How do I explain break in employment after my freelance business slowed down?

APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions.

Here, Karren gives advice to a reader who wants to get back into an in-house role after years of freelance work.

Q) I’ve enjoyed my 20-year career in marketing, but I’ve always wanted to work for myself and decided a couple of years ago to leave the job I’d been in for a while and go freelance.

At first, I had lots of work, but over the last year or so, things have slowed down and I’m not earning enough to pay all my bills.

I’ve decided I need to look for a new permanent role again so I can have a guaranteed salary, but I don’t know how to explain my break in employment and my reasons for wanting an in-house role.

Any advice?

Evie, via email

A) Going freelance was a bold and admirable step – it shows initiative, confidence and a desire to challenge yourself.

Many employers value that kind of entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to put yourself out there.

When explaining your employment gap, focus on what you gained from the freelance experience – managing multiple clients, developing new skills in new settings, and navigating the realities of running a business.

You’ve likely gained a deeper understanding of what businesses need and how important it is to collaborate effectively, and these experiences will make you a strong team player.

Express that you’re excited about being part of a team again, with the opportunity to collaborate more closely with different colleagues, while leveraging what you’ve learned and bringing all your strengths to help the team, and wider company, thrive.

But don’t be afraid to be honest about the challenges you encountered, too – you could explain that while freelancing started strong, the market shifted and sustaining a consistent income became increasingly difficult.

Rather than seeing this as a setback, frame it as a valuable lesson in adaptability and resilience.

Good luck!

• Got a careers question for Karren? Email bossingit@fabulousmag.co.uk.