Writing your kids into/out off your CV

[CyberGazer]

Does anyone have any advice as to what to do about my CV.

Before my sons birth I could find IT support work locally pretty easily but I'm having problems even obtaining even an entry level position at the moment.

I left my previous employment before his conception and temped thruout the pregnancy... since his arrival 18months ago I've held a few part-time positions but they've not really worked out very well so I've decided to go back full-time as I think I'll be treated slightly better and be able to get the career going again.

At the moment my CV has a "witty" remark about balancing life with a small child and my open uni studies but I think this might be putting employers off.

So my question is really... how would you explain the gap in your CV? Is it better to mention your child/children and face the discrimation that employers may have against employing a mother or is it better to gloss-over/omit this info until interview?

I wouldn't, you don'y have bto tell employers you have kids at interview.

I don't think they need to be heralded with a fanfare but in amongst your experience you just put raising child against that period. That's what I would do and have seen on others cv's anyway.

def dont include on your cv

Mark it as maternity leave but don't mention children IYSWIM.

I have homemaker on my cv and it hasnt stopped me getting a job, I think its better to be honest from the start.

I think it just looks unprofessional - and tbh, most employers would recognise such gaps as having had children - not many women go from working full time , have gaps of a few years (or whatever) and then nothing - it would obviouls that you've been on maternity leave and had a break at home with children

'Unprofessional'??? Bit shocked at that statement. It isn't always self explanatory why people have career breaks. I had an 18mth gap between school and first job. It was cause I was at uni and then dropped out. My prospective employer didn;t know that though as there was no explanation so as far as they could have been aware, I was sat on my arse at home.
I don't see why putting Career Break to have Family is so controversial on a cv - if an employer thinks you;re trying to hide it, then they might think you have an issue with it and that it could be problematic for them.

My mum still puts she's a mum of one on her CVs. And I'm 38 next month!

How much of a reality is it that you would be denied an interview on this basis? You should get an interview whatever if you meet the spec. I realise this may not hold true in reality.

For certain jobs, child raising well means you have some excellent skills present, but this is not alaways recognised is it?

I always put in stuff about multi tasking or similar. This is for community development type work though.

I think 'Career Break' is fine.

They don't need to know any more to be honest. People might have time out of paid employment for many reasons, caring for children, elderly relatives, travelling, writing a book.....

I certainly wouldn't put anything on a CV about 'balancing life with a child and studying'. It's just unecessary - the focus of a CV is to impart factual information about your accomplishments. That sort of info is more appropriate in a face to face chat or interview - if at all.

Don't try to be witty on a CV. A CV is a list of facts about a person.

Keep wit for the interview, and only if you are extremely sure that the person interviewing you has a sense of humour.

With hana on this one. No way include on CV, as already mentioned people "guess" why you've had a career break and "guess" what age you are. Why give more opportunity to be discrimated against!

Sorry Tinkerbel5 but homemaker on CV. Yeugh yeugh yeugh!

I have my son on my CV in additional information and hobbies. I simply put it as I love reading, writing and spending time with my 8 year old son.

It never stopped me from getting a far better job than I previously had. I sent off three job applications. One was a no as I had no recent relevant experience though I expected that. The other interviewed me and asked for a second interview and in the meantime the third interviewed me, asked me to complete a personality test as it was a management position, interviewed me again for 3 hours! and then offered me the job which I accepted.

I think that if it is the right company and right fit for you both then it should not matter that you have a child. Your cv should have a section on your personal life though the majority of it should be professional and a lot of employers actually like the fact that you have children as it brings wisdom, patience and understanding apparently!!!

Some employers would rather know in advance that you have child. Not to discriminate against you but for provisioning child care and for holidays etc. My managing director, who I report to, has children so found no issue.

I hope this helps.

I don't put additional information and hobbies on a CV. I'm not sure that a CV 'should' show a section on this...I'm not sure it would be expected tbh. And I think it's a bit intrusive, personally.

Kids aside, I don't think trying to be witty on a CV is a good idea.

Redtartanlass lol

Like other posters I would insert something in the gap, Career break being a reasonable choice, and otherwise keep all such info off the CV.

I'm a recruiment manager and seeing career break on a CV doesn't put me off an applicant - I'm a mum and most of the people in my company are parents - HUGE global company - that shows how many people have had career break on their CV and been successful! so put career break - but take out the witty comment.

Why don't you put in the dates since you gave up full time work up until now, and put "various temporary and part-time positions during pregnancy and my son's babyhood"? That's self-explanatory, truthful and no-one reasonable is going to think less of you for working a bit less for those reasons.

Avoid wit.
If you are on maternity leave I don't think you even have to put the break and shouldn't. If you took 5 years off and weren't on maternity leave that's a different matter. I always remember trying to advise my sister as to what to put on her CV relating to "time in a cult" which was fun to work around.I've someone at the moment who lied on their CV - it can come back and cause trouble.

Why not just put maternity leave as being with the company and when that finished - Open Univesrity studies and then if they want to quiz you about your children at interview that's up to them.

Thanks everyone.

I only really used the "wit" bit as a way of conveying the skills of parenting, i thought that would be more informative than a gap or saying career break.

I think it says something like "balancing studies and raising my son honing my timemanagement and negoiation skills" or something.

As per those posters I'm going to omit that line/info and see if I get any more joy. It would be lovely to think that its not a factor but I think we're a way off that yet (as illegal as it may be).

Thanks for your help.

Think it depends on the culture you are working in - some are less child friendly than others. Personally I would never put it in my CV.

If I had nothing else to fill the time with, I think I would put maternity leave/ OU studies and then wax lyrical about usefulness of OU course.

No flipant coments about it as unless you are a mother who has been in that siutation, you may not even recognise it as such.

maternity leave counts as 'continuous employment' don't forget

have not read all this but i was advised not to put kids in if you can hjelp it as it gives them a reason not to employ you.