Will this be a 'stain' on my CV?

[Metabigot]

Not really an employment issue but posting in here as I know a lot of HR folk on this board (although non HR folk welcome to answer!)

I got made redundant from a HR business partner role earlier in the year and it's been a massive struggle to get anything similar. To say the market is saturated with people at my level is a understatement.... numerous recruiters have said its not me, it's the market and to give a flavour, one role I applied for said they had 40 quality applicants within 48 hours (40 applicants is not unusual, but 40 quality applicants). So its tough out there. I've applied for fixed term roles and permanent roles - not fussed whether its perm or not just want to get back in.

I have been out of work 3 months now, longer than ever before. Husband's work is sporadic. We can hold our heads above water due to rental income on a second home but it's tough.

I've been offered a four month role to support a change project as an advisor - I'd very much be the support rather than the lead. Ideally I'd much rather stay on the market looking for a role at the right level. This would be a bit of step down and whilst provided much needed income I worry that it puts me back in the 'advisor' /'support' category rather than the lead/manager category when going for future roles. Employers are so picky at the mo.

For context I had a massive struggle to make that leap in my career a few years ago and am worried that I'll be pigeonholed as an advisor again.

It is only 4 months though and I'm hoping employers will be understanding in the current climate that I don't unfortunately have a magic money tree at the bottom of my garden (I wish)

Part of me really doesn't want to take this role, I could just about survive financially and hang on for something else but then that's more time out of work and does that look even worse? Plus we are coming up to summer when recruitment traditionally dies down although its anyones guess what'll happen this year.

I'd take the role - looks better than doing nothing and getting into another company gives you opportunities.
A CFO my dh used to know - contacted him for opportunities after being made redundant- there was one opportunity as an accounts assistant and this guy took it and worked as hard at this job as he would at his previous job - no shitty attitude, no acting like it was beneath him. A year and a half later a CFO role came up and he got it - successful at that too.

I would take it as well, just to keep the gap on your cv short and also you will be looked upon more favourably when applying for other jobs. The job market is fiercely competitive now and gaps in cv's/ being unemployed can get you rejected straight away. Makes no sense but its how it is. I'm in a job that under normal circumstances I'd have quit months ago but I'm hanging in there for now.

Whereabouts are you based OP?

Our HR Manager has just been promoted to executive HR director, so there’s a HR manager vacancy going. It’s East Midlands if thats any use to you?

After my redundancy I took a 6 month temp role which was a massive step down. I secured a role at my level after the temp contract and I am still at the same company 8 years later.

I'm very similar to you, but in a difference sector. Had worked my way up to a director role over 8yrs, then the role became redundant during a restructure! I took a similar but lower grade role, but it was less pay, but also less stress! I know the fear of not getting back to the level you once were. Only last week I've been offered a new job which is almost the same level as I was several years ago. The lower grade role gave me added experience which is a benefit to this current role.

I'd take the job. You don't know where it will lead and certainly looks better on a CV. During the pandemic, many people are working in completely different roles to their norm, and taking what they can. Best of luck x

Take it - great hot self esteem and income. You will be a great asset to the team given your experience and they will get extra from your experience. You'll find plenty to talk about when interviewing in future for roles at right level.

On CV put in as "interim role" and when talking about it say you found the project v interesting for x y an z reason. What your contributed and delivered and learnt. Interim is v common and frequently people are being hired for specific skills and are able to do a more senior job.

I’m not a fan of gaps in CVs - although of course they can’t always be helped. And I wouldn’t mark someone down for taking a temp role lower than them. (In fact I think it proves they are a hard worker).

@QueenOfPain

Whereabouts are you based OP?

Our HR Manager has just been promoted to executive HR director, so there’s a HR manager vacancy going. It’s East Midlands if thats any use to you?

Sadly I'm not in that area but thanks for the thought!

@Dee1975

I’m not a fan of gaps in CVs - although of course they can’t always be helped. And I wouldn’t mark someone down for taking a temp role lower than them. (In fact I think it proves they are a hard worker).

This. In spades.

Looks like I will be taking the job, it just feels like giving in somehow as there are loads of jobs being advertised at my level but just getting through selection is the problem.

I feel like a gambling addict who doesn't want to leave the roulette table! The next interview could just be the one! So it's about setting for this role and letting go of the opportunity of better roles but if I don't take it I could end up with nothing.

I guess I can start interviewing again in a couple of months for more senior roles so it's not too long to take out

I've no problem rolling my sleeves up, it's not about that I guess my fear is being typecast as an advisor again but I will just have to hope my previous experience at the more senior level is still taken seriously by future prospective employers.

Honestly, I think given the pandemic taking this role will help your CV.

We have CVs coming into our company, where Iver the last year people have gone from corporate jobs to amazon drivers. And those CVs go down better than the ones where they haven't worked in all year.

We don't care that people have taken steps down or done something our of their usual industry. People have had to do what they need to to survive. And most will have learned something from it, that they would have learned in a role similar to their usual one.

People picking up temporary and lower level jobs, in my opinion, is good.

Our company is planning on expanding. We are looking for more HR staff. If you are West Yorkshire based I can message you the email address for your CV. It won't be immediate, but we keep CVs on file when we like them for future roles.

But your chances of getting a more senior role increase if you take this job!

Any job is better than being unemployed after all - you’re still honing your skills at work and will have recent experience.

The longer you wait for the perfect job, the more of a gap you’ll have on your cv, which will have the side effect of making you seem less employable the longer you’re out of work. Essentially your plan could backfire.

Also you can still keep applying for lead roles whilst simultaneously working at your new job. You’ll rebuild your confidence at work. You have nothing to lose from my perspective.

As an Ex recruiter I def say take it, it's much better to stay with "current knowledge" (as in stay in the same kind of role than let your knowledge slip and agree with @customerisqueen, say "interim role" to this end if asked to explain in the future. It's much better to show you are willing to take a step back than do nothing.

Take it. Work the contacts and network that comes with it. Learn some new stuff and make sure you can evidence that. Keep interviewing! It's only a temp contract, you are perfectly entitled to leave if the right role comes up.

@Minster2012

As an Ex recruiter I def say take it, it's much better to stay with "current knowledge" (as in stay in the same kind of role than let your knowledge slip and agree with *@customerisqueen*, say "interim role" to this end if asked to explain in the future. It's much better to show you are willing to take a step back than do nothing.

YY agree with @Minster2012 - get interim on your title. Try not to have adviser on your title either - Interim Project Consultant, for example.