There are many potential mishaps that can trip up a prospective job applicant during the interview process. But, with proper planning and preparation, most of these pitfalls can be deftly avoided.

Yet even the most skillful interviewee may have a difficult time explaining why there's a significant job gap on his or her résumé.

"If you have someone who has had a history of job-hopping or who's been MIA from the job market for a long period of time, the question would arise ... is this someone who was dependable and if they were truly looking for a role they could grow and develop in," says Natividad Rodriguez-Ortega, development executive for Chase Card Services at JPMorgan Chase, No. 25 on The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list.

With the economic fluctuations of the last few years, being out of work for a period of time has become more common. Indeed, most potential employers will barely blink at an unemployment gap of several months. But when those months spin into a year or more, it may raise questions that the interviewee had best be prepared to answer. While Rodriguez-Ortega says she wouldn't rule out a qualified candidate if his or her résumé contained a few job gaps, she would expect an explanation. And if spun correctly, that time away from the job market might even be used to that person's competitive advantage.

"I spent a year in London when I was working overseas. And it was common for students to take time off before going to university. So if someone took time off to travel or do something that brought a new skill that we don't have on our team, then it's a competitive edge," she says. "But if that person can't communicate why that time was of importance to them, then it simply comes across as them being unmotivated to get up and find a job. I want to know if they did something during that time to build leadership or project-management skills, such as volunteering."

Obviously, everything will depend on that applicant's individual situation. It may be he or she took time off to care for a sick family member or because of a new child in the family. Maybe he or she went back to school for a few years to get an advanced degree. Or perhaps the applicant was fulfilling a lifelong dream to travel the globe or needed some time off between careers to regroup and decide what direction to pursue. But whatever the reason, he or she has to be able to clearly explain what it is before he or she walks through the door for the interview.

"The interviewee has to have a direct and clear message that explains what happened during that time," says Rodriguez-Ortega. "Their comfort level will translate into someone who is very comfortable having taken that time off and not trying to dodge why they were out of work. That will translate into the interviewer seeing you as direct and honest and not trying to dodge any questions."

It's easy enough to explain away a long layoff caused by medical reasons or if your company went out of business. But how do you offer an explanation relating to more unpleasant gaps? What if you were fired from your last job and couldn't find work?

"You never want to misrepresent yourself and you want to be honest about it. But try as best you can to put a positive spin on the situation," says Billy Dexter, president of the Hudson Highland Group. "If it was me and someone said 'Billy, I see it's been two years between this job and that job so what was going on?' Well, my response would be about how I left my previous organization and spent the last couple of years doing some consulting or working on some personal issues trying to make sure when I jumped back into the market I had a strategy and had everything in order so I could hit the ground running."

That, says Dexter, is the type of response a hiring manager would accept. Again, he says, you don't want to lie; you should be upfront. "But, let them know that the time away from the job market was productive and you weren't just sitting around the house for two years. If the conversation does get into how did you leave the previous job and if it's a situation where you were fired, be honest."

The "honesty is the best policy" theme applies as well if you were out of work, say because you were incarcerated or had a nervous breakdown. Whatever your story is you should be prepared to explain it and move on. "Anything less could come back to haunt you," says Dexter.

Adds Rodriguez-Ortega, "Everything has a context. If you're asked the question point blank, 'Why have you been out of the job market for so long?' then say point blank you weren't interested in taking the first job that came along. Rather you were being thoughtful and careful about where you would work, were looking for the right match," she says. "Always go to the selling point and put yourself and your situation in the best possible light."