When a hiring manager asks can you explain this gap in your resume what is the best answer?

Question

jennifer_bloom · Accepted Answer

You can say you were running a start up and it fell apart after a few years. This isn’t horrible because most businesses fail and shut down due to low profits or competing businesses zoning them out, in the same way that around 80% of church plantings fail. It’s like in the olympics, everyone talks about the winner, but there are far more losers then winners. If you don’t want to tell a story about a failed start up, you could say you had a hormonal medical condition that forced you to take time off but it’s been stabilized through medical intervention and hard rehabilitation work by you. Or you could say you tried to work as a professional chef for ten years but you could no longer tolerate the crazy kitchen hours when you got older.

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

I was flashing my tits on onlyfans or I was answering questions on gag.

Anpu23 · Accepted Answer

Can I get sarcastic first?

"I spent __________ in a religious ashram in India becoming enlightened"

Traveling works, as does helping a sick friend or relative. The usual reason I heard was prison/jail time, not much they can do about that. I also heard "I tried to start my own business" which is a pretty good one (shows ambition). Medical is another one, if you spent a year in a comma that's a gap, but healing from major surgery or sickness can be a red flag if the underlying conditions aren't satisfied (employer thinks "are they going to be out sick a lot" but a climbing, car or other accident that you are now healed from is usually okay. Also they might run into ADA compliance issues if it falls under that.)

NathanDavis · Accepted Answer

the truth... if I ask about this... that's because I want to see if they speak honestly or make up excuses

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

"How much do you know about the penal system in Siberia?"

Whatever the truth is I guess.

I have a few in mine that I'm rarely asked about. I usually just say I was doing other things and the panel interviewing me is smart enough to know what that means.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

Usually an easily explainable situation that people won’t ask too many details about. “Oh, my mom had surgery and I needed to take off work fulltime to help her, but now we’re able to afford a nurse so we’re good.” Or something like “I had to help a friend of mine move away from her abusive boyfriend and cover her tracks and mine so he wouldn’t find her.”

RavVid · Answer

It depends on circumstances. If there has been a down turn in an industry a hiring manager will know that so it can be best just to acknowledge the company went bust. It is possibly best to show that you used that time productively in improving skills.

provokeesmokee · Answer

Whatever you can support that looks good for the job.

Training, travel, family obligation, mini-retirement.

Whatever you want, just make it sound impressive enough to be beneficial and mundane enough to be realistic and supportable.

artgorgeous · Answer

Don't make gaps in resume, no one is going to check. Just write something like: worked as a freelancer, worked as enterpreneur, etc.

AviatorTom · Answer

Be honest, don't lie. If you have something you don't want to reveal (maybe you were in jail), just say "I wasn't in the job market then."

worldscolide · Answer

I was plotting to enslave humanity and destroy the world, but failed.

Anonymous · Answer

Fake a disease Or just tell them to mind their own business Won't be a problem unless they are not cry babies

Nikki1989 · Answer

Don't leave gaps. Say you were self-employed.

boobliker · Answer

I never leave any gaps, fill them in with holidays and looking after your kids

Sparkie460 · Answer

Just say " I was incarcerated and unable to work ".

OlderAndWiser · Answer

What is the real reason for the gap?

legalboxers · Answer

Family issues. I take care of a parent who is aged (which is my explanation) Not sure if family first tho

exitseven · Answer

I was in a mental institution but I M better now

OfMiceandMen · Answer

Met a rich woman, and was her bitch for a while. Held many positions, and unsure what to call it, so I left it blank. Personal Assistant?

Anonymous · Answer

😂😂😂

LiamJHayden · Answer

Taking care of an ailing relative.

msc545 · Answer

I was educating myself.

AnusNdaPainus · Answer

Learning a trade.

Anonymous · Answer

Travelling  Mental health How long is the gap?

Guardian45 · Answer

None of your EFFEN business!

Jmmmfi4 · Answer

I'm prison for human trafficking

When a hiring manager asks can you explain this gap in your resume what is the best answer?

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