Frustrations with HR and Work Gaps

[WendyLovesWine]

I've had large gaps in my employment history from maternity leave obviously...and every time I apply to new jobs, it's the same ol' rejection story. So devastated from the lack of understanding from hiring managers and recruiters. Anyone experience similar frustrations? It's driving me insane. Please send help

Hi

I am confused by your story a bit as maternity is a legitimate gap.I’ve got LOADS of gaps of my cv because of misfortune, nothing sinister. Just got a new role that required advanced security checks. Also know others with gaps too .It can be done.

I will say though , a lot of private companies mostly won’t touch me, public companies will, but then that aligns with my experience .

I mean if I was judging a cv I’d look for unexplained gaps of years as suspicious. I mean what is be suspicious of is laziness / apathy . Employer are worried mostly about prison apparently.

I do wonder why employers are suspicious of prison? They can clearly see from my enhanced DBS check that there is nothing on there!

When I was applying to do some NHS bank work, the young HR administrator couldn’t get her head around the fact that I took a few months off here and there between jobs sometimes. It was like she had no concept of not working.

Luckily I’m a student now so that covers a gap as the university can provide a reference.

My advice is if you have any gaps document them and put something positive in them, particularly if it shows actively doing something positive.
If you were not in empolyment were you looking after a child/baby; jobseeking and keeping updated with developments in your work sector; volunteeringing/committee work - or larging it on the sofa?

Ridiculoous if they are getting their panties in a bunch about prison - so few people get a custodial sentance for less than serious crimes, and would show on a DBS - is a company with such an unprofessioanl HR department one you would like to work in?

@PlomBear
Some people can’t get their head around that people can make their own choices . Unemployment is stigmatised so much . I’ve been called all sorts.

If I start explaining the gaps in my cv , they wish they have never asked as I’ve had some bad things happen to me. Doesn’t mean I’m a a bad worker though .

I was applying for TA jobs in schools recently and they wanted a full employment history since leaving school and any gaps explained! They only ask for two referees and don’t even check the gaps - unless they have the capacity to ask for references for the past decade. Which they don’t. At the interviews they didn’t even look at my work history, they just wanted to know about my school volunteering experience.

When I was attending a PGCE interview, the HR person talked me through my CV but said they only need two references. So I could have said anything about my past but as long as I have a clean DBS and two references they don’t care.

🤷🏻‍♀️

When I was working in a bank in the City, they wanted 3 or 5 years of employment history. I had to show them bank statements to prove I hadn’t worked (and been dismissed?!) in the times I had gaps. Again, not fool proof, what’s to have stopped somebody being paid into a different account?

I suppose it’s all just a tick exercise from a HR compliance point of view if you are found to be a criminal. They can say they did all the relevant checks.

The most bizarre checks are for airport ID passes. 5 year history with all gaps over 28 days being accounted for by a referee! So you can have a gap of 27 days and get up to nefarious activities. And as if you can’t be a terrorist and work/study at the same time but if you have a clean DBS and no gaps - no issues granting you an airside pass.

Again - it’s so if you are into terrorism the airport/airline can say “well we did all the necessary checks, not our fault!”