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

Question

3 months ago, I decided to leave my high stress sales job before having another one lined up. I left because the stress was leading me into a deep depression, which made it difficult for me to do my job or get through the day without feeling sad or overwhelmed about the smallest inconveniences at work or home. I took this time off to focus on school, re-evaluate my career goals and improve my emotional state. Now that I have had a chance to decompress, I have started applying for new jobs, but haven't made any traction. The only thing more worrisome than the fact I haven't received any call backs is my anxiety over having to respond to the reason for leaving my former job. How should I explain my reason for leaving a company before having a new job without sounding negative or raising red flags about my 'emotional weakness?'

Anonymous · Answer

This is totally understandable and a common concern among interviewees! In the past, when I've burned out a job and wanted to avoid trash talking a previous employer, what I've done is focus on the fact that I left my job because I was ready for a change / excited for new opportunities in my career. It's also OK to be somewhat honest without focusing too much on the negative (for instance, you can reference that wanted to take some time off to focus on school and some personal obligations at home, and you're now excited to return to work and immerse yourself in a new workplace culture/atmosphere).  Hope this helps!

Anonymous · Answer

I agree with the last comment about not needing to be perfectly honest. There are many ways to spin your decision and I think the fact that YOU decided to leave rather than were fired is such a powerful statement. Imagine if you were in the same position but had to explain a work gap because you were let go due to performance problems...your situation is in your control, just as it was in your control to leave your position. You can also describe 'high stress' in terms that are less likely to make you look like you can't 'handle stress'. For example, you can say that you decided to leave your job because the culture wasn't a great fit or the company and role isn't what you were told it would be. There are a lot of ways and options for you to frame your answer because only you know the reason why you left.

Anonymous · Answer

I've played up the school aspect when I left my first career realizing I would never have time to date, or do anything else other than work, and be on-call all the time with little advancement opportunities and bad pay.  I did want to get another degree a few years down the road anyway, so it wasn't exactly a bad time ditching this field and getting back into something a little less demanding.

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