So I got laid off about three months ago after the company did a big round of “restructuring” Totally out of nowhere. I wasn’t fired for performance or anything just one of those unlucky cuts. I’ve been applying to jobs since but I’m starting to get nervous about how to explain the growing gap on my resume. The other day while playing chess on my phone I started thinking about how weird the job market feels right now. Everyone says “gaps are normal” but when you’re actually in the middle of one it doesn’t feel normal at all. I’ve been doing some online courses and light freelancing to stay busy but it still looks like a blank spot to recruiters.
For anyone who’s been in this position what’s the best way to explain a layoff gap in interviews or cover letters without sounding defensive or desperate? Should I just be honest and say it was due to restructuring or try to spin it into something more proactive?