CV Writing: Explaining mental health issues

SalAmander_2

I hope some of you will be able to offer a few thoughts on my problem. I am updating a CV as I'm ready to get back into the world of work. However, I've spent 3 years to date out of work, and 2 and 1/2 of those were with a longstanding clinical depression. I'm wondering how I can explain this on my CV in the most positive way possible.

I've already explained (in a very positive and constructive way) a previous 3 year inability to work following industrial injury. I changed careers and made the best of things despite a minor physical disability.

What I'm not sure of now is how on earth I can explain to a prospective employer that having had all that time off work doesn't make me an unfeasibly high risk for the future. I think it might be asking more than even the most understanding prospective employer would be willing to accept and take on.

I'm only 50. My working life is supposed to go on for another 16 years! Any encouraging suggestions will be gratefully received.

kmjrenshaw

SalAmander wrote: »

I hope some of you will be able to offer a few thoughts on my problem. I am updating a CV as I'm ready to get back into the world of work. However, I've spent 3 years to date out of work, and 2 and 1/2 of those were with a longstanding clinical depression. I'm wondering how I can explain this on my CV in the most positive way possible.

I've already explained (in a very positive and constructive way) a previous 3 year inability to work following industrial injury. I changed careers and made the best of things despite a minor physical disability.

What I'm not sure of now is how on earth I can explain to a prospective employer that having had all that time off work doesn't make me an unfeasibly high risk for the future. I think it might be asking more than even the most understanding prospective employer would be willing to accept and take on.

I'm only 50. My working life is supposed to go on for another 16 years! Any encouraging suggestions will be gratefully received.

Hi!

I currently have a CV writing business, the website is not complete - infact I am doing a revamp. But if you wish, I can have a look at your CV and give you some basic pointers. I will PM you with the email address.

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In your CV do NOT mention anything negative (or potentially) unless you are asked to do so beforehand - Criminal Record, Health...

Your CV is your marketing tool, it is your passport to the interview. At the interview you can impress them and if you feel you should tell them, tell them towards the end of the interview. Even then, I would not tell them unless they ask for this kind of information.

Do not include your Date of Birth or picture either.

They should judge you only on your performance during the interview and experience/qualifications you have.

Good luck!

Kriston

Mistral001

I think you should get rid of the word "explain" from your thinking. Give reasons if you have to, not explanations. Concentrate on your qualifications and experience in jobs you have done.

There are two schools of thought I suppose. There is the school of thought which says that you give all the facts. Such as how long you have been off medication etc. and the other is that you do not mention it and say you "to spend more time with your children" or "sabatical" or something like that.

The choice is up to you. Both approaches have worked from what I know.

paulwf

I would try and get a volunteering role or unpaid work trial or temping or something - anything! - to put on your CV to demonstrate you are now fit to work. Being able to demonstrate some recent work history will be worth 10 times more than fiddling about with your CV working out how best to phrase something. Just get anything you can on your CV including a couple of decent referees, if you can get 6 months of recent experience on your CV anything before that soon becomes ancient history and won't set off alarm bells when an employer is doing the first sift of CVs. You may still have to be prepared to answer some questions before you get a job offer but as an employer someone with the last 3 years out (for any reason) is too much of an unknown, but with recent work/volunteering history I'd take a chance on that person if they met the rest of the job criteria.

CFC

paulwf wrote: »

I would try and get a volunteering role or unpaid work trial or temping or something - anything! - to put on your CV to demonstrate you are now fit to work. Being able to demonstrate some recent work history will be worth 10 times more than fiddling about with your CV working out how best to phrase something. Just get anything you can on your CV including a couple of decent referees, if you can get 6 months of recent experience on your CV anything before that soon becomes ancient history and won't set off alarm bells when an employer is doing the first sift of CVs. You may still have to be prepared to answer some questions before you get a job offer but as an employer someone with the last 3 years out (for any reason) is too much of an unknown, but with recent work/volunteering history I'd take a chance on that person if they met the rest of the job criteria.

I agree. There's no way I'd take on someone with an unexplained 3 year gap, and if you told the truth then you're too much of a risk. If you could show that you've volunteered regularly and heavily for 6 months you make it easy for me.