Gaps in Employment HistoryI am somewhere around middle age and beginning an entirely new career direction. I have already completed the schooling (Associate' s Degree) for my new career and am eagerly hunting for employment. I am curious how to handle questions regarding two sizable employment gaps in my work history. I took time off to be a full-time Dad for each of my children. At those times, I did not have a career - I was pretty much doing customer service in a couple of different settings. One I took time off to help my wife as she was going through medical school. Her job prospects were much better than my own. The second time I took time off because I had a disposable low-paying clerical job and we depended on my wife' s employment for a living wage and for medical benefits for the kids. I anticipate being asked about these gaps during my next interview(s). Can anyone please recommend some strategies for dealing with this question honestly? I am concerned that potential employers may fear that I may just pick up and leave at any time. My wife and I plan no further children, but even were we to have one, my new career should allow me to continue working while my wife stays home with any unexpected children. I am a very family-oriented person and feel that what you explained in your post should suffice. You will probably have to reword it a little, though. Try writing some responses down and practice saying them. Does the response say foreign and forced to your ears? Does it sound as though you are making an excuse? If it does to you, then it probably will to the interviewer as well. For the first gap in employment, say something like: "I took a leave of absence to stay at home with the kids so that my wife could concentrate on finishing medical school and her demanding schedule". For the second gap, say something like: "The demands of the household were not conducive to the demands of the hospital and so I took another leave to stay at home with the kids and make sure that they were well-cared for and my wife and kids were happy and healthy". Follow up with something about how everything has straightened out and that you are now in the position to fulfill your career without interruptions. While Kelly's replies are good, here's what you have to watch for. You didn't say what kind of career you are getting into. If the jobs that you seek will call for extra effort and time on occasion, you have to make sure that the employer knows you can do it. The replies indicate that you have put your family first. Admirable, but if the employer is looking for someone who may have to stay late, work weekends, etc... it may not work with them. In these cases the job may not be the one you want. If it is, you need to make sure the employer knows that you can make the extra effort. How long ago were these gaps? If they were 10 years or more, they shouldn' t be on there anyway. If they' re more recent there are lots of formats for resumes these days and it doesn' t have to be chronological. Go over to the resume board, post what you' ve got (minus name, address phone) along with what sort of job you' re looking for. You' ll get some great (free) help there. Thanks to everyone for the replies. I just finished schooling to be a paralegal, and I' ve got an interview with a placement agency on Wednesday morning, so I' m a little nervous. My gaps were: 1. About 2 years ago 2. About 12 years ago So, it sounds like I really only need to worry about the most recent one. My work history goes back to 1987, but I only put the last 10 years on my resume (on 2 pages). | |
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