Explaining baby gaps in CV

[nomdeploom]

I am currently receiving maternity allowance and am just beginning to look for work. How do I explain my 9 months out of work? Am I just honest and state that I have recently had a baby? (this worries me a bit!)

TIA

[Grevling]

If at all possible I'd say you were caring for a relative and now feel able to return to work.

Its not a lie as the baby is a relative but doesn't scream "new baby".

[rockinhippy]

can you add some kind of work at home/freelance stuff?? thats how I would fill a CV gap

[Soups]

On my CV I put career break to raise family.

[nomdeploom]

Thanks everyone. I have decided to just be upfront like you suggest soup. Tbh I don't think my cv will actually make sense if I don't just tell the truth

[FunnysInTheGarden]

sorry, but why wouldn't you say that you were looking after your baby during your maternity leave? Tis a shit employer who would discriminate on that basis

[nomdeploom]

funny* that thought occurred to me too after starting this thread. I had a couple of babies close together and I guess I am just a bit anxious about re-joining the 'real' world. 

Am not currently employed, I am receiving maternity allowance which is a benefit based on your recent earnings. I gave up a fairly well paid, full time job after my first baby to waitress part time. I then quit that job at the end of my second pregnancy. Am now looking to go back to work (not waitressing). I haven't had a huge amount of time out of work, just a few months. Don't worry I would remember if I was employed!

[mumofsussex]

9 months is nothing! I've had a 5 1/2 year career break/maternity break and have just applied for a job and explained was abroad due to DH's work. Probably don't stand a snowballs chance in hell of getting it but am keeping fingers crossed. I hope I'm being realistic as I've applied for a job which is a step down from what I used to do. Watch this space..............

Good luck OP and anyone else looking at returning to work

[nomdeploom]

Thanks! Good luck to you too :)

[Catz]

I had exactly the same issue and put 'career break (maternity)' in the 'previous employment' section of my CV. I did worry about it for ages but decided: (a) things only made sense if I was upfront about it; and (b) I wouldn't want to work for the kind of employer who viewed a maternity break as a red light. I was shortlisted for all the jobs I applied for and offered the first one I interviewed for (not meant to be a boast(!), was a bit of a step down from where I had been) so guess it couldn't have put people off.

[Coldcuppacoffee]

I think you can make the couple of babies close together look very efficient of you: "I focussed on having my family and now I am ready to consider reentering the world of work" - makes it look like you weren't just going back for the second lot of Mat pay- and that you know what you wanted.

Good luck!