Trailing spouse..

[aiti72]

You lovely ladies out there, please help me with this CV question.. Recently I asked about how to address raising kids on CV, now I think even my short periods of employment before having DD look bad. Admittedly, I have been a trailing spouse doing varied temporary work in several European countries (don't I just hate my partner's spotless career right now!), but if I just mention temp work in London and Brussels it is going to look rather weird (why the heck doesn't she stay put..). I wouldn't want to mention my partner in my CV, but I guess somehow I need to state my motivation of moving around. Or should I leave it like that and prepare to answer questions in an (very unlikely) interview? Any advice?

I would agree about not under normal circumstances mentioning partner in cv, absolutely.

However I think your circumstances are different and it might be wise to address it in a cv just to explain that your hopping about isn't because you can't settle at anything or keep getting sacked... I wouldn't put what your partner does, that isn't relevant to you, but the fact that it has involved moving about is relevant.

Assuming this is no longer an issue, say that as well...

I'm no expert but I would definitely explain the situation and if possible try and put your situation in a positive light i.e. stress that it was your choice not to have a permanent job.

So perhaps in a covering letter you could say something like "for the past * years I have put my career on hold for family reasons but feel that the time is now right to blah blah." ... "during this time I was able to stay in touch with the working world with short periods of work as a temp, but am now looking for something more permanent blah blah.". I think "family reasons" covers both child rearing and spouse trailing.

hope that helps. What are you applying for?

I put a short line in my CV with the years my DH worked abroad and an explanation - moved to < country > with my husband's career and worked freelance / part time / temporarily as a < insert as appropriate >

Can you avoid making it sound negative by turning it on it's head...something like, "I have taken advantage of my ability to work flexibly, by taking temporary positions in various European locations over the past few (years, months, whatever). However, due to personal circumstances I now have the opportunity to take a more settled role, and I am looking forward to using the experience I have gained in a more stable role, blah blah....?

Great ideas, thank you so much!!!