What to say when you've not worked for years

thriftymanc

Scenario: you haven't worked for at least five years because you haven't needed to. Now you want to apply for jobs. How do you 'explain away' the huge gap since your last job on your CV/in interviews? You don't have kids so you can't say you took time out for that. You haven't been in prison! You simply didn't need to work and therefore didn't. Are you honest, or do you feel the need to come up with an excuse?

marybelle01

"I won the lottery"?

Evilm

"we were comfortable and I took time for myself. I now want to get back into work and find a rewarding and challenging role."

(depending on what job... rewarding and challenging might be a stretch for some jobs out there.)

Savvy_Sue

What did you do? Can you 'spin' it (but still honestly) to sound 'worthwhile'?

Slinky

Career break? Property developing?

Meadows

thriftymanc wrote: »

Scenario: you haven't worked for at least five years because you haven't needed to. Now you want to apply for jobs. How do you 'explain away' the huge gap since your last job on your CV/in interviews? You don't have kids so you can't say you took time out for that. You haven't been in prison! You simply didn't need to work and therefore didn't. Are you honest, or do you feel the need to come up with an excuse?

I would say it like it was/is. Did not need to work and now a change of circumstances means I need/want to work.

SueC_2

"I was in the fortunate position of being able to support myself through a sabbatical, during which I used my time to <<enter details of some kind of worthwhile / work-skills related activities>>".

TrickyWicky

"I made a lot of money buying and selling illicit narcotics and didn't need to work much for a few years. The most work I needed to do was to arrange the odd hit with a local group of mercenaries when a client refuse to settle their bill. Unfortunately due to the credit crunch many of my clientel are now residing at her majestys pleasure and consquently business is slow."

I reckon that should do it

Acc72

It is not clear whether this is a hypothetical question or not, or if it relates to the OP or not ?

If it is real, then there is a reason that you have not worked - why not just say that (whatever it is) ?

dandelionclock30

Plenty of people return to work after a break, think about people wh have been raising a family or been caring for elderly relatives etc.
If the O.P was in a field where you need to keep upto bang upto date then there are sometimes return to ---- courses you can do.
I know a woman who was out of work for 15 years whilst she was raising her children. She got another job when she wanted one. She did a 6 month placement at a council office and now works for a college.
Whilst your looking I would do some voluntary work to give you an upto date reference etc.

thriftymanc

It is a real situation - it's not me though, alas! Basically I'm friends with a girl who is well off enough not to need to work, and hasn't for quite some time, but is fed up with the lack of structure and not really getting to meet new people where she lives so wants to go back into work. No particular career. I thought I'd ask on here as it's an interesting situation. I know it's been mentioned about taking time out to start a family etc but that's why I mentioned it in my OP - if you haven't worked for 5 years cos you've had a kid you'd just say that. But how do you really say "I didn't work for 5 years because I didn't need the money but now I want a job cos I'm bored" and not come across like a total douche/make them think you're lying because you've been in prison/actually get the job?