Just got back from a big trip and heading into job interviews? You’re not alone. Explaining a travel during your job interview can feel tough at first, but with the right strategy, you can turn your time abroad into your biggest strength. In this guide, we’ll show you how to confidently explain your travel gap and stand out in the 2025 Canadian job market.
After a long trip, it’s normal to feel out of place. It can be especially tough when you’re trying to get back into the job market. Many people find that employers are unsure about the gap in their résumé. The good news? There are smart ways to talk about your travels during a job interview.
Start With Honesty, First Steps to Explain Your Travel During Your Job Interview
First things first—be honest. If you went traveling to take a break, recharge, or explore new things, say so. There’s no need to hide it. Most employers will respect your openness.
So, when the interview question comes up—“What have you been doing lately?”—just tell the truth. Explain what made you take the trip and what you got out of it. Your reason might connect with the person across the table more than you think.
Keep It Short and Positive
Even though honesty is key, don’t go overboard. Try to keep your answer short and clear. Avoid turning the interview into a long story about your last job or personal struggles.
Also, steer clear of any complaints about your old boss or job. That never helps. Instead, stay positive and focus on how the experience helped you grow.
Show What You Gained
Traveling isn’t just a break from work—it can teach you a lot. Think about the skills you built along the way. Maybe you learned a new language, managed a budget, volunteered, or picked up new tech tools. These things show that you’re flexible, curious, and willing to grow.
When you highlight these points, you help the employer see the value you bring. That’s a big win.
Focus on What’s Ahead
One of the best things you can do in an interview is show that you’re thinking about the future. Try to talk less about the past and more about where you’re heading.
Share what you’re excited to do next. Maybe your trip helped you realize what really matters to you. Or maybe it gave you fresh energy to take on new challenges. Let that excitement shine through.
What’s Happening in Canada Right Now (2025)
If you’re back in Canada and looking for a job this year, you’re not alone. The country is going through some big changes in travel and work. Here are a few things you should know.
Canada’s Travel Scene (2025 snapshot)
Let’s start by painting the travel picture in Canada right now:
-
In March 2025, trips from the U.S. to Canada fell ~6.6% year over year (~1.2 million trips), while visits from other countries dropped ~17.4% — marking six months of decline
-
Despite this, non-resident arrivals were up 2.4% month over month in March, thanks partly to better air travel
-
Overnight arrivals in January rose ~13% vs. 2024, hitting around 870,000
-
However, April saw a 15.2% dip in total international travel compared to April 2024—marking the third consecutive month of declines
What’s driving this? A few factors: cautious post-pandemic sentiment, exchange rate shifts, and a notable boycott of U.S. travel and products in Canada prompted by ongoing trade tensions .
So if you’re looking to re-enter the workforce in travel, tourism, or hospitality in Canada—you’ve got to highlight how adaptable, globally-minded, and culturally fluent you’ve become.
Travel Spending and Tourism Jobs
Here’s a breakdown:
-
Q1 2025 tourism spending: Tourists spent ~$26.4 billion year-to-date—132% of 2019 levels, with domestic tourists responsible for $21.4 B (+4%), and international visitors spending $5.1 B (+111% from 2019, but down 3% year over year)
-
Tourism GDP grew slightly by 0.5% in Q1 2025, fueled by accommodations (+2%) and food (+1%), though transport and entertainment were slightly down.
-
Job stats: 707,400 tourism-related jobs in Q1—up from Q4 2024—with the unemployment rate around 6.1% in April vs. 7.0% nationally.
So if you’re positioning yourself for jobs in Canadian tourism, note—this industry is rebounding, and employers are hungry for people who’ve navigated uncertainty and show dedication.
Canada’s Job Market (beyond tourism)
Here’s the bigger picture:
-
850,000+ job openings in early 2025; employment rate at ~62.3%
-
Strong sectors: healthcare, construction, tech, green energy.
-
Unemployment trends: hovering 6.6–7.0% in early 2025—some fluctuation by province (Ontario ~7.8%, B.C. ~6.2%, Alberta ~7.1%)
-
Professional roles: unemployment low (~2–3% in finance, science, managerial jobs) .
-
Wages: Avg hourly up ~3.4% (to CA$36.13)
-
Job gains: +347,000 jobs compared to March 2024 (+1.7% YOY)
For anyone coming back from travel and entering this labor market, you can talk about how travel sharpened your adaptability, cross-cultural communication, language skills, and resilience—skills employers mention as lacking in the current “skills-first” environment .
Tips for Travellers: Explain Your Travel During Your Job Interview
-
Turn travel into professional assets
-
Example: “During my six-month stay in Quebec City, I volunteered at a youth center and taught conversational English—helping me build leadership and lesson planning skills.”
-
-
Slate your return period carefully
-
Show timelines like: “Travelled December 2023–May 2024,” “Back in Canada June 2024,” and “Focused job search since September 2024.”
-
-
Highlight hard-earned soft skills
-
Mention remote problem-solving, budgeting under stress, networks built abroad, or even freelance/casual work done overseas.
-
-
Use local affiliations
-
Join groups like the Tourism HR Canada network or attend Destination Canada webinars, adding credibility and recent learning.
-
-
Stay up-to-date
-
For example, Montreal–Trudeau airport saw over 8.5 million passengers by May 2025—4% domestic growth and 7.7% transborder growth; robust demand for bilingual, service-savvy roles remains.
-
Wrapping It Up: Angle It Right, Tell It True
-
Tell a concise travel story—don’t over-share.
-
Highlight seven major outcomes: language acquisition, volunteering/leadership, cultural competence, budget planning, resilience, remote tech skills, global networks.
-
Connect to Canada’s growth in tourism (especially adventure and sustainable travel).
-
Tag your travel timeline, so employers instantly understand the context while you explain your travel during your job interview.
-
Connect your travel story with the needs they have—especially in hot sectors like tourism, tech, health, or green energy.
About the Author
Simon Chou is the Advisor and CEO at BCjobs.ca. Over the course of his career, he carved a niche in brand development, marketing strategy, and online presence for startups. In Addition to BCJobs.ca, Simon is hosting unfiltered conversations with marketing experts in our podcast “Marketing On Mars”. Tune into our last episode to hear from Marketing Leaders how they approach work and how they grew in their careers.
