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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu mat leave shouldn’t count as a year of work on cv?

329 replies

windygallows · 27/02/2019 18:55

I’m currently Interviewing candidates including an internal colleague who claims to have 3 yrs experience In a particular skill/role. However over 1 yr of those 3yrs she was off on mat leave.

I think it’s okay for her to say she was employed in the role for 3 yrs but she can’t really say she has 3 yrs experience doing it, can she? Really she’s only been doing the tasks involved in her role for 2 years. This fact is important since the role requires significant experience and I think 2 years is not enough.

I’ve been on mat leave twice and not trying to discrimate, just trying to be logical about it. Would welcome thoughts on whether I’m BU or not I’m thinking 3 yrs employed does not equal 3 yrs experience.

I haven’t checked with HR but pretty sure they wouldn’t agree with me!

OP posts:
Original poster
windygallows · 27/02/2019 22:20

Aww you guys. What was I thinking? Of course I should give her the job.

The fact that she exaggerated her length of experience on her cv and stated she was involved in projects she was barely aware of is fine since that's what a man would do and we know how amazing they are.

The real problem is with me and my inherent misogyny combined with my crippling inability to recruit effectively or to understand basic Hr policy. Gosh I'm a dumdum.

The fact is I am nervous to appoint her since I'm worried she will outshine me and soon be managing me. Dammit you guys caught me out!!

OP posts:
Pootle40 · 27/02/2019 22:21

ConfusedHmm

StylishDuck · 27/02/2019 22:21

So why are you asking us if you already 'know' you aren't BU Hmm

Pootle40 · 27/02/2019 22:23

Personally I was giving you practical advice. Don't think she was exaggerating as think anyone in her position would do the same....she's trying to sell herself to a hiring manager.

Pootle40 · 27/02/2019 22:24

Nobody said give her the job, all I heard was give her a chance.

GoldenWonderwall · 27/02/2019 22:24

For careers where you need x hours or x repetitions of an event then obviously mat leave does not count. However in terms of a cv you would not start subtracting maternity leave periods from your paid employment- you’re still employed after all.

We’ve had paid mat leave for barely a blink of a eye, and we’ve many years before the pay gap naturally evens out - why make life even harder for working mothers? Interview her and give her a chance (instead of automatically giving the role to a 30ish bloke who’s full of unearned confidence).

AssassinatedBeauty · 27/02/2019 22:25

Don't be so silly. Interview her and the other candidates properly, and don't use length of service as a proxy for competence.

If you think she wasn't involved in any meaningful way in the project that she mentioned then ask her about the specifics. It should soon become apparent.

Original poster
windygallows · 27/02/2019 22:26

pootle are you saying it's okay to lie on your cv about your experience and the work you've done because that's just what people do?

OP posts:
keepforgettingmyusername · 27/02/2019 22:26

Mumsnet - for people who hate mums.

pissedonatrain · 27/02/2019 22:27

YABVU

I think you're being rather pedantic, biased, and discriminatory.

Can she do the job or not? She's already in the organisation so her inside knowledge is going to trump an external candidate.

Pootle40 · 27/02/2019 22:27

She isn't lying. Talk about an overstatement. I've had two periods of maternity leave but in my chosen field I would still say I have 20 years experience, I wouldn't say 18.

Pootle40 · 27/02/2019 22:29

Next you'll be saying you want to discipline her for lying on her cv Hmm

AssassinatedBeauty · 27/02/2019 22:29

Just to check, all the other candidates who haven't been explicit about any prolonged absences due to ill health, sabbaticals, other caring responsibilities etc are also lying?

Pootle40 · 27/02/2019 22:30

Lol AssassinateBeauty

Original poster
windygallows · 27/02/2019 22:30

Fgs I don't hate moms. But she has put yrs of experience on her cv that don't tally and said she worked on live projects during that time that she did not.

OP posts:
GoldenWonderwall · 27/02/2019 22:30

If you know you’re right why you posting about it on here? She said and you said she was involved in a project that partly overlapped her mat leave. She’s hardly faking a Harvard mba and three months interning as Teresa May when she was actually sipping tea at baby groups is she?

Katterinaballerina · 27/02/2019 22:31

She isn’t lying.

PS if you’re trying to avoid being accused of misogyny maybe lose the repeated ‘if a man...’ comments.

Original poster
windygallows · 27/02/2019 22:32

Assassinate I don't know about the others obviously but The problem is with internal candidates it's harder to stretch the truth on your cv because people know your work. I might have to review cvs at face value like all the others but I can see that it's not accurate.

OP posts:
Original poster
windygallows · 27/02/2019 22:34

But Katterina if I was writing about a man who exaggerated on his cv I don't think many people would stick up for him.

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 27/02/2019 22:35

So did she work on the project or not? What work is she saying that she has specifically done that she has not?

As I said before, if you think she wasn't involved in any meaningful way in the project that she mentioned then ask her about the specifics. It should soon become apparent.

SemperIdem · 27/02/2019 22:35

.

Aibu mat leave shouldn’t count as a year of work on cv?
Original poster
windygallows · 27/02/2019 22:37

Assassinate she has exaggerated her involvement on the project and sort of written like she's been here over the 3 years. She is young so this may all just be bigging yo her cv which is what she thinks she needs to do. Who knows.

OP posts:
GoldenWonderwall · 27/02/2019 22:38

Frankly I’m surprised a woman so Walter Mitty-esque managed to find not only someone to procreate with her but also some kind of employment with promotion prospects! (Not for mothers obviously, who need to know their place and get behind all the other candidates.)

AssassinatedBeauty · 27/02/2019 22:39

How do you know she has exaggerated?

Que0 · 27/02/2019 22:40

Well Windy, in this case, J think you have to explicitly ask any woman who walks through the door exactly how many children she has had; when exactly and the length of maternity she took each time. You never know, you could be interviewing a mum if four - like me! Shock You also need to ask them to disclose there and then any periods of mental or physical illness; sabbaticals; compassionate leave - any breaks in general. If they appear non-British in any way, check they haven’t been making regular trips overseas! This can all add up. Ask all the men too. Good luck!