Explaining Away Employment Gaps

Does anyone have tips on how to explain extended employment/academic gaps due to illness on job applications and during interviews?

I'm nearly 24. I've been in and out of university a couple of times and have been unemployed since just after my 20th birthday, when my Bipolar 1 with psychosis/rapid cycling became unbearable. I've been entirely stable for a year and don't see myself relapsing any time soon, but I've spent the year taking care of 3 younger brothers while my mother underwent her own manic-depressive breakdown. Now that things have settled down, I'm ready to get my life back on track.

Although I'm bright and have a highly competitive academic record, I have practically no real work experience outside of a brief stint as a fast food worker during high school and various tutoring jobs. I intend to work in fast food or retail for a year or two before finishing my bachelor's but have some fears about the hiring process.

I know it's illegal to discriminate, but I worry that the employment/academic gap due to illness will make any potential employer think I am a liability, because, hey, anyone who takes that long to get better probably has something that is bad and likely to come back. Basically, it's either mental illness or cancer. I've had a previous issue with being declined for an internship after my illness was discovered and don't want a repeat of that.

I am 39 you are only 24 you have nothing to worry about with proper meds. I am unemployable. Everyone from people on this board to the state workforce office said SSI is my only option due to my awful employment record

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I have had the same problem myself. In interviews I was amazed that the gaps were not brought up. Only once it happened and I basically lied and said I had been travelling ( which I had but certainly not for that long, and that many times). Can you do some volunteer work to get experience and then you can say you have done volunteer work if the issue of the gaps come up. It is a tough place to be in. My current employer is very non-discriminatory so they didn't mind that I had been unwell in the past and focused on what I had done work-wise. I really hope you can find a job soon. I wish you all the best.

You are young and I believe the gaps can be explained away. The problem is, you may have to bend the truth, and if you are like me, that will prove nearly impossible. Perhaps you could tell possible potential employers that you were taking care of your siblings for your sick mother?

Tell them you were abroad enjoying being young but now it's time to start your life. I'd research places really well lol

I have so many gaps in my employment history it's not even funny. It didn't really stop me from getting jobs until last year, when I hit 55 and suddenly no one wanted to hire me. Trouble is, there really isn't any kind of work I can do anymore---anything I can handle mentally, I can't do physically and vice-versa.

When you're young, the gaps aren't as big a deal. You could have gone backpacking in Europe, stayed home to take care of an ailing grandparent, taken classes etc. It really isn't any of the employer's business what you were doing, but they almost always will ask. If worst comes to worst, you could simply say there were medical reasons, but that they're resolved and you're ready to start work afresh.

DO NOT disclose your illness! Nothing good can possibly come from it, especially not at the interview stage. Legally, no one can refuse to hire a candidate because of a condition "protected" by the Americans with Disabilities Act, but that doesn't stop them from denying him/her a job. Nor can you legally be fired for having a mental health diagnosis, but they can always trump up something else as a reason to let you go. It's happened to me twice, and there was really nothing I could do about it because I couldn't do the job even with accommodations.

Best of luck to you. Keep us posted as to how you're doing.

I would say traveling and caring for your brothers and sisters sound like good reasons for an employment gap, especially for someone your age.

I'm 49 and haven't worked since January 2014, partly due to bipolar depression. I've been asked what I've been doing since I closed my law practice in 1/14 in interviews, and I've just said took some time off after a hectic work experience and have been looking for a job for six months - - which is true.

I don't know if the gap is hurting me in trying to get interviews. They do say it's easier to get a job if you already have one. I have been volunteering since 1/15 as I look for a job. Would you consider volunteering? I think it looks good on a resume, especially during a period of unemployment.

I just stretch out the employment dates to they touch. Like I can remember what they are.

Okay well I'm bad but I lie on my resumes I just fix the dates so they add up and I haven't had a problem with doing that yet I'm 28 and had about 35-40 jobs thus far and only keep about 4-5 on my resume. I think everyone with bipolar has this issue it is difficult to hold down a job

I'm one of those pain in the butt people that will ask about employment gaps well I only ask if it's more than a few months usually. People here have given some good excuses. From my standpoint, I think if someone said they were traveling I'd be interested and ask a lot of questions. If someone said they were caring for a sick relative or something of that nature, I probably wouldn't ask further questions. The only exception would be if it was multiple employment gaps.

Your young , you can pull off the gaps with travel or even volunteer work, sick family etc , Just have actual info on where ever whatever you say.. answer questions when asked , don't go into all kinds of detail. Don't ramble it will just make the person leery.

Bipolar RN nailed it ., Do not disclose , just don't ,, sure the ADA is a building with lots of people working but they wont do shyt for you.. An employer can fire you for being 12 seconds late coming back from lunch. They are all bark and wont bite anyone unless its a giant headline news potential.

Just be confident . When you start a interview just leave Bipolar at the door and show then your best , as everyone else on the planet does.

Thanks for your input, everyone! I'll definitely be using it while filling out these applications. Unfortunately, I'm staying in a town with few businesses and even fewer volunteer opportunities. But I'm sure I'll figure things out eventually.

As bad as I need to get hired, here's where I'm at with it. I have done the same old interview bs so many times that the thoughts of trying again spin me in an instant pissy attitude. Why? Because they always ask the same old bs questions that are completely irrelevant to the job. Basically, a very minimal amount of questions do they need to ask. Can you make it to work at said hours, can you perform the functions of the job, when can you start, and perhaps some details about previous work experiences. All the other shite they through in to try to butter you up to reveal more about yourself than required should be illegal.

I had an outright verbal outburst during my session with my therapist on the other day discussing these issues when trying to obtain employment.

Instead of some hiring manager acting like their shite don't stink because they have some control over my hiring, I wish I had just hit the lotto, and when at the right time, I could just drop a gold turd in their office floor and say I don't need your job. In fact, perhaps say, you're now going to kiss my *** as I now own you.

I put in a ton of applications yesterday and got a call to interview for a cashier position at a hostel today. Not the best job, but it'll get me enough cash to go back to school. Hopefully, I can manage to woo them with my hypomanic charm without overwhelming them, because I have zero experience. On the plus side, I have tons of experience staying in hostels and befriending other guests. Maybe that will work in my favor. Fingers crossed.

I too have gaps of unemployment due to my Bipolar and it is sad that we cannot disclose our illness because of the stigma it has in society! Yet, if someone had a heart condition and had to be off work there would be no problem in there "gap" of unemployment.