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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think explaining the gaps is silly

100 replies

Thisismybeauty · 09/03/2016 16:57

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?

OP posts:
mmmminx · 09/03/2016 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MammaTJ · 09/03/2016 18:02

I am also applying for a job that requires me to show ALL my employment history with no gaps!

I am 48 and have been working since I was 17, this is no easy task!

The very fact that I can manage it (with a lot of working out, comparing my kids ages, years of birth, where I was living, who I was married to) shows my ability to do any job!

TooMuchOfEverything · 09/03/2016 18:02

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

See to me none of those things are massively personal. They are things that LOADS of people do (well maybe not so much the lottery or kidnapping) and are only of interest to a potential employer to see that you are a reasonable decent upstanding sort of person.

So if you put 'raising children' I wouldn't care how many kids you had and what their names where and did you breast feed them and where do you stand on the question of the naughty step. THAT is personal. I'd just think 'right makes sense' and move onto the next thing.

Original poster
Thisismybeauty · 09/03/2016 18:22

Yes, but it doesn't mean I want to share them in a professional environment.

My family, my finances, my relationships and my health - are personal.

My history, insofar as it is relevant, is checked out through the DBS.

If I was pimping children in Thailand, the DBS would show this.

A 'real' pimp would not say so.

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 09/03/2016 18:28

Your not sharing them in a 'professional environment', your giving the information to a relevant person.

Gaps can indicate criminal activity and if you want to go into certain professions, then you have to accept the policies.

The system in the UK works very well, to keep us all safe.

They also access medical records in most professions and you have to declare any MH issues, so I don't see the issue, tbh.

FartyTette · 09/03/2016 18:30

If you had worked at lots of places for short periods of time OP I might infer that either you had commitment issues or you had been 'eased out' of several positions. Far better that you tell me, honestly, on your application form. Oh, and by completing the form fully as the it entail employer has asked, you are showing that you can accurately follow written instructions. I work in educational recruitment, and I would say about 75% of applications don't have a full employment history, meaning that I have to contact the applicant to clarify (which is a PITA)

PerspicaciaTick · 09/03/2016 18:31

I think it is fantastic that someone involved in serious criminal behaviour, who has never been caught, might admit to the behaviour just to explain a gap in their CV. Because they are too honest/thick to lie?

Zigazigah · 09/03/2016 18:32

'If I was pimping children in Thailand, the DBS would show this.'

DBS only shows stuff you've been caught doing!

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 09/03/2016 18:39

I've just done the NSPCC Safer Recruiting course and it is very strict about this. Any gaps must have a justification and surely, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to be concerned about. Of course there are genuine reasons for gaps in employment history, but it could be deemed suspicious if you are reluctant to explain.

Bottom line is - if you want to teach, you'll have to suck it up!

user7755 · 09/03/2016 18:40

I dont get the issue Confused

Original poster
Thisismybeauty · 09/03/2016 18:41

Pers Grin Quite!

Farty, but it's not about work history. That's relevant and not a problem.

But let's say I take a year out to write a novel. I took a year out, that's all anybody needs to know.

OP posts:
ClashCityRocker · 09/03/2016 18:44

Reminds me of Trainspotting.

'Mr Renton, how do you explain the gaps in your employment?'

'I have a longstanding addiction to heroin, which has somewhat curtailed my employment activities'.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 09/03/2016 18:46

I don't get how it achieves anything. Say I spent a year as a pimp in Thailand - surely I say "caring responsibilities" and nobody is any the wiser?

Seems like it requires you to disclose all sorts of things (eg whether you have children) without actually doing any safeguarding at all. Confused

MrAliBongo · 09/03/2016 18:53

Ummm, I don't get the objection, OP, and I'm one of the first to shout about it when employers take the piss. Do you take issue with the idea of being asked about extra curricular interests/qualifications? Or to talking about work experience not directly linked to your current role? If you think the question's unreasonable, don't answer it, but don't be surprised when you lose out to a candidate who can cast the gaps in their paid employment in a positive light.

BumpPower · 09/03/2016 18:53

The odd thing about this is I've always thought teaching is one of the few professions where no one blinks an eye at time out to raise kids, go teach/travel somewhere exotic etc. Many lawyers, doctors, bankers etc talk about having kids as the end of their career (or at least the advancement of it) where as I know as I teacher I would still be welcomed back after time out with kids.....
Now if the OP was talking about the bloody equals opportunity form then I would agree as I strongly feel my sexuality has no bearing what so ever on my ability to my job and I know I know it's collated to prove there is not discrimination but this makes no sense. It is irrelevant why ask?

MrAliBongo · 09/03/2016 18:54

And of course people could lie about it, but that's true of pretty much any aspect of a job application.

JanetOfTheApes · 09/03/2016 18:57

My history, insofar as it is relevant, is checked out through the DBS. If I was pimping children in Thailand, the DBS would show this

No it wouldn't. If you were CAUGHT pimping in Thailand, it would show it. Your history is not remotely checked out by a DBS. You can't be serious about this, can you?

Original poster
Thisismybeauty · 09/03/2016 19:16

See Neils point, janet

If I wasn't caught pimping in Thailand, would I really write it down! You can't be serious about THAT, can you?

OP posts:
Original poster
Thisismybeauty · 09/03/2016 19:16

Nells point even - sorry, Nell!

OP posts:
JanetOfTheApes · 09/03/2016 19:19

You seem to have confused the two separate points that you made. OF course you could make anything up. But you said more than once that DBS checks showed your history, and you know that isn't true. DBS is almost worthless in that regard.

Icompletelyunderstand · 09/03/2016 19:29

Say I took some time out of salaried employment to concentrate on writing three books.

You don't have to prove whether they were ever published or not.

ilovesooty · 09/03/2016 19:34

Do you think any employer is going to interview or pay for a DBS check for any candidate with unexplained gaps in their employment history?

mmmminx · 09/03/2016 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Thisismybeauty · 09/03/2016 19:36

I think people should be able to take time out from teaching without justify themselves.

There is nothing sinister, and I will and have 'explain' them, I just don't like having to explain myself when it a) serves no purpose and b) is really not anybody's business.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 09/03/2016 19:41

Well if you don't explain the gaps you'll stand no chance of an interview.