[mnault000]

I usually "patch" my gaps in my resume by adding a period in which "I learned new tech, while doing a contract". The tech learned was React, Tessel.io microcontrollers, etc.

In interviews, that "contract was remote", and you can glide over it explaining "why you took some time off to learn these new techs, and how their were needed to expand your knowledge. Hope this helps :)

By "taking time off", i mean you put aside a full time job to make more room for learning with a contract.

[BoorishBears]

This is not going to cover 2 years, and I don't think I've ever been part of a hiring pipeline where this would actually pass by unnoticed. The fact they appear to let you glide over it, doesn't mean no one is going to bring it back up on it on the backend of things... but by then you won't be around to clarify and people are sometimes liable to assume the worst.

You're better off coming up with an upfront answer. And I'll be realistic... even if that means you have to lie.

In an ideal world you could just be honest and no one would ever discriminate. And if someone did discriminate and it cost you a job you'd say "well I dodged a bullet".

But in the real world people have bills to pay. So even if you're going to lie, figure it out deeply. Have something to show for it, or be very prepared to explain why you don't have anything to show for it.

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Also on a more personal level, if I'm in a hiring pipeline and someone has a large absence, I don't really care. That being said the biggest thing they can do based on my experience is ask good questions.

Ask questions that make it clear you're ready to work there. Ask questions like you already got hired for that matter: "what are the difficult things about our job" "what are some domain specific challenges" "does the commute suck" etc.