Need help with C.V - not sure what to write about being out of work for 2years....

[waitingforbetterdays]

When I get to the interview stage I will tell them i have got dd, but I'm not sure if I should mention it on my cv. I have never had a gap in my cv before and not sure what employers will think of it. And not sure if they discriminate because I am a mum.

Also I really need help in general with my cv as feel it is quite childish as has not been updated for years.

Does anyone know a really good website for cv advice?

[Sidge]

I've just done mine. Google CV templates and there are millions of examples!

I would just chronologically list your career history and there will be a natural gap from where you had DD. Don't feel obliged to explain it on a CV, that is the sort of thing they may ask you at interview. You don't have to justify it, you just say 'I was not in the workplace for 2 years due to having my family'.

[LIZS]

I think you shodul cover hte gap, just say you took maternity leave / career breaks whilst your chid was young.

[nickelbabe]

don't be worried about the gap: you can put it on your CV as bringing up/lookingafter/rearing your dd, or you can leave the gap and add it as supplementary information (where you'd put your hobbies).
word it in such a way that it makes you look like a responsible adult, caring for a child instead of palming her off on someone else. (not that having to work to support little baby isn't valid too!)
any prospective employer who is worth it will appreciate your i) honesty ii) ability to multi-task iii) your aptitude for f* hard work.

[frimblypoo]

...don't forget all your transferable skills from the home - budgeting, multi-tasking, working effectively to tight deadlines, keeping a calm head under pressure and so on

[Greatfun]

"word it in such a way that it makes you look like a responsible adult, caring for a child instead of palming her off on someone else."

What a charming sentence to include on a going back to work thread.

[waitingforbetterdays]

Thanks for the advice ladies, I think I will put in that I was looking after dd. I have not even started my cv yet and I am dreading it...

[StealthPolarBear]

if you really want to avoid mentioning you have a family at CV stage then you could put something along the lines of "career break for family reasons" - they'll guess, but they won't know - you could have been a carer for a sick relative.
If I received an application with a 2year gap for the reasons you give, I wouldn't care, as long as skills and experience are relevant and up to date

[waitingforbetterdays]

Thats what I am hoping, but in the past I have met some interviewers that I can imagie would think 'would would want a mum working for them, they will always be off with a sick child'.

But I'm sure mot people will not be like that.

[rita2007]

do you think employers really discriminate?I just had 2 interviews and 2 tests at a firm and they rejected me despite amazing feedback at 2nd interview about a case study comms piece i wrote.

my hubby thinks they prob rejected me because i mentioned nursery arrangements for 2 days per week at 2nd interview. does anyone agree that employers do use that against you?

[WomenLikeUs]

Hi all,

Women Like Us is an organisation for mums in London who feel they need some help with the going back to work process. We can help mums to find work with part-time hours that will fit around family life. We don't specialise in an industry or type of job - recent jobs we have had include web designer roles, chief financial offers, admin assistants, laywers, secretaries, PR managers...the list goes on. All the jobs are flexible in some way to help you fit work in with your life.

Register at www.womenlikeus.org.uk. Don't worry, help is out there.

Jo
Women Like Us