{"id":173014,"date":"2020-02-11T09:20:04","date_gmt":"2020-02-11T14:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/?p=173014"},"modified":"2024-04-03T15:37:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T19:37:59","slug":"explaining-gaps-in-employment-a-guide-for-remote-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/telecommuting-job-search-help\/explaining-gaps-in-employment-a-guide-for-remote-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Explaining Gaps in Employment: A Guide for Remote Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updated April 2024<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Careers rarely follow a smooth, upward progression. Life is messy and there are a multitude of different reasons why you may find yourself explaining gaps in employment. Most obviously, you may have a gap of time between jobs, especially if you were laid off or terminated for cause. Other reasons can include attending full-time school programs, raising children, acting as a caregiver, volunteer work, and travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as these gaps can be explained and any loss of skills mitigated, a gap in employment does not need to be an obstacle to continuing your career. Your future employer is a person, too, and has undoubtedly encountered similar situations in their own life. It is important, however, to implement a thoughtful strategy for addressing your gaps. You don\u2019t want to be unprepared when you\u2019re finding it hard to get an interview, or get caught flatfooted when you get an interview if potentially awkward questions arise. Read on to learn how remote workers can effectively manage employment gaps and get the job of their dreams!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is an Employment Gap?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, it\u2019s important to know what an employer will consider an employment gap<\/a>. It may seem like forever to us, but six months out of work does not necessarily raise a red flag. You will still want to be honest when explaining gaps in employment, but it will probably not be seen as a problem. A gap doesn\u2019t become a gap until you have been out of work for nine months to a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why Do Employment Gaps Affect your Employment Opportunities?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Employers are skittish<\/a> about hiring candidates with longer gaps in employment for a variety of reasons. Any new hire is costly and hiring mistakes will obviously compound those costs. In order to avoid mistakes, employers will have the following questions regarding applicants with employment gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. <\/strong>Why have you not been hired?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the first question a potential employer will ask themselves. When explaining gaps in employment, it is important to address this question honestly and up-front before their imagination can get away from them. The brain loves to fill in blanks, and an unexplained gap will immediately result in hiring managers looking for problems to explain why you have not found another job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. <\/strong>Are your skills out of date?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In today\u2019s fast-paced world of rapid advances in technology and economic sea-changes, skills can rapidly become obsolete. Even if you were fully involved in new technologies at your last position, if you have been away for a year or more, chances are these have already been upgraded or replaced. In addition to new technologies, new management techniques and changing corporate priorities may require an employer to provide expensive additional training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. <\/strong>Are you committed to your career choice?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This question speaks to longevity and the goal of all businesses to reduce employee turnover. If an employer is committed to hiring and training you, they want to know (or at least be reasonably convinced) that you won\u2019t be going anywhere for a while. An extended gap in employment may leave an employer wondering if you will leave your career again. If you are changing careers, this question may be amplified, with the employer wondering if you will be successful transitioning to a new role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For our Premium members, learn how to talk about gaps when applying for a remote job, as well as suggestions for developing your skills<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Strategies for Mitigating Employment Gaps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Explaining gaps in employment is a lot easier if you address your future employer\u2019s concerns in advance. If you know you are going to experience a lengthy gap in employment, or find yourself experiencing one, develop a strategy<\/a> to minimize the gap and neutralize the negative effects that a long employment gap can have on your career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. <\/strong>Maintain some type of job continuity. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to avoid explaining gaps in employment, is to avoid gaps in employment. A couple of options to consider include:<\/p>\n\n\n