How to explain a 5 year work history gap?

Keeping

I have been out of work for 5 years. 1 of which was university and the other 4 were a result of mental health issues and have been on sick benefit for 4 years.

I feel ready to start getting back into work but how do I explain the unemployment gap? I can't say I was mentally unstable, that won't look good at all.

How can I word it in such a way that they first and foremost believe it and secondly are not put off by employing me. Equal opportunities and all that yes but employers can turn you down for any number of reasons and these days most employers don't even tell you why you failed an interview or application process.

How should I word it and where in my CV should I put it, on my cover letter?

Dr._Shoe

You have a number of options:

1. You lie and tell them that you were back packing around Asia, you were a stay at home parent or you decided to enter the priesthood but later found that it wasn't for you.

2. You exercise a degree of economy with the truth and say you took a sabbatical or that you were poorly but you'd rather not discuss it.

3. You tell them the truth and hope that they respect your honesty.

Most employers will disregard past issues and employ you on merit rather on your sanity. Besides, having gone through all that you are probably one of the sanest people around.

RuthnJasper

You were developing a broader understanding of your individual qualities. Improving your interests in world cultures through self-funded travel.

At the same time, you were aware of challenges in your personal life and so also used this time to face up to these issues and learn to rationalize and deal with them in a positive, proactive manner.

It has not necessarily been an easy or a pleasant period of my life; but I am grateful for it all the same. It's taught me levels of strength, tolerance, patience and other sensible coping strategies that I would not have learned otherwise. These years have, I feel, made me a better person overall.


I have 'flowered this up' with corporate b.ll.ckspeak, but essentially the OP's predicament is exactly the same as that with which I was faced a few years ago - and how I continue to try and find some small positive thing after what happened to me.


I hope that some of my overtired babble might be a bit helpful to you, OP. Wishing you every future success and happiness. x

Voyager2002

Some good suggestions on how to present things... I will add that most employers assess you on the basis of evidence, and on how you are now rather than how you were at some point in the past. So see if you can get some kind of achievement now to demonstrate what you can do: if necessary through voluntary work or accepting some kind of responsibility in the community.

fluffymuffy

I'd just put "Family Responsibilities" and if pressed claim I was looking after aged parents/relatives. Not provable either way but some brownie points for being a caring type.

[Deleted User]

fluffymuffy wrote: »

I'd just put "Family Responsibilities" and if pressed claim I was looking after aged parents/relatives. Not provable either way but some brownie points for being a caring type.

LOL! People with financial issues don't escape telling the truth when needs must so why should people with these problems, what happens when they have a relapse which is all possible, then? Good to know is it ok then, to lie.

For them to be out of work 4 years, it isn't a light problem

toastking

Deleted%20User wrote: »

LOL! People with financial issues don't escape telling the truth when needs must so why should people with these problems, what happens when they have a relapse which is all possible, then? Good to know is it ok then, to lie.

For them to be out of work 4 years, it isn't a light problem

Whilst it isn't the fun or the easy answer, unfortunately I think it is the right one to be open about it.

My wife has serious back problems having had multiple surgeries (only 27 so it is unusual) and she states it before every job movement (she moves a lot within the civil service as part of a scheme). If she didn't and it caused problems further down the line, she'd lose out on help 'reasonable adjustments', but if you weren't with such an understanding organisation or company it could cause you some real problems holding on to your job.

If you want someone to help run through a CV or something I have experience mentoring etc. so just let me know. With my wife, other family and candidates I've worked with people with a good range of difficulties and gaps in CVs so I am sure we could work something out or find a viable organisation who would provide you with better hands-on help.

In short - I would definitely look to disclose that it was due to a problem it's just how to word it that I am mulling over.

Keeping

The thing I worry most about telling the truth is that the employer may think in a year or two down the line I could be a liability as mental health issues very rarely go away for good.

Saying I went travelling would not be a good idea in my opinion as they could throw lots of questions at me and it would be tough to come up with a suitable answer for all of them, they're bound to catch me out especially if the employer has been to the same destination! lol

Caring for a sick relative is not a bad shout although it's probably quite a common excuse for gaps in CV's so might not be believable. I think the best bet is to get a job doing volunteer work to build my CV back up and then lie and say I was caring for a sick family member who has now passed away.

I feel terrible for lying like this but it would be more believable, especially if I'm volunteering for British heart foundation or some other illness related charity shop.

Could say "my mother suffered from [some illness here] so that is why I chose to work for [some charity here]

I just feel terrible for lying about something like that though.

GlasweJen

You can apply for reasonable adjustments at any point in your employment, same as you can declare a disability at any point during your employment.

I went from not declaring I had a heart condition to declaring it as it was getting worse to being literally at deaths door, transplant, full time wheelchair user with oxygen, full time wheelchair user without oxygen, part time wheelchair user then back to full time wheelchair user. Then my employer stopped playing ball so I quit, sued them for constructive dismissal and disability discrimination and won at tribunal.

Then I moved jobs and all the new company know is that I'm a wheelchair user and need to go to the hospital every 6 weeks.

prosaver

should try for part time voluntry work first and see if you can cope.
Take it easy... it might be a big shock for you and your condition.

Mojisola

RuthnJasper wrote: »

You were developing a broader understanding of your individual qualities. Improving your interests in world cultures through self-funded travel.

At the same time, you were aware of challenges in your personal life and so also used this time to face up to these issues and learn to rationalize and deal with them in a positive, proactive manner.

It has not necessarily been an easy or a pleasant period of my life; but I am grateful for it all the same. It's taught me levels of strength, tolerance, patience and other sensible coping strategies that I would not have learned otherwise. These years have, I feel, made me a better person overall.

I have 'flowered this up' with corporate b.ll.ckspeak, but essentially the OP's predicament is exactly the same as that with which I was faced a few years ago - and how I continue to try and find some small positive thing after what happened to me.

I hope that some of my overtired babble might be a bit helpful to you, OP. Wishing you every future success and happiness. x

Work up something along the lines as suggested by RuthnJasper.

If you got a job through lies and it was discovered, you would probably be instantly dismissed.