My old boss told me a hard truth about my resume gap

I was talking to my former manager from 2021 at a coffee shop last Saturday. She said my two year gap looks like I just gave up on my field instead of taking time for family stuff. How do you even explain that on a cover letter without sounding like a excuse?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.mia21d ago

Treat it like a skill you learned, not a hole in your timeline. Frame that time as "managing priorities" or "handling a family priority" (which is totally true) so it sounds intentional, not like you were lost. Mention what you did during it - even if it's just research or volunteering - to show you stayed connected to your field, you know?

tylerw9221d ago

Right, because hiring managers LOVE hearing "I spent two years 'handling a family priority'" like that's not going to get a raised eyebrow and a follow-up question about whether you were just binge-watching Netflix. But hey, if you can spin "I was basically a full-time chauffeur and snack delivery person" into "managed complex logistics for a high-priority household project," more power to you. Just don't forget to mention you also reorganized the junk drawer and called it "optimizing workflow." Works every time, I'm sure.