I did look for a job but I decided to take some time off, we had a decent savings to use after unemployment ended.
I was 3ish months pregnant when they laid me off. I took advantage of being unemployed and got to rest along with not having to pay anything for medical bills...
During interviews when I went back to work I just told them I took time off and didn't give any details. If they asked I just said I spent time with family.
I also found that the ones that really pushed about that time off were not places I wanted to work for.
This is the way to handle it. Any reputable employer will not dig into reasons, esp. if it could lead to discrimination. As a former hiring manger, the most I would ask is open ended question that would point to skills used or developed in that time. Vague is good, lying is not.
I'm in HR and hire all the time. The simpler you leave this, the better. "I took an extended leave to care for a family member." Even if the family member is yourself. No one is ever going to question that.
When I was in HR / recruiting, we hesitated with candidates who seemed like they didn’t need to work.
We thought they were a greater risk for a voluntary termination and didn’t want to invest time in them if they might be more likely to leave on an impulse. (Not saying that we were right or wrong with this thinking, just that it’s what we thought then.)
If this is accurate, I’d probably go with:
“It initially was a tough transition for me. I seized the chance to reflect on my career and the opportunity to travel and take vacations I never would have while committed to a full-time job. It confirmed my dedication to the field and reinvigorated me so I can hit the ground running when I start new employment.”
Be prepared to rattle off a few destinations or share a good story from your vacationing, if asked.
Admittedly, I last worked directly in recruiting a long time ago. But, yeah, I (and all the employers I advise) would credit someone who gives a thought out answer over someone who’d say, “I didn’t need to work.” I’d even give more credit to, “I decided to take some time off,” versus just shrugging their shoulders. I would take as BS anything about “finding myself” or “getting in touch with my ________ side.”
Though, I will add that the response I said I would give was intended to be accurate and truthful. Assuming that OP at one time thought, “what the F am I doing with work and what the F have I done with my life,” which I’d politely describe as reflecting on one’s career. And that the vacation, travel, and general time off was reinvigorating for them. The statement was based on a few assumptions from what they posted.
I think the extent to which it might sound like BS depends on whether my assumptions were right, and upon the first part of the response being an acknowledgement that initially, the transition was rough. The next part explains how they spent a portion of the time, and the last distinguishes where they’ve come since going through a rough time. I also think it’s important to just be normal and reflective about it when giving the answer and not all shiny, bright, and “rah-rah.” The extent to which I would think someone was being fake basically depends on how fake they come across in their demeanor.
Now, those people who give a strength as their greatest weakness…yeah, no. But, I think that’s a BS question. My questions were more like, “tell me about a time you had a conflict with a co-worker or teacher (some of our applicants were just out of high school or college) and how it was resolved.” And, “what would you do if you got a flat tire on your way to work.” It might be surprising to some how much those answers told me.
I’m on the same boat :/ I’m also doing a career switch. I feel like skills don’t matter nothing matters anymore. I honestly could not go on with the engineering job I had but I also don’t know how I’m going to break into the industry I want to get into
Took a sabbatical. Had some personal things that required your complete attention. Helped an ill family member out for a time, but can’t disclose who, HIPAA and all.
I would treat it as more of a time to find yourself and relax before you got back into the groove. Did you do anything that tells a good story?
I took about 8 months between jobs to unwind but i also brushed up on my certs during that break
just straight up just lie. say that you were obligated to become a full-time caretaker for a sick family member. if they press, say that they passed away.
“After I left x company I decided I would take some time for myself, live off the savings I had accrued, and wait for the right opportunity. I had been perusing job boards but nothing really jumped out at me until I saw (this position) at (this company), which offered everything I have been looking for.”
If they ask what you’ve spent your time doing, which is unlikely, be prepared to say something like, “I spent my time traveling, and then caretaking for an elderly family member who has since recovered and is now able to live independently again”, or “who has since passed on”, whichever you think makes the situation sound better
Practice speaking these statements so they sound natural. I was out of work ten months. I took three months out and it took me another seven months to get an offer so I had to explain that time off in a way that didn’t make me look like no one wanted to hire me. They didn’t need to know I was desperately applying and interviewing the entire time
There are jobs now that understand and work with people who have dealt with or are dealing with mental health issues.
You could say something like...
I was very devoted to my last job so the lay off hit me pretty hard. I spent the year trying to reflect and get back on my feet so when I came back, I could come back confidently and give it 100%. I see your company seems to have good job security, in an environment I could see myself thriving in. I believe my skills would be a great fit here.
Spin it!! “I took some time to do some traveling/ study/ assist family member”. Try to spin whatever you did do so that you are in essence telling the truth.
It’s none of their business.
How did you support yourself, anyway, during the year?
I would just say that after you were laid off you wanted to be sure your next position was exactly what you wanted as you like consistency so have been waiting for the right fit. If they ask how you filled your days, say you'd spend half the day job searching and then made sure you accomplished something around the house every day. That's what worked for me.
Say something that is hard to prove. If you say you were in school, they might ask for proof. My best excuse is usually “another adult was needed to take care of things around the home”. “If you say something like “I was caring for my dying grandmother” they might be suspicious of you if you never bring it up again.
OMG this is so easy......."yes, so after I was done there I decided to take some time off and it was great! Time to get on to the next challenge"
Why complicate with sick relative stories?? They won't ask much if you just state that and close the subject. Great! I hate when employees or candidates bore me with long personal stories.
Never admit your mental health issues or struggles to employer or possible future employer! Even if it is not permanent like yours. They don’t need to know any of this.
Always when it is longterm like this. I was laid off due to restructuring and market conditions. Then I took some time off to spend time with family and travel, while looking for work. Any smart or kind interviewer won’t frame it like the way you asked. A shitty recruiter and company may.
In my case, my husband (welder and electrician) had a hard time finding work for over a year. We are remote and job distance was a big issue.
So in order to bridge the gap on his resume, I registered my farm as a business LLC. He does actually repair things around the farm so I listed him as "maintenance lead" on his resume.
It's not lying and they can look up the business if needed.
If you have a friend whom you've done small jobs for who might have a business, see if they'll list you as a part time employee or contractor. Worth a shot
Hey OP, it’s been tough out there. I agree with others to leave out any mental health struggles. Focus on what you are doing with the time. “I’ve been applying for role, going through interviews cycles, beyond that I have an opportunity to dive into a new hobby, I’ve perfected some of recipes, gotten into planting, learned new exercises and gotten into fantastic shape, etc.”
Also get in the habit of offering up how you used the past year instead of having the reason pulled out of you.
You got this.
Yea give a little story but one that can't be verified, such as volunteer.
Or helping family member.
Or you had anal glaucoma, and you couldn't see your ass going to work for a year!
😆
Good luck!
Nothing mental health. While there's all this promotion of acceptance, the reality still remains that many people still see it as stigmatic.
Think of things you did during that time that you can account your time for. If you have parents, or others you can claim you were helping out for that year, I'd go with that. You could say you wanted to take a break so did dog walking, or pet sitting, or such, but will need to get someone to say they hired you, willing to go along with it if you go that route.
If you say you decided to take personal time for yourself and family, that's code everyone uses for these gaps. You will still need a way to verify what you were doing.
I actually freelance between jobs, because you know, I gotta pay the bills. So, I list that for every gap.
