How Long Is Too Long Of An Employment Gap: HOW LONG IS BEING UNEMPLOYED FOR TOO LONG?

Introduction

As we all know, the job market is changing. The unemployment numbers are low, but finding work isn’t always easy. When you do find a great job opportunity that seems to be right for you, it can be a relief—until you realize how long of an employment gap there has been between jobs.

If you have recently been laid off or otherwise out of work, the question of “how long is too long?” will likely be on your mind.

If you have recently been laid off or otherwise out of work, the question of “how long is too long?” will likely be on your mind.

The answer depends on the situation, but there are some general guidelines that can help you make a decision about whether or not to apply for jobs at all and how many applications to send out at once. The longer an employment gap exists in your work history, the more likely it is that hiring managers will see this as a negative aspect of your candidacy–even if they don’t explicitly state this fact in their rejection letter.

You may wonder what your limit is before it becomes a problem.

You may wonder what your limit is before it becomes a problem.

The time frame varies depending on the employer and industry. For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level sales position at a large company, they may be willing to overlook gaps in employment as long as you can explain them adequately. However, if you are applying for an executive level position at another company where experience matters more than anything else, then any gap longer than six months could negatively impact your chances of getting hired.

The same goes for industries: A gap will matter less in industries such as food service or retail where turnover rates are high–but if you want to work in healthcare or education (two fields with very low turnover rates), then even three months might be too much time off without explanation!

Should you stay out of work for a few weeks?

If you have recently graduated, or are unemployed for a short period of time, it may be possible to explain this gap as part of your education. If you attended an academic institution during this time period, it’s also acceptable to use this time as “unpaid internships” or volunteer work. This can look good on your resume because it shows employers that you were willing to work hard and learn new skills without being paid.

How about a few months?

If you have been unemployed for a few months, it’s likely that your resume will be viewed with some skepticism. An employment gap can be used against you by hiring managers who might wonder what went wrong during those months and why they should hire someone who may not stay around long enough to justify investment in training.

The best way to explain an employment gap is by showing how it helped you grow as an employee or person–and how that growth will help the company succeed. If there was no growth involved (for example, if your previous job ended because of downsizing), then make sure that any skills gained during that time are relevant and applicable within the scope of this new role at hand

If you can’t answer these questions, then you should take action to find out the answers.

If you can’t answer these questions, then you should take action to find out the answers.

The first step is to understand what your potential employer wants to know about your employment gap and how they are going to use this information in their hiring decision. It’s also important for you not only figure out what information they want from you but also how best to provide it so that it will help them make a better hiring decision.

The first step in finding out how long is too long to be unemployed before it becomes a problem is to understand the answers to these three questions.

The first step in finding out how long is too long to be unemployed before it becomes a problem is to understand the answers to these three questions:

• What does my employer want to know about my employment gap?
• How should I answer this question?
• Can I use an employment gap as a reason for not getting hired

What does my employer want to know about my employment gap?

• How long have you been unemployed?
• Why were you unemployed?
• What have you done to find work during this time, and how long have you been looking for a job.

If you are still looking for work, what are your plans for the future?

How should I answer this question?

How should I answer this question?

If you don’t know the answer, say so. If it’s too personal or uncomfortable for you to share, say so. It’s okay not to have all of your ducks in a row when it comes to your career history–or even just one aspect of it! Sometimes life happens, and we can only do our best under difficult circumstances. Just be honest about what happened during that time period and why those events impacted your ability (or lack thereof) to get back on track with work quickly after leaving an employer or job opportunity that didn’t work out for whatever reason.

Can I use an employment gap as a reason for not getting hired?

If you have been out of work for an extended period of time, it may be in your best interest to use the gap as an advantage. If you can explain the reason for your employment gap in a positive way, and show that it has motivated or prepared you for the job, many employers will look at this as a positive aspect rather than a negative one.

Some examples:

• You were laid off due to company downsizing but kept up with industry trends through networking and professional development courses.
• You took time off from work after being injured on the job; now that your injuries are healed and settled with workers’ compensation insurance (or whatever), it’s time to get back into the workforce! You have learned patience while waiting for medical treatment–and now this quality shows up in all aspects of life–including work ethic!

Takeaway:

The takeaway is the summary of the article. It should be a brief, but powerful statement that clearly communicates what you learned and can apply to your life. The takeaway should also be memorable.

Conclusion

If you’re wondering how long is too long to be unemployed, there are a few things that you can do.