Accounting career gap after redundancy/deed of release — recoverable?
Hey everyone, just after some honest opinions from people in the industry.
I was let go from my assistant accountant role at the end of February (signed a deed of release) and have been applying for jobs since, but haven’t had much luck yet. The employment gap is now around 3 months and counting.
A bit about my background:
- Accounting graduate (late 2024)
- About 1 year experience in manufacturing accounting
- Experience with AP/AR, BAS, fixed assets, month-end processes, and supporting external audit
- Currently part-way through CPA Australia
- On a 485 visa at the moment, with plans to lodge a partner visa shortly
With no income coming in, I’m planning to get a White Card and forklift licence and pick up warehouse/labour hire work while continuing to apply for accounting roles.
My main question is:
How much does an extended employment gap actually hurt in accounting, especially with only ~1 year experience? And is there anything I can do now to make the gap look less damaging on my CV/interviews?
Do hiring managers generally understand the current market, or does the gap become a major red flag after a certain point?
Any advice appreciated.