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I graduated from Computer Science this summer and so far I've been unemployed for two months due to a health issue that prevents me from performing properly as a programmer. I even had secured a job and in the end I couldn't take it because of this.

I mentioned 4-5 in the title because I honestly think it could take that long in the worst case scenario.

Consider that I'm a CompSci new grad.

Is my career screwed? And how do I make up for this?

smci
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Eugenberk
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    Most of the other questions are about longer gaps. 4-5 months doesn't sound that bad to me. Check the other threads related to employment gaps for more information - e.g. http://workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/18616/why-is-a-gap-in-employment-dates-considered-bad – Brandin Oct 02 '15 at 11:27
  • @Brandin Thanks a lot bro, I'm gonna check them out now. I figured my case would be different though since I'm newly graduated and forcefully unemployed due to a sickness – Eugenberk Oct 02 '15 at 11:28
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    4-5 Months is nothing. Do not worry about it. – Ed Heal Oct 02 '15 at 11:30
  • In the UK, 7% of graduates don't get a job in the first six months, so 4-5 months -- if it should even last that long -- is not bad at all. – Andrew Leach Oct 02 '15 at 11:32
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    The health issue is a pretty legitimate reason for a gap. Besides, it's only two months so far. Don't get too far ahead of yourself :) – Jane S Oct 02 '15 at 11:33
  • @Eugenberk Realistically it can take several months to find the right job. It's up to you whether you want to mention the health issue, but it seems best to avoid this if possible. Decide before an interview whether you want to mention this and think of a simple way to explain it if you want to do that. – Brandin Oct 02 '15 at 11:34
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    I'd agree that 4-5 months isn't a lot - a lot of graduates don't get a job at all immediately (roughly 10%), and of those who do get a job, a large proportion (1/3) get non-professional, unrelated job, and another chunk get an unrelated graduate job or internship, go on to more education or training etc, or just take a time out and go travelling etc. It's really not that unusual - a lot of my friends took a year or so to find a job, and nothing is thought of it. – Jon Story Oct 02 '15 at 11:41
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    I didn't end up working at all until about four months after graduating, and that was a short term job at a hotel before finally starting my career two months later. You've got nothing to worry about. – grfrazee Oct 02 '15 at 11:56
  • Do not mention the health bit - It is not worth it assuming that this is a temporary problem. Even if you get a job and this health problem is just temporary can you ride out the storm? – Ed Heal Oct 02 '15 at 14:21
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    4-5 months right out of college won't reflect badly on you. – Kai Oct 02 '15 at 14:28
  • Thank you all a lot. @EdHeal Excuse me, what do you mean ride out the storm? I can't do acceptably in a job until I get well. What do you think would be the consequences of mentioning the health bit? – Eugenberk Oct 02 '15 at 14:54
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    @Eugenberk Problem with mentioning the health issue is that there's probably no need. Surely you're not sitting around doing nothing because of the health issue. If asked and you want to say something, say what you did do during the 4-5 months, not something that you didn't do because of a health issue. – Brandin Oct 02 '15 at 15:09
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    It took me 3-4 years after graduating before I got a job in my field. But, that was 30 years ago, and hasn't affected my career since. – thursdaysgeek Oct 02 '15 at 15:40
  • If you have a health problem that is work in progress that is getting fixed and you are capable of going to work even if it is difficult sometimes. The a job is better than no job. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Ride that storm as the prize is having a job and also may help you to recover – Ed Heal Oct 02 '15 at 15:54
  • @Brandin "Surely you're not sitting around doing nothing because of the health issue." As sad as it sounds, I literally am. I'm looking for stuff to do in the meantime though as long as I can set my own pace and not put in too much time a day. – Eugenberk Oct 02 '15 at 17:34
  • I know this is old, but as an encouragement to those who are in a similar situation, I am a software developer and I took a voluntary 2-3 month break between jobs when I moved from one state to another, and even without the excuse of a health issue preventing me from working, I was able to find a job relatively quickly and no one has been concerned about it at all. When someone asks in an interview why I have a gap there, I just tell them that I was feeling burned out at the time and needed time to recover myself. They have all understood and sympathized. Best of luck to you – Kevin Nov 18 '16 at 19:28

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Partial answer: Once you're healthy enough, immediately start actively learning or enhancing an important skill.

One option is to work aggressively towards a certification. Another is to volunteer part-time for a non-profit and do meaningful work directly related to your field, so you have hands-on experience. A third option is to start teaching others what you know, perhaps via high-quality video tutorials, showcasing your knowledge and communication skills. A fourth option is to take-on a few paid short-term consulting projects (if they're remote and you're up for it, consider traveling somewhere while working, which creates an easy-to-understand reason for not immediately securing full-time employment after school).

All of these help fill-in your post-school resume with useful experience, and move the gap you're concerned about further and further behind you.

Otherwise, I'm not qualified to say how you ought to respond if someone specifically asks about the gap you currently have, other than to say lies have a way of being discovered, so it's best to avoid them. Good luck!

Careerasaurus.com
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You'll be fine. Over the course of the next 10-30 years, 4-5 months is nothing.

It wouldn't/shouldn't really be an issue, for whatever reason, unless you were in jail or in recovery for substance addiction, or something else like that.

user70848
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First priority should be to get well again. Everything else is only secondary.

A year from now, do you think anybody will say "with a five month career gap I would have accepted him, but that 6 month gap is really one month too many"? That will not happen. However, if you don't recover properly, you will have problems for much longer, maybe even the rest of your life. So relax. You cannot change it anyway. Concentrate on a recovery. Not on a quick recovery, but on a good recovery.

If you cannot use your CS skills right now, but you do have time to waste, maybe brush up totally unrelated skills. CS is seldom used on it's own. We always work for some industry. Maybe you can get some skills in an industry you'd like to work in. Financial? Business Administration? Project Management? Heck, if you want to go into that industry, even Chemistry or Biology might be helpful. But remember: that is secondary. It can wait. Do not let this get in the way of your recovery.

Being healthy and happy is a key skill that will outshine any "month" or "skill" in your personal life. And employers like to have happy and healthy people, too.

nvoigt
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  • Thanks a lot bro. I can't vote up because my account is new but I want you to know that your words mean a lot to me. – Eugenberk Oct 04 '15 at 15:10
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I really don't think you are going to have to worry. The answer I would give a perspective employer is the truth. Tell them you had some health issues (hopefully all resolved now) and that you were unable to work at the time. Remember that not telling them the truth will get any job offer revoked and if employed is grounds for termination in almost all companies. Today with social media and the interwebs its painfully easy to find out whatever you want to know about someone.

J. Dwyer
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