How to explain unemployment gap to potential employers after NYS Department of Labor claim
I've been on unemployment for about 7 months after getting laid off from my accounting job last year. My NYS Department of Labor benefits are ending soon and I'm starting to get some interviews, but I'm really nervous about how to explain unemployment to employers. Do I just say I was laid off? Should I mention that I was collecting UI benefits? I'm worried they'll think I was just sitting around doing nothing, but I've been actively job searching and even took some online courses. Has anyone dealt with this situation and found a good way to explain unemployment during interviews?
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GamerGirl99
You don't need to mention the NYS Department of Labor benefits specifically. Just explain that you were laid off due to company restructuring or downsizing - that's perfectly normal and happens to good employees all the time. Focus on what you did during the gap like those online courses you mentioned. Employers understand that finding the right job takes time, especially in certain fields.
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Amina Diallo
•That makes sense, thanks! I was overthinking it. The courses I took were actually related to new accounting software, so that should show I was being productive.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
honestly most employers dont even care about unemployment gaps anymore especially post-covid. just be honest that you were laid off and looking for the right opportunity. if they ask what you did during the time mention any skills you learned or networking you did
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Isabella Costa
I had a similar situation last year. The key is to be confident about it - being on unemployment doesn't mean you weren't working, you were working on finding your next career move. I always framed it as 'I took the time to be strategic about my next role rather than jumping into the first thing available.' You can also mention if you did any freelance work, volunteer activities, or professional development during your UI claim period.
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Malik Jenkins
•This is great advice! I never thought about framing it as being strategic. That actually sounds much more professional than just saying I was unemployed.
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Freya Andersen
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor for any final questions about your claim, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an agent when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I needed to clarify some things before my benefits ended.
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Amina Diallo
•Thanks, I'll check that out. I do have a question about my final payment that I haven't been able to get answered through the regular channels.
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Eduardo Silva
Just whatever you do dont lie about the dates or try to hide the gap. HR departments can verify employment history easily now. Be upfront about being laid off, mention any productive activities during the unemployment period, and emphasize that you're ready to get back to work. Most reasonable employers will understand that good people sometimes get caught up in layoffs.
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