UPDATE: I took the honest approach. Told her I'm doing freelancing in helping homeowners prepare permit packages, doing preliminary designs, etc. It's the truth in how I've spent the past few months and she seemed to take it in stride. Here's hoping I can get past the screening interview. Thank you everyone who took their time to give suggestions. If I get the job I'll get you a free coffee lol.

I lost my job Nov23 and have my first interview tomorrow at 10am for a related role in the civil/structural engineering industry.

Should I admit to the recruiter I've been unemployed since then? I have a close friend who owns a civil engineering firm and I could potentially claim to be employed there on a contract basis (he'd be ok to give me the reference as such- we go way back). Should I claim I'm currently employed with him or admit to the large gap?