SHOULD I PUT REASON FOR LEAVING JOB AS MATERNITY LEAVE?

[JL09]

Hellooo there,:)

Right on my current job application it has asked me for my full employment history?

I worked throughout my pregnancy, took the full maternity leave, enjoyed my child did some voluntary work in a school, did a little part time job?then went on to study? just finished my studies and looking for a new job.

Iv heard it not advisable to inform potential employers of children, or maternity as they might regard you as unreliable due to one having to take time off for holidays/sick children and so on... do you think thats right!!?

What should I put down as a reason for leaving my job? Maternity or.......

don't fill that field in.
I never do.
it's not stopped me from getting interviews.
they're not actually allowed to make you tell them.

They are not allowed to ask you about family or family plans and can not use this as a reason not to give you a job.

depends on the employer I think

I've recently applied for my first job since leaving to have dd3 7 years ago. It said you needed full employment history and that you needed to explain any gaps (job is in a school, so working alongside children and will need a CRB check). I had to explain big gaps due for 4 dc and I did say I'd left my most recent job due to maternity leave

It didn't do any harm though, got the job :)

So is what sort of job is it you're applying for?

Congratulations!!!

I?m applying for a teaching assistant post... on the application they give you a whole column for ?REASONS FOR LEAVING?!!

Haven?t done this application business for ages, just a bit nervous? it?s like writing an essay with all the cover letters and personal statements!!

Thanks Niclebabe- even if they give you a big old column for 'Reasons for leaving'? lol

If it's for a TA role I would hope that they would not see having children as a negative point!

I have had forms as well with a column for "reason for leaving". While I don't put that info on CVs, if they give me a whole column and specifically ask, I do fill it in, as I think they will think I can't fill a form in properly if I miss it, or might wonder if I have something even worse than children to hide ie sacking...

I think there is no "right or wrong" answer TBH it depends on the luck of the drw whether the employer discriminates. If it is a school then I would hope not, but who knows. Most TAs are parents aren't they, working during school hours?

You could put "career break to raise children" which sounds a bit posher...

You left your job at the end of the mat leave, so mat leave wasn't actually the reason you left IYSWIM

The fact that you did voluntary work in a school and worked part time - it seems almost as if you are not counting these in your head as "work" when in fact they are both really positive - showing that you are committed to working, and that you are very interested in working in a school to the point of volunteering.

It's all good!

it depends on the job, for a TA job I would think you would want to play up that you are a parent, my DP plays being a parent up for his job as it is a bonus because it helps him relate to clients in his role, for some jobs its not so much. At my last application/interview I didn't think having a family was a negative but being a graduate might be, for others its the other way round

Under safeguarding recruitment regulations you have to account for gaps in employment in case you spent 6 minths in prison or something!!!

Left due to family commitments/undertake further training/volunteering all perfectly acceptible to put down.

arrr thanks Sardine Queen, and yeah i suppose leaving it blank gives more room for Questioning and speculation :)

fair enough if it's a TA post, but they aren't supposed to ask.
If it's a TA post, then leaving for children is a positive reason. :)

Slight hijack but I've recently been completing applications and was quite surprised by this question and also by a column for 'salary'. I had to put 'cannot recall' in a few cos I can't remember how much I got for temping 7 yrs ago! Is this alright do we think?

I would leave a salary column blank as well. That is really intrusive an nothing to do with the interview process and puts you in a difficult spot. If you say you are on a lot then they might not interview, if you say not much they will not offer you much. And then if you do change it to try and make it right for the application, they will find out when they get your reference.

I think leaving it blank is fine. You could just put "not currently employed" in that space as an alternative to "cannot recall" if you fancied a change!

Oh yes a column for salary. That's way intrusive. cannot recall or leave blank -that's what I'd do

Phew, glad I wasn't crackers for being a bit at it.

It was a form for a university btw, & yeah it wanted salary info for all past employment.

You didn't leave for maternity leave - you left to improve your education and develop your skills.

While on maternity leave you are still employed, so mat leave isn't leaving work. If you leave after ml to care for children then you are leaving to raise a family.

re salary column, my trick is to say "variable" ;-)

oooo i like the 'variable' option grumplestilskin!!! Thanks Hairylights yeah ill look at it next time is still employed!! Then reason for leaving can be 'to develop further skills in desired field'. :)

Wish i saw your comment yesterday. Saw the Vacancy on a website with only a few days left to apply was frantically putting the application together when I came up with the predicament of what to put in the ?reason for leaving? section?!!!

I have decided honesty is the best policy....let hope it gets me far

Thanks everyone!

I'll remember that, thanks Grumple!

I went with the 'to develop further skills in desired field' option too JL, I had to rush the app too & think I've been far too honest too. Getting a bit fed up of lack of response to my job applications lately though.

Aren't they just looking for confirmation you weren't sacked? I would simply put "Resignation"