How to explain unemployment gaps when applying for jobs after NYS Department of Labor benefits
I've been on unemployment for about 8 months now and finally getting some interview requests. The problem is I'm really nervous about how to explain this gap to potential employers. I know I have to do job search activities for NYS Department of Labor but honestly some weeks I was just going through the motions because I was dealing with some family stuff. How do other people handle explaining unemployment periods in interviews? I don't want to lie but I also don't want to hurt my chances. Any advice on what employers actually want to hear?
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Aisha Rahman
You don't need to go into excessive detail about why you were unemployed. Keep it brief and focus on what you've been doing during the gap that's relevant to the job. Even if you were collecting unemployment, you can mention any skills you've been developing, volunteer work, or how you've been actively job searching. The key is to show you weren't just sitting around doing nothing.
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Mateo Perez
•That makes sense. I did take a couple online courses during this time so I can definitely mention those.
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CosmicCrusader
Most employers understand that unemployment happens, especially in the current job market. Just be honest but strategic. Say something like 'I was between positions and took the opportunity to reassess my career goals and develop new skills.' Don't volunteer that you were on NYS Department of Labor benefits unless they specifically ask.
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Ethan Brown
•This is good advice. I always just say I was exploring new opportunities and focusing on finding the right fit.
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Yuki Yamamoto
ugh i hate this question SO MUCH. like why do we have to justify needing time to find work? the job market is terrible and everyone knows it. i usually just say i was being selective about my next role and leave it at that
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Aisha Rahman
•I understand the frustration, but unfortunately it's still a reality we have to deal with in interviews. The approach you mentioned actually works well though.
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Carmen Ortiz
If you're worried about explaining the gap, I'd suggest reaching out to a NYS Department of Labor career counselor if you haven't already. They often have good advice on how to frame unemployment periods positively. Also, if you had trouble getting through to them by phone, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people connect with unemployment agents - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone about job search strategies or other claim issues.
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Mateo Perez
•Thanks for the suggestion! I didn't know there were career counselors available through NYS Department of Labor.
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Andre Rousseau
I was unemployed for 6 months last year and what worked for me was focusing on the positive aspects. I mentioned that I used the time to take care of family responsibilities and also to be strategic about my next career move. Most interviewers seemed to respect that I wasn't just jumping into any job.
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Ethan Brown
Same situation here! What I learned is that gaps are way more common than you think. Just don't sound defensive about it and pivot quickly to what you can bring to their company.
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