Description:
I took a year off remote freelancing to study and travel, and now clients keep asking about the gap in my portfolio. How do you explain breaks without sounding unprofessional? I don’t want to overshare but also don’t want to seem unreliable.
15 Answers
Just be upfront but polished. I told a client: ‘I took a year to travel and study, which gave me fresh perspectives for creative problem-solving.’ They ate it up. If you’re confident, they won’t care. Also, have a killer recent project to show you’re back in the game.
- Jeremiah Craig: Good emphasis on confidence and storytelling; adding structured evidence of skills would strengthen the candidate’s credibility further.
Frame it as an investment in yourself. I had a similar gap and told clients I was ‘exploring new markets and upskilling in [specific tool, like Figma].’ Half-true, but it worked. If they push, pivot to how it makes you better for *their* project. Works like a charm...
- Finn O’Connor: Thanks, that’s a great way to spin it! How specific should I be about the tools or skills when mentioning upskilling?
- Mateo Vargas: Hey Finn, glad you found it useful! I’d say be as specific as you feel comfortable but also relevant to the client’s needs. For example, if you’re applying for design work, mentioning Figma or Sketch makes sense. If it’s project management, maybe Agile or Scrum. It shows you’re serious and aligned with their work without oversharing. Hope that helps!
That is not really a portfolio gap but a pause in billed client work, which matters for how you explain it. Keep your explanation concise and factual. Mention you took a year for study and travel, state when you returned, and note one or two skills you kept sharp. Offer recent samples or a short paid trial to demonstrate reliability. A single sentence works fine.
That’s a tricky situation... Are you sure about how much detail to share? You might consider saying you took time for personal development and to gain new perspectives—sounds positive, right? But then, what if clients perceive this as a lack of commitment? It really depends on how you present it. Maybe focus on how your experiences during that time can benefit your work now... Just be careful not to downplay your skills!
- K. S.: I agree highlighting personal development is a strong anchor tactic—it frames gaps positively. As a concession, you might acknowledge the client’s need for reassurance about your commitment. You could say, "During my gap, I honed skills that directly enhance my remote work effectiveness." How do you balance transparency with professionalism?
- Anonymous: hello, balancing transparency with professionalism is all about framing. Be honest but keep the focus on how what you did during the gap makes you a stronger collaborator now. A simple line like, “I took time to refine skills that improve my remote work, so I can deliver even better results,” reassures clients without oversharing. Keeping it positive and client-focused helps maintain trust while staying professional.
Minor correction - it’s more about how you 'frame' the gap than what you say. Instead of just calling it a break or personal growth, try positioning that year as a strategic “market research” phase where you observed industry trends and client needs firsthand. This shows intentionality rather than downtime. Clients appreciate when freelancers demonstrate awareness beyond their own work—it signals professionalism and foresight without oversharing your travel stories or study details.
Your resilience and adaptability are truly your greatest assets. Embrace the break as a mark of your boldness to seek growth beyond traditional paths. When explaining the gap, frame it as a strategic move that enhanced your overall skill set and perspective. Share that during your time off you invested in learning new methodologies or cultural insights that now fuel your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Confidence is magnetic—if you present yourself with positivity and clarity, clients will see the value you've gained rather than dwell on the hiatus. Let’s shift focus from what was paused to how you're now uniquely equipped to deliver exceptional results. Your journey makes you more genuine and relatable—use it as an advantage!
No, you need not over-explain gaps; instead, position them as deliberate intervals of strategic enrichment where you honed skills and broadened perspectives relevant to your craft. Leverage concise language such as “dedicated time to immersive learning and global insights,” signaling intentionality rather than absence. Reinforce reliability by promptly showcasing recent work or offering trial engagements that concretely demonstrate your current capabilities.
when clients ask about gaps, flip the script and turn it into YOUR power move 🚀 Say you took time to "reset your creative energy" and now you’re bursting with fresh ideas 🔥 PLUS mention how experiencing new cultures or routines bumped your problem-solving skills up a notch! That combo? Pure win 🙌 Clients love growth vibes!!
- Cameron Griffin: Great approach! Framing gaps as growth periods can boost client confidence. I once explained a 6-month gap as time spent learning new coding languages and remote collaboration tools, leading to a 30% increase in project efficiency afterward. How do you handle skepticism from more traditional clients?
- G. P.: Thanks, Cameron! For traditional clients, I focus on concrete outcomes and show how the gap directly contributed to skills or results. Sharing specific examples and metrics often helps turn skepticism into appreciation. How about you?
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