How to explain a gap on CV

[thebeachismyhappyplace2]

So I used to work in the city in banking about 12 years ago and I’ve got a job interview this week to do a similar role in operations/support for a part-time role for another bank. My eldest has high functioning autism and when he was younger there was no way I could have committed to working in London as he had a lot of issues and I needed to be there to get him help and support, speech therapy, OT etc. Thankfully he’s doing ok now and is managing in mainstream senior school with support. However if I explain this, I’m worried it’s going to sound negative and may put the employer off especially as it’s very corporate. What are you thoughts? And how could I word it to sound positive? (I have worked during that gap but just doing admin etc for my husband’s company)

Congratulations on your interview. I would be honest and say what you have said above. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and not something you need to hide. Good luck

Thanks ScottishDiblet, it’s not that I’m ashamed but just don’t want the employer to think that I might be unreliable and not able to fully commit if I have a child with additional needs

Oh I see. You could explain how things have improved now in secondary school and that you have a support system in place / don’t need to be at home for the DC in the afternoons. They should understand that circumstances change.

I don’t think you need to go into such detail, just say that you had to take a break from work due to family responsibilities, and that you are no longer in that situation. If pressed just say it was caring for a member of your family and you did not feel that you could do justice to you previous role.