You finally got an interview from a company that you've been waiting to hear from for months. Now what? The gap in your resume needs to be explained, throughly in order for you to still stand a chance. Regardless of what the gap is for, laid off, fired, in jail, personal matter, WHATEVER the case you need a comfortable landing pad to give your reasoning.
Look at these two cases:
1. Gap Reason: Raising a Child with Disabilities
Last job: Information Technology Analyst
Arnold had to leave his job of 11 years to stay home with his wife to care for their son. Arnold worked for a software company that had contracts all across the globe. Arnold was out of work for 4 years. While leaving his job he focused most of his time and energy into his sons' development. As his son got older Arnold felt that his family needed the money and it was time to go back out into the job force. Arnold held 4 certifications in which they all were expired. Arnold took what little money he had and re-took all of the certifications while looking for a new position.
Arnold received a call back and a phone interview 5 months after he started applying. It was the only employer who had called him back to ask "why have you been out of the job force for so long"? Arnold replied, "I was taking care of my son. By taking care of him I learned a great deal of patience and the ability to problem solve quicker than I can blink. Because of this situation I have a new hunger for working and providing for my family and this position would certainly be the right foot in the right direction".
With an answer like that how can you lose? Notice he did not mention what was wrong with his son. When you mention specifics or give too much detail you will shy employers from hiring you. If Arnold told the hiring manager that his son had development problems (which upon assumption) could be ongoing, Arnold may never get a position because the employer would think Arnold would leave work again.
Be discrete!
2. Gap Reason: Laid Off
Last job: Wealth Management Rep
Monica received a phone call from a Hiring Manager at an investment firm she was dying to work for. Monica has been laid off for 1 year and 5 months. Although she was laid off and it was NOT her fault. Monica unfortunately suffered the consequence. She didn't start actively searching for a position until 10 months AFTER she was laid off. She had no idea how to explain why it took so long for her to find a position.
While Monica was on her hiatus she did a lot of reading about the economy and always read the newspaper about stocks and other thriving investments. In her interview she decided to engage her reading efforts into the "conversation". "Although the job market is still suffering I managed to keep track of current trends in money market and shared accounts". ----Monica did the RIGHT thing by engaging an appropriate and personal activity into the interview. At this point Monica can go deeper into what she found and thought about the economy and its specifics to keep the gap in her resume closed.
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