4 Year gap on CV :(

wealthyman

Title says it all I have done NOTHING for the last four years, absolutley nothing. I done my leaving cert in 2007 and went to college the same year but dropped out. I have an LTI which I was stressed out about at the time as it is life threatening but my health has being good in the years I wasted. Anyway in September I went back to repeat my leaving cert and hope to go on and do a degree next year. However how on earth am I going to explain a four year gap on my CV?? I am really stressed out about this as I now only realise it could go against me in the future

Turtwig

Heya,

I also have an LTI and ended up with pretty much three years on hiatus due to it, but it's not the end of everything. Be prepared for the question in any possible interviews. Be honest about it, remember also that because it is a confidential medical situation you don't need to disclose everything about it. Only disclose what you feel comfortable with. It could simply be as a simple as saying that you were "finding your feet after a tough experience". Not everyone who applies for a job does so under perfect circumstances. It will only go against you if you let it go against you.

andrew

Just be honest and say that for the 3 years post LC, you didn't know what you wanted to do, and floated a bit. But now you're older and wiser, you've got your act together and decided to make a real go of it, as evidenced by your repeating the leaving cert and degree. Loads of people can empathize with not being sure what to do after school, so I don't think it'd look that bad.

mikemac

It's not a disaster OP, there are over four hundred thousand people with gaps on their CV.
Employers are well used to it and understand

Going back for the LC and planning to go for a degree shows a lot of ambition, fair play

There are any number of things you can say like you worked on the family farm or family pub or worked around the town.
Not saying to lie but it's just something

Give the example of the plan you've set for yourself now and you're ready for a long term job

I doubt many school leavers know what they want to do with their life, even many graduates bounce around jobs for a few years

You'll be fine

WindSock

Do you have a friend or family member with a business that you can stick something in there and say you did some light tasks or something casual for, and they won't mind being called for a reference? Ask them first though.