AIBU to ask what you put on a cv?

[HeartOfInk]

If you've been a sahm for a few years? - leave it blank?

If you had an accident, then had long term appointments several times a week plus SN child's appointments and then corona happened... Leave it blank?

What about IT skills? Back in the day when I last wrote a cv, you listed which programs you knew how to use - excel, word, graphics programs and the like. But surely everyone knows how to use these now?

Does a prospective employer really want to know the hobbies of a middle aged woman?

Don't leave gaps. Be honest - stay at home parent is a valid reason for being out of the workforce. An accident is also fine - employers will want to know that you are fine to work now, but otherwise your past medical history is irrelevant.

I would put software packages you are able to use on the CV if it is likely to be relevant to the job. Especially if you have advanced skills or knowledge of specialist programs (again, that are relevant to the job you are applying for). You would be surprised how many people are not literate in Excel, Word and so on.

Hobbies - no employer is interested, but you still have to put them on.

You tailor your CV individually according to the job you’re applying for, so that everything is relevant. If it’s a job where you use IT it’s always good to state “proficient with the Microsoft Office suite and [any particularly relevant other programmes].

Time out of the workplace can be explained as a career gap to raise children (just don’t try and frame your time as a SAHM as being an actual job and list “great multitasking” and “flexibility with schedule” as the skills you practiced in it, it’s cringey), but don’t draw attention to having been unwell, you don’t want an employer to wonder if you’ll be having a lot of time off for sickness or medical appointments.

I haven’t put my hobbies on my CV since I was in my early twenties, was arrogant enough to think my hobbies said something about me as a person, and had so little else to add that was looking for stuff to fill the pages up! I see a lot of CVs and it does only tend to be very young people who include hobbies. Unless one of your hobbies has some kind of relevance to the job, it’s not necessary.

Basically, an employer wants to see why they should hire you and how you are going to make their company better / run more smoothly / become more profitable. Include anything about yourself which makes it clear that you should be the person for that role, and remove anything which would make them doubt it.

Really? So I should include Excel, Word, Access and Powerpoint? What about programs you used 12 years ago. I mean I could probably still use it if someone gave me a manual... but I don't even know if it's in use any more! Anyone know if TeX is still in use?!?

So would you just write Accident / Recovery for one and a half years?

I think it's fine to put stay at home parent or caring responsibilities to explain a gap. As for skills only if they are relevant to the role. I have never put my hobbies on a cv and have never been asked about them so again unless it's something relevant to the job I wouldn't bother.

Pretty much any office-based jobs are going to require regular use of those IT programmes, yes - if you’re rusty with them then consider a refresher training course, there are several available online. They haven’t changed a great deal, so you skills shouldn’t need too much polishing.

If you’ve been out of the workplace for 12 years then I’d explain all of it as career gap for family reason rather than mention the accident at all, particularly if it was relatively recent, but it’s up to you.

It's not a continuous 12 years. I did a short stint 9 years ago (between the DC) then nothing until 2017. Worked until the end of 2018, had an accident in spring of 2019, had to wait 5 months for an operation and then had one year of rehab.