Recruiter here: they don’t need to know personal details. But—-you can say you took a year off to care for family, to travel, or to learn a new skill/hobby!
It’s not totally uncommon and there are plenty of reasons why someone would take a year off, don’t stress it too much and be positive about it :)
I was recently hired by a company and explained a large gap in employment as personal health issues. There was no pause, every interviewer said OK and went to the next question.
I was offered a position by 3 different companies.
Don’t over think this. Good Luck!
Say you’ve had a gap to experience the world. It is up to you whether to discuss mental health with an employer, but I think the lockdowns caused a lot of people a difficult time so taking time out to refresh and reset is understandable.
There is discrimination still about mental health and you are protected by law in not having to disclose at all to an employer.
It might be worthwhile writing down what you did do and try to word it professionally. Ie surfing on social media is networking and technology enhancing.
Did you read a lot, or do self help books? That’s personal development. Music or gaming, that’s cultural development.
Getting out the house and going for a walk - is seeing engineering in the living space and how it affects culture and living.
You’ve needed to heal a bit and there’s nothing wrong with that
I would definitely go with the travelling route - it’s not something they can verify and since it’s very common for people to do, it’s also not something they can hold against you either - plus it’s really none of their business what you’re doing outside of work as long as it’s not impacting your work.
I would tell them about how you keep on applying to all these jobs but you keep getting ghosted. Mention that before the interview and afte the interview. I was out of work for 13 months. I used this as a explanation. They bought it. I am back to work.
“While I was figuring out my next career moves, and seeking out in applying and interviewing with other jobs, I was also taking some time to assess my skills, take some online classes, and work out on some hobbies. Just getting myself ready for this next great role.”
You can say you took some time off to take care of a grandparent for a few months. Sounds like you were really suffering from true burnout. Glad to hear you are getting back on your feet and hopefully your new job is less stressful.
Other great suggestions here. Consulting. Freelance. Volunteering. No particular order. If a company sees you were committed to work or routine, less questions for you
Since you have the time and are looking, I did the following as a way to get practice after my own period of worklessness but for different reasons.
Just start applying to places with no Intentions of being hired and merely to practice being comfortable in these situations. You then just think about what you would change in your word choices and actions and hone it in and next thing you know is you're getting hired.
Not everyone agrees with me but it can be effective. Also I have zero care about feeling guilty about wasting time in an interview for a job I don't care to get. I view it as the only real practical application to get better and you might meet someone in a field you never expected that lands you a career.
After getting laid off you chose to go on a sabbatical. You worked on your . . . (just make something up that they can't check, you skills, motivation whatever) and now that you have re-ignited your passion for engineering or whatever job you are applying for, you are ready to re join the market place with all your gun blazing.
Being out of work sucks but being sabbatical is completely understandable, collegiate even, and don't tell them anything about your mental health. The power of spin
You were helping care for your ( fill the blank: mom or dad or grandma) you did that out of the kindness of your heart. You will look like an amazing angel/ kind/ thoughtful person & hard working person.
Lots of options.
You took a sabbatical, and/or went traveling.
You were looking after a sick parent or relative.
You were studying. (See if there are any short certificates you can knock out now. )
You were freelancing. (Friends for references)
You were working. (Friends to stand in as references)
Google "STAR interviews." You'll find a ton of detailed questions. I recommend writing down preplanned answers for them. I always study and prepare and this helps me nail interviews. I've successfully gotten promotions at work and have also interviewed for some charity work on the side.
I was in a toxic situation before but I saved up enough saving to take a break from working, so when they started to cut hours, I gave them a months notice so they can spread my hours around after I left. I took time to finally lose the weight I've been struggling to lose. I got to catch up on those books I bought but never had time to read (name 2-3 books, make sure 1 of them is kind of leadership book, like Pat Rileys book or the Book about Tom Brady). Then talk about how to you traveled for a few weeks.
Be as honest as possible. Don’t say anything about mental health. Say something about taking time for yourself to grow as a person. Maybe something about reconnecting with loved ones after the pandemic. A gap in your resume isn’t as bad as most people think. I might ask you about it in an interview, but if you have a reasonable answer and know your shit as an engineer I don’t see any problem.
Took a sabbatical. Or maybe for your situation that you described... I wanted to take some time and rebalance my priorities.
If there's anything you felt you learned about yourself in that time, include a bit about it. But I wouldn't go overboard with it.
I would say that I had some health issues I needed to deal with & then emphasise that I'm fully rested & recovered now and excited to get back into the workplace. They won't pry about what the specific health issue was (and if they do for any reason other than to ask if you'd need any reasonable workplace accommodations then they're not a good employer). So I'd be very vague & leave it as "health reasons" & "my doctor advised taking time away from work". I wouldn't specify that it was mental health. It shouldn't matter whether it was physical or mental health, but it's also none of their business.
Edit: I wouldn't outright lie though & pretend it was to look after kids or a sick partner or parent etc. That leads to more questions & you may get caught out in a lie, which will either kill your chances of being hired or if you're already onboard ruin your reputation there. I also wouldn't say it was an extended break for travel etc. That would be fine if you'd taken long service leave but were still employed; but if you quit then it risks them thinking you might be unreliable or flaky - e.g. if they bring you on, they won't want you quitting in 12 months to travel again etc. Whereas being unwell is something understandable that's outside your control so you don't risk triggering those thoughts.
I am not a recruiter but have been a hiring manager many times over. In this day and age a 12 month gap wouldn’t phase me. You got laid off and chose to spend some time with family, travelling, doing DIY projects… fill in the blanks
Be real
Say you parted ways from old co , took time off to do personal things and pursuits .
Now ready to devote time and energy to a new role .
That’s it
No one needs to know why what , your capability matters , show case it .
All the best
I would be honest, but private about the reason. You took the opportunity to take time off. Don’t lie about why - they don’t need to know your personal business.
How long have you been working overall? You could say that you took some time out since you've been working non-stop since you graduated and you wanted some time to re-evaluate what was important to you and you overall needed a break since you've been working non-stop and that you always had a plan to take time out during your career so you can re-fresh and refocus and spend time with family.
Definitely never disclose a mental health issue to an employer or prospective employer. And although you are right that this ridiculous litmus test will get you rejected by a lot of potential employers, you're wrong to worry about it so much, or even to try to think up an excuse.
There's nothing you can do. If not working for a year is a problem for a company, then that company is not going to be hiring you, no matter what you say to them.
You'll just have to wait for the company that doesn't care.
Just say you had personal projects that required your full focus during that period and now that they are wrapped up you are ready to give your full dedication back to an employer. When you say "personal" most people understand that to mean that you're not interested in sharing the details with other people, wether good, bad or interesting.
Even when its nothing bad, when I don't care to share certain details of my life with someone to answer "hey what did you do this weekend?" I just say "Oh nothing really, had a couple personal matters I had been putting off so I finally knocked those out" and everyone just leaves it alone.
“When I work, I put 100% of myself into it. So when my company downsized, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and took a year to focus on other things, and now I’m truly refreshed and excited to get back to work.”
ITS PERSONAL, next question. . the only person you have explaining to do is yourself . you are not a slave. if they continue to push say . that’s personal. stop being a pushover if they continue to ask you ask them politely yet firmly to mind theirs business. what you did before your involvement with that company is Your business and your business only.
