What should I say when a recruiter or interviewer asks what I've been doing during a gap?

Reframe the conversation away from your gap and toward what you can deliver for them. The question "what have you been doing?" is, from a recruiter's perspective, just checking for red flags. What they actually want to know is whether you can solve their problems. A strong response redirects quickly: "I've been focused on finding the right opportunity where I can deliver the kind of impact I've built throughout my career — and that's exactly why I'm excited about this role, because [specific reason tied to their problem]." Playing the game means your answer needs to be positive, relevant, and concise. Personal details — travel, family, cooking, rest — are fine in life but don't serve you on a recruiter call unless you can connect them to something directly relevant.