What's the best way to explain a stress-related gap in employment during an interview?

I wouldn't describe myself as a chronic job hopper but when I take an honest look at my resume, It's obvious I haven't really stayed at one place- and grown there- for more than a few years. In 25 years, I've had everything from an 8 month stint to barely three years. In two cases I was laid off, in one it was an obvious bad fit after a year. In another situation, a malicious supervisor bullied me out of a job I really excelled at and had hoped to stay at for several years, so I only lasted two years there. I was a contractor at another job, a good job, and that lasted exactly a year because the contract ended and the firm did not have anywhere else to send me. I lasted only a year-year and a half at my first three jobs due to abysmal pay (and it's a field where people do bounce around quite a bit). So, here I am again in my late 40s, two years into my current job. It's a great position but the commute is taxing-- more than an hour each way. I like but don't love the work. I do feel, though, that I should try to stick it out a little longer. I also feel that I'm probably not going to find anything better if I leave this position. I can't move closer to my workplace due to family issues, too, so that's not even an option to make it more palatable. I don't know if my situation is unique or if my career path since I left college is quite common. I sometimes feel sad that I never found a place where I stayed for a while-- I do sometimes envy others who were able to stay at one place for 10-20 years and receive promotions. I've never received a real promotion in my life. I find that unsatisfying, but I also understand that I've had some unfortunate circumstances at some previous employers-- it wasn't my fault that I was bullied out, laid off, needed to jump ship to make an acceptable salary so I could pay rent. I also had kids and took a step back at one point to work part-time online just to keep myself in the workforce (and those jobs lasted about two years each. They were great but no promotion potential.) Do others out there find their careers have taken the same zig-zag path? What do you attribute it to? Are you at peace with the fact that you've never been a "lifer" anywhere?

I would welcome your insights with my Market Research for my upcoming coaching program which will be specifically designed for Female GenX Professionals looking to FINALLY leave a career that does not align with their strengths, passions and values. :-) My intention is to partner with these women to: 1- Uncover and celebrate their strengths 2 -Dig into self-limiting beliefs and strategies to overcome 3 - Partner as a coach as they take the brave steps towards a new career If this sounds like you, would you be open to a 30 minute conversation where I would get your opinion on an impactful program? If so, please comment below. Thank you for considering! Respectfully, Dawn Frydenlund iPEC Certified Professional Coach and ELI-Master Practitioner

I am a full-time college student that just quit their fast food job. I’ve applied to several places, but no one has shown interest. I feel that this is for two reasons: Not many people are hiring since a lot of places hired a lot of people during the holiday season, so now they don’t need many new hires. I am a full-time student and they need someone available more often. Either way, I’m going broke and I NEED a job if I’m going to finish school. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I'm interested in a side hassle but I have no idea where to start. Open to suggestions. I don't know that I'm interested in selling random jewelry, workout gear, etc. But let me know your experiences! Thanks in advance!!

I work remotely, and I have weekly meetings with my supervisor and they always state that I am doing great, I am thorough, etc. My supervisor had the day off, and their manager started auditing my files and leaving really condescending public remarks in each file for all to see. I had to respond with the reason the file was not up to their standard (they actually had no context to what they were doing, and my work is very neat.) I had valid reasons, and after asking a coworker if they were getting audited, they checked and said it was only me. We have 30 people in our group. I was the only person getting this wrath, and nobody else received such wrath from her in over a month, and not to such extreme. My colleagues and supervisor agree I am in the higher performance. This manager seems to be making some sort of paper trail with no indication of why. They have publicly humiliated me in public company forums, and upon research, they had no justification as I was filling standard operating procedures. I wrote HR, and explained how I think she is targeting me and added proof. I also went as far as saying my attorney will be copied in. I am not stepping down, as this is my livelihood. This has been happening since I started there, and while my other colleagues have quit because of this managers condescending ways, I am not a quitter. I am older, and I have noticed ageism when job searching. I have only called off because HR didn’t set up my health benefits for over 3 months even though my benefits started the day I hired. My father also died and i am the executor of his estate. I ran out of medication I need and suffer chronic migraines. I have taken some days off with my supervisors approval for my chronic migraines. I sent a request earlier for intermittent leave and I am waiting for HR to respond. In my career I have always been a dedicated, high achiever. I am respectful to my coworkers, and management. Did I do wrong by writing HR? I have heard that it usually leads to dismissal because HR protects the manager, however I still meet goals, I work thoughtfully for the client to be happy.

I have just recently been told my supervisor thay I am not allowed to call off when my fibromyalgia flares up. If I have sick time, I don't understand how they can do that. I know that they aren't required to offer intermittent fmla because of the company size, but when I am in pain all over, it's none of their business.