Please help. What should I do about this problem with my CV?

[Deleted User]

I'm in my early forties.

About three years ago I was made redundant. My partner and I talked it over and I decided to stay home because there was enough money coming in to the household to support us.

I took over all duties in the house, cooking, cleaning, shopping and so on. I have become quite the 'domestic goddess' in the past three years. We are not married and don't have kids.

The reality is that I'm now becoming quite bored and want to get back into work. My problem is that I don't know how to explain the three year gap in my CV. I have looked across the web and all the advice on this sort of subject is geared towards getting back into work after you have had children, something I feel is more easily explained than my circumstance.

Shall I confront this head on and make a direct comment about it on my CV? Or should I explain myself in a covering letter? How exactly should I word this? Do I need to lie on my CV?

I fear as potential employers skim through a pile of CVs mine will always be the first into the 'no' pile. I'm becoming quite depressed about it.

I would very much like to hear from absolutely anybody that has any input because I really don't know where to turn. An employer's point of view would also be very welcome.

I'm male and my partner is female. I get the feeling that an employer would look on this differently if the reverse was true.

bugslet

In which case, just go for it. I mostly employ drivers, both van though to artic. So they took a few years out, might put the artic driver through a 1 day refresher ( obv better if s/he did it themselves;)), but it's not a big deal.

Main thing is attitude, turn up on time to the interview, look like someone you'd want to be stuck in an office/warehouse/shop with and that's cracked most of it.

Good luck!

[Deleted User]

bugslet wrote: »

In which case, just go for it. I mostly employ drivers, both van though to artic. So they took a few years out, might put the artic driver through a 1 day refresher ( obv better if s/he did it themselves;)), but it's not a big deal.

Main thing is attitude, turn up on time to the interview, look like someone you'd want to be stuck in an office/warehouse/shop with and that's cracked most of it.

Good luck!

Do you think I should somehow address the issue? Perhaps some sort of comment in my CV or a covering letter?

Nicki

HiToAll wrote: »

You might be right in I would like time off, not 3 years but would be nice. Anyway a potential employer will ask the same questions, if not so bluntly.

Nope. I took 10 years off in similar circumstances and when I was ready to return no future employer asked me that, though I did talk quite openly about it in the interview having brought it up myself. I just discussed what I did with my time - in my case some studying, some volunteering and spending time with my kids - and then moved on to what my previous work experience has been.

If you seem defensive about it, that's probably not helpful but I can honestly say that taking a career gap was not seen as a big deal in my case, and I do work in an industry where you need to keep up to date with developments but friends and former business contacts were very generous in helping me gain all the new knowledge I needed to bring me back up to date.

If you want to get back into work, just go for it. And good luck.

Flyonthewall

[insert_name_here] wrote: »

I'm in my early forties.

About three years ago I was made redundant. My partner and I talked it over and I decided to stay home because there was enough money coming in to the household to support us.

I took over all duties in the house, cooking, cleaning, shopping and so on. I have become quite the 'domestic goddess' in the past three years. We are not married and don't have kids.

The reality is that I'm now becoming quite bored and want to get back into work. My problem is that I don't know how to explain the three year gap in my CV. I have looked across the web and all the advice on this sort of subject is geared towards getting back into work after you have had children, something I feel is more easily explained than my circumstance.

Shall I confront this head on and make a direct comment about it on my CV? Or should I explain myself in a covering letter? How exactly should I word this? Do I need to lie on my CV?

I fear as potential employers skim through a pile of CVs mine will always be the first into the 'no' pile. I'm becoming quite depressed about it.

I would very much like to hear from absolutely anybody that has any input because I really don't know where to turn. An employer's point of view would also be very welcome.

I'm male and my partner is female. I get the feeling that an employer would look on this differently if the reverse was true.

You should never lie on a CV. It can be a very quick way to lose a job if found out - and it can be very easy for a company to find things out - then the trust is gone and so is your job unless you're very lucky.

If asked about the gap you can tell them the truth. Be brief and if possible use it to your advantage. Think about what transferable skills you have. Attention to detail, for example. You notice something needs cleaning and clean it. There things like organisation and time keeping as well.

Why not try volunteering? It'll be recent work experience that you can add it to your CV.

Also why not look at courses and see if there's anything you find interesting. Doesn't have to be related to a job you wish to do, but it shows willingness to learn. If it related to the job then of course that also shows knowledge. Check your local college or perhaps have a look at Vision2Learn and see if there's any courses you'd like to do.

[Deleted User]

Nicki wrote: »

If you seem defensive about it, that's probably not helpful but I can honestly say that taking a career gap was not seen as a big deal in my case,

If you want to get back into work, just go for it. And good luck.

I try not to be defensive, although sometimes you get negative attitudes like an earlier poster in the thread.

Thanks for wishing me luck.

[Deleted User]

Flyonthewall wrote: »

If asked about the gap you can tell them the truth. Be brief and if possible use it to your advantage. Think about what transferable skills you have. Attention to detail, for example. You notice something needs cleaning and clean it. There things like organisation and time keeping as well.

That's good advice which I hadn't considered. Thank you.

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Why not try volunteering? It'll be recent work experience that you can add it to your CV.

I did try volunteering recently, I applied at the British Red Cross and Wellcome. Places I felt chimed with my ethics. Wellcome wasn't an official program, I just contacted them out of the blue. Unfortunately my offers were declined which was a downer, it seems I can't even give away my work for free.

bugslet

[insert_name_here] wrote: »

Do you think I should somehow address the issue? Perhaps some sort of comment in my CV or a covering letter?

I think you need to make some comment - just having a gap in the timeline looks odd. No need to go into detail, just something like '2013-2016 Househusband

bugslet

[insert_name_here] wrote: »

. Unfortunately my offers were declined which was a downer, it seems I can't even give away my work for free.

Difficult, but don't take it personally, it just means they had enough volunteers at that time. A lot of people volunteer as an introduction into the world of work, or to get back into as you are doing, so it means that volunteers are not in short supply.

RuthnJasper

HiToAll wrote: »

What on earth did you do for 3 years. Cleaning, shopping, and cooking for two adult people. After that 3 or 4 hours a week what did you do. Jeremy Kyle, property programmes? Wow

It's not for us to sit as judge and jury for the OP's personal choices.


He is asking for advice, not snippy comments.


Volunteering, as someone else suggested, is an excellent way to get back into the work habit. You could also allude to your management skills learned whilst running a household (even without kids).


I'd be honest as well; if you try to pad-out the time concerned with faff and waffle it will look a bit pathetic and obvious. You shouldn't have to apologise for your choices, every experience in life is an opportunity to learn and develop new skills. If it comes to explaining away the time be positive about the use of your time and its value to you as a rounded human being and a potential employee.


Whatever you decide, very best wishes to you; I hope you are able to find something suitable that you enjoy.


All the best.

[Deleted User]

RuthnJasper wrote: »

I'd be honest as well; if you try to pad-out the time concerned with faff and waffle it will look a bit pathetic and obvious. You shouldn't have to apologise for your choices, every experience in life is an opportunity to learn and develop new skills. If it comes to explaining away the time be positive about the use of your time and its value to you as a rounded human being and a potential employee.

What's your opinion about making a note in my CV to avoid faff and waffle? '2013-2016 Househusband' like bugslet says?

I am confident I can succeed in an interview, I just need to get that opportunity and I am worried about always ending up in the 'no pile' before I even get that far.