Employment gaps shouldn't matter should they?

Barny1979

As above, gaps mean often legislation, technology etc moves on.

TELLIT01

There's a quotation to the effect of "To be a successful liar you need a very good memory"  Very few people have perfect recall and will get found out eventually.

k12479

I think people need to be careful with the "shouldn't be a problem if you have a good explanation" without any further context of the particular job, age, etc.

People may have an explanation as to why they chucked in a job and went off for a year, but it could be quite hard to allay suspicions as to whether that's actually the reason or whether the candidate e.g. had a breakdown, couldn't cope, had a mid-life crisis, etc.

donnajunkie

Unfortunately when a gap is queried you cant answer with, i was unemployed you stupid (not nice word) idiot. Spending a period out of work doesnt suddenly make me become useless you daft (not nice word).

AW618

donnajunkie said:

Unfortunately when a gap is queried you cant answer with, i was unemployed you stupid (not nice word) idiot. Spending a period out of work doesnt suddenly make me become useless you daft (not nice word).

No, but they get an hour, maybe, to talk to you.  You can't find out all that much about a person in that time, and if they start to think that over a long period a lot of people have interviewed you and decided not to take you on, they might err on the side of caution, think those people might have seen something they didn't and go with somebody else.  I am not saying they are right to do this, but it is not illogical.

Andrea_jardin

k12479 said:

it could be quite hard to allay suspicions as to whether that's actually the reason or whether the candidate e.g. had a breakdown, couldn't cope, had a mid-life crisis, etc.

If that was the case, it doesn't necessarily make the candidate unsuitable. The stability of regular work hours and regular income might actually be what would really help that person's mental health.

oscarward

I recently returned to work after a 18 month gap, I was asked for a referee to vouch for what I was doing .  Got the job anyway

sharpe106

oscarward said:

I recently returned to work after a 18 month gap, I was asked for a referee to vouch for what I was doing .  Got the job anyway

Exactly it’s not the gap that a problem it is an unexplained gap.

[Deleted User]

oscarward said:

I recently returned to work after a 18 month gap, I was asked for a referee to vouch for what I was doing .  Got the job anyway

Do you mind letting us know what it is you were doing?

donnajunkie

AW618 said:

donnajunkie said:

Unfortunately when a gap is queried you cant answer with, i was unemployed you stupid (not nice word) idiot. Spending a period out of work doesnt suddenly make me become useless you daft (not nice word).

No, but they get an hour, maybe, to talk to you.  You can't find out all that much about a person in that time, and if they start to think that over a long period a lot of people have interviewed you and decided not to take you on, they might err on the side of caution, think those people might have seen something they didn't and go with somebody else.  I am not saying they are right to do this, but it is not illogical.

i just think sometimes people can ask silly questions, sometimes they can be horrible and sometimes its like they dont live in the real world. Just because someone hasnt spent their time out learning to speak japanese at college it doesnt make them worthless. Oh and dont waste a persons time inviting them for interview if a gap on their cv really bothers you that much because the chances are they were just struggling through life on benefits.