In my experience, I spent nearly a year unemployed and it was the most depressed I’ve ever been. Part of it was I was also very poor at the time, but a significant part was having nothing meaningfull to do everyday. Now I’ve got the oposite problem where I work way too many hours in an average week and barely have time just for myself.
I spent 4 years half working on my pet project, half going around and visiting friends and family, part of which was helping my brother build his house.
This was after burning out after 4 years at my first career job, where I felt like I was living Office Space.
It was a bit of a (non-religious) pilgrimage of sorts. I struggled with self worth, pretty extreme social anxiety, and what was valuable to me in life. I wasn’t exactly broke, but I had to slow burn the ~$80k I had managed to save up before quitting.
I definitely value that time in my life and what that forged in myself. But it was pretty rough at times, mentally.
“Oh yes, that gap was when I wasn’t working.”
I hate that this is an acceptable interview question.
If it was any of your business I would have put that information in there. Or more diplomatic would be saying something like ‘I was caring for my dying relative, I left that information out because I wanted to include only the most relevant skills for this position.’
To play the devil’s advocate, if you are an employer you would want to find out why the person has been unemployed. Was he unreliable as a person before? Was he combative with his previous employer and colleagues? Was he actually in prison all this time? What if this guy is a corporate spy?
There is plenty of anti-work circlejerk in lemmy, and they are not completely wrong, but there are employers who do act in good faith. And certainly as an employer, they do not want to hire a person who was fired for stealing from their previous workplace. Which is why a huge employment gap is certainly a red flag from an employer’s perspective. And which is why it’s always important to leave a company on good terms. Because even if you left the previous job to genuinely care for a family member, you have someone to vouch for you to the prospective new employer.
Was he unreliable as a person before? Was he combative with his previous employer and colleagues? Was he actually in prison all this time? What if this guy is a corporate spy?
I’m not sure you will get that information by asking about a gap.
I believe it would be more acceptable to ask questions more specific to your concerns. “Can you tell me why you left x position?” Even then, you are not going to get the information you are so suspicious about, you will get a bullshit interview answer.
I just handed my notice in to a job I tried to quiet quit, but failed at. Turns out I have too much guilt to just not work, and intentionally becoming shit at my job seems to feed the imposter syndrome in my brain. Anyway, I decided just to cut ties, and we are parting on good terms. I am working my last month now, and will be officially unemployed as of December 1st.
I am FUCKING THRILLED! For the first time in 25 years I’ll be intentionally not working and not looking for work, and I’ll also not struggle financially because of it. I plan to find a job in early 2025, but I’m gonna enjoy a few months to myself first. I’m gonna indulge in my hobbies, enjoy my home, my yard, take walks, have coffee on the deck, sleep in. I’m going to use my office for my own personal endeavors and explore starting my own software project.
I’m already dreading looking back at this period and wishing I was still in it.
Enjoy it! I’m happy for you!
This decision takes some courage, so well done :)
Thank you!
I long for a gap in my employment history…
I historically long for employment at gap…
Same, but i just fill it with the previous or following employer in my resume.
Whichever was the better fit is the one who gets the “between jobs” added to my starting or end date.
It shut them up and i don’t have to make excuses for being in a time employers had zero interest in me, or tell them i was just happy eating up some savings for the oppertunity to gather my wits after years of only slaving away and sacrificing myself in the process.
“Nope. I was interesting to employers and recruiters for all of a month when I was suddenly not contacted at all months on end including being ghosted by a recruiter who really liked me and even had a position he thought I jive with super well.”
I have zero idea how I’ll explain this to anyone if I ever get an interview ever again.
i try to always live as below my means as i possibly can. of course this depends on the salary i’m currently making, but i can afford some time to myself between jobs and its an awesome rest.
Sabbatical.
