How do I deal with career gap as I am having more than a year? originally appeared on Quora, the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus.

This can be a challenging situation, but it really depends on the reason you’ve had an extended gap in your career. The most important thing you can do is show that you are being proactive and be transparent about why you have taken a career gap (regardless of whether it was planned or not, or if it was your decision or not). What I can tell you with absolute certainty, is that on multiple occasions, and for different reasons, we’ve brought people in who have had gaps in their careers. I’m a firm believer in focusing on character and the strength of individuals. Some of the greatest people I have had the fortune of hiring have been the best finds for our company took a gap year. A few things that you should think about, or be willing to consider would be:

* Take a refresher class or training course within your field, representative of the positions you are looking to fill.

* Be creative in the positions you are looking for and be willing to take an internship or temp position to get reacclimated into the workforce.

* Find a mentor in the field you are in, or have transitioned to, who can help you navigate the challenges and reinforce the positives.

At the end of the day, it is just as important that you find a company that is the right fit for you and that they will truly value you for what you bring to the table. Those matches are hard to find, but they do exist. Just be willing to be creative and patient in order to achieve the outcome you desire. And whatever you do, be transparent and own your story with conviction, regardless of why you have had a gap in your career. Face it head on, and all will be well in due time, exactly when it is meant to be.

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