Job application advice arts

[swimmingclubs]

Hi
I am applying for a job I would love, I have been out of work for 3 years, last job I had was in a mental health charity, this new job is very competitive in the arts. I have mixed employment history of working in both. I'm currently studying art part time , plus arts and health.

My question is should I leave off my mental health charity job (my most recent) and start with my job prior to that approx 5 years ago that was in the arts also and similar job or should I include my most recent employment? Will it put the Organization off if my last employment was in mental health still a professional role but not immediately obvious what the relevance is? Really want to put in the strongest application I can. Thanks

I don’t think you should ever leave jobs off and I can’t think of any reason why it would actually put someone off employing you. If it’s a really competitive job it might mean that other people have an advantage if they’ve been pursuing it in that five years you’ve been doing other things.

Leave it in, otherwise it will look as if you're hiding something potentially serious. But emphasise how much you want to get back into the arts world in your application.