For context I started my full time career right after college in 2015. After a short stint at my second job, I have a “gap” from early 2018 to early 2020 where I opted to travel and take a break for a year and a half. Since 2020 - for the last few years now - I have been employed without any gaps in employment. Despite this, I STILL occasionally get asked by recruiters or hiring managers why I have a gap during those past years. Isn’t this line of questioning seen as outdated and inappropriate these days? It’s really not their business why a candidate was temporarily out of the workforce, and I don’t feel like I should have to explain it to anyone. It’s also a red flag to me, because most of the time the types of hiring managers that ask this are the types of managers I would have no interest in working for anyway. What is the appropriate response to this question? #interview
Is this in the US?
Yes
Omg! I was planning on a break for 2 years. How easy was it to get a job immediately after your break?
Put a block in your resume about what you were doing during that time, it will stop the questions. I have a friend that was out for an extended time for medical reasons and that's what he does.
None of your business
Lesson to learn is create an LLC and employ yourself with monthly paychecks before taking an extended break
With this approach what would you put on your resume during the period ?
Name of that LLC - stealth mode start up
I took a year to travel the world and loved it when asked about the gap. Everyone was jealous and thought it was a great idea. It had zero negative impact.
This. Now you’re a diversity hire because you bring perspective or some shit. Also, nobody will ever verify this. What will they do, ask for ticket stubs? Oh on the resume, it’s called a “sabbatical”
What did you do on that gap?
personal reasons, health, spend time with family they usually dont ask follow up questions to dig deeper
seriously? is it not human to get sick, and need more time to recover? when sabbatical is not an option.
Be honest or be a lying noble like you were taking care of an ailing family member who made a full recovery thanks to you
It’s a messed up culture when choosing to take a temporary break from working is viewed as a red flag… feel imprisoned by corporate America
Feel you. I also have gaps like that. I get burnt out from work. So just leaving and making time for myself is so precious to me. Besides even though when not working, I’m taking some course or doing practice problem for interviews. I wish this was not a thing to discuss. We only get one life to live and we only age older. We won’t be able to do the things or enjoy the way we can, when we retire. Who knows when we’ll ever be able to retire. Inflation, health care cost are sky high and will not get any better.
“Employee” is just a polite replacement of “slave”. If slave was without a master for two years, he has to explain himself. Makes perfect sense. I will not he surprised if employees ose voting rights one day.
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Just add some bogus startup line to your LinkedIn profile for 2 years
I’ve heard this can be bad idea if they dig into it
Nah don't do this, it will come back in a background check your a liar and you'll get your offer pulled