I was backpacking for a year and a half...

Broads.ie

...which left a huge gap in my C.V. The last job I have listed is from November 2009. Should I mention on the C.V. that I was traveling? And if so, how should I write it? Anybody here been in that situation?

celticcrash

Of course you write it into your CV, its not a crime its not immoral.
Your young and you wanted to see a bit of the world. Its not like you
sat on your ass at home doing nothing, its a thing to feel good about.
Its better than lying and being nervous at an interview over the lies.
Shows independence.

Broads.ie

I wasn't going to lie in the interview. If he asked me about the gap I was going to tell him I was travelling. So which part of the CV should it go in? Under Work Experience? I've never done this before and it feels quite strange to put "holidays" where work should be! And how should I word it? Just "backpacking" ? Or do I name the continent...

If you're so worried about it, just put it under things you like. Hobbies/interests type deal, you like exploring other countries and immersing in other cultures and broadening your horizons.


When listing jobs, list them in order you did them, and put an italiced "Note; job gap due to lengthy travel/exploration in X, Y and Z."

I doubt they'll care. If you've got any sense of experience or knowledge for the position they're looking for I don't think they'll be bothered at all (even if you did just sit on your ass for the time, what difference does it make to them!?).



I always feel like a prat in interviews, because I've worked in a fair few kitchen companies. However, Mr. Recession knocked the life out of all of them and killed them off, so now I've two references, one that's related to me (thus intrustworthy to a potential employer) and one that won't give a reference (not because I did anything bad, just because that's how the company operate).

I always have to explain that the jobs I did can't be accounted for because the company no longer exists, and they're clearly looking at me as though I just made up the jobs in an attempt to fill my CV (which is partly true, as I did extend my time with the companies to make my unemployed gap a bit shorter).


I'm just ranting on, now. I'd say you'll be fine, either way. Travel is a good thing to do and can be spun in many positive ways.

Mr. Loverman

I would put it in the work experience section. I know it technically is not work experience but it will leave no doubt in the employers mind that the gap on your CV is due to travel. Don't assume they will remember what you wrote in your cover letter!

pow wow

+1. It's like when you put in education you were at college for x number of years and then at interview you get a puzzled face and the 'why is there an x year gap in your work experience?' :rolleyes:

Jim2007

Broads.ie wrote: »

I wasn't going to lie in the interview. If he asked me about the gap I was going to tell him I was travelling. So which part of the CV should it go in? Under Work Experience? I've never done this before and it feels quite strange to put "holidays" where work should be! And how should I word it? Just "backpacking" ? Or do I name the continent...

In your case, I would advise doing a functional resume rather than a chronological one. And in the employment history section simply list the period and state "Independent travel - " and list where you went.

Good luck,

Jim

starlit

Wish I came with you, what a boring hectic, mad, tough year I have had! But found myself in the end! Anyways, try bulking up what you did on your year and half away backpacking. Did you do anything else other than travel, learn new cultures, learn a new language etc? Did you get to work at any stage? You could say you did a course in something could be anything not necessary lie, if you did something on your trip away like yogo or something new you could include that as something you did new and learnt and add that as you did a course/classes in this or too up a new hobby. You can also state what did you learn from your trip, you will have to a least state you had a gap year - travelling not just stating you were backpacking you need to explain yourself what you were doing while were there not all the details but what you learnt from it and hoped to achieve from it and state that all on your CV. Otherwise employers be wondering what did you do to keep yourself occupied? You could just state you worked briefly somewhere for a short wise but it was voluntary? Whether you worked there or not just improvise but not lie as such.

Irish_Elect_Eng

No only should you mention it you should think about how to sell this to your interviewer.

Think about things like the following:

Planning: Speak about how a major trip takes planning from finance and other resources, to people, travel companions and scheduling travel and events.
Valuing Diversity: Talk about how you interacted with all sorts of people and how this gave you an ability to work with diverse people different races, language and cultures
Independence: Talk about how travel increases you ability to rely on yourself and increases your ability to work with minimal supervision.

And there are many more things that your travel taught you......think about it.

It is often surprising the part of the interview that really sells you to the interviewer. And often that critical moment comes when the interviewee is talking about something that they are passionate about....

Go for it.

Mrs OBumble

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I would put it in the work experience section. I know it technically is not work experience but it will leave no doubt in the employers mind that the gap on your CV is due to travel.

+1

And I label that section "Employment history" ... overseas travel is a legitimate part of that.