Ask Deb: How to Explain an Employment Gap

Dear Deb:

I am a new entrant to the job market, having been out of the workforce for three years now. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. My treatment involved chemo, radiation, and multiple surgeries. At first, I thought I would be able to work during the course of my chemotherapy. I was quickly disabused of that notion, as the twice-weekly treatments sapped all my energy and made me sick. 

I went out on disability, intending to return to work after chemotherapy and my first surgery. However, the recovery from that surgery was protracted by some complications. The ensuing radiation treatment resulted in fatigue of indescribable magnitude. When radiation was complete, it was time for another surgery. All of this took place over about 14 months. When my disability ran out, my employment was terminated. 

I had three more surgeries over the next year and have spent the better part of the last year recovering and regaining my strength. The good news is that my cancer is in remission. The bad news is that I now have a three-year gap on my resume. I met with a career advisor who told me I would need to frame my absence from the workforce positively and asked if I took any classes, attended any conferences, got any certifications, or volunteered during my hiatus. I said no and that my time off was focused on my health. She didn’t like that answer and said I needed to develop something better. 

I am confused and now a bit scared that my health crisis is going to impact me negatively in the interview process. What do you advise?

Wallace

Hi Wallace:

First of all, congratulations on being in remission. That is wonderful. And as to the career “coach” who advised you to frame your hiatus in a positive way—the huge positive about the last three years is that you beat cancer! 

It is not unusual for someone to have a career path that is not linear. Breaks in employment happen for reasons that are none of an employer’s business—an illness, caring for a family member, a mental health crisis, or simply a protracted job search. Again, none of these things have anything to do with the job at hand. A three-year break from work does not mean that you suddenly lose all of your valuable skills and can no longer solve problems. This outdated, archaic idea is absurd.

In decades past, there was a prevailing thought that if someone had a gap of more than 6 months in their employment history, this was a problem. One somewhat legitimate concern was that a gap of a few years could have meant a stint in prison, but sophisticated background checks have obviated that as most check for criminal history. 

Luckily, the obsession with gaps in employment seems to be waning. However, if someone wants to grill you on such a personal matter so that they can decide whether or not your gap is “valid,” you have two choices. You can either say that your sabbatical was for personal reasons and leave it at that. Or, you can just tell the truth—that you took the time to attend to a health issue. Years ago, I had a client who was questioned about a two-year gap at every interview she had. Finally, out of frustration, she disclosed that she took time off following the sudden and tragic death of her four-year-old daughter. The interviewer was obviously uncomfortable with this and quickly changed the subject. My client got that job, and I would bet that the interviewer never again asked a candidate about a gap in employment. 

All my best,

Deb