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I intend to take a sabbatical to write a book about the domain I work in (I will quit my current job and spend some months to write it). It would be on a topic that some might think it's controversial. I don't want to tell what the book is about but it will expose some problems together with me offering some solutions in trying to make it better. I plan to use a pen name, so it won't be obviously linked to me.

After the book is written I will put it on sale on Amazon and try to make some income from it. Since it's my first book, I don't expect to retire with the sales I make, so at some point I will need to get another job. And then I will need to explain the gap in the CV.

How can I do that without mentioning the book, having the interviewers look at it, and wrongly interpret it's content, thus affecting my chances of getting the job?

Please don't say not to write the book! It's something I think will benefit the domain and I want to write it.

David K
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may
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    You took time out to be with your family, raise a puppy, raise a barn. You have any number of different reasons to be taking a sabbatical. –  Oct 19 '17 at 10:21
  • If you end up mentioning you wrote a book, is it written under a pen name? Would they be able to look you up later and stumble across the publication? –  Oct 19 '17 at 10:43
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    @Kozaky: yes, it will be under a pen name. I'm not worried about them finding the book later on, that won't be a problem, the book will be balanced. I'm just worried that it will be a handicap at the interview because people won't see it as it is but just conclude it's a rant. – may Oct 19 '17 at 10:47
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    Or simply work part time until the book is done? Maybe 4-6 months if your original fulltime estimate is 2-3 months. – Juha Untinen Oct 19 '17 at 12:28
  • @JoeStrazzere: I can stay at home much longer than what the book will take me to write. I've tried in my spare time. I'm too tired after work and can't get in the zone. I also can't allocate weekends just for this (I have family obligations, chores, etc). I've been strugling to make progress for a few months now. It doesn't work. – may Oct 19 '17 at 12:45
  • @JuhaUntinen: I can't work part time. Some people depend on me at work full time. I am either full time or not working there anymore. – may Oct 19 '17 at 12:47
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    Possible duplicate of Interviewing for jobs after a long (no work) period of absence? – DarkCygnus Oct 19 '17 at 15:42
  • Also possible duplicate of How to explain a long (4 years) employment gap? – DarkCygnus Oct 19 '17 at 15:43
  • Why not just say you took the time off to write a book? If they ask for details you don't have to mention whether the book was published or what it was about. – djohnson10 Oct 19 '17 at 16:16
  • If you do have good reasons to write the book, then you should not hide the fact that you have written a book after you finish it. – Nobody Oct 26 '17 at 09:36

3 Answers3

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I took some time to focus on personal devlopment and some studies. I didn't gain any qualifications, but what I think what I learned would help me with this job. For example...

This keeps it professional, is still objectively true and will allow you to use the insights you gained in a positive light, opening up the conversation.

If the interview steers towards your book, so be it. By that time you would have disarmed the interviewer sufficiently.

JohnHC
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I took some time out to be with my family

This would be ambiguous enough for most people. You might want to subtly imply that a family member needed caring for, or that you were stressed in your previous job and needed some time to unwind and gather yourself.

There's no much else you can say really apart from making up lies about how you used that time. Keep it simple.

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You could tell any other reason. For taking care of the family is a reason used a lot where I live.

If you do volunteering you could fill that space and put a focus on that.

In a interview that would allow you to skip the subject faster.

"I was at home for reason xxx, and at the same time I took the time for some volunteering for yyy ..."

yagmoth555
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    Note that if you say you volunteered for something and your potential employer checks up on this and it's proven that you did no such thing, then it's an instant fail. –  Oct 19 '17 at 10:39
  • @SnarkShark I totally agree, its why I wrote if you do volunteering. Kinda like taking care of the family, if the OP live far from his family and have no kid. – yagmoth555 Oct 19 '17 at 11:30