How do I explain a gap in programming since graduation? | CS Career Hub | Page 1

lofty frigate Jun 6, 2022, 1:23 AM

#

Hi, I graduated in 2017 with a degree in web development where I learned Java fullstack. I never did an internship, and eventually went full time at my job at the time and ended up not doing anything until some recent classes where I learned angular and react.

I have an interview tomorrow and I feel like they'll probably want me to talk about what I did in that gap, but it's mostly just due to me getting severely depressed. I remember most of the core concepts I learned and still have my repositories for some of my assignments but no projects up.

How should I respond when asked about this gap? Is it appropriate to say something like "I took a break from web development due to some health issues"?

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:28 AM

#

i mean that sounds fine

#

i dont think its that deep or anything

lofty frigate Jun 6, 2022, 1:32 AM

#

Mostly worried it will come off weird if I say I was critically depressed lol

#

Also, if I should say I'm rusty or not.

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:33 AM

#

i mean yes i agree probably dont say you were critically depressed

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:34 AM

#

lofty frigate Also, if I should say I'm rusty or not.

idk why you would do this

lofty frigate Jun 6, 2022, 1:34 AM

#

I'm too honest

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:34 AM

#

ok

#

i mean thats cool

#

your call of course

lofty frigate Jun 6, 2022, 1:36 AM

#

something like "Its been a while since I did a fullstack project in Java, but" and then talk about a project I did in java that was 5 years ago, if they asked me about projects and languages

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:36 AM

#

i mean

#

like i said

#

idk why you would say something negative about yourself or skills

#

also, i would assume they would talk about whatevers on your resume

#

and then I would assume whatever is on your resume, you are prepared to talk about

lofty frigate Jun 6, 2022, 1:37 AM

#

well, its weird but it would be whats not on my resume, that I'm worried they'll talk about and I might not have a good answer

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:38 AM

#

lofty frigate well, its weird but it would be whats *not* on my resume, that I'm worried they'...

i mean idk how they can ask about a project thats not on your resume

lofty frigate Jun 6, 2022, 1:38 AM

#

specifically, I've got a gap after my graduation in 2017 to the classes I took this spring, 2022

#

well, I put Java under skills, so if they ask about that

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:39 AM

#

i mean they would just ask you java question most likely

lofty frigate Jun 6, 2022, 1:39 AM

#

ah ok

#

I haven't done an interview since like 2016

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:39 AM

#

yeah thats a long time

#

so good luck

lofty frigate Jun 6, 2022, 1:39 AM

#

yeah...

#

I better brush up on my java

#

thanks for the input 👍

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:40 AM

#

that would make sense if its a java job yeah ahahah

#

np

#

if this is your first one , then yeah don't expect a ton but try and learn what you can from it

lofty frigate Jun 6, 2022, 1:40 AM

#

I had to stalk into the employees on their linked in because I couldn't find any info haha

opal fox Jun 6, 2022, 1:40 AM

#

i do that everytinme

#

every single time i get the names of whos interviewing me

#How do I explain a gap in programming since graduation?