Don't panic if an employer asks about a gap on your resume, career expert says—here's exactly how to answer

In a job interview, any aspect of a candidate’s work history is fair game for questions, says career expert Erin McGoff — including any times you weren’t working.

If an interviewer asks you to explain a gap on your resume, don’t panic, she says. Come prepared for the question and try to stay cool and collected when you answer.

In the recent past, having an employment gap might have put you at a disadvantage in the hiring process, but it’s increasingly rare for professionals to have an entirely linear career path, according to McGoff, the author of “The Secret Language of Work: Hyper-Helpful Scripts for Every Situation.”

Rather than trying to avoid talking about a resume gap, she says, it’s best to face the topic head-on so that you can assuage any concerns and demonstrate your readiness to continue building your career.

Your goal, McGoff says, is to provide an answer that makes them think, “Oh, that makes sense. That’s not a red flag at all.”