I think only employers care and not normal people. But I agree, it's stupid that any gaps can sometimes kill your chances to be hired. Maybe you had a travel vacation. Maybe you went overseas to deal with family stuff. Maybe you cared for someone sick and dying. Maybe you went back to school. Maybe you had medical issues. Who knows. That shouldn't even be their business. They should look at your qualifications and experience, have an interview, and get a feel for you as candidate regardless of whether there's a gap. However, I do think employers aren't as silly as about this now compared to before Covid. Maybe only the old-school ones are unreasonable. But you can typically explain the gap now and focus on the positives of taking the gap to excuse it. If you've got an employer who is 35 years old, they're not gonna care you took a gap year compared to an employer who's 60. They shouldn't care and you shouldn't have to explain, but at least you have a fighting chance now as long as you can explain it decently.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

\*Makes the so-so gesture\* Yes and no. You're not wrong in the abstract (and I mean that honestly) but I get why "LOL I took a year off to just vibe and find myself LOL" can come across as overly priviledged in some cases. It's not something someone rolling pennies to make enough gas money to drive to their 3rd minimum wage job they are working to keep from being homeless really needs to hear most of the time.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I never understood people who do 3 jobs. Why not just spend all those hours on one job so you can hit OT threshold? And why work a mimum wage job when you can get better money at a factory, warehouse or tipped position

by Anonymous 1 year ago

My experience "gap year" turns to gap 20's

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Depends what you do in your "gap year." If you just sit on your butt and play video games…it's a sign of laziness and people will view it negatively. If you backpacked across a foreign continent…people will likely view that positively.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Thing is, even a year off would put you behind hundreds of other people.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I took a gap ten years. I truly don't judge people for taking time off. I do really push people not to if they are on the fence though because almost 90% of students (I believe the number is in the high 80s) don't go back after a year off. Take it if you need it, it can be the perfect choice for lots of people, but it's really REALLY hard to go back, and knowing that ahead of time is important.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It shows that person can sustain themselves without an employer either through planning/saving or being independently wealthy. Employers don't like people who can do that. They want those who are dependent on them and can't love without that paycheck.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It shows you have rich parents that will finance you not doing anything of value for a year.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

A lot of people see not going to college as a bad thing. I think it's mainly the older generation that feels this way.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

If you can fully fund your own gap year(s), take as much time off as you want. If you're relying on someone else to pay, try to be doing something to help.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

depends on what you do during a gap.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I don't think it's unpopular opinion, Just don't let it turn into a 5 or 10 year gap

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Most people don't have the luxury of taking a gap year. That's why it's frowned upon

by Anonymous 1 year ago