Applying for jobs with last 4-5 years "gap" due to not needing to work

Detroit

I wouldn't care less what reason I was given for the gap.
I'd be interested only in whether the person still had the abilities I required for the role, or could at least regain them with a realistic amount of refresher training.

bugslet

How about the truth? I'm an employer, you taking a few years off is not going to affect if I think that a. you have the qualifications an d experience, b. I think you'd be a good fit.

I'm always very clear what a job entails, no outright lying or embellishment, I like the same back.

SillyOne

Thanks all, "writing a book" means something like starting writing that novel I've always wanted to write.... not an actual published book with deadlines and such. Other personal projects could be doing art for personal enjoyment, learning a musical instrument, etc.

Basically "opting out" of work for a while to do more enjoyable things (!) due to not immediately needing that income. I get that the person perhaps "should" work anyway to keep up their cv and because you never know what will happen in the future?? Are employers likely to think that?

SillyOne

NB. The gap was planned when resigning from the last job, but perhaps not with a view to it lasting this long.

bugslet

Some might, some might not. I wouldn't. If you came to me and said you'd had five years off because you had the money to do so, I'd just think fair enough.

The only thing that might bother me is if whatever your role is, had changed and you needed to do a few courses to bring you up to date. That may not be relevant to your role.

p00hsticks

SillyOne wrote: »

Thanks all, "writing a book" means something like starting writing that novel I've always wanted to write.... not an actual published book with deadlines and such. Other personal projects could be doing art for personal enjoyment, learning a musical instrument, etc.

Basically "opting out" of work for a while to do more enjoyable things (!) due to not immediately needing that income. I get that the person perhaps "should" work anyway to keep up their cv and because you never know what will happen in the future?? Are employers likely to think that?

I think the thing your acquaintance needs to prepare for is not so much explaining the gap, but more explaining why they are now looking to return to work.

Because explaining the gap in terms of "opting out to do more enjoyable things" infers to a potential employer that "I''m only looking for a job now because I've run out of money"

jobbingmusician

Simple. You were a carer in your time out. Your circumstances have now changed, and you are no longer needed in this role. No lying, and they are unlikely to probe too far as they are likely to assume your caree has died. Additionally, you used the time out to keep up with developments in your field, of course!

Detroit

bugslet wrote: »

Some might, some might not. I wouldn't. If you came to me and said you'd had five years off because you had the money to do so, I'd just think fair enough.

The only thing that might bother me is if whatever your role is, had changed and you needed to do a few courses to bring you up to date. That may not be relevant to your role.

Exactly this.

Detroit

jobbingmusician wrote: »

Simple. You were a carer in your time out. Your circumstances have now changed, and you are no longer needed in this role. No lying, and they are unlikely to probe too far as they are likely to assume your caree has died. Additionally, you used the time out to keep up with developments in your field, of course!

They weren't a carer though were they? So this would be lying.

Also, though the employer may not 'probe' they may still ask some questions or talk to the candidate about it, and that would be awkward.

bugslet

Detroit wrote: »

They weren't a carer though were they? So this would be lying.

Also, though the employer may not 'probe' they may still ask some questions or talk to the candidate about it, and that would be awkward.

Exactly this;)

Say your acquaintence gets the job having embellished/plain lied and after a couple of months, the actual circumstances come to light - where does that leave them? I'd not be an impressed employer, in fact I'd be somewhere on the disappointed to angry scale.