Dealing with Pandemic Gap

Wall Street Journal reports pandemic gaps are not a big deal on your resume. Society is getting more understanding now about people taking time off to take care of their family, and the economy is red hot so employers show more flexibility on who they will consider hiring.

Should you explain your pandemic gap? One expert quoted in the article says no: “The less said, the better… You say it without an apology and without a lot of detail.” But if you want to share, go ahead. The article reports: “Many offices are more open to discussing personal topics, from fertility to mental health, than they used to be. The pandemic brought down many of the walls that separated our work from our lives, with kids stumbling into Zoom calls and executives embracing empathy.” My opinion: if you can give a good neutral reason, then do it, e.g., the company moved headquarters, had layoffs, or ended the product line you supported.

I agree with the tips cited in the article to help land the next job:

• Account for your time off with something useful like getting professional certifications or taking relevant courses.
• Concisely explain the time off and ability to jump into work without any barriers. I agree with this advice: “If you were caregiving during your time away, note that you were honored to stay home for a stretch with your family and are now excited to come back to work, says Tami Forman, who helps people re-enter the workforce. Then dive right into the skills you can offer.”
• Shorter gaps are better than long ones. WSJ says: “Don’t wait too long: Two years out of the workforce is traditionally the tipping point where … workers get penalized for their absences.”