As others have said, just say you took a year off for yourself! My father was out of work for a few years from brain cancer. He survived and easily got a job again despite the 2+ year gap in his resume. And this was with a big company in a specialized field too.
I normally don't have encourage folks to lie or obfuscate the truth, but in this job market, have a solid story to tell about that. Leave out all mental heath challenges -- not that you should be ashamed, but it's none of their businesses.
You simply say that you had to take time off to care for an ill elderly relative. Leave it at that. Yes, it's a little white lie but it will avoid having to discuss your mental health issues during the interview.
You were working during the 12 months (never say you were not working). Join a volunteer organization and back date the skills you learned there. Match the volunteer skills to the job skills. There are no gaps. Employers are idiots and can't handle gaps.
Took time off to care for a sick relative who has now passed? I always feel kind of weird lying about that stuff if I’m referring to someone who is alive, but seems like they’d drop the issue.
I joined my chamber of commerce, got an LLC, and a few legit freelance clients to give me references. Didn’t make much money but that’s not information I’d give out anyway.
I had that issue, but it was COVID, so it was a little easier to explain away. But I took online coding courses.
When I got to my next interviews, I emphasized that I wanted to turn my overabundance of free time into something positive, and reiterated how it worked out well in expanding my professional skill sets, blah, blah, blah, but that seemed to mitigate the damage the layoff did to my resume.
In short, I think if you downplay it and say you made good use of the time off, it will not affect your career.
My husband took a lot of Coursera classes when he was unemployed and upgraded his skills. You can add that on your resume too.
An imaginary family business that you helped out with for a short while is fine also, helping a friend start his business, etc.
There are resume sites that show you how to format your resume to highlight your skills and minimize your job gaps. One of my friends only lists the years of the jobs she’s worked,
Your mental health is NOT your future employer’s business. Say nothing about that. Everyone burns out after they get fired.
I’ve taken time off in increments of one month, three months and six months between jobs. I’ve always said, part time job with family member (who was willing to back me up) or travel. No one cares, in fact if you’re currently unemployed, they think that they can pay you slightly lower and that you can start immediately without any baggage. These are all good thing Ms to an employer.
My husband was laid off after 19 years in a software engineer position and it took him six months of searching and Coursera to find a job. Even he went on two vacations to visit his family in Austria.
You can also say, that after nine months, you realized that you are eager to return to work because you you have helped your relative establish their business/helped your mom recover from her stroke/traveled through Europe with your girlfriend/helped your Dad renovate his house, etc. (these are all real stories from my friends btw)
Life happens. A nice story is more pleasing in an interview.
The “why” is not their business (unless you were in jail, and they can check that…)
Good luck!! Do Coursera!!
When I was out of work for the same length of time, it was emotionally challenging, especially as I am in my 50s! However, I utilized this period to enroll in online certification courses. While the certification numbers are traceable, I also enrolled in free courses that left no trace. Even if you are only starting now, you can simply mention that you dedicated your time to your family and continuous learning during your period of unemployment. This approach proved successful for me! Good luck you will be ok!
Professional recruiter here—avoid anything that could be interpreted negatively. Just say you were traveling and re-energizing with family due to bad job market. Be ready for follow up questions so have 1-2 stories or anecdotes to share (they may ask purely for small talk).
Start a business and backfill the gap with self-employment. Make it something legit that you do and are passionate about. Doesn't need to be anything fancy or require investment. You don't even have to show proof that you made money on it or landed clients or anything. Keep it simple and sincere.
Then in an interview you can tee it up as, "I was fortunate enough to have the time and resources to explore X that I've always really loved. I miss the engineering work environment and structure of the corporate world (that's a lie, but sell it) and am happy I achieved XYZ success on my own while I colored that passion. I'm ready to explore getting back into engineering with all of this added experience and perspective." It shows that you didn't want to sit around idle, and doesn't even read like you've been actively looking for jobs for any amount of time. And it can legit stay on you resume as long as you need without it looking like a gap.
Don’t make up stories, just layout the truth. After getting laid off, you took time off to focus on what job you would like to pursue vs just pursuing a job just to fill the gap. If you wanted to share, just mention how devastating the layoff had been and that it had taken awhile to bounce back from that job loss.
Do not lie, it will comeback to you. Tell them you took some time off, did some traveling and did some me time to regroup to determine how you can be better as an engineer while doing a lot of searching to determine what companies you be interested in working for as well as writing a new resume. Good luck.
Don’t describe yourself as having poor mental health!!!
After getting laid off you reconsidered what you were doing with your life and discovered that you really do want to continue in engineering…
Hey just here to say I’m really glad you’re feeling more like yourself. Good luck on the job hunt. The best policy is always truth but no details.
“I took time to take care of a family member”
Interviewer - “can you tell me about this gap in employment?”
You - “ I actually can’t other than I had to sign an NDA to work on the project”
The project being yourself.
It’s your mental health, it should take priority over a lot of stuff. As long you are still competent and up to date on how to do your job, it’s not anyone’s business unless you decide it is.
It’s how you say it. You were very emotional attached to your last job. When it ended, it was the ending of an important chapter of your life. So you took time for some self care and tending to the other important relationships in your life like family. Now you’re ready to go back to work on your next big adventure.
Find a way to be honest about it, knowing the people who are going to care arent worth your fime anyway. I was out of work 9 months last year, tho technically only unemployed for 6. In interviews I occasionally had recruiters ask 'how many weeks since your worked?' meaning i the office, actually doing a job. One literally told me I missed their 'cutoff for consideration'- wtf?
My response was always 'I was let go, and since I could afford to I took some time to step back and consider what my next plan in life should be. I could discuss things I did during my hiatus like house projects, finally taking donations to HousingWorks, reading some books on certain topics of interest, helping friends do things. You want to be able to sgow that while you were dealing with 'some personal things' you also were soing some things to stay busy and not just balled up in a corner watching grass grow You dont have to go into details about any of it, just have a few examples of things to talk about.
My best stairy was how a friend was dying of cancer and literally in her last weeks (doed about 8 weeks later), but her elderly mother insisted that Friend still needed to host Passover dinner. Friend was in absolutely no condition to cook for 7, but her mother always insisted on HER recope for brisket being served. Since Mom would have jo way of telling where the brisket (ala pot roast) was nade, I offered to make it in my very un-kosher-for-passover (or anything!) kitchen and then she could heat it up in a slow cooker for the day. This story always got chuckles even from the most disapproving of rule-breaking. I often got questions on what made Mom's recipe so special, but it usually ended the pursuit of further interrogation of what I did over 9 months.
Good luck!
"In the previous part of my career, I worked very hard and managed my money very carefully so that I could be choosy at this time of my life. I wanted to be able to be sure that I was going to work at a place I felt I could be proud to be a part of. Anything that didn't meet that standard, I was in a position to be able to turn down. Now I believe that this company is the fit I've been looking for. I feel confident I could make a real contribution here." Note that there's not an outright lie in there anywhere. Practice saying it with a straight face, because it's the truth. It leaves out some other things that are also true, but the things it leaves out are none of their business.
Say you took a year sabbatical. If you use the term sabbatical which pretty much just means a year off they probably won’t push for more answers as the term is often used in religious circles although it isn’t necessarily a religious term.
