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Original poster

Calling All Those Who Had a massive Career Gap and returned to work

29 replies

YABVVU · 17/02/2022 12:06

What did you say about the gap at interview?

Why did you take the career break?

How did you convince the employer to take you on even though you had been out of work for a while?

What did you provide by way of references?

Officially, I've been out of work for 10 years! During that time I did plenty of jobs but they were all self-employed i.e. private investor, market research, the odd HR freelance contract, NLP, a little bit of volunteering e.t.c.

I'm desperate to get out there and get be employed, have an impressive CV but cannot see employers frown when I talk about this 'gap'.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to explain this away?

OP posts:
Original poster
YABVVU · 17/02/2022 20:12

Anyone?
Please?

OP posts:
thesandwich · 17/02/2022 20:15

How about doing a functional cv to emphasis skills?

MayBeeMee · 17/02/2022 20:18

But you don’t have a gap! Pad out your CV with all the fantastic self employed work, training and volunteering you’ve done. List your key skills and experience on the front page of your CV and apply for some jobs. Concentrate on writing a tailored cover letter or intro statement email with each application.
I did this last year and it worked, the biggest barrier was my lack of confidence, once I went for it I found a great job really quickly.

Original poster
YABVVU · 19/02/2022 09:38

@thesandwich

How about doing a functional cv to emphasis skills?
Hi,

I've done that to death and have amended wording/padded it out/used more succinct language/tarted it up but cannot get through to people for some reason! Have had a few interviews but not enough.

OP posts:
Original poster
YABVVU · 19/02/2022 09:40

@MayBeeMee

But you don’t have a gap! Pad out your CV with all the fantastic self employed work, training and volunteering you’ve done. List your key skills and experience on the front page of your CV and apply for some jobs. Concentrate on writing a tailored cover letter or intro statement email with each application. I did this last year and it worked, the biggest barrier was my lack of confidence, once I went for it I found a great job really quickly.
Thanks for the advice and glad to hear you got a job! I guess my barrier is my lack of confidence too and so I shall have a good talking to myself.

I have a couple of interviews on Monday and really want both jobs!!

OP posts:
thesandwich · 19/02/2022 11:51

Good luck on Monday. Don’t be defensive about being self employed.
It isn’t a gap. You chose to do a range of project to build your skills which gave you experience in xyz….

Earlymorningcuppa · 20/02/2022 17:51

If you focus too much on the self employed aspects I’d want to know, why you need to return to work now - what’s changed for you? The self employed things are interesting but why didn’t you keep doing them, we’re you not successful, do you find it difficult to stick at things?
FWIW I took a 14 year break from work - returned 3 years ago to dh’s business - my confidence was the biggest obstacle, my role expanded with the company and I do a lot of the recruiting - we employ a few women who took career breaks, really doesn’t concern me or dh, lack of commitment would though, we employ people on the basis of their attitude (towards people and work) and their technical skills - also make sure your IT skills are up to date - loads of free training on you tube, if you need it. Good luck!

bluedodecagon · 21/02/2022 18:08

Can you do a return to work scheme? That’s what I did.

Universaldebit · 22/02/2022 12:49

Name changed recently but I'm the op.

Thanks all. My reason for going back are many. My special needs daughter has started secondary and doesn't need as much care or attention as before. Also, I did personal investing but wouldn't these days as its far too risky. My children's father has illegally stopped paying CM and so Im skint. But all that is too personal and so I wouldn't want to mention that in an interview!

I will focus on my transferable skills, how keen I am, be confidence and try to express how committed I would be to a job.

bluedodecagon · 22/02/2022 13:03

If you are getting interviews then your CV must be fine. So focus on interview practice.

Mumski45 · 22/02/2022 13:32

@YABVVU I was in a similar situation a few years ago. I had been made redundant from my 'career' job and at the time was wanting to TTC so didn't want to go back to a full on career. I spent. Bit of time in a family business then a year pregnant and with new baby. I then did go back to previous career part time but left after second DS arrived to become self employed. For the next 10 years I did a mix of part time self employment and volunteering. As in your case I looked for a job as DS2 was approaching secondary school. In my interview I was open about what I did and why despite the nerves as I thought I would come across as more nervous if I was trying to elaborate too much. I got the first job I went for. Good luck with your job hunt.

Mumski45 · 22/02/2022 13:34

My point was meant to be that kids ready to go to secondary is a good enough reason for you to give as a reason for going back into employment.

