Gap in CV - advice

highlighter123

I've just taken a year off teaching for mental health reasons and I did some other work during the year instead - freelance music work, correcting exams, doing orals, etc. - I'm applying for jobs now over the summer for September, and am wondering how to explain the last year on my CV. Prior to that I have six years of steady employment in a variety of schools. Will I just put the most recent school (2023/2024) on my CV, or do I need to include this past year as a year of employment and write down the above freelance stuff I did? What would be the best way to explain year away - I think it's a red flag for employers to hear you took a year out because of burn out and mental health issues, which is exactly what the reason was.

dory

I don’t see any need to explain it at all. Lots of people have gaps on CVs - travel, babies etc. I twice took a year out to travel. Never once was asked about it. Really don’t think any principal would pry like that.
And there’s a teacher shortage in many areas/subjects. If you’re in Dublin and have an in demand subject you should be fine.

highlighter123

Thank you

dingding

Just came across this post. Hope your job search went OK.