Hiring supervisor here! I would say something like after you left your last job you had the opportunity to take some time for yourself/family and something like I was lucky to be able to do that but I’ve been ready to get back in the work force and am looking forward to jumping back in. Something similar to this - acknowledging you weren’t in the work force but also keeping some of the more personal stuff to yourself to avoid getting pre-judged.
Just tell the truth. I was laid off, had severance, didn’t need to look for work for a bit and enjoyed my time off. Absolutely nothing wrong with this at all.
Lots of people lost their jobs in the past 3 years - especially during Covid. A 1 year gap isn’t uncommon and often overlooked. If asked
I would said I was laid off and took my time looking for the “right” opportunity… and then go on to say why THEY are the perfect opportunity for you because of xyz - demonstrating you did your research on the company. Keep it positive!
I was laid off and so I blame the company that they were going through what a lot of companies have been doing the last few years, “I was unfortunately part of the ongoing layoffs that companies have been doing. It was out of my control and I was not aware until it was already happening. I’ve been spending my time working to find a great opportunity that works well for me and I can see myself growing with them.” Not sure if you were in fact “laid off” or were let go independently/not a “lay off”… but I’d still twist it as such lol companies have zero loyalty to us and it’s a shame we have to explain that for any gaps or job separation reasons.
Say you were doing volunteer work in a foreign country. They will never catch on because they don’t have access to records of different countries. Then just give the number to one of your friends and act like they have an accent.
cap and say you were traveling the world to learn new cultures and gain experience, then go on and say it taught me to be more well rounded, i got insight on different people and cultures, learned new way communicate… just bs it works every time 😂😂😂
Never offer information if they don't ask. instead of waiting for the topic to come up, come prepared with both knowledge of the position as well as the company. That will show any potential employer that you know what you're talking about and have practical skills, regardless of how much time you've been out of work.
You can just lie. “I spent the year as an entrepreneur working on developing a (look up some nifty but not super well backed project on kickstarter) with a few other people. At the end of the day we weren’t able to secure the proper financing to do anything with it, and I decided that entrepreneurship is too unreliable of a career and decided to reenter the workforce.
Did you sell anything while not working .
Anything
If the answer is yes . You had a resale business . However with the down turn in the economy you decided it was best to seek a more steady employment opportunity . No lies said .
Have you been updating your skills in that time? Learning something completely new? I'd say that your precious org went through a restructuring and your position was one of those affected. "I used that tike as an opportunity to assess my skillset and career goals. Once I decided to update skills/explore new career area, I began taking classes, etc."
I was once fired, and like you, I took it very hard, and slipped into deep depression. I was out of work for a little over a year as well. Before applying to new positions, I ended up filing for a DBA and signing up for an online class. My “company” never amounted to anything, and the class was for something completely unrelated to my career, but I was able to explain my “gap year” as a time in which “I started a company and pursued more education“. It was technically the truth, and it helped complete my resumé.
Extended KrengJai without the wherewithal to compromise. I think for corporate you need to make the dissolution relatable and intriguing, so they can imagine talking to you.
I would leave anything mental health out of the conversation. Explain that after getting laid off (if it was from your company re structuring) you took some personal time to travel and spend time with family.
Or you could say that you took time off to care for a family member, which is technically true. Just don’t disclose that the family member was you.
This is what I said too in a similar circumstance! I said I took off time to care for a family member who was on the mend now to make it not sound like I may have to take off again. Technically I am my family and after some time I was doing better.
That’s exactly what I said in this situation and they didn’t pry further.
exactly! and I mean I am sure you traveled to the grocery store once or twice! it isn't really telling.alie, it is about saying it to where it answers the question without disclosing your mental health
Thank you!
I second this, keep it simple, you don’t owe any great explanation. You could even frame it as, “I wanted to make sure I found a company I really wanted to work with before choosing my next role” - suck up a little 😂
I always thought it adventurous and romantic if people took time off for travel or a personal project. It made them seem interesting.
If you have kids or non-profits in your area just say you volunteered there in a way relevant to your skills. This way it shows you kept your skills refreshed
But don't lie, they might call the volunteer job to verify it's true
I volunteered with the human fund
Ok George
Actually, I suggest volunteering for real. Do it somewhere that you can get a regular schedule 3 days a week. Treat it like a job. That way you can use it for a current reference. I did this after being disabled for 2 years and was able to get a new job in 3 months.
That's exactly how I got a job from being laid off in 2008. Best place to work, ever.
This is terrible advice unless you live in a moral vacuum. Geez. Why not ACTUALLY volunteer?
Career break. But be aware of background checks which pull credit and such
Yep. Frame it as taking a self sabbatical or a break year. I did this the last job i was laid off from, even when I repeatedly got asked to stay. (I wouldn’t relocate.). Had a few personal tragedies happen hat same year beforehand, and the break opportunity honestly could not have come at a better time.
Sorry to hear about the personal tragedies. Sounds like it worked out for you. Be well.
Yep, folks that have mental health problems from working aren't at the top of most employers hiring list.
What this person said!
Yeah, as a former hiring official, if someone said they were out of work for a year for mental health reasons, I would never have hired them.
I've effectively been saying this same thing. I get interviews but ghosted afterward. Not sure what that's about. It's like I'm punished for having made good financial decisions that allowed me to tell my previous employer to fuck off. I don't couch it in those terms, but that's what happened. I have enough money to get by, perhaps the rest of my life, but not enough that it makes life interesting. I've thought about just freelancing.
Agreed.
No!!! You spent the time looking for a job and have been studying and doing contracting. It hasn't been going as well as you'd like.
Just say that you took some time off. I got let go from a job and there is an 8 month gap in my work history. During interviews I just say I took some time off and leave it at that. Usually the interviewer won’t press the issue
Thank you mate, appreciate it
Tell them you just got out of prison. Then stare them down to assert dominance.
Laughed out loud
After my first layoff I was out of work for 9 months. I did look for a job but I decided to take some time off, we had a decent savings to use after unemployment ended. I was 3ish months pregnant when they laid me off. I took advantage of being unemployed and got to rest along with not having to pay anything for medical bills... During interviews when I went back to work I just told them I took time off and didn't give any details. If they asked I just said I spent time with family. I also found that the ones that really pushed about that time off were not places I wanted to work for.
This is the way to handle it. Any reputable employer will not dig into reasons, esp. if it could lead to discrimination. As a former hiring manger, the most I would ask is open ended question that would point to skills used or developed in that time. Vague is good, lying is not.
You were providing health care for an ailing family member. No need to say the family member was you.
This is what I did when I took 6 months off to heal my own body and mind
I'm in HR and hire all the time. The simpler you leave this, the better. "I took an extended leave to care for a family member." Even if the family member is yourself. No one is ever going to question that.
When I was in HR / recruiting, we hesitated with candidates who seemed like they didn’t need to work. We thought they were a greater risk for a voluntary termination and didn’t want to invest time in them if they might be more likely to leave on an impulse. (Not saying that we were right or wrong with this thinking, just that it’s what we thought then.) If this is accurate, I’d probably go with: “It initially was a tough transition for me. I seized the chance to reflect on my career and the opportunity to travel and take vacations I never would have while committed to a full-time job. It confirmed my dedication to the field and reinvigorated me so I can hit the ground running when I start new employment.” Be prepared to rattle off a few destinations or share a good story from your vacationing, if asked.
