How to explain a 5 year work history gap?

Kayalana99

Normally I would be first to jump and say don't lie and just be truthful...but I know full well if someone came for an interview with a four year gap for health issues (whatever they were unless I could be sure they were now sorted) I would move on to the next person...it's business. Why employ someone who is a risk of not turning up to work when you have so many CV's to choose from?

I think the caring for someone else is a believable lie, doing charity work because of what happened is (personally) trying to add things that don't need to be done. Not saying don't go work in a charity ...but I am saying don't over complicate it....don't say it was your Mum say it was an Aunt/Uncle with an illness and no one else was willing to do it. No one will question you to much about it and if they do you don't want to talk about it as you were really close.

Keeping

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Normally I would be first to jump and say don't lie and just be truthful...but I know full well if someone came for an interview with a four year gap for health issues (whatever they were unless I could be sure they were now sorted) I would move on to the next person...it's business. Why employ someone who is a risk of not turning up to work when you have so many CV's to choose from?

I think the caring for someone else is a believable lie, doing charity work because of what happened is (personally) trying to add things that don't need to be done. Not saying don't go work in a charity ...but I am saying don't over complicate it....don't say it was your Mum say it was an Aunt/Uncle with an illness and no one else was willing to do it. No one will question you to much about it and if they do you don't want to talk about it as you were really close.

Thanks that seems reasonable. I think I might have to get some volunteer work under my belt anyway just to get an interview so they know I'm serious about getting back to work.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

RuthnJasper

Mojisola wrote: »

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.

Absolutely true, thanks Mojisola. I hate what happened to me and the consequences it has had on me. BUT these things have made me the person I am today. No-one can change the past, but you have a choice as to whether you allow it to defeat you or not.


This is easier said than done, however. It took me many years of denial, pain and anguish to understand this, and I could not have done it alone.


Don't be like me, OP. Face your past now, accept it - with help if needs be - and move on as a better and wiser person because of, not despite, it.


But, as Mojisola says, NEVER lie to employers. The consequences if discovered will be profound and long-lasting. Even if you were to "get away with it", you will be forever fretting about whether they'll find out.


However daunting it may seem, be honest about the past and sincere about the future. It'll be okay. x

Viberduo

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Normally I would be first to jump and say don't lie and just be truthful...but I know full well if someone came for an interview with a four year gap for health issues (whatever they were unless I could be sure they were now sorted) I would move on to the next person...it's business. Why employ someone who is a risk of not turning up to work when you have so many CV's to choose from?

I agree, its a basic stigma or such just like how I have heard many times employers bin applications from unemployed applicants as they think they wont have a work ethic, its also the same as when I have been turned down for bedsits as I have been on benefits, not because they worry about payment as such but they think theres a risk I will be up all night playing loud music as I have no responsibilities or theres a risk I will be skint so prioritise rent last, yet I have lived with people who are students, or working or whatever and had just as many problems with them as unemployed tenants and if anything the ones who were on benefits got their rent paid to LL so theres less risk in one way and the working tenant may spash out and have no money so its six of one and half a dozen of another.

A little off topic.

System

My own expereience of having a 3 1/2 years gap due to ill health was being honest. It was a risk but i know the nature of my illness and knew that i would possibly need reasonable adjustments, and that there was a possibility of relapse. I didn't declare my MH issues in the job before this one and it caused one hell of lot of problems qhen i fell very ill and basically i lost my job. This time round my employers have been amazingly supportive, they've implemented reasonable adjustments and they gave me a chance. 99% of the time i'm ok, but for that 1% i'm not theyve been very understanding. I have regular meetings with occupational health to keep a check on things.

I realise not all employers are like this, i know stigma exists, but there are some decent employers who will give you a chance and support you.

galante_inc

If it bothers you that much then go and see your GP and ask them to prepare a letter regarding your time off sick /sabbatical and that you have a clean bill off health plus the dangers of relapses etc etc...
Wouldn't lie about the gap... be honest and up front with them... be dishonest with them and they find out... they will question can you be trusted

Keeping

galante_inc wrote: »

If it bothers you that much then go and see your GP and ask them to prepare a letter regarding your time off sick /sabbatical and that you have a clean bill off health plus the dangers of relapses etc etc...
Wouldn't lie about the gap... be honest and up front with them... be dishonest with them and they find out... they will question can you be trusted

Sure but telling the truth is often overrated. Like others have said why would an employer take the risk of employer me, a potentially unstable person when they could just employ someone who they know won't pose a liability?

To be honest if I did lie and got a job, as long as I was on time and good at my job they won't question my past. I would only be applying for your standard job like Sainsbury's shelf stacker... not a position of responsibility or anything. They might do a check to see if I was in prison just to be safe but once they see that I wasn't in prison for the 4 years I was off work they would surely just believe me.

Like I said not like I'm applying for a position of power or responsibility.

robatwork

Be careful.

Any lie on your CV is justification for instant dismissal.

Nobody would advocate you say you got a double first from Oxford in Mathematics, but plenty are advocating a lie but in a different paragraph on your CV. I don't see the difference.

I guess you were caring for someone - yourself. You could couch it in those terms but be honest in an interview.

peter3hg

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.

If I read this on an application it would be straight in the bin. It just sounds like you are trying to hide something. Whereas if they had just explained the gap as being due to ill health then that wouldn't be a problem.

Keeping

peter3hg wrote: »

If I read this on an application it would be straight in the bin. It just sounds like you are trying to hide something. Whereas if they had just explained the gap as being due to ill health then that wouldn't be a problem.

Won't an employer ask what kind of health problems? Saying ill health is extremely ambiguous and sure they could think it was a physical illness but if they think it's mental illness (which is was) then they might think I will be a liability?