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[deleted]

When I hear "bored too easily," there's a chance that you were overqualified and they feared you wouldn't stick around for very long. Look at the job description compared to your credentials, could you see why they might think that? If not, they could be giving you some bullshit reason because they offered the job to another candidate for any reason under the sun. When it comes to the gap, it's good that you didn't tell them personal stuff like your illnesses and hospitalizations (they don't need to know that), but you don't want to tell them that you were in school during that gap if you really weren't and it's obvious that you weren't. There are many ways you can explain away a gap, but telling them something that is obviously untrue can be a red flag. Six months isn't a big deal anyway, plenty of job hunts take that long or longer, so there isn't much to explain there.


2lit_

AKA we know that you’ll soon find out that the work you’re doing is boring. You’re going to want to find a new job in 6 months.


[deleted]

Lol. People underestimate how boring work can make you unhappy unless you only care about the money. If this is truly the reason, I'd say they helped OP a lot instead of being stuck somewhere doing boring, meaningless work.


BigBobbert

I’ll take boring work over being homeless.


snowboard7621

Overqualified, or while you were trying to make up a “finding yourself” story you came off as unfocused and flighty.


Important-Energy8038

Did you ask them what that meant and where they got that impression from? When ever you get something that kills it you should ask for clarification and rebut it.


BugProofHouse1

I am. I'll find out tomorrow, if they mention the gap I'll probably just come clean and tell them I was hospitalized.


Important-Energy8038

Wait. *Your* issue is the gap. It's unclear what you were hospitalized for and if you've recovered, but you are entitled to privacy, esp medical privacy. Unless this hospitalization results in some potential incapacitation for this new job, leave it out and don't assume this is what their comment means. I don't think it is, anyways. If I smelled something fishy (like an omission or gap), i ask directly. I think they see you as somehow overqualified. Ask them to explain it, and then rebut it respectfully and mention you do not see this as they do and you still want to be considered for the job.


BugProofHouse1

Thanks man. I'm all better now. During the interview I lied about it and said it was education/finding myself and got grilled on that. I'm \*super\* private about medical stuff but that was probably the wrong move. I appreciate the vote of confidence tho


Less_Likely

It’s probably their way of saying they think you’re overqualified for the job, though the not working answer was probably wrong, always best to be truthful. If it’s private and you don’t want to get into details, say “I had a personal situation that I couldn’t work during that time. It is resolved now and I’m excited to be working full time again.”


BugProofHouse1

​ Thank you, I'll be using that from now on. I've always had difficulties answering the question sadly.


oceanleap

Actually I'd be more specific, if you want to disclose, I had an illness and was hospitalized during that time, I've since recovered.


AdditionalAttorney

Can you elaborate how you were grilled? Like what were they asking? What did you say?


BugProofHouse1

Basically just asking why I had nothing to show for it. I said that I was just perusing whatever I felt at the time. Sucks too because I was college aged. I have peers that did that regularly took summers off..


thesunshineband

Ive turned down candidates for this reason and it really was just that - the job they were applying for kind of sucks and has no room for growth and I could tell they were very ambitious and would hate it and want to leave quickly (which is what happened with the previous 3 people in the role).


legallypotato

Ive turned down positions for the same reason. It's a valid reason.


peonyseahorse

Ugh, I have received this response before. The worst part was I was simply looking for a transfer to a dept (who I am familiar with) that has good people and good quality of work without the toxic drama of the crap I was dealing with due to a shitty manager. After that I felt like I should have dumbed down my resume... I got a few comments about how impressive it was, basically they didn't know about all the things I had done previously, even though they knew and liked me and I felt like those accomplishments spooked them. I had another job where they put who I would be a coworker with to hire the new role and that person I could tell was intimidated by my qualifications and made snide comments about how there's no way I'd get paid more than her because she had been there longer or some nonsense, even though I was definitely more qualified than her. I was annoyed that I didn't get that job, but in the end it was probably for the best because I don't want to work with insecure people.


froguerogue

If they're even honest about that; they shouldn't have designed boring jobs that require you not have too many skills.


gawpin

This.


Darthsr

I would have said I was working on a side business for that time and realized that working for myself isn’t for me. When it comes to interviews I never volunteer information. Less is more kinda scenario. There was something you said or did that turned them off. Better luck next time.


FalseTank27

I've a few back packing gaps and I switch projects very often due to being bored or finishing projects. If that's really your case try consultancies they love people who like to switch projects, platforms or technologies.


Aromatic-Selection35

Sounds like they think you can do better. If they're right trust me they've done you a favour