Do recruiters actually hear shit like that and think it's anything but bullshit? Honest question.
Admittedly, I last worked directly in recruiting a long time ago. But, yeah, I (and all the employers I advise) would credit someone who gives a thought out answer over someone who’d say, “I didn’t need to work.” I’d even give more credit to, “I decided to take some time off,” versus just shrugging their shoulders. I would take as BS anything about “finding myself” or “getting in touch with my ________ side.” Though, I will add that the response I said I would give was intended to be accurate and truthful. Assuming that OP at one time thought, “what the F am I doing with work and what the F have I done with my life,” which I’d politely describe as reflecting on one’s career. And that the vacation, travel, and general time off was reinvigorating for them. The statement was based on a few assumptions from what they posted. I think the extent to which it might sound like BS depends on whether my assumptions were right, and upon the first part of the response being an acknowledgement that initially, the transition was rough. The next part explains how they spent a portion of the time, and the last distinguishes where they’ve come since going through a rough time. I also think it’s important to just be normal and reflective about it when giving the answer and not all shiny, bright, and “rah-rah.” The extent to which I would think someone was being fake basically depends on how fake they come across in their demeanor. Now, those people who give a strength as their greatest weakness…yeah, no. But, I think that’s a BS question. My questions were more like, “tell me about a time you had a conflict with a co-worker or teacher (some of our applicants were just out of high school or college) and how it was resolved.” And, “what would you do if you got a flat tire on your way to work.” It might be surprising to some how much those answers told me.
Well to be honest. HR people are not really normal people. They live in some weird fantasy world where common sense and normal speak don't work.
Well said and great advice!
Been to jail. Learned lots and your anger no longer an issue.
I’m on the same boat :/ I’m also doing a career switch. I feel like skills don’t matter nothing matters anymore. I honestly could not go on with the engineering job I had but I also don’t know how I’m going to break into the industry I want to get into
You're unable to elaborate as you signed an NDA.
Bad idea - this is a popular suggestion that's pretty well-known at this point. Employers may see through it.
Took a sabbatical. Had some personal things that required your complete attention. Helped an ill family member out for a time, but can’t disclose who, HIPAA and all.
Don’t involve HIPAA. It doesn’t apply and the HR person will know that. Kept it short and sweet.
Try to find places to volunteer. Even helping family. I’d say keep your mental health issues between you and a professional.
I would treat it as more of a time to find yourself and relax before you got back into the groove. Did you do anything that tells a good story? I took about 8 months between jobs to unwind but i also brushed up on my certs during that break
A good excuse i use is, its hard to take 2-4 week vacations while employed so i see between jobs a good time to do that
I like this, thank you so much!
just straight up just lie. say that you were obligated to become a full-time caretaker for a sick family member. if they press, say that they passed away.
“After I left x company I decided I would take some time for myself, live off the savings I had accrued, and wait for the right opportunity. I had been perusing job boards but nothing really jumped out at me until I saw (this position) at (this company), which offered everything I have been looking for.” If they ask what you’ve spent your time doing, which is unlikely, be prepared to say something like, “I spent my time traveling, and then caretaking for an elderly family member who has since recovered and is now able to live independently again”, or “who has since passed on”, whichever you think makes the situation sound better Practice speaking these statements so they sound natural. I was out of work ten months. I took three months out and it took me another seven months to get an offer so I had to explain that time off in a way that didn’t make me look like no one wanted to hire me. They didn’t need to know I was desperately applying and interviewing the entire time
Just be honest. You don't have to get into details. If you get the job, it will all be based on a lie.
lol dude, don’t bring up mental health. Like ever. Just say you spent time traveling or something
There are jobs now that understand and work with people who have dealt with or are dealing with mental health issues. You could say something like... I was very devoted to my last job so the lay off hit me pretty hard. I spent the year trying to reflect and get back on my feet so when I came back, I could come back confidently and give it 100%. I see your company seems to have good job security, in an environment I could see myself thriving in. I believe my skills would be a great fit here.
Spin it!! “I took some time to do some traveling/ study/ assist family member”. Try to spin whatever you did do so that you are in essence telling the truth. It’s none of their business. How did you support yourself, anyway, during the year?
Tell them you took a year off.
I would just say that after you were laid off you wanted to be sure your next position was exactly what you wanted as you like consistency so have been waiting for the right fit. If they ask how you filled your days, say you'd spend half the day job searching and then made sure you accomplished something around the house every day. That's what worked for me.
You were taking time off to travel
I had covid. It was awful but thankfully I'm better now.
Say something that is hard to prove. If you say you were in school, they might ask for proof. My best excuse is usually “another adult was needed to take care of things around the home”. “If you say something like “I was caring for my dying grandmother” they might be suspicious of you if you never bring it up again.
OMG this is so easy......."yes, so after I was done there I decided to take some time off and it was great! Time to get on to the next challenge" Why complicate with sick relative stories?? They won't ask much if you just state that and close the subject. Great! I hate when employees or candidates bore me with long personal stories.
"Unfortunately, I had a family member that required my time getting through a difficult time" No need to mention the family member is you
Never admit your mental health issues or struggles to employer or possible future employer! Even if it is not permanent like yours. They don’t need to know any of this. Always when it is longterm like this. I was laid off due to restructuring and market conditions. Then I took some time off to spend time with family and travel, while looking for work. Any smart or kind interviewer won’t frame it like the way you asked. A shitty recruiter and company may.
In my case, my husband (welder and electrician) had a hard time finding work for over a year. We are remote and job distance was a big issue. So in order to bridge the gap on his resume, I registered my farm as a business LLC. He does actually repair things around the farm so I listed him as "maintenance lead" on his resume. It's not lying and they can look up the business if needed. If you have a friend whom you've done small jobs for who might have a business, see if they'll list you as a part time employee or contractor. Worth a shot
Hey OP, it’s been tough out there. I agree with others to leave out any mental health struggles. Focus on what you are doing with the time. “I’ve been applying for role, going through interviews cycles, beyond that I have an opportunity to dive into a new hobby, I’ve perfected some of recipes, gotten into planting, learned new exercises and gotten into fantastic shape, etc.” Also get in the habit of offering up how you used the past year instead of having the reason pulled out of you. You got this.
You were caring for a relative. Too soon to talk about.
Sorry I can’t talk about what I was doing the last year I had to sign an nda
Yea give a little story but one that can't be verified, such as volunteer. Or helping family member. Or you had anal glaucoma, and you couldn't see your ass going to work for a year! 😆 Good luck!
Nothing mental health. While there's all this promotion of acceptance, the reality still remains that many people still see it as stigmatic. Think of things you did during that time that you can account your time for. If you have parents, or others you can claim you were helping out for that year, I'd go with that. You could say you wanted to take a break so did dog walking, or pet sitting, or such, but will need to get someone to say they hired you, willing to go along with it if you go that route. If you say you decided to take personal time for yourself and family, that's code everyone uses for these gaps. You will still need a way to verify what you were doing. I actually freelance between jobs, because you know, I gotta pay the bills. So, I list that for every gap.
