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

elsien

What sort of jobs are you looking for? For the roles you're considering do you have any skills that need updating? As an example, I'm reasonably handy on a computer but while redundant from a management role I did a couple of wordprocessing courses I got a nice shiny certificate for so that I'd got the evidence to back up what I was saying.
Just wondered if something like that would be useful to you?

redpete

[insert_name_here] wrote: »

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.

I would definitely put something in the CV to cover the period, something like "Household duties" or "Family duties" (doesn't matter that you had no children, you and partner are still a family). Just leaving a gap invites speculation and suspicion.

You should also expect to have an answer if an interviewer asks what you did during that time, keeping the household going for a couple is not the equivalent of a full time job. If faced with two people who had 3 years out of paid work and one of them spent time on hobbies, interests or volunteering but the other didn't I know which one I would be most interested in.

[Deleted User]

elsien wrote: »

What sort of jobs are you looking for? For the roles you're considering do you have any skills that need updating? As an example, I'm reasonably handy on a computer but while redundant from a management role I did a couple of wordprocessing courses I got a nice shiny certificate for so that I'd got the evidence to back up what I was saying.
Just wondered if something like that would be useful to you?

Any job as long as I'm not dealing directly with the public e.g. sales. I understand most jobs will involve some contact with people outside the company.

I know that sounds really weird but I have spent over twenty years of my life dealing with the public and I don't want to face it anymore. I just got tired of people being rude to me and treating me like crap.

I started my working career in a different country but have been in the UK for over 15 years. I don't know if it's the UK, people have changed today, or I'm just not prepared to stand for it anymore but it seems so much worse now than it ever was.

Flyonthewall

[insert_name_here] wrote: »

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.

Sometimes places don't need any volunteers, they have many people offering to volunteer or they may be looking for something very specific in a volunteer (such as a specific skill or knowledge). Try not to take it personally.

I'd recommend https://do-it.org/ as you'll find many different vacancies from those who want volunteers. You could also visit some local charities, show an interest and see if they need anyone.

iammumtoone

bugslet wrote: »

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-present Househusband

^^ I had a gap of 6 years in my CV :eek: I had "professional" look at it (i use that term loosely as it was someone employed by the JC to write me a CV) they used a heading as the above with a brief description of my 'duties' during that time for example fully in control of managing all the household fiances, acting as teacher for homework, etc.

I would be truthful in the covering letter that you are now looking for work as you have done all you can at home (decorated/ overhauled garden or whatever you have achieved) and that you are now bored so need to work. This makes you a good candidate as you are applying for the job because you want it out of choice rather than necessity as you need the money.

I now have a job, I was lucky I found a company who were desperate :rotfl: and I could start straight way (an advantage of being unemployed). It was only a temporary job but they liked me so kept me on afterwards.

I am now in the situation where as I want to look for another job soon and am wondering if I should keep the explained on my gap in the CV or take it out as it becomes irrelevant now my last history is that of work.

[Deleted User]

[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?

No!

All the professional advice indicates you shouldn't (I'm opposite to many short term jobs which I just about manage to turn positive and it's something I would never try and reason in a letter and funnily enough I always get to interview to explain myself with the exception of once) an employer reads gaps on covering letter and may well think you are just pushed into applying and are trying to portray yourself in a negative light to get another x years of, well that's to my simple mind anyhow. I think it's how my never worked acquaintance manages to put companies of when they need to.

I reckon you'd be ok - Insurance level entry Sales didn't ask for reference details just requires clean credit record, some personal info and more often then not some form of role play at interview so ways round not having worked. I'm sure there are more industries as well, (some a bit more dodge) but you could offer yourself on a trial to, if it came to it.

bugslet

[insert_name_here] wrote: »

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.

Looking back at the last few people I've employed, all the staff in my base have come through word of mouth from drivers to finance manager, at the other depot I think all but one arrived with us by word of mouth, so in other words I've only really seen one CV before the candidate came to an interview. Do any of your friends who work know of jobs at their place? Personally I like recommendation - no one recommends unless the person is good, and it saves me a load of hassle !

[Deleted User]

[insert_name_here] wrote: »

Any job as long as I'm not dealing directly with the public e.g. sales. I understand most jobs will involve some contact with people outside the company.

I know that sounds really weird but I have spent over twenty years of my life dealing with the public and I don't want to face it anymore. I just got tired of people being rude to me and treating me like crap.

.

I just read this so ignore end of my earlier post - trust me after a month
in data processing/data entry you could feel differently!

It's so sad I can even stop customer replies coming to me after I generate their email and re queue them. (In fact it's something you can fail audit so same stress as being on the phone...) can a computer say thank you?

Look for anything labelled 'membership servicing' if plain old data entry temping doesn't do it for you. Didn't know that I was walking into tap, tap, tap arena but sure enough this is what I do. It might prepare me to work in a factory I guess in the end as I'm beginning to wonder what happens in the advanced evolving world we are in.

Detroit

[insert_name_here] wrote: »

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.

I wouldn't use the term 'househusband' I think I'd put 'career break'. Just personal preference, but not keen on the first.

I agree with Bugslet, as an employer, I wouldn't be particularly interested in a person's reasons for the break. Only in their ability to carry out the role they'd applied for.

More pertinent may be what you put as your reason for leaving your last job. I always look at this. You need to make sure you put something to make sure the prospective employer knows you weren't dismissed.

Not sure what off hand, tbh, but maybe others have suggestions.

paddyrg

My 2p, cover the gap briefly and factually on the CV just so it doesn't look like 'was sacked from job and don't want you to contact them for reference' or '3 years in Belmarsh for GBH'. If career break sounds slightly too uptight for blue collar work, a simple "not employed" might do the trick. Just shows there's nothing to hide, really.