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.
12 Answers
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!
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!
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.
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