Turn Your Career Gap Into Your Superpower With This Comeback Formula
Making Your Career Gap Work For YouInside this issue
On My MindSomething I hear from dads all the time is how awkward it can feel to explain a career gap. There’s a pressure, sometimes silent, sometimes blunt, to prove that time away was “worth it” in the eyes of an employer. This isn’t just a personal hurdle; it’s a culture-wide challenge that so many returners face. In our culture, career breaks are too often seen as a sign that something went “wrong,” when they’re actually living proof that we have the guts to pause, reflect, and take care of what matters most. For many of us dads, stepping back wasn’t a fallback; it was a choice made out of love, necessity, or both. Here’s what I remind myself of and what I want to remind you: Who you are because of your gap is way more important than who you think you should have been without it. You’re returning to the workforce with perspective, adaptability, and connection that simply can’t be measured by titles or years. Anyone who doesn’t respect that is missing out on exactly the resilience and life experience that companies need most right now. Next time you get “the question,” I hope you feel a little more ready to answer with pride. In fact, this week’s newsletter is all about making that moment easier: I’ll show you how to craft a clear, honest Gap Pitch that puts your story, and your strengths, front and center. Your Gap Pitch: The 4-Line FormulaWhy it WorksThis is your shortcut for explaining your gap from a job interview to a networking introduction. The Formula
The TemplateReplace the blue placeholders with your own information. For the last Period of Time, I took a career break to Your Core Reason. During that time, I Activity, Learning, or Responsibility. I kept my skills sharp by How You Kept Your Skills Sharp. Now, I'm excited to return to target role/industry, bringing new perspective and determination. ExamplesTechnical Role For the last 4 years, I took a career break to help my kids through school transitions. I picked up new coding skills and managed all the family tech. Now I’m ready to reenter engineering with sharper skills and more empathy for users. Finance Role For the last 7 years, I took a career break to manage family responsibilities during a period of change. During that time, I oversaw our household finances, streamlined our budgeting process, and stayed sharp by taking online courses in Excel and QuickBooks. Now, I’m excited to return to the finance field with even stronger organizational skills and a fresh perspective on problem-solving. Marketing Role I stepped away from my marketing career two years ago to focus on family needs. While away, I led communications for a local nonprofit and kept my skills current with digital marketing certifications. I’m energized to rejoin the industry, bringing both hands-on experience and new creative strategies to drive growth. Quick Do’s & Don’ts✅ Do keep your explanation honest, clear, and brief. ❌ Don’t apologize for your break or sound defensive. ✅ Do highlight skills or perspectives you gained during your time away. ❌ Don’t dwell on personal challenges or over-explain the reason for your gap. ✅ Do end on a positive note that shows your enthusiasm for the role you want. ❌ Don’t leave out what excites you about returning. Bring the focus to your future. Gap-to-Gig Action MapWhy You Need ItIt’s not just about explaining your gap; it’s also about leveraging it to land the right opportunity. How to Build Your Action MapStep 1: Name Your Core New Strength Look at what you gained from your break. Was it adaptability? Resilience? Communication? Write down your top trait. Step 2: Match the Strength to Real Job Language Scan a handful of job listings you’d actually consider. Highlight where your gap-time skills directly match company needs (e.g., “adaptability” in a remote work description). Step 3: Set 1-2 Specific Micro-goals for the Week Potential micro-goals:
Example Action MapMy main strength: adaptability. This is a top need in every remote-first job description I see. This week, I’ll update my LinkedIn profile to feature adaptability and apply to three remote jobs that mention it. Why It WorksYou’re not just filling time on a resume. You’re targeting roles that belong to the next version of you. The Action Map moves you forward, not just back. Time to SprintWhy it WorksPracticing your Gap Pitch and mapping your next steps ahead of time helps you feel ready and confident when opportunities come up. This sprint guides you from planning to action. What to Do Right NowMinutes 0-10: Grab a notebook or open the worksheet below. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Write out your Gap Pitch using the 4-line formula above. Don’t edit. Don’t overthink. Just let it flow. Minutes 11-20: Now, connect it to your Gap-to-Goal Action Map:
Have an Extra 10 Minutes? Bonus Minutes 21-30: Practice saying your pitch aloud. Notice how it sounds, and tweak until it feels authentic. Remember, real beats “perfect” any day. Grab your fillable worksheet hereTo use the worksheet, click on File, then Make a Copy. Then, you can fill in the new copy. Action creates progress. Save your worksheet and revisit it each week to watch your gap become your launchpad. Your MoveWhat’s the toughest interview question you’ve faced or are worried about in your comeback? Hit reply and let me know. I read every response. The Last LaughIs this the most honest answer ever? |
