How to Explain a Job Gap due to COVID-19 in Your MBA Application

Have a job gap in your resume? Don't leave the admissions committee guessing.

Pat Harrison is Senior Associate Director of Admissions at the Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 22 million Americans have lost their jobs. If you’re one of the many who lost their jobs as a direct result of COVID-19, you may be wondering how to explain this job gap in your MBA application. You’re not alone. As with any employment gap, it’s important to directly address it. Don’t leave admissions committees guessing.

What should you put on your application if you lost your job due to COVID-19?

As a result of COVID-19’s devastating impact on the global economy, now more than ever, business school applicants may need to address an employment gap in their application. While it may be tempting to leave your employment gap off of your application, don’t. Instead, be straightforward and honest about your period of unemployment. Admissions committees are aware of the millions out of work due to COVID-19, and if they understand your situation, they’re likely to be understanding in the admissions process.

How should you explain your period of unemployment in your MBA application?

While acknowledging your job gap and the reason for it is an important first step, don’t stop there. Demonstrate the initiative you took during this less-than-ideal situation, and explain what you did during the time you weren’t working. Were you taking classes to develop additional skills? Were you volunteering within your community?? Or were you pounding the pavement to network and find a new job? All of these are fine. We often learn more from the struggles in our lives than the successes. Demonstrating resilience, optimism and personal growth during a period of unemployment will be viewed positively by an admissions committee, so take advantage of the optional essay and tell us your story.

Any other application advice?

Like your period of unemployment, make sure you explain anything that may not be obvious from the face of your application, like a major career switch, poor grade, or unusual choice of recommender. For example, many people are hesitant to ask their current supervisor for a letter of recommendation because they fear it might jeopardize their employment. This is not a big problem if you explain that is the reason, but if you don’t explain it, we are left with the equally realistic assumption that you don’t have a good working relationship with your supervisor. Again, don’t make us guess.

Wondering how to make your application stand out? Check out these tips.

Looking for more help with your application?

You’ve come to the right place. Considering the pool of qualified candidates applying to business schools, it’s critical to effectively tell your story and make your application stand out. If you’re looking for tips to be competitive and set your application apart, check out this step-by-step guide. Or if you’re ready to get a jump-start on your application, here’s a five-month application plan to set you up for success. We’re here to help along the way!