Just say you took a sabbatical.
Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
41–50 of 248 posts
Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
#42If you don’t want to tell the truth (and why would you not?), tell them you were caring for a sick family member. Nobody’s going to question that!
Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
#43I took nearly a year off in the 1990s, just "doing coffee shops and bookstores." I read a lot, did some recreational programming and a little travel. Basically took it easy after a number of years of high-hour, high-visibility projects (and a high-hour, low-visibility startup that essentially crashed). Never had any trouble with that explanation. If they don't like it, you probably don't want to work there anyway.
"If they don't like it, you probably don't want to work there anyway."
That's always important to remember.
Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
#44> Now i feel completely healthy, refreshed, passionate and ready to rock again What did you do to get refreshed again? And can you keep this up while working 40 hours a week?
First of all it is time. Some things heal slow. I thought that for any issue 3 months is just enough. I was wrong.
Second of all - medication. Takes at least six months to see any difference feel-wise and tests-wise.
> And can you keep this up while working 40 hours a week? Sure. I’m as good as new.
Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
#45I mainly consult and contract, so 2-4months on the bench is normal.
Anyone who asks is just trying to get leverage.
Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
#46I'd just tell the truth, I've taken off plenty of time and I generally just put it on my resume to save them having to ask: "took of some time for health related reasons and then decided to use my savings to spend some time with my passions" or whatever it is in your case. If this is a problem for a hiring manager, that's probably a red flag for you as well. I hope it doesn't end up being a problem for you; it's neve…
Thanks! I'm still a bit hesitant to add a section describing the nature of the hiatus to a list of previous work experiences. Seems a bit unprofessional to me as if the work experience is sorted in descending order — the gap is gonna be at the top. So i'm at crossroads here: risk and add the medical section or prepare an answer if a follow up question even occurs. With former i'm blatantly throwing it to the face, wi…
I am in the same boat as you. I have a serious medical issues that is ongoing, but when I want to and am capable of working I'll have to explain it.
I guess the conversation could go like this: Why were you not working for two years? "Heart transplants are a bitch"
Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
#47First of all, I've done plenty of hiring. You should not worry about a 12 month gap. It will have a minor negative impact on getting callbacks. You might have to work slightly harder at your applications to compensate. If you're already getting calls and interviews, you've already passed through the filter since a gap is most likely to hurt you while a HR recruiter is sorting through a large pile of resumes.
You can still do things with your resume to make it more likely to get through the resume pile filter. Did you do any personal projects, classes or open source that can show continues professional interest and passion? Try putting something on your resume about it. Or if you've really done nothing but relax(which is OK!), now can be a good time to start working on professional development, then you have something to speak to when asked what you've been doing with your time.
Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
#48I'd just say I worked on personal projects for a year to learn new libraries/languages/frameworks.
Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
#49I always wonder what the HR person would get all upset over a gap for? Can someone tell me about the time they rejected a candidate because they had a gap in their employment? lol :D I mean why do they care. If I save up money and take a year off every few years? That just means if I get bored of them I'll walk out. It sounds like the kinda thing people care about because they're told to, but they don't actually have…
> I mean why do they care. If I save up money and take a year off every few years? That just means if I get bored of them I'll walk out.
Your last sentence is exactly why they care. They don't want people who will quit when they get bored; they want people who need the job.
I know people who have used words like "flaky" and "transient" and "unreliable" to describe people with gaps. To the people making such judgements, an involuntary gap indicates incompetence, and a voluntary gap indicates someone who is confident, independent, and unlikely to put up with bullshit (and thus more likely to quit).
Re: Ask HN: How to explain job gaps on the resume?
#50"Personal reasons" or "health reasons" - if they probe farther they get into questions they are not legally allowed to ask. Just remember that the law (at least in the US) protects you from answering details - if they have been briefed at all about how to interview legally they will instantly back off that line of questioning.
Try to stay at your next job for at least 2 years (5 is better) so your next resume can just show the year you started/stopped working there thus hide the gap.