Tip No. 217
Q. I have been unemployed for 6 months now and am confident I possess good personal skills that would be attractive to potential employers. However, on every application form I fill out there is always a section asking “Please account for any gaps in employment”. I'm not sure how to explain being 6 months out of work as during this time I was suffering from depression and needed a break but am sure if I say that it will put potential employers off. Is honesty the best way or should I just say I decided to take a break?
A. I am glad that you are doing better and ready to re-enter the workforce. You are correct that to name your depression as your reason for leaving your last employer is not the best way to handle a discussion about gaps in employment. I do not know if your former employer knows the real reason for your leaving, if you voluntarily resigned or if your work was suffering and it was a mutual agreement for you to go. It is always wise to contact your former employer to find out what they would say as part of a pre-or post employment check. In other words, how much information do they give out to prospective employers? In reality your six months absence from the workforce was related to personal family matters, you were recuperating from an illness or one might say, were caring for a family member who was ill. You, of course, are the family member. Once said, your main focus will be to point out the jobs you have had previously and the skills you possess and how those transfer to the job for which you are applying. If you have kept up your skills/learning during this time, make sure you mention this. Emphasize that during this time you would not have been able to commit to your career and you are a person who believes in giving 100% to your employer. You can end the conversation by stating that the reason(s) for your absence from the market place have been resolved and you are ready to devote yourself, once again to your career. You may be asked if such a circumstance would arise again. Your response would be that to the best of your knowledge, the issue is resolved and not likely to resurface. Depending on the "official" reasons for leaving your last company you might instead respond that upon leaving your last position (and you will probably be asked why) you were not just looking for another paycheck - you were looking for a company with which to settle and to which you can make a long-term contribution. Go on to explain that you enjoy your work too much to just accept a paycheck, so you determined that the next job would be one where you could settle down/find a "home" and make a solid contribution. You will then want to steer the conversation toward why you are interested in the company you are interviewing with. For example, "from everything I have read about this company, you are a group that expects people to pull their weight, because you have a real job to do, etc., etc. I like that and would like to be a part of a team/organization like that." With this response you answer the question, compliment the interviewer, and shift the emphasis from your being unemployed to how you can get the job offer. I hope that either of these responses will assist you in being able to move forward in your job search.
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