How to Explain an Employment Gap in Your MBA Application

Employment gaps are often seen as a red flag in MBA admissions. Gaps longer than two or three months can leave admissions officers wondering how an applicant has spent their time.

But Susan Cera, Director of MBA Admissions Counseling at Stratus Admissions Counseling, says employment gaps don’t necessarily have to be negative—and often applicants can flip the narrative to reflect positively on their candidacy.

BE TRANSPARENT

The best way to explain an employment gap, Cera says, is to address it head on.

“If you have a gap, face this weakness head on and do not leave the admissions committee guessing why,” Cera says. “Committee members have very active imaginations; they will try to fill in the blanks in your application, and this may not always reflect positively on your candidacy. If you actually sat on the couch binge-watching Netflix for months, be honest. You may have needed a mental break after a particularly grueling work or college experience.”

It can be helpful to explain the circumstances of your employment gap to shed light on the difficulties of obtaining a job.

“Some aspiring business school candidates may have found themselves unemployed during the global pandemic through no fault of their own,” Cera says. “However, many young professionals were applying and getting accepted to MBA programs while unemployed. Therefore, an employment gap is not necessarily a fast pass to the ding pile.”

UTILIZE YOUR ESSAYS AND INTERVIEWS

Optional essays and interviews are prime opportunities to explain your employment gap to admissions officers. Cera recommends a two-step explanation that can help flip the narrative on your employment gap.

“First, describe why you were not working and what you did with your time, and then take it one step further and share what you learned from the experience,” Cera says.

Most importantly, experts recommend framing your gap as a time for growth. Even if you were without a job, it’s critical to highlight a sense of drive, initiative, or proactivity. Here’s an example of a strong explanation from Jessica Shklar, an Executive Director at mbaMission:

“In the six months between leaving [previous company] and starting at [current company], I embraced the chance to explore areas of interest that I had not previously had time for. I committed myself to learning to play the piano, with twice-weekly lessons and two hours of practice every day. I completed XYZ course on [something relevant to career goals] to bolster my understanding and skills in that area, and I shadowed [someone working in target career area] for ten hours a week to confirm that it is the direction I want to pursue professionally and to learn about the daily life and responsibilities of individuals in that role.”

Left unexplained, employment gaps can be a glaring red flag to admissions officers. But with proper explanation, these gaps can paint a vivid picture of challenge and growth.

“By giving admissions committees the full, authentic picture of your employment gap, you take control of your narrative,” Cera says. “Therefore, be sure to deeply reflect upon your experience and explain it. Don’t make excuses; make your story specific and meaningful.”

Sources: Stratus Admissions Counseling, mbaMission

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