Help! been out of work for 5 years, what to put on cv

Hiccups_2

Personally, I think a skills based CV would be better. With a statement in your covering letter or CV along the lines of... "After spending the last five years caring for my husband who was seriously ill/disabled etc. and bringing up my son/daughter/children... I am now seeking to resume my career in/as a .... etc."

Listing your circumstances as a "job" depends on what you're applying for. IMO, it would be ok if you were applying for very low-skilled jobs but doesn't create a great impression if you're applying for a job in a professional occupation.

I think housework, managing the home, raising kids etc. does fall into the category of everyone has to do these things anyway and listing this on your CV gives the impression of trying to fill space as opposed to actually having any skills to speak of. It's passable for someone who is applying for a low skilled job, because in those jobs not much emphasis would be placed on skills, and the employer would just be looking for reassurance that the candidate was reliable and trustworthy.

The only exception, IMO, would be if the skills were directly relevant to the job. For example, if in caring for a relative you had to use a piece of equipment or a machine to administer home treatment or medication and you were applying for a job in a care role where you would be expected to be familiar with such things.

leannaf2721

i would just be truthful its always worked for me i was unemployed for 5 years as i was a single parent and i was just truthful and when i got to the interview stage i just tried to sell my self as much as poss e.g how hard working you are what you had learnt in those years e.g multi tasking i wouldnt lie personally as id rather be truthful but beeing truthful for me has never held me back or made me miss out on a job

jfh7gwa

But leanna, no one has seriously suggested that the OP lies. Have they? I've done a quick re-scan of the thread...

The issue is really more about how much emphasis on the skills the OP has gained from the last 5 years. Undoubtedly there are some, but how much attention the OP wishes to draw to them (or use them as a last resort, which is my advice) is the key thing here, IMHO

j.e.j.

It also seems to be about how willing or able an applicant is to 'translate' everyday tasks and activities into business jargon.

Got the washing up done in time before I left the house for the school run = 'good time management skills' :rotfl:

Btw I'm not sure what kind of job the OP is applying for (perhaps I blinked and missed it?) but am guessing it is office work of some description?

SarEl

jfh7gwa wrote: »

SarEl, I don't think we disagree entirely. But I do think that it's kind of scraping the barrel, so to speak.

By all means include what you've mentioned, but I really meant to optimally use the space on the CV. If the OP is going for a job where an ability to budget is important, and she honestly, really has nothing else to back up her statement that she CAN budget... maybe then write down that running the household means you have to budget.

But on a professional CV I would honestly look at all other angles before I stressed the household aspect. Such as arranging charity fundraisers or something, as I mentioned (if she's done this).

It's not BAD to write on the CV, but I'd hope there was something BETTER to write, that's all.

I don't wish to fall out over this but the OP has been a carer for an adult and a child for five years - where on earth would she have got the time to organise a charity fundraiser??? And if she did - well heh - she has wicked time manangement skills and should push it for all it is worth!

Five years is a long time out of employment and employers are not really going to go for skills she had five years ago. The world moves too quickly these days. "The household aspect" has been her job for 5 years - an aspect which is unremunarted and therefore held in little value generally in society. But that does not mean that you cannot draw from that many employment relevant skills and show that you are not "five years out of date". Simply because many employers do not recognise that household aspects have value does not mean that they cannot be persuaded to see it.

xcathx

Hi

I've also been out of work for 5 years, though due to my own illness, so I understand how difficult it is to be returning after such a long time.

When I felt ready to return to work a few months ago, I tried several different options, from not mentioning the time off at all, to fully explaining my situation in my covering letter. Reactions seemed to be quite similar regardless. It would appear that acceptable reasons for being away from work include having children, caring for someone, travelling, full time study etc. whereas having an illness yourself is frowned upon (esp if you mention mh aswell)

I think the best thing to do, as others have said, is put 'date-date: full time parent/carer' then state in your covering letter that you took time away to look after your family but are now able to return to work. My best results have come from not too much detail and being positive about my current state. Don't list skills you've gained during your time off unless they are above and beyond what we all have to do, AND would be equivalent and relevant to what you'd be doing in employment.

As for references, I've struggled with these too. The last company I worked for no longer exists and I left the previous job because I was being bullied by my boss, so I had no professional references. The best thing you can do is start volunteering, do anything you can even if it's only a couple of hours a week - charity shops, treasurer, companion, whatever you want (try https://www.do-it.org.uk/). Do you have any friends or family that own their own business that could let you help out for a bit? I have been doing admin work for a local charity and have created some accounting spreadsheets for my aunty who owns her own business. Not only do you gain some professional references but you also get something current to put on your CV and show that you are doing everything you can to help yourself back into work. Depending on what sort of job you're looking for, you could also consider going to college to update any skills or qualifications that you might need. I tried to have recent things making up at least half of my CV so there's less emphasis on the gap and older content.

If you're not feeling very confident sending out your CV to employers straight away, try some local employment agencies first. I've found that having an informal chat with them about my time off is much easier than having to explain in a 'proper' job interview with an employer and they've all been quite understanding. I've had more interviews through agencies than direct, as they sell my skills for me so I'm not being held back by my worry over the employment gap.

Lots of luck in your search