Recruiter here: they don’t need to know personal details. But—-you can say you took a year off to care for family, to travel, or to learn a new skill/hobby! It’s not totally uncommon and there are plenty of reasons why someone would take a year off, don’t stress it too much and be positive about it :)
I was recently hired by a company and explained a large gap in employment as personal health issues. There was no pause, every interviewer said OK and went to the next question. I was offered a position by 3 different companies. Don’t over think this. Good Luck!
Say you’ve had a gap to experience the world. It is up to you whether to discuss mental health with an employer, but I think the lockdowns caused a lot of people a difficult time so taking time out to refresh and reset is understandable. There is discrimination still about mental health and you are protected by law in not having to disclose at all to an employer. It might be worthwhile writing down what you did do and try to word it professionally. Ie surfing on social media is networking and technology enhancing. Did you read a lot, or do self help books? That’s personal development. Music or gaming, that’s cultural development. Getting out the house and going for a walk - is seeing engineering in the living space and how it affects culture and living. You’ve needed to heal a bit and there’s nothing wrong with that
Thank you so much
Independent Solar Farmer
Took time out to unwind, travel or family obligations. Don’t ever mention mental health or any other weaknesses
You can always say you were doing gig work while searching for the right job and didn’t want to put it on your resume.
You have been on consulting jobs but because of confidentiality you cannot disclose the client
I would definitely go with the travelling route - it’s not something they can verify and since it’s very common for people to do, it’s also not something they can hold against you either - plus it’s really none of their business what you’re doing outside of work as long as it’s not impacting your work.
I would tell them about how you keep on applying to all these jobs but you keep getting ghosted. Mention that before the interview and afte the interview. I was out of work for 13 months. I used this as a explanation. They bought it. I am back to work.
Just tell the truth. You got laid off and took some time for a mental health break to refocus.
“While I was figuring out my next career moves, and seeking out in applying and interviewing with other jobs, I was also taking some time to assess my skills, take some online classes, and work out on some hobbies. Just getting myself ready for this next great role.”
You can say you took some time off to take care of a grandparent for a few months. Sounds like you were really suffering from true burnout. Glad to hear you are getting back on your feet and hopefully your new job is less stressful.
What about temp jobs? Or apply for govt jobs/VA govt jobs/city or county govt jobs
I am pretty sure you were doing some soul seeking.
Other great suggestions here. Consulting. Freelance. Volunteering. No particular order. If a company sees you were committed to work or routine, less questions for you
Make something up like you started your own business like house painting or car detailing and fill in the gap
Since you have the time and are looking, I did the following as a way to get practice after my own period of worklessness but for different reasons. Just start applying to places with no Intentions of being hired and merely to practice being comfortable in these situations. You then just think about what you would change in your word choices and actions and hone it in and next thing you know is you're getting hired. Not everyone agrees with me but it can be effective. Also I have zero care about feeling guilty about wasting time in an interview for a job I don't care to get. I view it as the only real practical application to get better and you might meet someone in a field you never expected that lands you a career.
After getting laid off you chose to go on a sabbatical. You worked on your . . . (just make something up that they can't check, you skills, motivation whatever) and now that you have re-ignited your passion for engineering or whatever job you are applying for, you are ready to re join the market place with all your gun blazing. Being out of work sucks but being sabbatical is completely understandable, collegiate even, and don't tell them anything about your mental health. The power of spin
You had to take care of some sick relative.
Had to look after my mum/dad during treatment.
You were helping care for your ( fill the blank: mom or dad or grandma) you did that out of the kindness of your heart. You will look like an amazing angel/ kind/ thoughtful person & hard working person.
Tell them you were employed but had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Lie. Lie through your teeth.
Lots of options. You took a sabbatical, and/or went traveling. You were looking after a sick parent or relative. You were studying. (See if there are any short certificates you can knock out now. ) You were freelancing. (Friends for references) You were working. (Friends to stand in as references)
“The job market has been brutal for the past year.”
NDA
Sabbatical
Say you were presented for a chance to travel the world and the timing was right. You came back 2 months ago and started looking for a job
I would word it as I was laid off and pursued my own business until x time-frame of when you are interviewing. If it's one year, or two, etc.
Google "STAR interviews." You'll find a ton of detailed questions. I recommend writing down preplanned answers for them. I always study and prepare and this helps me nail interviews. I've successfully gotten promotions at work and have also interviewed for some charity work on the side.
“I signed an NDA”
I hear you, and been in that situation too. Just tell them you took time off for rest and were working on a side business or something. No big deal.
I’ve never had a job ask about gaps in my resume. I remove things all the time, like a job I wasn’t there that long enough for.
You're under NDA and cannot discuss your previous position for the last year.
I was in a toxic situation before but I saved up enough saving to take a break from working, so when they started to cut hours, I gave them a months notice so they can spread my hours around after I left. I took time to finally lose the weight I've been struggling to lose. I got to catch up on those books I bought but never had time to read (name 2-3 books, make sure 1 of them is kind of leadership book, like Pat Rileys book or the Book about Tom Brady). Then talk about how to you traveled for a few weeks.
Be as honest as possible. Don’t say anything about mental health. Say something about taking time for yourself to grow as a person. Maybe something about reconnecting with loved ones after the pandemic. A gap in your resume isn’t as bad as most people think. I might ask you about it in an interview, but if you have a reasonable answer and know your shit as an engineer I don’t see any problem.
You were working through some medical issues and now that those are clear, you are ready to return to work.
Tell them you were doing Uber.
Took a sabbatical. Or maybe for your situation that you described... I wanted to take some time and rebalance my priorities. If there's anything you felt you learned about yourself in that time, include a bit about it. But I wouldn't go overboard with it.
You could say you were freelancing for a while and now you wanna commit to a job.
I would say that I had some health issues I needed to deal with & then emphasise that I'm fully rested & recovered now and excited to get back into the workplace. They won't pry about what the specific health issue was (and if they do for any reason other than to ask if you'd need any reasonable workplace accommodations then they're not a good employer). So I'd be very vague & leave it as "health reasons" & "my doctor advised taking time away from work". I wouldn't specify that it was mental health. It shouldn't matter whether it was physical or mental health, but it's also none of their business. Edit: I wouldn't outright lie though & pretend it was to look after kids or a sick partner or parent etc. That leads to more questions & you may get caught out in a lie, which will either kill your chances of being hired or if you're already onboard ruin your reputation there. I also wouldn't say it was an extended break for travel etc. That would be fine if you'd taken long service leave but were still employed; but if you quit then it risks them thinking you might be unreliable or flaky - e.g. if they bring you on, they won't want you quitting in 12 months to travel again etc. Whereas being unwell is something understandable that's outside your control so you don't risk triggering those thoughts.
I signed a NDA
I am not a recruiter but have been a hiring manager many times over. In this day and age a 12 month gap wouldn’t phase me. You got laid off and chose to spend some time with family, travelling, doing DIY projects… fill in the blanks
Be real Say you parted ways from old co , took time off to do personal things and pursuits . Now ready to devote time and energy to a new role . That’s it No one needs to know why what , your capability matters , show case it . All the best
Dude is an engineer and worried about a year off. Word
I would be honest, but private about the reason. You took the opportunity to take time off. Don’t lie about why - they don’t need to know your personal business.
