Discussion
I interview for roles in my department and we have a specific prompt on the HR forms to check for any gaps and probe the reasons why. As an employer, I'd want to know the reasons behind any gaps. Gaps can sometimes be an indicator of someones level of commitment (if they frequently leave their job without having something to go to then why?)
Years ago we hired a driver who had gaps in his CV; he had taken time off work to be a house husband as his wife earnt more than he did, so he told us.
After having the Police round one day because a driver of one of our vans had beaten someone up due to road rage, it transpired that he hadn't taken time off work to be a house husband, he'd actually been in prison for a similar offence and in all likelyhood he was going back!
After having the Police round one day because a driver of one of our vans had beaten someone up due to road rage, it transpired that he hadn't taken time off work to be a house husband, he'd actually been in prison for a similar offence and in all likelyhood he was going back!
V8mate said:
Only if you can't explain them.
There's always an explanation. I think the problem is what constitutes a good explanation."I couldn't find work despite looking."
"I had cancer."
"I had to take time off for stress."
Depending on the idiot on the other side of the desk, you may or may not get an offer.
ToothbrushMan said:
for me it was only a short term job that ended after 6 months covering for maternity and more recently redundancy.........no choice in either situation.
the gap after the temp job was down to just not finding any work. that was about 1 year 4 months.
Say that you took time out for medical reasons but also to study disability rights and watch them squirm. the gap after the temp job was down to just not finding any work. that was about 1 year 4 months.
ToothbrushMan said:
How do you explain these at interview?
Do you think there is any stigma when employers see you are out of work or have work gaps on the CV?
If you’ve got to interview then you’re halfway there; many organisations wouldn’t shortlist if a CV had unexplained gaps.Do you think there is any stigma when employers see you are out of work or have work gaps on the CV?
A CV should however never have gaps; it’s as simple as that. One should always explain periods between work and one should also show that one wasn’t just sat watching Jeremy Kyle all day. If one was however watching Mr Kyle all day rather than volunteering, studying, gaining new skills then some would say one deserves not to be shortlisted.
Totally depends on the job applied for.
Most companies can be fairly good about gaps on CV, I would expect for management positions and that sort of stuff maybe not.
But a few months here or there can be expected as a means of finding a new job or a contract being finished and having to find something new, it is not always that easy to find work, even in higher level positions if you are qualified.
I would say the opposite, a company who is not understanding of this is certainly not one worth working for. It's about the skills, and experience of the individual, not their luck or situation after certain employment is terminated or a contract ended or redundancy.
If gaps on a CV are all you are worried about, then you are clearly not looking for the right things in candidates, unless you get thousands of CV's
Most companies can be fairly good about gaps on CV, I would expect for management positions and that sort of stuff maybe not.
But a few months here or there can be expected as a means of finding a new job or a contract being finished and having to find something new, it is not always that easy to find work, even in higher level positions if you are qualified.
I would say the opposite, a company who is not understanding of this is certainly not one worth working for. It's about the skills, and experience of the individual, not their luck or situation after certain employment is terminated or a contract ended or redundancy.
If gaps on a CV are all you are worried about, then you are clearly not looking for the right things in candidates, unless you get thousands of CV's
What really confusing is what define a gap in CV
OK, unemployed for a year certainly a gap, but what about few months between jobs or the time after graduation
How long is a gap?
Yeah, in the ideal case a simple explanation will do, but some recruitment agent don't even bother to see your reason for those gap
OK, unemployed for a year certainly a gap, but what about few months between jobs or the time after graduation
How long is a gap?
Yeah, in the ideal case a simple explanation will do, but some recruitment agent don't even bother to see your reason for those gap
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