CV advice

Everynamestaken

I am currently applying for jobs 8 months after travelling parts of the World. My question and advice I am looking for is how do I put this in a Cv.

I understand most companies wont give a monkeys about me experiencing other cultures etc, and why should they? However my problem is whilst it has generally been a long holiday I'm not so sure if an employer would see the positive side of this when I successfully completed University last year, and they could twist it in a negative, that I have not actually been working for over half a year (apart from volunteering during the floods in Brisbane). How do I write this to my advantage to secure an interview?


So as anyone got any hints how and tips on what to actually write in the CV regarding this?

Thanks
Rich

claire16c

I've just come back from 8 months travelling too! So you've probably been on the world trip of narrowly missing natural disasters like I did too We would have loved to have volunteered in Brisbane itself, but ended up helping someone on the sunshine coast repaint their house after all the rain instead.

Anyway... Im in a different situation in that I have a job Im starting in Oct, so Im looking for temp work up until then, and Ive just put a bit at the top of my cv in the 'profile' section, saying that Im looking for temporary work after travelling around the world or 8 months before I start a job in October.

If I didnt have a job lined up, I would have just reworded it to say 'I am looking for a job in x/ x job, after returning from travelling for 8 months. And then continued with the rest of the profile section where I have a very quick summary of the type of work experience I have and that Im proficient in several computer programmes etc.

I've interviewed people who have come back from travelling before, and theyve all done a similar thing, just written a basic sentence about it or in a covering letter. And then when they get to interview Ive asked them maybe what they did when travelling, and obviously then you could quickly tell them where you went and mention about the volunteering. I didn't really care that someone hadn't been working for a while, because it didnt make them a better or worse candidate than someone who had been at work, I would work that out from the other interview questions relevant to the job.

For example I interviewed one girl who had been travelling, but had clearly done loads of research on the company I worked at, and gave good answers. Another girl currently working, had not done her research and was worse.

I wouldnt stress too much about it, loads of people I know have taken gap years, or years out after uni and had no problem going back to work afterwards.

relic

I'd put a short paragraph in the covering letter, don't go on about where you were and what you saw, but what you learnt. Also the volunteering during the floods will look great, make a big deal about that. Make it sounds less like a long holiday, and more like a learning experience.

VfM4meplse

relic wrote: »

I'd put a short paragraph in the covering letter, don't go on about where you were and what you saw, but what you learnt. Also the volunteering during the floods will look great, make a big deal about that. Make it sounds less like a long holiday, and more like a learning experience.

And make sure you note any additional languages you can now converse in as a result of your travels. (I don't think brash Aussie counts).

claire16c

VfM4meplse wrote: »

And make sure you note any additional languages you can now converse in as a result of your travels. (I don't think brash Aussie counts).

Haha think thats the only one I learnt!

wimblewomble_2

how about:

I spent 8 months travelling the world, visiting X countries.
This experience has added to my understanding and insight of different cultures and lifestyles, and helped me to improve my interpersonal skills. I feel I can deal with a wider range of situations with a greater maturity and sensitivity. (for someone of my age)

??