I’m often asked for precise wording candidates can use when interviewers ask about a career gap. You want answers that feel honest, professional and concise — not defensive, apologetic or overly detailed. Below I give practical scripts you can adapt to your situation, plus the framing and body-language tips that make those lines land. These are the exact answers I’ve coached people to use successfully in UK interviews, from graduate re-entries to multi-year caring breaks.
How to think about a gap before you speak
Before you reach for words, decide what the gap represents in your story. Ask yourself three quick questions:
Your answer should be short, factual and forward-looking: state the reason briefly, emphasise the constructive actions you took, and tie it to the role’s needs. Never start with defensiveness (e.g. “I know it looks bad…”). Instead, use confident framing (e.g. “After redundancy, I used the time to…”).
Short, practical answer template
Use this in initial interviews where you want to keep momentum.
Template: “I took a gap from [month/year] to [month/year] due to [reason]. During that time I [activity that maintained or improved skills]. That experience means I’m now [relevant skill or readiness for the role].”
Example — redundancy: “I took a gap from March to August 2023 after being made redundant. During that time I completed a Level 3 CIPD course in recruitment and did freelance interview coaching. That means I’m current with best practices and confident stepping straight into a talent role.”
Exact answers by type of gap
Redundancy or job loss
Keep it factual and show activity.
“After my role ended in April 2022 due to redundancy, I spent the next six months updating my skills — I completed an online data-visualisation course on Coursera and supported a small charity with pro bono reporting work. That kept my analytical skills sharp and gave me practical examples to discuss, which is why I’m excited about this data-focused position.”
Childcare or caring responsibilities
Don’t over-apologise. Show transferable skills.
“I took a planned career break from September 2019 to July 2021 to provide full-time care for a family member. During that period I organised schedules, budgets and medical appointments — responsibilities that strengthened my project management and communication skills. I also completed a short project-management course and eased back into work through part-time consultancy last year.”
Health-related break
Be succinct and reassure readiness.
“I had a health-related leave between January and June 2020. I’m fully recovered and have been working full-time since July 2020. During my recovery I kept up with industry reading and completed a professional certificate in [relevant topic], so I’m able to perform at full capacity now.”
Study or retraining
Highlight intentional growth.
“I took a career break to complete an MSc in Digital Marketing from October 2021 to September 2022. The course included a live client project where I led the social strategy, improving conversions by 15%. The skills I developed are directly applicable to the role here.”
Travel or sabbatical
Frame it as purposeful reflection and learning.
“I took a year-long sabbatical to travel and volunteer from June 2018 to May 2019. I used the time to gain perspective and work on personal projects, including a blog where I analysed small-business marketing case studies. That experience sharpened my adaptability and cross-cultural communication, which I’ve found valuable in diverse teams.”
Long gaps (over a year): the pared-back approach
For longer gaps, interviewers want reassurance you’re current. Use this condensed script:
“Between [dates] I took time away from full-time work for [brief reason]. Since then I’ve been re-establishing my career through [courses, freelance, volunteering, part-time work]. The recent experience I did at [organisation] (or course) directly covered [skill], so I’m ready to step back into a full-time role.”
What to avoid saying
Short follow-up phrases to sound confident
Body language and tone
Words matter, but so do delivery cues. Practice these:
What to put on your CV and application form
Make the gap transparent and structured — recruiters prefer clarity.
Table — quick reference answers
| Interviewer question | Best response structure | One-sentence example |
|---|---|---|
| Why the gap? | Reason → Activity → Current readiness | “I had a redundancy in Jan 2023, completed a certification in project management and did freelance coordination work, so I’m ready to join your PM team.” |
| What did you do during that time? | Concrete tasks or learning → outcome | “I volunteered with a charity to run their comms, increasing engagement by 20%, while completing a digital-marketing course.” |
| Are you up to date? | Reference recent work or course → skill match | “Yes — I finished a data-visualisation bootcamp and built dashboards using Power BI in a live project.” |
Practise these answers
Run through your chosen script until it sounds natural — not memorised. Record yourself or rehearse with a friend. If you’re nervous about specifics, prepare one short example you can deliver on cue (e.g. the charity project, a course project, freelance client result).
Finally, remember that a gap is a fact, not a flaw. The goal in an interview is to show how you used that time constructively and why you’re a strong match now. Keep answers concise, honest and focused on the value you bring next.
