How Do I Explain My Job Gap to an Employer?

Job gaps on a resume can be a red flag to an employer, and if you are recovering from a life of addiction, homelessness, and/or criminal justice involvement, it is likely that there will have been long periods where you did not have traditional employment.

The first rule of explaining a job gap is to always tell the truth, and be strategic about it. When I speak to clients, the advice I give to them largely depends on whether or not they have criminal convictions that will show up on a background check.

If you have a job gap and no criminal convictions

The explanation for this situation is pretty easy. If you were out of the job market due to alcoholism or addiction, I recommend using the following:

“I was out of the workforce for a time due to a health matter. I am now ready to return to work.”

This is a good explanation for a couple of reasons. First, you should always tell the truth, and it’s the absolute truth. Alcoholism and addiction are clearly both health matters, so you are maintaining integrity with this answer.

Second, since you have framed this as a medical issue, legally, the employer cannot ask you anything further about it, which means you do not have to divulge anything else.

Depending on the job, the employer can still ask if you can fulfill the position’s physical requirements. For instance, you might have to be on your feet a certain number of hours a day or lift a certain amount of weight. But they cannot legally ask about any health condition or your past medical history. 

If you have a job gap and criminal convictions

The Letter of Explanation - or LOE, as I’ll call it from now on —  is the most essential tool in the box for those with a criminal record. It’s a proactive answer to the questions that will arise as employers learn about your personal history. In its best form, it’s a document that tells the story of the person you used to be and the person you are now. That’s why it’s critical to create an effective LOE for use in your quest to secure a Better job or Career position.

I say this often, and I firmly believe it  - always tell the truth. Due to fear, it can be tempting to lie on a job application or in an interview, but don’t do it. In all likelihood, you’ll get fired once the employer finds out, and now you have burned any chance of ever working for that company. Plus, who wants to spend energy worrying about getting caught?

By being honest and upfront, you may even score some points for your truthfulness. That being said, always be honest, but be strategic about it, which I discuss in much more detail in this blog post.