Recruiter made me cry

[Sososad1]

I got cold called by a recruiter today for a temp role. I phoned her back and she went through my cv . I left a previous job as it was so stressful and my mental health was so bad .I’ve not had a problem with explaining this before as I have worked since (in a temp role ). Anyway this woman said to me this is not good enough and looks terrible .I shouldn’t haven done that and what do I even want to do with my life . I explained that I want a government job. I was in tears at the end . This role was a 4 week temp role that she changed from one thing to another minimum wage .

I was in tears at the end . I’ve never had a problem like this before . Will my leaving this job haunt me forever? I’ve got a lot of experience and a degree but I felt like a criminal .

She went way beyond what she should have said. Having said that, I imagine that in a competitive market it will make things more difficult for you.

She’s a twat. Some people just enjoy making others feel shit. How long were you there before you left? If it was 6 months or less then that’s not great but it’s not the end of the world. Also in future I wouldn’t say it was because of your mental health. I’m usually not one to encourage dishonesty but a lot of employers run a mile when they hear things like that. They don’t want to be liable if you have a breakdown or something later on. I would just say the job was mis sold to you. Good luck with your job search

She sounds rude and unprofessional (I’d highly recommend leaving feedback to her company) but you haven’t mentioned how large your career gap actually is? Unfortunately there might be a bit of truth in that it can hinder your job searching

I should have said hinder your employability, sorry. (But not make it impossible to get a job)

Hello my gap was 7 months so quite a while ,I completed a business admin course during that time but of course that is not worth much .

Personally I don’t think 7 months is that bad considering we have just been through lockdown with many losing their jobs. That’s part of the problem now though, there’s so many people applying for each individual role that competition is fierce and unfortunately no career gaps might be the thing that swings it for another candidate applying for the same role

She sounds like a cow and Im surprised she was so derogatory when you had mentioned mental health issues as employers do have to be very careful around that.
Id rephrase my cv and play up the course I think

@Sososad1 fuck them for making you feel like that.

If I were you, and I have had to leave jobs because of bullying in the work place - just say you went travelling! Even better if the gap includes covid as can say you got stranded somewhere. Don't embellish just put gap for travelling. Good luck. Savage world out there

I had an interview with an employer where I had to explain a 2 year gap in my working history. I told the truth. I had a psychotic break and needed to take some time off.
I felt ready to return to work and have a fresh start. They appreciated my honesty.
The right employer should never and will never use your mental health against you trust me. It's not only immoral it's also illegalxx

She’s a cow.

If you don’t want to disclose your mental health, just say the role came to an end and you focused on completing your admin course. That’s absolutely fine, and it’s not interesting enough that people would chat to you about it; like they might if you say you did something else.

P.s I still work there now 3 years on 😁

Not once have recruitment agents ever got me work. They are all shit.

You left a job because it wasn't a good fit and you fancied a new direction, so spent time upskilling yourself with a business course and then took on a new opportunity (at last job)

Was the government role one that would need security clearance or police checks? Gaps can be harder to get clearance with.

But otherwise she sounds unpleasant. Some people give weird, unsolicited advice.

The recruiter is a salesman. All they're interested in is maximising their sales, and anything that doesn't fit their 'normal' is not worth their time.

I once had to take a sick day from a temp assignment because I was in hospital having an asthma attack. The recruiter was calling constantly, I could barely speak, but all she was bothered about was, would I be in by lunchtime, why didn't I have a nebuliser at home? All she was bothered about was her commission.

Say you left to care for a family member, or say you became ill but dont give details--you can say you are treated and recovered now. I've done the same thing and I always say one of these. People just seem to accept it more easily rather than the actual truth! Not that that is ok.
She sounds shit tbh, but many recruiters are. Try to forget it and move on.

I left a previous job as it was so stressful and my mental health was so bad .I’ve not had a problem with explaining this before as I have worked since (in a temp role ). Anyway this woman said to me this is not good enough and looks terrible .I shouldn’t haven done that and what do I even want to do with my life

Lesson learned for next time, you have no obligation to discuss your mental health nor the detailed reason you chose to leave your previous job. If I were you I'd make up a bland reason and stick with that in the future.

Don't give people like her the ability to "throw rocks at you". Protect you own interests at all times, and give people the minimum information possible.

@WiserOlder. Me too, never got a job via an agent. I prefer to go direct so I control how I’m presented. A lot of jobs are also advertised on LinkedIn as some companies want to save on recruitment costs.

I never would have told her that as the reason. I would have said it wasn't a good fit, and I wanted to leave to further my skills, by doing the business course.

@Lonoxo yes i realised every single time an agency sent me to an interview, it was as a fishing expedition for their real candidates who had jobs. They raised my unemployed hopes and then once they'd found out what I was asked, I never heard from them again.

Karma is a thing. 20 years go an agency was shit. Now I am a director, and told the agency owner where to go when they wanted my firms business :)

And, now that I have a good job I like, they still send me emails and ring occasionally. It would lead nowhere even if i played the game. About 3 years ago I said politely, i think to one of them who had emailed and rung more after i got a job and left her alone than when i was unemployed and checking in once a week "i have a job now, i got it myself i would have loved to have heard from you this much when i was job hunting".

Recruitment agencies are shit. They are just sales people. I wouldn't worry. That said, it's very competitive out there and will be even more so. Opt for travelling to explain the seven months. Get a few people to read and provide feedback on your cv. Good luck....

Can't you just say it wasn't the right fit for you so you took some time out to re evaluate, complete some extra training and decide on your next steps? Now you have and you're set in A speck of direction and are pursuing a career in local government? (I think that's where you said you wanted to end up)
Why explain about your mental health?