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Career gaps and CV Advise please
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[Deleted User]
Posts: 71 Forum Member
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Hi all,
I am looking for work in highly skilled, highly specialised companies but I'm wondering how to deal with a massive career gap.
I had just finished my postgraduate degree when I bacame pregnant with my first child so I decided to wait until my child was of school age to look for employment. When my child turned 2 years old, I found myself pregnant with my second child so again, I thought it maybe be best to posptpone employment until my child was born and was at least 6 months old.
Then not long after the birth of my child, my firstborn was diagnosed with a disability, so I decided it would be best to wait until she started primary school to begin looking for work. The time came but by now I was looking for signs of the same disability in my second child and so, last year, my second child was also diagnosed with the same disability, in a process that took 2 years to complete, so I decided to wait for my second child to start primary to look for employment.
All this however may change soon as my partner and I are considering swapping places. However this has left me with a career gap of nearly 6 years, plus I am 37 years old now. How can I justify this in my CV and where.
I was cosidering writting in my CV's personal estatment that I have been a carer for the past 6 years and so have not seeked employment, however I have the impression that this will be offputting to potential employers as they could percieve that I wold be requesting lots of last minute calls to deal with my children disabilities and various medical appointments.
So, how do I justify this massive career gap? do I state anywhere that I have been caring for my children?
Thank you for your help!.
I am looking for work in highly skilled, highly specialised companies but I'm wondering how to deal with a massive career gap.
I had just finished my postgraduate degree when I bacame pregnant with my first child so I decided to wait until my child was of school age to look for employment. When my child turned 2 years old, I found myself pregnant with my second child so again, I thought it maybe be best to posptpone employment until my child was born and was at least 6 months old.
Then not long after the birth of my child, my firstborn was diagnosed with a disability, so I decided it would be best to wait until she started primary school to begin looking for work. The time came but by now I was looking for signs of the same disability in my second child and so, last year, my second child was also diagnosed with the same disability, in a process that took 2 years to complete, so I decided to wait for my second child to start primary to look for employment.
All this however may change soon as my partner and I are considering swapping places. However this has left me with a career gap of nearly 6 years, plus I am 37 years old now. How can I justify this in my CV and where.
I was cosidering writting in my CV's personal estatment that I have been a carer for the past 6 years and so have not seeked employment, however I have the impression that this will be offputting to potential employers as they could percieve that I wold be requesting lots of last minute calls to deal with my children disabilities and various medical appointments.
So, how do I justify this massive career gap? do I state anywhere that I have been caring for my children?
Thank you for your help!.
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Comments
You should also mention it in any covering letter and re-assure any potential employer you are serious about returning to the work place.
You should also be honest about any time off you are likely to require if they do ask about it.
If not, I'd start doing this now. One of the biggest problems with career gaps is the fact that skills just aren't as sharp as they would be for someone who has been in continuous employment. So if you can demonstrate the fact that your skills have been kept updated, this should go some way to alleviate any concerns a potential employer may have.
Are you still in contact with people you've worked with in the past? Are you on linkedin?
You're more likely to hear about available jobs through your network, and if you know someone who can put in a good word for you and vouch for your skills & ability with a potential employer, or even just passing your CV along, can go a long way an give you an edge you wouldn't have had by applying blindly. It lessens the risk a little.
I’d address it on your covering letter, but only briefly. “After a career break of x years to look after my family, I am now looking to return to the workforce.”. I wouldn't go into detail about your children or disabilities at this stage (or at all). The employer wants to know about why you are going to be the best person for the job, not your life history.
Good luck!
But if I have misunderstood your opening post, I apologise.
Good luck anyway.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to keep my skills sharp as I didn't have a car to volunteer around here and the care of the children really is full time. This type of jobs is not something I can do at home as they are laboratory based (which is what I mean about the higly specialised. Even a technician job would be specialised). I am applying for jobs that require a BSc as opposed to the PhD that I completed when I became pregnant.
Regarding career pogression, it is correct that I finished my degree and haven't worked since, but I acknowledge that I will have to work my way up, this is not a problem and I would in fact prefer it, so I can sharpen up my skills again.
I'm yet to try employment agencies, even though I will, as I was unsure how to address the career gap in my CV.
And learn to spell advice
Heck we are even in the Advice Forum
You certainly live up to your username don't you.
By the way, shouldn't you have put a comma after "Heck"?
Thanks everybody else for the constructive comments.
Can't add any advice, just good luck with the jobhunting!
Best of luck in your search.
Thank you all for your kind replies!
It is slightly worrying that even after doing a degree you could mistake the two words though.
Salo, I was not aware of this.
Where can I find more information on this matter, if you could be so kind.
Thank you.