Gap in CV

Liamario

I have a two year gap in my CV, which was spent trying to find work. In hindsight I should have done a course or something, but I was young, stubborn and full of pride. Any ideas?

me0w

Liamario wrote: »

I have a two year gap in my CV, which was spent trying to find work. In hindsight I should have done a course or something, but I was young, stubborn and full of pride. Any ideas?

Could you do volunteering work or a course? It would look good on your CV

Liamario

me0w wrote: »

Could you do volunteering work or a course? It would look good on your CV

On a course now, but what about that existing gap :-(

mahoganygas

Is there something you are passionate about? Maybe a hobby or alternative career which you have always fancied?

I'm thinking along the lines of acting, gardening, website building etc. Something you know a lot about, if asked.

You could say that you decided to take some time out to give acting a try. You did some evening classes, appeared as a TV extra here and there but quickly realised that there were no jobs for you.

So now after following your dream unsuccessfully, you are back to reality and ready to start your proper career?

allibastor

Did you do any work at all?

You can always say you consulted on small projects and the like, I have interviewed a lot of people with this line.

As long as you were not sitting at home on the xbox you can have some justification.

Miaireland

What did you do over those two years? Is there anything at all that you could use like training a sports team etc?

I guess you could say you spent time travelling around Oz doing bar work etc but to be honest lies like that tend to catch you out at times.

Mezcita

Say you traveled. Ideally to somewhere where you have been too.

Jim2007

Liamario wrote: »

I have a two year gap in my CV, which was spent trying to find work. In hindsight I should have done a course or something, but I was young, stubborn and full of pride. Any ideas?

Tell the truth it is a lot simpler to deal with. We gone through one of the worst economic down turns in living memory, so there is not shame in being unemployed for so long. You can alway say you help out at home as you were unable to contribute to the household, you did self study which lead you to the course you are doing now etc...

I get very suspicious of people who tell me they have been travelling, in fact give the number of people who have been "travelling" it is hard to know why the unemployment figures have not gone done!

Blue Whale

Jim2007 wrote: »

Tell the truth it is a lot simpler to deal with. We gone through one of the worst economic down turns in living memory, so there is not shame in being unemployed for so long. You can alway say you help out at home as you were unable to contribute to the household, you did self study which lead you to the course you are doing now etc...

I get very suspicious of people who tell me they have been travelling, in fact give the number of people who have been "travelling" it is hard to know why the unemployment figures have not gone done!

Why would you be suspicious of somebody travelling, there were over 15000 Irish people on WHV in Australia alone on New Years eve 2013 http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/generationemigration/2013/02/22/number-of-irish-on-australian-working-holiday-visas-falls-dramatically/

Jim2007

Blue Whale wrote: »

Why would you be suspicious of somebody travelling, there were over 15000 Irish people on WHV in Australia alone on New Years eve 2013 http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/generationemigration/2013/02/22/number-of-irish-on-australian-working-holiday-visas-falls-dramatically/

People travelling for 12 months, some even longer during a recession and not needing finance... give me a break. One of two questions and you'll soon know if someone is telling you porkies.

Blue Whale

Jim2007 wrote: »

People travelling for 12 months, some even longer during a recession and not needing finance... give me a break. One of two questions and you'll soon know if someone is telling you porkies.

I guess it depends on where they were, maybe around Asia for a year would be viable without work but not Australia unless had about €20k of a budget or else being very frugal!

Liamario

Jim2007 wrote: »

Tell the truth it is a lot simpler to deal with. We gone through one of the worst economic down turns in living memory, so there is not shame in being unemployed for so long. You can alway say you help out at home as you were unable to contribute to the household, you did self study which lead you to the course you are doing now etc...

I get very suspicious of people who tell me they have been travelling, in fact give the number of people who have been "travelling" it is hard to know why the unemployment figures have not gone done!

I always am honest about it. The reason I created this thread was because I applied for a job through a recruitment agent and they suggested that I need to explain the 2 year gap on my CV.

skallywag

I would be open and honest about it.

If you were genuinely were looking for work, then no decent employer is going to hold this against you. I have hired plenty of candidates who found themselves out of work for a reasonably long period of time.

carzony

Look at the statistics over 166,000 people have been long-term unemployed since the crash. Then think of the people who experienced wage cuts, hours cut, tax increases ect... Most people have suffered through the recession so most will understand your situation..