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Original poster

To hide mat leave on CV?

34 replies

Swissz · 11/11/2024 20:24

Hi. I am applying for a new role in my organisation when I return, but in another team - they do not know me. I’ve been there for a long time and I wondered if on my CV I need to write I’ve been on mat leave for the last year? Or if I can just write I’ve been in my currrnt job (which technically I have). What looks better?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 22:47

burnoutbabe · 11/11/2024 22:41

I am sure someone here got caught out as they said they had had2 years experience of xyz but actually they'd been most of that time on maternity leave

So whilst you'd not mention the leave as such, you should ensure you are not claiming a specific amount of experience-like if a solicitor and saying 2 years pqe? That would look dishonest.

Super helpful! But my industry/role doesn’t require specific amounts of experience etc. More admin/office based.

OP posts:
burnoutbabe · 11/11/2024 22:41

I am sure someone here got caught out as they said they had had2 years experience of xyz but actually they'd been most of that time on maternity leave

So whilst you'd not mention the leave as such, you should ensure you are not claiming a specific amount of experience-like if a solicitor and saying 2 years pqe? That would look dishonest.

Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 22:31

SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 11/11/2024 22:28

No need to put it at all. You're currently employed in the role. Since it's internal if there are internal processes they're aware of like your years targets etc and they ask about it, it may come out in interview.

Am I technically still in the role if someone’s covering it?

OP posts:
SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 11/11/2024 22:28

No need to put it at all. You're currently employed in the role. Since it's internal if there are internal processes they're aware of like your years targets etc and they ask about it, it may come out in interview.

Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 22:28

Echobelly · 11/11/2024 22:26

You don't need to say so. I was made redundant off the end of my 2nd mat leave (nothing dodgy, it was a genuine round of redundancies and they did the right thing and kept my role open until the end of my leave). I told prospective employers my last job had ended with redundancy, but didn't see any need to tell them I'd been on leave for the last 12 months of it. It wasn't the sort of work where they'd ask me exactly what I was working on in that time, so it might be a different matter if they are likely to want you to be specific about that for some reason.

I suppose what I was worried about is that someone’s covering me, so I M not doing the role itself it’s someone else!

OP posts:
Echobelly · 11/11/2024 22:26

You don't need to say so. I was made redundant off the end of my 2nd mat leave (nothing dodgy, it was a genuine round of redundancies and they did the right thing and kept my role open until the end of my leave). I told prospective employers my last job had ended with redundancy, but didn't see any need to tell them I'd been on leave for the last 12 months of it. It wasn't the sort of work where they'd ask me exactly what I was working on in that time, so it might be a different matter if they are likely to want you to be specific about that for some reason.

Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 22:21

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 11/11/2024 22:16

Never seen anybody put mat leave on their CV. I would not, its unnecessary.

Thank you I so t he putting it in :)

OP posts:
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 11/11/2024 22:16

Never seen anybody put mat leave on their CV. I would not, its unnecessary.

Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 21:57

WolfSprawl · 11/11/2024 21:50

I wouldn’t mention it. Why would you? At best, it’s irrelevant. At worst, it’ll be something they hold against you.

Because I wasn’t actually working in the role, I was at home! But I won’t be mentioning!

OP posts:
BarnacleBeasley · 11/11/2024 21:50

@Makingchocolatecake I'm an academic, but I could imagine how it might also apply in other types of role where you would want to say how many projects you'd worked on, specific training or experience etc.

WolfSprawl · 11/11/2024 21:50

I wouldn’t mention it. Why would you? At best, it’s irrelevant. At worst, it’ll be something they hold against you.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 11/11/2024 21:48

Swissz · 11/11/2024 21:37

Do you think recruiters may reject because of mat leave?

Show quote history

Unfortunately yes.not all,but a large number may do as PP said for sickness etc, even if it wouldn't be the case for you.

Would any man write on his CV that he had 6 months paternity leave...

Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 21:41

Makingchocolatecake · 11/11/2024 21:39

Yes unfortunately because you are more likely to need time off if your kids get poorly etc

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Oh gosh I didn’t think of it that way!

OP posts:
Makingchocolatecake · 11/11/2024 21:39

Swissz · 11/11/2024 21:37

Do you think recruiters may reject because of mat leave?

Show quote history

Yes unfortunately because you are more likely to need time off if your kids get poorly etc

Makingchocolatecake · 11/11/2024 21:39

BarnacleBeasley · 11/11/2024 21:35

In my field you do put it, because there are things you would be expected to achieve as an individual in x number of years in the role, so you want recruiters to know you have had time out (and therefore aren't just less productive than others). I appreciate that's probably a bit niche, but thought it was worth mentioning just in case.

Just curious, what do you do?

Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 21:37

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 11/11/2024 21:32

As PP have said do not put mat leave on your CV, you are giving recruiters an easy way to reject you without spending time to see if you are the right person for a job!

Do you think recruiters may reject because of mat leave?

OP posts:
BarnacleBeasley · 11/11/2024 21:35

In my field you do put it, because there are things you would be expected to achieve as an individual in x number of years in the role, so you want recruiters to know you have had time out (and therefore aren't just less productive than others). I appreciate that's probably a bit niche, but thought it was worth mentioning just in case.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 11/11/2024 21:32

As PP have said do not put mat leave on your CV, you are giving recruiters an easy way to reject you without spending time to see if you are the right person for a job!

Makingchocolatecake · 11/11/2024 21:29

No you are still employed so you don't need to put mat leave. If you were off with a broken hip or something for 6 months you wouldn't put that on your CV

Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 20:53

Thanks all!

OP posts:
summerlovingvibes · 11/11/2024 20:47

You're still employed in that role, so you definitely shouldn't / need to specifically say you've been off on mat leave. You're still in that role.

Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 20:43

AMonkeysUncle · 11/11/2024 20:37

A recruiter questioned me once about a contact of theirs who couldn’t remember me at the place of work I’d listed. I’d been on maternity! They were checking I hadn’t lied!! Didn’t even occur to them that it might have been maternity. I’d like to think people are more clued up now than 10 years ago.

😱😱

OP posts:
AMonkeysUncle · 11/11/2024 20:37

A recruiter questioned me once about a contact of theirs who couldn’t remember me at the place of work I’d listed. I’d been on maternity! They were checking I hadn’t lied!! Didn’t even occur to them that it might have been maternity. I’d like to think people are more clued up now than 10 years ago.

Original poster
Swissz · 11/11/2024 20:36

MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira · 11/11/2024 20:34

I don't put mat leave on mine, I wouldn't put annual leave or if I had to have time off for an operation etc either.
FWIW OP I got a promotion when I was on mat leave, I was nervous in a way I've never been in a professional interview before because I felt out of the loop, but clearly it didn't matter and I've had another promotion since. I've also just recruited someone for a role who is on mat leave and we are willing to wait for her. She was the best candidate. Good luck!

I cannot tell you how much this has reassured me. I’ve been almost too scared to apply because I feel so distant from work and the office and day to day.

OP posts:
MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira · 11/11/2024 20:34

I don't put mat leave on mine, I wouldn't put annual leave or if I had to have time off for an operation etc either.
FWIW OP I got a promotion when I was on mat leave, I was nervous in a way I've never been in a professional interview before because I felt out of the loop, but clearly it didn't matter and I've had another promotion since. I've also just recruited someone for a role who is on mat leave and we are willing to wait for her. She was the best candidate. Good luck!

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