Job Seekers Share Amusing and Invaluable Tips to Explain a Gap in a Resume

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jun 28, 2023 12:30 PM EDT

Job interviews can be a painful process. There's nothing quite as humiliating as begging all the people with money to give a bit of it to you in exchange for completing silly little tasks. They are also something that, by design, is rigged with opportunities for job applicants to slip up. These things are a process of elimination, and it's often brutal.

One of the most common ways in which people get penalized is the classic demand of 'explain this gap in your resume'. Sometimes we have periods of unemployment that are down to nothing but our own bad luck, yet it seems like employers want to judge us on this. Luckily, a Twitter thread has come in clutch with some useful (and some just plain entertaining) tips on how to explain away a gap in a resume. When you're desperate for a job, all kinds of things are worth a try.

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  • 01
    Font - rachel @dftbaRachel Follow holy shit just saw a tiktok that changed my life interviewer: "can you explain this gap in your resume?" you: "no i cannot, i signed an NDA"
    via dftbaRachel
  • 02
    Human body - hannah (rat's versio... @hanzycake Replying to @dftbaRachel "i was studying the blade" Follow
    via hanzycake
  • 03
    Font - Tranz Kafka (blazing... @transpersian Follow Replying to @dftbaRachel Another fun one: if a company goes out of business, you can say on your resume that you had any position there that you want. No potential employer can disprove it because the company doesn't exist anymore.
    via transpersian
  • 04
    Font - Aren Nikelle @angelia_dark Follow Replying to @dftbaRachel Also, "I was recovering from an illness/ injury". They can't press you for it.
    via angelia_dark
  • 05
    Rectangle - Sydni @Great Pretending Follow Replying to @dftbaRachel I said I was taking care of a grandparent who needed full-time care..
    via GreatPretending
  • 06
    Font - Amber Crafton @amsoverhorizons Follow Replying to @dftbaRachel "Yes, but it has no bearing on my ability to do this job or the quality of my skills (as that speaks for itself), so I prefer not to discuss that at this time."
    via amsoverhorizons
  • 07
    Mammal - Konstantine Anthon... @KonstantineinCA Replying to @dftbaRachel That 5 year gap? Follow Yeah, I got Thanos-snapped for quick minute. I'm all good now. When do I start?
    via KonstantineinCA
  • 08
    Font - Jenna @jennabohenna • 2d Replying to @dftbaRachel and @jessiejensen See also: "Please provide samples of your work" Oh, and share company secrets?? THIS IS A TEST you can't fool me
    via jennabohenna
  • 09
    Smile - Dixie @returnin2ncmtns • 2d Replying to @dftbaRachel My excuse is to blame it on my kid-now graduated and left home... so there's no negativity on me there
    via returnin2ncmnths
  • 10
    Font - Gehennan @gehennan 2d Replying to @dftbaRachel Don't want to talk about something? Sign an NDA with a buddy. No special rule limiting these to employers.
    via gehennan
  • 11
    Font - VIEWERS & FANDOMS SUPPORTING WGA STRIKE Danielle X @Dani_Knope - 2d M Replying to @dftbaRachel Can also say made up work "was not relevant" to your career path. If a doctor was applying for a role at a hospital but in between medical employment they need a break they might not be like "and for a year I worked at a bakery." Irrelevant work should be removed from resumes
    via Dani_Knope
  • 12
    Human body - sudo @italktoghosts 2d Replying to @dftbaRachel "Oh, yeah. Sure. I temporarily dematerialized and entered a prolonged stasis."
    via italktoghosts
  • 13
    Font - B (they/them) @normalishvegan. 2d Replying to @dftbaRachel Companies only want this information to know if you've been incarcerated or have kids, two things that they're specifically not allowed to ask you about per state and local laws. This is a red flag during the interview process and tbh I've never been asked despite big gaps.
    via normalishvegan
  • 14
    Font - to ma to @t609m4a2t0.2d Replying to @dftbaRachel you could also say that you were reevaluating your career path, learning by new skills or developing existing ones, exploring your options, doing some self assessment, handling personal matters. if you're going to lie, lie better
    via t6o9m4a2t0
  • 15
    Font - Elliot Mess @TheElliot Mess. 1d Others pointed out this can make it seem like you settled a suit with a previous employer (not good)/a misunderstanding of NDAS. Instead, try "I was the primary caretaker for a relative who needed full-time care. This has since changed and I am eager to return to [field]."
    via TheElliotMess

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