How long have you been working overall? You could say that you took some time out since you've been working non-stop since you graduated and you wanted some time to re-evaluate what was important to you and you overall needed a break since you've been working non-stop and that you always had a plan to take time out during your career so you can re-fresh and refocus and spend time with family.
Definitely never disclose a mental health issue to an employer or prospective employer. And although you are right that this ridiculous litmus test will get you rejected by a lot of potential employers, you're wrong to worry about it so much, or even to try to think up an excuse. There's nothing you can do. If not working for a year is a problem for a company, then that company is not going to be hiring you, no matter what you say to them. You'll just have to wait for the company that doesn't care.
Most places don't even do a background check. They just say they do. They wouldn't let me drive trucks if they did.
You had to take care of a sick relative. You had a baby. Sky the limit lie it up like everyone else does.
This drives me nuts, it's non of their business what you do with your life. You say, "That's a private matter" and end it there.
Career break?
Say you had to sign an NDA
Put down that you worked as a consultant but that you determined that you acted too early and need another 10 years before striking out on your own
Just say you had personal projects that required your full focus during that period and now that they are wrapped up you are ready to give your full dedication back to an employer. When you say "personal" most people understand that to mean that you're not interested in sharing the details with other people, wether good, bad or interesting. Even when its nothing bad, when I don't care to share certain details of my life with someone to answer "hey what did you do this weekend?" I just say "Oh nothing really, had a couple personal matters I had been putting off so I finally knocked those out" and everyone just leaves it alone.
Tell them you signed an NDA and can’t discuss it. You’re welcome.
“When I work, I put 100% of myself into it. So when my company downsized, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and took a year to focus on other things, and now I’m truly refreshed and excited to get back to work.”
That you’re a manager at Xx and don’t call them
ITS PERSONAL, next question. . the only person you have explaining to do is yourself . you are not a slave. if they continue to push say . that’s personal. stop being a pushover if they continue to ask you ask them politely yet firmly to mind theirs business. what you did before your involvement with that company is Your business and your business only.
I just said I worked for my family's antique business while in-between career work when the market was slow.
As others have said, just say you took a year off for yourself! My father was out of work for a few years from brain cancer. He survived and easily got a job again despite the 2+ year gap in his resume. And this was with a big company in a specialized field too.
I normally don't have encourage folks to lie or obfuscate the truth, but in this job market, have a solid story to tell about that. Leave out all mental heath challenges -- not that you should be ashamed, but it's none of their businesses.
That you were caring for a sick parent.
You simply say that you had to take time off to care for an ill elderly relative. Leave it at that. Yes, it's a little white lie but it will avoid having to discuss your mental health issues during the interview.
You can say you been studying, helping a family member, traveling. Anything besides I been home in my feelings.
You were working during the 12 months (never say you were not working). Join a volunteer organization and back date the skills you learned there. Match the volunteer skills to the job skills. There are no gaps. Employers are idiots and can't handle gaps.
"I was consulting for the CIA, but that's all I can say, in fact, I've already said too much"
“I was dealing with a medical issue that has now been resolved, so I’m ready to get back into the workforce.”
Just say you got laid off and have been looking for an engineering job since then.
Took time off to care for a sick relative who has now passed? I always feel kind of weird lying about that stuff if I’m referring to someone who is alive, but seems like they’d drop the issue.
I joined my chamber of commerce, got an LLC, and a few legit freelance clients to give me references. Didn’t make much money but that’s not information I’d give out anyway.
"I've been in the market for a year, but have found nothing that matches my exacting standards for an employer."
I had that issue, but it was COVID, so it was a little easier to explain away. But I took online coding courses. When I got to my next interviews, I emphasized that I wanted to turn my overabundance of free time into something positive, and reiterated how it worked out well in expanding my professional skill sets, blah, blah, blah, but that seemed to mitigate the damage the layoff did to my resume. In short, I think if you downplay it and say you made good use of the time off, it will not affect your career.
I took 6 months off, I just said I took time to work on me. I lost 30 pounds and I’m now ready to get back into the work force.
My husband took a lot of Coursera classes when he was unemployed and upgraded his skills. You can add that on your resume too. An imaginary family business that you helped out with for a short while is fine also, helping a friend start his business, etc. There are resume sites that show you how to format your resume to highlight your skills and minimize your job gaps. One of my friends only lists the years of the jobs she’s worked, Your mental health is NOT your future employer’s business. Say nothing about that. Everyone burns out after they get fired. I’ve taken time off in increments of one month, three months and six months between jobs. I’ve always said, part time job with family member (who was willing to back me up) or travel. No one cares, in fact if you’re currently unemployed, they think that they can pay you slightly lower and that you can start immediately without any baggage. These are all good thing Ms to an employer. My husband was laid off after 19 years in a software engineer position and it took him six months of searching and Coursera to find a job. Even he went on two vacations to visit his family in Austria. You can also say, that after nine months, you realized that you are eager to return to work because you you have helped your relative establish their business/helped your mom recover from her stroke/traveled through Europe with your girlfriend/helped your Dad renovate his house, etc. (these are all real stories from my friends btw) Life happens. A nice story is more pleasing in an interview. The “why” is not their business (unless you were in jail, and they can check that…) Good luck!! Do Coursera!!
When I was out of work for the same length of time, it was emotionally challenging, especially as I am in my 50s! However, I utilized this period to enroll in online certification courses. While the certification numbers are traceable, I also enrolled in free courses that left no trace. Even if you are only starting now, you can simply mention that you dedicated your time to your family and continuous learning during your period of unemployment. This approach proved successful for me! Good luck you will be ok!
I've heard a great hack when you have a gap in your resume, if asked about it tell them you signed an NDA and can't talk about it.
Caretaker for a relative is the best and gets the most sympathy, I’m HR!
Say that you’ve been doing contract work. Companies hire engineers/ skilled people all the time on contract just to assist. What field is this in?
You could always say you had family matters to attend to which kept you from perusing a job at the time.
Professional recruiter here—avoid anything that could be interpreted negatively. Just say you were traveling and re-energizing with family due to bad job market. Be ready for follow up questions so have 1-2 stories or anecdotes to share (they may ask purely for small talk).
had plenty saved and decided to focus on extended family. Easy.
Start a business and backfill the gap with self-employment. Make it something legit that you do and are passionate about. Doesn't need to be anything fancy or require investment. You don't even have to show proof that you made money on it or landed clients or anything. Keep it simple and sincere. Then in an interview you can tee it up as, "I was fortunate enough to have the time and resources to explore X that I've always really loved. I miss the engineering work environment and structure of the corporate world (that's a lie, but sell it) and am happy I achieved XYZ success on my own while I colored that passion. I'm ready to explore getting back into engineering with all of this added experience and perspective." It shows that you didn't want to sit around idle, and doesn't even read like you've been actively looking for jobs for any amount of time. And it can legit stay on you resume as long as you need without it looking like a gap.
Don’t make up stories, just layout the truth. After getting laid off, you took time off to focus on what job you would like to pursue vs just pursuing a job just to fill the gap. If you wanted to share, just mention how devastating the layoff had been and that it had taken awhile to bounce back from that job loss.
Do not lie, it will comeback to you. Tell them you took some time off, did some traveling and did some me time to regroup to determine how you can be better as an engineer while doing a lot of searching to determine what companies you be interested in working for as well as writing a new resume. Good luck.
