Nonprofit Careers · Guide

Employment Gaps & Layoffs Interview Guide

Address hard questions without apology

NONPROFIT CAREERSEmployment Gaps &Layoffs InterviewGuideGUIDECharity Search Group

Address gaps and layoffs without a whiff of apology.

A gap in your resume isn't a failure. Neither is a layoff. But the way most candidates address them signals otherwise — either overclaiming or underexplaining. This guide gives you the answers that satisfy a search committee without inviting a second, harder question.

What’s inside

  • Answers for six gap scenarios (caregiving, health, layoff, sabbatical, job search, mixed)
  • The two-sentence layoff answer that closes the topic
  • Guidance on what to do with a gap that's been longer than eighteen months
  • A short section on the interviewer whose question crossed a line — and how to hold your ground

You may not need this if: Your recent resume is uninterrupted and you're not addressing a gap.

Pairs with

Join Our Network of Nonprofits Empowered by Exceptional Leadership

At Charity Search Group, we believe that people are the key to impact. Let us help you find the leaders and teams that will propel your organization forward.

Request a Proposal Today!
Select Guide Badge