Interviews are probably top of mind as you start your return to work journey. They can be a stressful experience for anyone, but maybe even more so after a career break because you’re wondering how to discuss your employment gap. How do you explain your reasons for taking a career break? How much detail should you go into about the circumstances behind your break? It can be nerve-wracking to put yourself out there and hope employers will understand and respect your decisions – both to step out of the paid workforce, and to return to your career.
The most important thing to remember is that you don’t need to justify or apologize for taking time to care for your family or yourself. When you talk about your time out of the workforce, keep it simple and direct, skip any unnecessary details (the interviewer does not need to know every twist and turn) and move quickly to talking about the skills and experiences you bring to the role at hand.
To be sure, that’s easier said than done, so here are some tips:
1. Reframe Your Career Break as a Strength
It’s completely normal to have mixed emotions about taking time away from your career. Maybe you’re grateful for the chance to focus on your family, or maybe you feel frustration, sadness, or resentment about stepping away. Whatever your experience, take time to process those emotions before you begin interviewing. Talk things through with a trusted friend, mentor, or even a professional, so you’re not carrying unresolved feelings into your conversations with employers.
Once you’ve done the emotional work, shift your focus to identifying the strengths you gained during your break. Caregiving isn’t a gap in your professional story, it’s a chapter full of growth. You’ve likely sharpened key skills like time management, emotional intelligence, crisis resolution, adaptability, and project coordination. These are all incredibly valuable in the workplace. Reframing your break this way helps you approach interviews with confidence and clarity, and positions you as someone who brings both life experience and workplace-relevant skills to the table. (Read more about how your caregiving skills can help your career here.)
2. Write Yourself a “Script”
When asked about your break, be ready to explain the gap simply and unapologetically and then quickly move past it so you can focus on talking about what a great candidate you are. Focus on four key elements: (1) a brief recap of your professional history, (2) the length and focus of your career break, (3) the skills and experience you sharped on your break and (4) a statement of your enthusiasm and suitability for the job. Here’s a sample answer:
“I spent {#} years {brief review of skills and experiences} in my professional career. I had the privilege of being able to spend the last {# } years focused on my family. I’m very grateful for that time, and even had time to take some online courses to keep my {specific} skills sharp. Now that my {child or other caregiving recipient} is {in kindergarten, high school, college, no longer in need of full-time care}, I’m ready to return to the workforce. I’m excited about this position specifically because it requires {brief reiteration of experiences or skills}, which directly relates to my career doing {function}.”
The same basic construction also works if you’re trying to make a career pivot. You just need to add one or two more sentences at the end that connect the dots between your prior experience, recent training, or skills you developed while on your break, and the specific job requirements.
3. Practice Until It Feels Natural
Once you’ve got your script you need to practice saying it — out loud. They say practice makes perfect so rehearse it until it feels natural. While it’s important to practice answers to many different interview questions, it’s particularly important for any questions you’re nervous about answering. You may be hoping the interviewer won’t ask about your gap, but they almost certainly will and the last thing you want is to be flustered and start rambling. Assume they will ask the hard questions! Practice your script over and over until you can say it with flawless confidence.