How To Address Resume Gap in an Interview | Episode 209

Took time off to raise your kids and now worried your resume won’t hold up? You’re not the only one. In this episode, Erin chats with Taylor (a marketing professional and mom of two) about the anxiety that comes with a career gap, and what you can actually do about it. They unpack how to keep your skills sharp, what hiring managers really care about, and how to re-enter the job market with confidence (and zero shame). 🎙 In this episode: ✅ How to explain a career break without over-apologizing ✅ The resume format that hides gaps and highlights your value ✅ Why skills—not job titles—are what get you hired in 2025 ✅ Simple ways to stay sharp while you’re not working ✅ How AI is reshaping hiring (and how to use it to your advantage) If you’re a parent (or anyone) navigating a return to work after time off, this episode is your reminder that you’re not behind—you’re just in a new chapter. ⸻ 🎙️ Want to be on Season 2 of No One Knows What They’re Doing? 👉 Apply here: AdviceWithErin.com/SHOW 💡 TAKE THE FREE CAREER QUIZ: advicewitherin.com/quiz 📩 Join the Hyper Helpful Newsletter: hyperhelpful.com 🔔 Subscribe for weekly career advice! ⸻ 🕒 Key Moments: 00:00 – Meet Taylor: Taking a career break after baby #2 01:15 – The fear of falling behind in a fast-moving industry 03:40 – The resume trick that makes career gaps invisible 06:10 – How to keep your skills fresh while caregiving full-time 08:00 – The surprising truth about AI and job applications 10:00 – What to say in interviews about your time off 11:50 – Why your break doesn’t make you less qualified ⸻ 💬 Taking time off from work for caregiving, travel, or your mental health? Drop your experience below—we see you, and you’re not alone. #CareerAdvice #WorkingMoms #ReturnToWork #ResumeTips #MarketingCareers #NoOneKnowsWhatTheyreDoing #CareerGaps #JobSearch2025 __ → 💸 Get a (free) weekly dose of motivational advice + communication tips from me: www.hyperhelpful.com → 💸 Snag my Salary Negotiation Guide for FREE: https://advicewitherin.com/salary →👩🏼‍💻 The Career Workshop Intensive (a career course taught by me!) First 15 PEOPLE get 15% OFF with code "CAREER15": https://bit.ly/3TvZhHm (learn more at this link) __ OTHER THINGS ↓ 🌈 FREE 22-page Career Guide: https://bit.ly/3RFXjTI 📘 FREE Five-Year Plan Guide: http://bit.ly/3JPR3qo 💸 FREE Salary Negotiation Guide: http://bit.ly/43hLcSo 💻 Career Advice Club Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3Jttn9w 📘 Resume Guide: http://bit.ly/3yL6Hgb 📘 Cover Letter Template: https://bit.ly/42iGFOV 📘 Job Interview Q&A Guide: https://bit.ly/3z4Q5QV 📲 TikTok (ErinMcGoff) → / erinmcgoff 📲 Career IG (AdviceWithErin) → / advicewitherin 📲 Personal IG (ErinMcGoff) → / erinmcgoff Pinterest → / erinmcgoff Newsletter → https://www.advicewitherin.com/newsle... Toolkits → https://bit.ly/3loo2Za Merch → http://bit.ly/3YWs0WH Career Workshop Tickets → advicewitherin.com/workshop ❌ I DO NOT sell Career Coaching or Resume Writing Services ❌ I DO NOT and will NEVER ask you to invest in crypto (or anything) ✅ I DO give free feedback on resumes on my bi-weekly IG and TikTok Lives. Learn more: instagram.com/advicewitherin __ ABOUT ERIN Erin McGoff is a multi-hyphenated media professional who has built a career as an award-winning documentary filmmaker & viral content creator. McGoff is passionate about making the world a better place through storytelling + democratizing access to quality career advice. In 2021, her career advice went viral on the internet (tiktok.com/erinmcgoff) when she shared her original template for the dreaded job interview question, "Tell Me About Yourself." Since then, Erin has continued to work full-time as a film director and editor, while also creating career advice content on the side. McGoff credits her success to her ability to research, passion for education, and personal experience as someone on both sides of hiring. Upon graduating from film school, Erin received a fellowship from the Pulitzer Center to support her debut feature documentary about Laos, THIS LITTLE LAND OF MINES, which went on to receive festival accolades and international distribution. McGoff has also completed three short documentaries: SOUTHERN SUSTAINABILITY (2018), NEW YORK IS SILENT (Pulitzer Center, 2020), and DARROUZETT, TX (PBS, 2020). McGoff has worked with a variety of brands, including Google, Microsoft, Meta, National Geographic, Intel, Walmart, ZipRecruiter, Capital One, Hilton, etc. You can view Erin's work at erinmcgoff.com Today, she has 6m+ followers and continues to work to democratize access to quality career advice.