Has the 5 year break made me un-employable

[Heartbreaker83]

Had a very solid career in HR and took a 5 year break, had my 2 children suffered, pnd and went through a lot of family stress. Now all has settled im ready to return to full time and have applied for loads but don’t seem to be getting anywhere. I’ve tailored my CV to each job and I feel like I have some good skills so I’m a bit baffled.

Please tell me some stories of encouragement?

Are you up to date with your IT skills? A lot had changed in the last few years... jobs seem to be here today, gone tomorrow.
Recruitment is all about algorithms these days.

Are you applying for jobs at your old
Level? If so you’re not likely to get them without recent experience. Can you apply for more
Junior jobs?

HR changes all the time. I think you will need to show you are well read on the subject if not do an update course and that you have boosted your IT skills somewhat. Were you HR manager or admin? if later then those skills are transferable.

Hey Heartbreaker83,

How long have you been looking? I had long career break too but managed to find a junior role. The whole job hunting thing can be so soul destroying and It might take sometime too but don't give up and keep trying! Good luck.

My gap is 4 years and my feedback is:

1. candidates had more recent experience than you
2. other candidates were more committed (no childcare)
3. you wont fit in with the younger team (I'm 31)
4. after applying for a junior position - "we are concerned you will leave when a better job comes along"

And yesterday I didn't get a job because another candidates father was friends with the business owner. Candidate who got the job had no qualifications and no experience.

I don't really know what to do other than keep on applying for jobs and hope for the best but it is soul destroying! I feel like a nobody.

Worst still I updated my qualifications recently and it hasnt helped me at all

Recruiters say my CV is brilliant and admit its the dreaded 4 year gap thats the issue.

Gaps in employment shouldn't make any difference to employers, but they seem to. Depends what type of role you are looking for? With a 5 year gap, I would be looking at a more junior role with the aim of working back up the ladder?

Gertrudethestag you are 31, hardly old! Blimey, I am way past it then at 46! Admittedly job hunting is a total nightmare. At the end of the day, I feel sure you are only offered the job if they feel your face will fit; nothing more than that.

Good luck (I am in the same boat, but my gap is just over a year!)

I suggest you sign up with an agency who will help find a suitable role for you to update your skills, get some current workplace experience on your CV and that will open the door to a permanent position. Good luck.

I had a five year gap and got a job back without difficulty afterwards but I worked my contacts.

Have you reconnected with your old boss? Old colleagues? Mentors?

Asked if they know anyone who has a vacancy?

I didn’t get hired by an old colleague but an old colleague did get my CV to the right person in the organisation. The strength of my previous reputation then got me the job.

Make good use of LinkedIn. Go meet people for coffee. Get emailing.

I would suggest you go to a specialist HR recruiter and take on a fixed term contract (e.g. maternity cover). These positions tend to be hard to fill with the appropriate calibre of candidate- especially at higher levels. That gives you up to date experience and gets you back into consideration for more senior roles. If you're CIPD qualified and can demonstrate you've kept your CPD current then you shouldn't have to drop expectations.

TBH, whilst it's good to get feedback, you do have to take it with a pinch of salt. It's not always accurate as there could be 101 reasons you didn't get a job but recruiters will tend to hone in on the stock phrases you've heard.

thistle how do you go about using your contacts? What do you say? Many of mine are out of the county now but DH has a few. He said he wouldnt know what to say to them though! Any help would be fab

My LinkedIn profile looks good just reluctant to pop "looking for such and such a job, please!" on

I got work via an agency after an 11 year gap. Back in at previous grade (middle management, professional role). It’s public sector though - I think the public sector is often more accepting of people who’ve chosen to change their focus for a while. Could you have a look at the Civilservicejobs website?

Well personally I call them or emai them with a brief but friendly email giving a bit of an update and finish it off saying I’m ready to return to work and would love to hear if they know of anyone looking for an “x” (HR person in this case)

If you had a good reputation and got on well with your colleagues before people are usually happy to help if they can.

Hiring from a stack of CVs is really difficult. Interviewing Jen’s former colleague with the great reputation makes it a bit easier. Of course you have to have the skills to back it up.

Thanks for all the advice. I am currently working part time in a very junior role in a different sector, I took it because I couldn’t get back into the HR field and I needed to pay childcare. I have been in touch with a few agencies I was dealing with in the past but didn’t get any response

Sorry posted too soon!

I’m in mid position so not hr manager but was working towards this in role before children. I’ve looked into to CIPD refresher/short courses but I they are so expensive.

Open University do some good free online courses, anyone done any of these?

gertrudethestag it’s really hard out there, I hope you find something soon

I had a 12 year break from HR while I was a sahm, managed to get back into it without too much trouble. While I was out of the workplace I volunteered as an employment adviser with the CAB. They sent me on law updates etc so I could keep up to date. I think that was key to getting back into it.

If I were you I'd consider doing some training to demonstrate you're keeping skills up to date. CIPD short courses are good but spendy, ACAS are cheaper.

x-post. I'm a similar level. def look into ACAS courses.

Thanks heart

It's especially hard as my career has gone backwards / spontaneously combusted - my husbands has ploughed on ahead. He really doesn't understand what it feels like.

I would love to retrain but it is expensive. I looked into volunteering and the feedback I received from one well known charity was "well we can't accept volunteers who use us as a stop gap whilst looking for work!" I've been reluctant to approach other places in case they feel the same.

A lot of our local public sector roles here are internal applicants only. I don't live near a big city. I wish I did

I am trying, honest!

Try not to be disheartened, yet.
I would use your age & break as a positive, you’ve had your kids, so they won’t need to cover your maternity leave.
Also, smaller, independent companies where you meet the boss are often less short-sighted.
Taking a temp or contract role is also a good idea.
Best of luck, have you tried all the returners/back to work/mum agencies eg WM recruit,