employment gap

IceDiamond

I've a gap of almost 2 years in my work history. Would this be putting employers off? I was searching like mad for work during that time but couldn't get any, but will employers think I'm lazy because I had no work for such a long time?

Before anyone asks, no I didn't do any voluntary work during that time. I tried but it seems there's so many people looking for voluntary work that they can be fussy about who they take. There's a volunteering centre in my town, and they have links to all the voluntary positions that come up. They interviewed me and took my cv, but nothing came of it.Same for other places too.

So how bad does the gap look?

AP007

they look bad in my experience and 99% of people think you are not working as there is either something wrong with you or references or you can not be bothered. Not a lot you can do about it unless you get a voluntary role and I have tried to get them too.

Savvy_Sue

I think it all depends on how you word things. If your employment history just sort of stops 2 years ago, that'll look odd - you could have been in prison! Why did your last job end? If you were made redundant, for example, you could say something like "Being made redundant allowed me to evaluate my work choices. I then started looking for work, and have been doing so intensively for 18 months. I have kept my IT skills up to date, and have taken a professional approach to job-seeking."

Or something like that.

Do you get interviews? If not, there may be something you could improve on your applications - CV or forms, usually?

IceDiamond

The job I had at the time ended as the company closed. Then I was applying to places but getting turned down. I know now my cv was wasn't great, and my interview answers were rubbish. So that's the real reason. But of course employers don't see it that way. They seem to think if a job ends you should just be able to walk into another on or there must be something wrong with you.

After that period of unemployment I was able to get another job in an area that I loved.

I've been looking after a family member for years too, both when working and when unemployed. But I'm reluctant to tell this to employers as they might think I'll be taking time off because of this. The family member has a progressive illness that isn't going to get better.

Savvy_Sue

Well, they can't really ask if you just say "family responsibilities" - they might assume you have children, so it can help 'explain' periods of unemployment.

IceDiamond

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Well, they can't really ask if you just say "family responsibilities" - they might assume you have children, so it can help 'explain' periods of unemployment.

Ah! Thanks very much After all they can't really ask the details. But then is having young children seen as you'll be taking time off if the school rings up to say they're sick or something? I don't know how any of that stuff works as I don't have any children.

Savvy_Sue

IceDiamond wrote: »

Ah! Thanks very much After all they can't really ask the details. But then is having young children seen as you'll be taking time off if the school rings up to say they're sick or something? I don't know how any of that stuff works as I don't have any children.

Do you want to give us the rough dates, and what you were doing at various times, we might be able to make some suggestions ...

IceDiamond

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Do you want to give us the rough dates, and what you were doing at various times, we might be able to make some suggestions ...

Well I worked in an office for a good few years. Then the company closed. I couldn't find anything for a long while after that, nearly 2 years. I have been caring for a family member for quite a long time, both when working and when unemployed.

My next job was a sales job to cover long term sick leave. Then that job ended when the previous employee came back, thought that was only a couple of months ago.

Hope this helps?

adonis

I am the same as you, been out of work for a couple of years apart from some agency work.

What I am doing is going on short training courses which are usually free and look good on your CV, especially if they are relevant to the work you are looking for.
I am surprised that you are having trouble volunteering as they are usually crying out for people, maybe try contacting the organisations directly.

I volunteer and have it on my CV and an added bonus is they will do a reference for me.:)

IceDiamond

adonis wrote: »

I am the same as you, been out of work for a couple of years apart from some agency work.

What I am doing is going on short training courses which are usually free and look good on your CV, especially if they are relevant to the work you are looking for.
I am surprised that you are having trouble volunteering as they are usually crying out for people, maybe try contacting the organisations directly.

I volunteer and have it on my CV and an added bonus is they will do a reference for me.:)

There's not that many places where I live that would want voluntary work. I did actually contact a women's centre directly as they were looking for volunteers. They even interviewed me but that was the last I heard of them.

Savvy_Sue

IceDiamond wrote: »

Well I worked in an office for a good few years. Then the company closed. I couldn't find anything for a long while after that, nearly 2 years. I have been caring for a family member for quite a long time, both when working and when unemployed.

My next job was a sales job to cover long term sick leave. Then that job ended when the previous employee came back, thought that was only a couple of months ago.

Hope this helps?

Not quite enough: how long ago is that two year gap, and how long did you have the sales job for?

If it helps, I think it would be MORE of a problem if you were still in the '2 years and counting' jobless stretch. Also you have had good reasons for stopping work (in other words, you weren't dismissed, you weren't on long term sick leave yourself.)