“Why did you leave?” and “Why the gap?”

These two questions test the same things: are you honest, do you speak respectfully about people you worked for, and will you be reliable here. The panel will call your referees and may ask for a certificate of service, so your story has to match what they will hear. In this job market almost everyone has left a job that ended and almost everyone has a gap. The gap is not the problem; a bad explanation is.

1. 1Give the reason in one honest sentence, with the month and year. Neutral words, no blame.
2. 2Say what you did in the time since, or what you are moving towards: a course, volunteering, the family business, caring for someone, applying seriously.
3. 3Turn towards this job: one sentence on why you are ready now and why this role.
4. 4Stop. Three or four sentences is the right length. A long, emotional story makes the panel uncomfortable and takes time from questions you can score on.

• Project ended or funding stopped: the most common reason here. “The project closed in June 2024 when the grant ended, and the positions closed with it.” Every panel understands this.
• Contract not renewed: say so plainly and, if true, that your supervisor will confirm your performance.
• Family: caring for a parent, a birth, a move for marriage. One sentence, then what you kept doing to stay sharp.
• Study: name the qualification and how it helps this job.
• Insecurity or displacement: “Our family relocated from Las Anod to Garowe in 2023.” Panels here know what that means; you do not need to explain more.
• Salary not paid: state the fact without heat. “The organisation could not pay salaries for four months, so I looked for stable work.”