NEW YORK (AP) — When Monique Di Liberto began looking for a paying job after putting her career on pause to parent full-time, she said she felt paralyzed by self-doubt.
“Who do you think you are trying this after 17 years?” Di Liberto recalled asking herself. “You have no business doing this.”
The fear and uncertainty she described is familiar to many people seeking work after an absence from the job market. Whether they lost a position during mass layoffs or needed to leave one to care for an ill loved one, job applicants can expect questions about employment history lapses to surface during screenings and interviews.
“You have to address it honestly and directly,” said Andy Decker, CEO of Goodwin Recruiting, a candidate recruitment and placement firm. “Make sure that you’ve included anything you did during that time. Did you get certifications? Did you volunteer?”
MSI previously reported that job scams have surged as fraudsters using AI target young job seekers already confronting a difficult labor market. The broader challenge of navigating a tough hiring environment has also extended to how applicants frame their own career histories.
Career experts say many job seekers internalize shame or guilt over employment gaps, even when the break was taken out of necessity for caregiving or rest. Some employers, they note, still assume resume gaps signal outdated skills or a lack of motivation, while automated resume filters may prioritize candidates with continuous employment.
To counteract that, Decker said applicants should proactively document any activity during the gap period — temporary work, volunteer roles, certifications, or even classes — as a way to demonstrate continued engagement.
“You have to address it honestly and directly,” Decker said.
Di Liberto’s experience of returning to the workforce after a 17-year parenting break reflects what career coaches say is a common emotional hurdle: the internalized belief that a long gap makes an applicant unqualified or out of place. A prepared, practiced explanation that is matter-of-fact rather than apologetic can help job seekers present their history with more confidence, they said.