I left a high stress job situation early this year and took 5 months off. I am now in a contract role but will need to start looking for new jobs soon and am wondering what to put at the reason(s) for the gap.
The actual reasons were complicated:
- a health problem that wasn't life-limiting in itself, but needed surgery and about 4 weeks recovery.
- kicked off having DC1 assessed for SNs
- DC2 suddenly having a hard time at nursery and not wanting to go in. I cut the nursery hours to only the free ones to spend more time at home with them
- the situation at my previous work (that caused me to leave) had a big effect on me and my self-esteem had taken a big knock.
- I was having a few career coaching sessions and generally trying to get my life and confidence back on track.
Each of these on their own I could have worked around, with a part time role even, but with everything going on i couldn't face throwing a new job into the mix.
Apart from DC1's assessment, which is chugging along slowly as these things do, none of them are still issues and I feel ready to apply for perm roles.
What do I put about the gap that doesn't make me sound flaky?