Gap in CV

Happy Monday

Greetings!

After many years of gainful employment I have been unemployed since I was made redundant a couple of years ago.

This GAP is becoming a live issue now on my CV.

Should I

1 - just go with the truth that I have a gap and have been effectively doing nothing for the last two years, or
2 - extend the period of the last employment up to 2015, or
3 - say i was self employed for the last two years, or
4 - introduce a career break section saying i was taking care of family members or something for the last two years, or
5 - some other suggestion i can't think of at this time.

All suggestions and responses welcome.

Diziet

1 or 4, the more truthful the better. No harm in saying you were made redundant, lots of people are.

Cortina_MK_IV

Personally I'd be honest about it. I don't see why it would go against you and my old head would be more fearful that I'd have to carry on any lies for the period of my employment that might come back to haunt me.

Mrs OBumble

4)

You must have done something with your time? Spin a story about whatever you've done.

If you're going to lie, be convincing: if you say you travelled, know where and be prepared to talk about your experiences there. If you looked after a sick family member, know what was wrong with them and when they died. Etc

Happy Monday

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

4)

You must have done something with your time? Spin a story about whatever you've done.

If you're going to lie, be convincing: if you say you travelled, know where and be prepared to talk about your experiences there. If you looked after a sick family member, know what was wrong with them and when they died. Etc

Slipped into severe depression in 2013-4 leading to suicide attempts and finally a way out through Pieta House and HSE counselling.

That's what I was doing but I am not keen to enter above on my CV.

It's so tempting to extend the last employment date to late 2014.

No employment income recently so no P45 would be absolutely necessary.

ongarboy

Not sure what industry you work in but some (especially finance/banking/funds etc) insist on getting confirmation from your last listed employer as to your start and end date to confirm that it ties to what you have listed on your CV.

Lying about when you finished would be a major no no. Being unemployed during a recession is not something to be apologetic about or to be viewed as damaging but obviously, you should not explain that you spent your time doing "nothing".

As per other poster, I'd invent something along the lines of a career break and build up some knowledge to explain what you supposedly did during that time out (eg travelling/carer/renovating a country cottage etc) I would not explain the real reason why you were off as unfortunately this may be viewed as a disadvantage by recruiters. Will he/she be taking time off again if such episodes reoccur is what they could think. It's unfortunate that this happens but it's the way it is.

intheclouds

I have a 2 year gap on my CV but it didnt cause any problems at actual interviews at the time. However, recruitment agencies seemed to be far too curious about it.

The truth is that I got such a good redundancy payment that I did not need to work for 2 years. I did study though so I do have something legitimate to plug the gap with in terms of dates on the CV.

At interviews I simply said that I didnt need to work so I didnt. Then I blathered on about self development and the degree I did.

If there is an area you are knowledgeable about then you can say you did something similar.

Mrs OBumble

Happy Monday wrote: »

Slipped into severe depression in 2013-4 leading to ....

That's what I was doing but I am not keen to enter above on my CV.

It's so tempting to extend the last employment date to late 2014.

So you were caring for a sick family member. (No need to mention that it was yourself!)

Don't lie about your employment dates, they are likely to be explicitly checked up on, and if you're found to have lied about them people will assume you've lied about the rest too.

Happy Monday

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

So you were caring for a sick family member. (No need to mention that it was yourself!)

Don't lie about your employment dates, they are likely to be explicitly checked up on, and if you're found to have lied about them people will assume you've lied about the rest too.

If the employer was willing to say I was employed until early 2015 on a written and oral reference that could be a game changer wouldn't you say though?

the_pen_turner

i wouldn't lie.
you can get away with ling about the dates from your employer but the truth will get out eventually.
be it 6 month or years down the road you will say something to out your self.
maybe someone who knows the truth will start in the company etc. you cant control the future


simply tell them you were made redundant

sonyvision

Don't lie about your job dates.

I moved jobs over a year ago and out of the blue I had my current employer security team hounding me for proof of my last 3 years employement. I thought to myself they are hardly going to follow up. Got a nicely worded email saying unless they get hold of proof ie speak to the old employers, getting written stuff I was up for the chop.

Say you took 2 years out, spent time with family, career break to try different things. You don't need to have gone travelling the world. Most likely you where caring for a sick family member and your time was best spent at home. I would guess most employers would view this as very personal and shouldn't poke around to much if you come across as serious.

Best of luck on the job front OP

Doff

Made redundant, couldn't find work, family issue arose and has since been solved which allows you to now go back to full time work. Personal/Family stuff is a no go area for interviewers and if they start asking you about it then they are wandering into illegal territory.