How do you explain a period of time you've been unemployed on your resume?

Do any volunteering or consulting work between 2005-present? I often list those things as work experience.

During better econmic times, the explanation might be a moot point but right now you will be competing with many others looking for jobs.
I would be up front honest with prospective employers. You don’t need to go into all the details but do fill them in on the basics.

Could you get away with the “I got bored of retirement” excuse?

@augustian.. Don’t mean to find fault with your comment, but with the competition and lousy job market, a potential employer may grant the job to someone who really needs it over someone who is simply bored with retirement. (with all due respect)

That is an excellent point, basp! I agree, and should have thought of it before I answered.

Be honest. “I spent the time dealing with some personal business, and now that it’s resolved, I’m looking to re-enter the workforce.”

You don’t need to go into too much detail, but it’s important that what you do say is honest. I’ve been on the other side of the job interview, and I can detect BS; I’d rather be told something vague but true (such as the “personal business” line) than lied to.

I like cwilbur’s approach. I think a bit of honesty in today’s job market would be appreciated.

Ditto to cwilbur. If you feel comfortable or inclined to do so, I would elaborate on the “personal business” angle. Even saying that may leave it open to too much speculation. However, I would be succinct and non inflammatory in your explanation. I served in the military for 25 years. Since that time, my spouse and I have divorced and I am eager for the opportunity to reenter the workforce.

i.e. “sandwich” the explantion between two positives.

(thank you for your service!)

Hmmm. I was going to say to be honest. “I had some tricky family business that took three years to resolve.”

But I see cwilbur has already made this point.

I’m with Wilbur. On the other hand though, after 25 years of service I think “I wanted to spend some quiet relax time” would suffice. Or. “I took some time to readjust to civilian life”.

Depending on your MOS you should have no problem whatsoever to score a job with blue chips or huge contractors like L3 Titan, KBR, Haliburton, Lockheed and the likes.

They see a DD-220 with 25 years on it, their mouths start to water.

Hell I was in only four years and took a year off after that ;)

on sabbatical.

Really like it how cwilbur puts it.And the sandwich approach as well. Some of the best ways to say that. Tho I guess it should be a little tough writing it on the resume than telling that to the employers.