Explaining my current employment gap on job apps

invisibility

Hi all

Hoping for some advice for explaining my current employment gap. I've been unemployed since January this year. The truthful answer for what I've been doing is that I've been 1) having some time out to focus on my mental health and 2) jobseeking (casually I guess). I put on my reason for leaving my last job "personal circumstances" (I left as I was signed off for so long with mental health) and I'd rather not mention anything to do with health problems on the application - or should I? It seems like it would be massively offputting.

Not sure how to explain this gap in an appealing way. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Ozzuk

I'd probably say something like I had savings that allowed me not to jump straight into a new role so I've taken some time out and am now focusing on securing the right position, hence me applying for this role etc...

Turn a potential negative into a positive.

bargainbetty

If you had a solid five-six period of work before that, you could also say that you took a career break/sabbatical.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Bear in mind that a lot of companies will ask how much sick leave you took at your last job and are likely to seek a reference to confirm that.

invisibility

Ozzuk wrote: »

I'd probably say something like I had savings that allowed me not to jump straight into a new role so I've taken some time out and am now focusing on securing the right position, hence me applying for this role etc...

Turn a potential negative into a positive.

Thanks - yeah maybe saying taking time out to focus on the right role is a good idea.

bargainbetty wrote: »

If you had a solid five-six period of work before that, you could also say that you took a career break/sabbatical.

I'm 24 and it was my first job out of uni that I did for 18 months, so career break wouldn't really sound right

invisibility

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

Bear in mind that a lot of companies will ask how much sick leave you took at your last job and are likely to seek a reference to confirm that.

Yeah I'm well aware of that, but some places only get the read the reference at interview stage (or later), so it's possible to try not to mention it until you get the interview. I just want to actually secure interviews without that getting in my way.