Returning to work after 7 years

[Harveyrabbit76]

Hi, I am hoping to return to work after a 7 year break and I am looking for tips on what to put on the CV explaining my reasons etc. I left after maternity leave with my first and now have a second who has just started full time school. I am pretty much itching to get back and earn some money for myself and have adult time! Can anyone advise me on my CV opening statement or is the career break something I expand on when and if I ever get an interview?! Many thanks

Just say something like a career break for family reasons. If you’ve done any voluntary work in that time you should add that.

Best of luck - I had a similar break. It was exhausting at first but gets easier!

Thankyou! I am very nervous about it. Do you think even volunteering for the PTA counts as a skill?

Yes! Especially for competency based interviews as it will give you lots of examples e.g dealing with conflict etc.I had a similar break and was really lacking in confidence when I returned. Whatever you do don’t undersell yourself. 🤞

You'll need a more recent reference than 7 years ago, I got one of my fellow volunteers to be my reference after a big job break.

@Harveyrabbit76 Yes absolutely include that - see if you can spin it to be relevant to the job you are applying for. I was treasurer of our PTA & it was what cinched the job for me.

Just that you took a few years off to raise your children (I took 5). You should say it in a way that it's normal rather than apologising for it.

I used the CV template from ivee.jobs which is designed for parents returning to work after a career break! Definitely worth checking that out. Don't shy away from talking about your career break - everyone has a life and a family, and the skills you would've got from it (the multitasking....) are crazy! Best of luck x