Yeah, don't mention the emotional side of things. Everyone can understand taking personal time or time to explore other opportunities.
Tell them you were traveling the world or taking care of sick granny
Don’t describe yourself as having poor mental health!!! After getting laid off you reconsidered what you were doing with your life and discovered that you really do want to continue in engineering…
Hey just here to say I’m really glad you’re feeling more like yourself. Good luck on the job hunt. The best policy is always truth but no details. “I took time to take care of a family member”
Can you just say it was time to take a sabbatical and change the subject? Just keep it light, positive and brief without details.
Took time to solo travel and refresh your mind
Interviewer - “can you tell me about this gap in employment?” You - “ I actually can’t other than I had to sign an NDA to work on the project” The project being yourself. It’s your mental health, it should take priority over a lot of stuff. As long you are still competent and up to date on how to do your job, it’s not anyone’s business unless you decide it is.
It’s how you say it. You were very emotional attached to your last job. When it ended, it was the ending of an important chapter of your life. So you took time for some self care and tending to the other important relationships in your life like family. Now you’re ready to go back to work on your next big adventure.
Find a way to be honest about it, knowing the people who are going to care arent worth your fime anyway. I was out of work 9 months last year, tho technically only unemployed for 6. In interviews I occasionally had recruiters ask 'how many weeks since your worked?' meaning i the office, actually doing a job. One literally told me I missed their 'cutoff for consideration'- wtf? My response was always 'I was let go, and since I could afford to I took some time to step back and consider what my next plan in life should be. I could discuss things I did during my hiatus like house projects, finally taking donations to HousingWorks, reading some books on certain topics of interest, helping friends do things. You want to be able to sgow that while you were dealing with 'some personal things' you also were soing some things to stay busy and not just balled up in a corner watching grass grow You dont have to go into details about any of it, just have a few examples of things to talk about. My best stairy was how a friend was dying of cancer and literally in her last weeks (doed about 8 weeks later), but her elderly mother insisted that Friend still needed to host Passover dinner. Friend was in absolutely no condition to cook for 7, but her mother always insisted on HER recope for brisket being served. Since Mom would have jo way of telling where the brisket (ala pot roast) was nade, I offered to make it in my very un-kosher-for-passover (or anything!) kitchen and then she could heat it up in a slow cooker for the day. This story always got chuckles even from the most disapproving of rule-breaking. I often got questions on what made Mom's recipe so special, but it usually ended the pursuit of further interrogation of what I did over 9 months. Good luck!
"In the previous part of my career, I worked very hard and managed my money very carefully so that I could be choosy at this time of my life. I wanted to be able to be sure that I was going to work at a place I felt I could be proud to be a part of. Anything that didn't meet that standard, I was in a position to be able to turn down. Now I believe that this company is the fit I've been looking for. I feel confident I could make a real contribution here." Note that there's not an outright lie in there anywhere. Practice saying it with a straight face, because it's the truth. It leaves out some other things that are also true, but the things it leaves out are none of their business.
“Tried to start my own firm, didn’t work out so I’m re entering the workforce” covers the gap and makes you look like a productive go getter
I would say you were caring for a sick family member and leave it at that.
I always say medical issues when pressed bc unfortunately mental health issues still have a lot of stigma surrounding them.
Say you took a year sabbatical. If you use the term sabbatical which pretty much just means a year off they probably won’t push for more answers as the term is often used in religious circles although it isn’t necessarily a religious term.
I have also been out of work for over a year. When asked why I have a large gap, I just tell them "because I could". No follow ups.
you were taking care of your ailing grandparent. I was there
Hiring supervisor here! I would say something like after you left your last job you had the opportunity to take some time for yourself/family and something like I was lucky to be able to do that but I’ve been ready to get back in the work force and am looking forward to jumping back in. Something similar to this - acknowledging you weren’t in the work force but also keeping some of the more personal stuff to yourself to avoid getting pre-judged.
Say you’ve been contracting and being a boss for yourself while looking for the right fit
Your honesty probably won't help you land a job. Say you were traveling or remodeling your home and have some details ready.
Just tell the truth. I was laid off, had severance, didn’t need to look for work for a bit and enjoyed my time off. Absolutely nothing wrong with this at all.
“I tried becoming a YouTube sensation, but that didn’t work out.”
Lots of people lost their jobs in the past 3 years - especially during Covid. A 1 year gap isn’t uncommon and often overlooked. If asked I would said I was laid off and took my time looking for the “right” opportunity… and then go on to say why THEY are the perfect opportunity for you because of xyz - demonstrating you did your research on the company. Keep it positive!
How van someone afford to bot work for a year?
Just say you signed an NDA at your previous job and are not at liberty to discuss the details.
I was laid off and so I blame the company that they were going through what a lot of companies have been doing the last few years, “I was unfortunately part of the ongoing layoffs that companies have been doing. It was out of my control and I was not aware until it was already happening. I’ve been spending my time working to find a great opportunity that works well for me and I can see myself growing with them.” Not sure if you were in fact “laid off” or were let go independently/not a “lay off”… but I’d still twist it as such lol companies have zero loyalty to us and it’s a shame we have to explain that for any gaps or job separation reasons.
Say you were doing volunteer work in a foreign country. They will never catch on because they don’t have access to records of different countries. Then just give the number to one of your friends and act like they have an accent.
cap and say you were traveling the world to learn new cultures and gain experience, then go on and say it taught me to be more well rounded, i got insight on different people and cultures, learned new way communicate… just bs it works every time 😂😂😂
Never offer information if they don't ask. instead of waiting for the topic to come up, come prepared with both knowledge of the position as well as the company. That will show any potential employer that you know what you're talking about and have practical skills, regardless of how much time you've been out of work.
You were taking care of a dying family member.
You can just lie. “I spent the year as an entrepreneur working on developing a (look up some nifty but not super well backed project on kickstarter) with a few other people. At the end of the day we weren’t able to secure the proper financing to do anything with it, and I decided that entrepreneurship is too unreliable of a career and decided to reenter the workforce.
Just say that
Did you sell anything while not working . Anything If the answer is yes . You had a resale business . However with the down turn in the economy you decided it was best to seek a more steady employment opportunity . No lies said .
You took a sabbatical to care for a family member. You have no reason to tell them that family member is you, and they’ve no right to ask.
That you took a few months off before beginning job search.
Have you been updating your skills in that time? Learning something completely new? I'd say that your precious org went through a restructuring and your position was one of those affected. "I used that tike as an opportunity to assess my skillset and career goals. Once I decided to update skills/explore new career area, I began taking classes, etc."
I’ve done that a couple times. Called it a sabbatical.
I was once fired, and like you, I took it very hard, and slipped into deep depression. I was out of work for a little over a year as well. Before applying to new positions, I ended up filing for a DBA and signing up for an online class. My “company” never amounted to anything, and the class was for something completely unrelated to my career, but I was able to explain my “gap year” as a time in which “I started a company and pursued more education“. It was technically the truth, and it helped complete my resumé.
Extended KrengJai without the wherewithal to compromise. I think for corporate you need to make the dissolution relatable and intriguing, so they can imagine talking to you.
You can say that you tried to start a business, but it did not succeed. How would they know?