Applying to Business School with a Gap in Employment on Your Resume

One of the biggest red flags Admissions Committees encounter during the business school application process is an employment gap on an applicants  resume. This is unfortunate because for those afflicted, this is often an area that is usually out of the applicants  control. Most people are not looking to have an employment gap on their resume, and such periods of joblessness are  usually the result of a series of unfortunate events. This problem was much bigger during the global economic crisis a few years back, but the effects  of this event still remain on many resumes. If you have a work gap on your resume, know that it is not the end of the world and that you are not  alone on this front   how you mitigate this blip on your resume will be more important to MBA programs than the gap itself however, dont completely ignore this issue altogether. Do not treat a gap  in employment as something that will not be a concern  for the Admissions Committee. At the very least, if it is a material employment gap, this issue should  be addressed in the optional essay. As with most topics you discuss in your optional essay, your explanation and clarification of the  employment gap  should be concise and to the point. Admissions Committees are not looking for a long-winded string of excuses here be direct, take ownership of the incident, and identify lessons you learned from it, if appropriate. Another way to confront an employment gap is through one of the more traditional MBA application essays. If the reason behind the gap or the results of the gap have had a profound impact on your life or career (and it makes sense given the essay prompt), it may be appropriate to take a deeper dive into your situation. A full-blown response like this requires a more nuanced degree of thoughtfulness, so it will be key to do some self-reflection and really identify the underpinnings of your employment gap. The business school interview represents another area where your employment gap can be addressed  by a member of the Admissions Committee. This is probably the most direct way your employment gap will be explored. Keep your explanation  simple and avoid making excuses or blaming others. A major mistake many in this position make is disparaging an old employer or an ex-boss. This may  actually come across as unprofessional and it generally leaves a bad impression on the interviewer. Do not let a past employment gap set the tone for your  future success at business school. Be prepared to address your history, and take ownership of it in a way that positions yourself for success in the MBA application process. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation  for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on  Facebook,  YouTube,  Google+  and Twitter. Dozie A.  is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more articles by him  here.