How to Answer: What have you been doing since your last job?

How to answer “What have you been doing since your last job?” interview question during an interview. What would be your best answer for this question? Here is ours:

If your CV includes an extended period between leaving your last job and the present day, your interviewer may enquire as to what you have been doing. Although this question is unlikely to make or break the interview, it is still important to consider your answer.

The main problem an interviewer will have with periods of inactivity is because of any possible reasons as to why you weren’t employed. If there is any serious reason that other employers have turned down your services, natural any future potential employers are going to be keen to know why. Bear in mind that it may make you seem less appealing if you say you have been to countless interviews. This may be your reflex answer, and you could feel that it would be proof that you are enthusiastic to get back into work, however, it is possible that the interviewer will see warning signs and may be suspicious as to why you have failed so many times. Of course, this could simply be down to the sheer numbers competing for each post, but you may find that disclosing how many times you have been rejected may have a negative effect on your chances.

Other options you could use, to make sure the interviewer understands that you have used your time constructively include:

• I used the time to further my education and pick up some qualifications I felt I needed.
• Due to the birth of my child, I have taken time away from work to be at home.
• I was working on a personal project.

Responses of this nature should help to smooth over any fears your interview may have about your extended absence from employment. You should try to show that, at least to some extent, being unemployed was your decision in order to progress your life in some other way.

Example Answer

I have been filling my time doing volunteer work at a PDSA charity shop close to home. I enjoy still having the customer interaction and it fills my days, i’d be lost without doing some type of work.