Job hunting after years of unemployment

Dudz90

I'm 27 years old and have been on ESA for the last 7 years for mental health problems. I'm been awarded another 18 months but honestly I am sick of doing nothing with my life and really want to try and get a job. My problem is how will I ever explain the 7 year gap?

Sure I could just be honest and say I was mentally unwell but what sort of message does that send to a potential employer? If I don't mention the gap of unemployment a potential employer might think I was willingly not going to work or was in prison or something.

So what / how do I explain this? Do I put it on my CV somewhere? Do I put it in a cover letter? How do I go about wording this? I've not even started applying for jobs and already I just imagine every employer who reads my CV will think "7 years unemployment? Unreliable? Criminal? Lazy?" or something along these lines...

Sanne

I have interviewed someone in his mid-20s with no real employment history - he didn't get the job (but for other reasons) and my advice to him afterwards was that he shoukd have outlined on his cover letter why he had this gap. We interviewed for an apprentice and he was one of five put forward by the college so we had seen him - and we would have seen him based on his CV as well. However, had he applied directly to us we would have liked to have seen in his cover note why there was a gap - as you say, otherwise it could have been anything!

So... I would say put it there but stress that you are now well enough to work (are you seeing that you were given an extension?) I personally wouldn't mind about the gap - in fact I have employed someone on another occasion who had been unemployed for five years prior to applying - but I would want to know why there was a gap and that you have now recovered and can be a reliable employee, I.e. that you don't expect the problems to re-surface.

Also, don't give up if you don't find something immediately. There are decent employers out there but sometimes it takes just a but to find them.

chella

Mental health charities often advertise jobs and put that they welcome applicants who have had lived experience of mental health.

What about volunteering. Volunteering means when it comes to applying for a job the place where you volunteer can provide a reference, this will also get you back into a routine of getting up and ready for work each week. You will also meet people and learn new things which could boost your confidence.

Good Luck!!!

xapprenticex

If you want to stop the gap then start volunteering, try to find something more meaningful than moving furniture though. Office type work for example.

Beachview_2

Voluntary work is a good idea to get yourself started, so you'll have fresh skills and experience. Its always easier to get an interview if you can say you're working, than not doing anything. And you'll get a reference too.


Are there any courses you could sign up for, that would help get you into the area of work that you're interested in?

sangie595

All a lot of excellent advice. I am not going to pretend that there aren't employers out there who won't touch you with a barge pole if you tell the truth. Believe me, you don't want to work for them anyway. But the world is changing. Slowly at times, but it is. You are very young still. You may not feel it but you are. Use your time now, as suggested, to volunteer and get some experience and skills under your belt. And there is nothing wrong with moving furniture - there's a lot of people who need furniture moving, including me next month! Whereas there are new graduates competing for entry level office jobs.

So get as much experience of whatever under your belt. None of it will be wasted.

And good luck. It's great to see someone really working on getting into work despite disadvantages. I hope you get there. And since you obviously want to, you probably will. Wanting to is half the battle.

RandomDan

Be honest about it. Lots of companies are much more aware about mental health issues (all managers in our company were sent on a course). When I interview I will definitely ask about any gaps in employment history, so it will come to light eventually. It would be useful to prepare a few examples of how this absence from work has benefited you to spin it into a positive. Did you use the time to pursue hobbies? What did you learn from counselling?

The alternative is someone reading your CV and jumping to all the wrong conclusions, like a long prison sentence, as you mentioned.

lizzy85

Just tell them that you are going into self-improvement on that year. Seriously, it is really hard to defend that one. What have you done in this 7 yrs? Maybe there are some important things you can highlight on your CV.

Dudz90

Thanks for all your replies.

Doing some volunteer work will definitely help me I think. I can demonstrate that I am able to work, I'll get a reference and it will show i'm serious about work.

Cheers!

xapprenticex

Dudz90 wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

Doing some volunteer work will definitely help me I think. I can demonstrate that I am able to work, I'll get a reference and it will show i'm serious about work.

Cheers!

Good attitude, approach the CAB as standard, try specialist voluntary organistions that help the blind, those with HIV, the elderly (AGE UK), places like that.

British Heart Foundation is good but is usually moving furniture which is not what you want at this time. Good local charities and voluntary organisations in your area, after a year of that providing you are doing it at least 4 days a week youll have a decent CV to start with.

ERICS_MUM

Dudz90 wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

Doing some volunteer work will definitely help me I think. I can demonstrate that I am able to work, I'll get a reference and it will show i'm serious about work.

Cheers!

I can't offer any better advice than you've been given already, but I just wanted to wish you the very best of luck for your job search. For what it's worth, you sound sensible and articulate and I bet with a spell of voluntary work in your back pocket you will be successful in finding paid work.

EM X