How to answer “Why is there a gap in your resume?” in an interview

I love so much that some of these traditional questions ("Why is there a gap in your resume?") are falling out of favor in the hiring world.

If you ever come across a hiring manager who does ask the question, it might be possible that they're playing from an outdated rule book. They might even be required to ask about employment gaps as part of the company's hiring rules. Whatever the reason, if they do ask the question, the recommended course of action is to answer honestly, but succinctly.

Were you job hunting? Were you on an extended trip? If you don't want to give any personal details, you could even just say, "I needed to step away from my job to handle a personal situation at home," and leave it at that.

The hiring manager isn't going to look for a perfect answer. Instead, they want an answer that's honest, clear, and self-assured.

Being nervous or rambling or telling long-winded stories isn't the strategy to use with this particular question. ;)

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