Your degree covered supply chains, financial ratios, and maybe even Shakespeare. But it did not cover how to handle a passive-aggressive manager, why eating lunch at your desk every single day quietly hurts you, or what it actually means when HR says “we’ll circle back.” Nobody does. That gap — between what college teaches and what the workplace demands — is exactly where most first-job journeys go quietly off the rails. Not because you aren’t smart. Not because you weren’t

Stuck when asked about your career gap? You're not alone. Whether it was burnout, caregiving, or survival mode during COVID, here’s how to confidently explain your 2020–2025 break, highlight your growth, and turn it into a strong comeback story in your next job interview.