How do I word this on a cover letter for a job application?

[Flamingoose]

Basically in 2019 I gave up a really good job for a fairly shit job because it fitted in with my kids better. No regrets. I did love the job, but it wasn't working for me to be full time 8 - 5 and working school holidays in the city while the kids were still little , so I packed it in and got a job at a community college - school hours and holidays off.

How do I word that decision in my cover letter?

What job are you applying for now? One similar to your original one? If so, I don’t think I’d bother mentioning the reasons for the change, just the skills you picked up that would be useful for the job you’re applying for. Your CV will list the jobs you’ve done so you aren’t hiding anything or being dishonest. I’d always avoid mentioning anything about my children/family in a job application.

You could say you moved for a change in pace? And are now ready to step up again?

Or just say 'I moved' without giving an explanation.

Unfortunately the step-down job didn't work out so I left that one pretty quickly, but I can attribute that to Covid. I'm doing a fill-in job now. Not really what I'm qualified for but again, Covid. The job I'm applying for is a big step up again, BUT it's at a school so it will be holidays off. Also it's not in the city which was part of the problem before.

If you have to write it on there just say you left for a job with better benefits. Flexibility is a huge benefit.

Don't mention the kids. I had my first "are you sure you can manage a full time job with young children? Wouldn't you be better off looking for something with less hours" in an interview a few weeks ago. Most people aren't like that these days, but some people forget we're almost a quarter of a century in to the new millennium...

I’m not fully sure that a cover letter needs to go into these sort of things because a cover letter is the place to sell you and your strengths and what you bring to the new role. If they want your backstory is for this or that then they can always ask you during the interview but the cover letter should be a forward-looking sell for why you should be hired.

Oh just say you were made redundant and just took something that will pay the bills while you were finding the 'right' role.

I did this in a different interview to the one mentioned above a few weeks ago and got the job.

People are really sympathetic about covid and redundancy.

I wouldn't.
A cover letter should explain why you are right for the job, and elaborate on your experience. You don't owe them explainations at that point.

I have a similar job history for different personal reasons and in my covering letters tend to focus on why I want to return to the original sector - I highlight my wide range of skills and experience and passion for it too, and basically focus on all the benefits of hiring me.

It's worked again so far in that I've had two interviews in the sector I want to return to (no job offers yet but was told by one of them last week I was definitely appointable).

This is good advice. You're all right. I should be selling myself, not explaining. Right. Delete delete delete. Try again!

I also don't think I'd mention it. I'd focus my cover letter on the reasons they should employ me because I'd be excellent for their role. If they want to ask about things they've noticed in your career history, they can always ask at interview.

If they do ask at interview, maybe an explanation that the working hours in the job you moved to were more suitable for your circumstances at the time, but now you're looking for something more stretching again, and you think this would be an excellent fit with your previous experience/skills in/passion for x, y and z?

Focus on your skills and experience, ensuring you’re ticking off all the attributes listed in the job description. You don’t need to explain your life story:

School job applications always ask about gaps in employment and so it is quite normal to mention family commitments in the application (it is part of Safer Recruitment) but that is normally in the application form not in the covering letter/personal statement

Don't explain. Just sell yourself.

People are struggling to find good staff at the moment, you have nothing to explain you can just promote your good points. The worst that can happen is they appoint someone else!

Hi OP I was just coming on to say do not mention the hours and holidays as a reason for applying for the job (I used to do recruitment in schools occasionally) but I think you got the message !

You sound like a really strong candidate- focus on skills and software you have used previously (all school software/systems are similar) and the fact you love being part of a school and seeing children thrive etc etc.

I had 8 years out after stepping down from a management role and I know it can be daunting trying to get back in- but it is definitely doable, good luck !

IMHO, if you say you've decided to go part-time to spend more time with the kids, it's understandable, and there's no ambiguity. But I think if you feel like your career ambitions are being lost because of the kids, you're better off choosing something else. And if you need the perfect sample digital resume, I can recommend Cover Letter Templates (Google Docs), which is easy to use and has impressive templates. Once I started using this program to create invitations and reports, I couldn't give it up and have done it before. I hope my comment was helpful and that you find the perfect job!