Norma27 · 05/03/2022 23:19

I had an 8 yr gap before starting work again last year. I was a sahm and a carer for my mum. I managed to get into a highly competitive job. I would say just be honest. Your reasons are good enough. I had a couple of sentences saying I hadn’t worked as was sahm and carer, I was now keen to get back into work in this specific industry.
Good luck.

Quantity5 · 05/03/2022 23:26

Had a bigger gap than you. I missed off some self employed stuff and stretched dates for others. Focus on the interviews though. Most people are rubbish - be amazing. Get recording your answers and go again and again and again. Prep so you know the company properly and have some pertinent questions to ask. Don’t be shy when it comes to asking for money.

Getmeoutaherenow · 06/03/2022 07:32

@Quantity5

Had a bigger gap than you. I missed off some self employed stuff and stretched dates for others. Focus on the interviews though. Most people are rubbish - be amazing. Get recording your answers and go again and again and again. Prep so you know the company properly and have some pertinent questions to ask. Don’t be shy when it comes to asking for money.
We screen our candidates - be careful about stretching dates - taking time off to be a carer is fine - lying is not.
Oblomov22 · 06/03/2022 07:43

How will you screen for SE dates stretched?

Say you ran a dog walking business or taught piano, how would anyone know if you set that up in 1986, as claimed, on your cv. Or if the truth is you didn't set it up till 1988 because you were caring for your mum for 2 years first.

Datada · 06/03/2022 08:13

Go in confident and positive. Its actually none of their business whether you were a beach bum, self employed or a carer. You can do the work they need now and you are up to it. Match your great experience with what they want. Smile and be enthusiastic, thats what people like to see.

Getmeoutaherenow · 06/03/2022 09:45

@Oblomov22

How will you screen for SE dates stretched?

Say you ran a dog walking business or taught piano, how would anyone know if you set that up in 1986, as claimed, on your cv. Or if the truth is you didn't set it up till 1988 because you were caring for your mum for 2 years first.

The screening company we use has always been able to screen SE contractors - the clients confirm their dates or the SE person provides us with evidence of their contracts and invoicing.
Quantity5 · 06/03/2022 10:00

Hmmm that was the kind of evidence I was very easily able to provide. I was in another industry - that probably made it easier. Caution is probably best though - would be awkward to get caught!

Getmeoutaherenow · 06/03/2022 10:25

@Quantity5

Hmmm that was the kind of evidence I was very easily able to provide. I was in another industry - that probably made it easier. Caution is probably best though - would be awkward to get caught!
When we've caught people, we've said nothing - they just get rejected, even a whiff of dishonesty doesn't get a second chance to explain. Honesty is a big thing for us.
Quantity5 · 06/03/2022 10:38

Have done and now do the same. Will still be self serving before honest, if not getting anywhere. But OP this is distraction - you have two interviews so should be prepping.

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 06/03/2022 10:55

Honestly, I told the truth. I wanted to be a full time parent while they were young. DH worked long hours so had little flexibility and I throughly enjoyed it- no regrets. I mentioned the things I had done during that time (volunteer) and told them I missed work and social interaction ( That would work for you on the SE part too) Believe in your choice, we don’t have to justify it.

Savoury · 06/03/2022 11:06

Honestly, I told the truth. I wanted to be a full time parent while they were young. DH worked long hours so had little flexibility and I throughly enjoyed it- no regrets.

The first sentence is a minefield because you don't know how that will be received. For all you know, the interviewer may have wanted that too and not have been able to afford it, or maybe didn't want it but feels judged by that statement.

I would say "Due to my husband's long hours, I stayed at home but now want to get back to full-time work" or whatever. No judgement or need to justify anything.
OP - have you looked into the returner programmes?

Lovingthemalbec · 13/03/2022 14:17

I am in exactly the same boat with SEN DD. I never know whether to mention this on my covering letter. It has the potential to put employers off they may think I will take more time off for appointments etc... But then I don't feel comfortable lying or making something up why I had to take a break. It just wasn't possible to continue working whilst my DD was having a rough time. It is so frustrating as like you I need something else in my life and knew I wouldn't want to quit work permanently

ToffeeNotCoffee · 14/03/2022 20:53

I haven't had a permanent job since 2011 !

I lived overseas for nearly six years where I did a mixture of paid and voluntary roles. (It was very stop-start. The longest without work of any type was 18 months.) That's a neat sentence to sum up what I did and it's the truth. A recruitment consultant summed that up for me when I was having a free chat about my CV after I came home to Britain five years ago.

I've only been able to get temporary jobs so far. Tomorrow's interview is for a permanent job.