To think explaining the gaps is silly

[Thisismybeauty]

I know there's a few teachers on here!

I'm applying for (teaching) jobs and resent having to explain gaps in my employment.

The reason CANNOT come under safer recruitment as anything untoward would be flagged in the DBS check. So why on earth is this insisted upon?

DBS checks only show convictions. Gaps in employment that can't be explained could be for other unfavourable reasons, not just prison time.

An interview is someone trying to get to know you as well as assessing how suitable you are for the role. For me the gaps would be important.

Rules on interviews are rightly strict about some areas eg asking about sickness or family plans, narrowing down what can be discussed will only mean that it's harder for people to select the right candidates.

Not a disaster if it's an administrator job somewhere but with a teacher role I'd like the people doing the hiring to have all the necessary information to make the right decision where possible.

It just helps flag up people who may have reason to not be safe in a classroom with children. As long as you can explain the gaps it can't be a problem?

That's just it though - I could say absolutely anything and where's the proof? It seems pointless and silly.

I can explain them but they are for personal reasons and I'd just sooner not get into them in a professional interview.

It's common recruitment practice in all sectors. It's not unique to teaching.

The employer wants to know what you've been doing, whether remunerated employment or not. Caginess is in itself a bad indicator, considerably worse than the existence of gaps.

It's asked on the application form, Edith

I hate these things on application forms.

Say between 2014-currently you was a sham it tells the interviewer that you have children. Employing a parent could be risky due to children getting sick and parent phoning in unable to work.

If of long term sick would that impact you to do the job.

You don't need to put sahm. You can put caring responsibilities. Might not be children.

This isn't even that new, 10 years ago I had to explain a three month gap (summer holidays between sixth form a uni yes I know I should have worked but I didn't and can't change it now). Once it was explained I had no further issues, but I have worked for the same employee for most of the 10 years since then

Best to be honest, you don't have to be hugely specific, certainly not this early on "health reasons", "caring responsibilities" etc

Is there a way you can phrase it that makes it obvious you haven't been in rehab?

Family matters

Personal reflection

Persuit of education

Make them vague enough for it to not matter?

explaining gaps isn't just exclusive to teaching

The reason CANNOT come under safer recruitment as anything untoward would be flagged in the DBS check

That's not strictly true if you think about it.

You could have been in Thailand pimping 7 year olds very easily and still have a spotless DBS.

It comes under recruitment training and potentially an ofsted inspector could pick any employee at random and ask to see their personnel file. They would check for a full employment history, dbs check, references and qualifications. Amongst other things. So that's why.

When I worked in recruitment we had to do this, mainly to make sure people weren't covering up jobs that would give bad references. We didn't expect masses of detail, just confirmation that the person wasn't working at the time.

Yes i hate this too. Am also a teacher but my friend works for a big city bank and she had to go into even greater detail - getting people to write written statements vouching that her reasons for gaps were genuine!

My 20s is a mish mash of backing packing here, bar work there etc etc. Bit embarrassing in an interview but at least nothing dodgy.

Its annoying i know, but think you have to suck it up. Agree about being vague and saying "caring" or something similar. Or you could say, i took a period of time out to pursue other things.

It all sounds sinister, when it isn't even remotely.

Let's say I was told to leave my job immediately due to numerous complaints - I'd hardly say so, would I? :)

I said "career break" (ten years!) ...got the job :)

Yes, I would mmm.

I am not the personal property of my employers.

I could have won the lottery, started a family, been kidnapped, been in hospital, been seriously ill, been caring for an elderly relative - all personal things :)

I've put 'career break to raise family' to cover five years before. Hasn't been seen as a problem. Or you could explain it as training or working in a voluntary capacity. You just need to not leave it blank, so put a positive spin on whatever you did.

I know, it's the principle I object to.

Would you like your children being taught by someone whose full history had not been checked out? When, so as not to hack someone off, the recruiters didn't ask what they were doing between 2011 and 2013? When they were as a PP gave as an example, pimping children in Thailand? Working for a dodgy website that had links to child pornography?

Would you like your bank account managed by someone who had a employment gap not questioned - but they had actually been working for a notorious money launderer/drug dealer cash in hand. Or who had real debt and honesty issues - or gambling addiction - when working in a bank may lead to temptation?

You do not have to explain these gaps with huge personal detail (how many poos you had each day, if you drank gin or wine at the weekend) but you do have to give a credible reason for why you were not in a "referenc-able" job.

I want my teachers and my bank staff checked thank you. It is a PITA - but if you don't like it work in a different sector ffs.

The principle? What principle? To check you are suitable for the job you have applied for?

I was a SW, everything had to be accounted for.

I put my gaps as 'caring responsibilities', which they were.

I'm currently not working, because of ill health and will have to declare that, as that, even if I drop down to a lesser role in Social Care.