Explaining gap in CV

[.Griff.]

In October of last year, I made the difficult decision to leave a professional role to care for my partner.

Without divulging too many details, she has a very rare medical condition which deteriorated badly last year to the point where I had to do most things for her. That wasn't feasible with 13-hour shift patterns and 16 hours out of the house each day. Fortunately, there's light at the end of the tunnel and I can now look for my next role.

I worked in a specialist field and when discussing my reasons for leaving with potential employers or recruiters it's not been an issue and they fully appreciate and understand my reasons for leaving.

Putting that on paper, and more specifically on my CV is proving harder.

I don't really want to leave my CV as "Position X September 2013 - October 2017" and then no explanation after that.

What would you consider to be the most concise and professional synopsis or "job title" for October 2017 - Present?

"Carer to partner" doesn't seem to do it justice and doesn't, to me at least, come across very professional. Or maybe I'm being too hard on myself.

 

[andicole0]

I would just put "Full time carer". That is quite self explanatory.
Andi.

 

[wesimmo]

Yes, you're being too hard on yourself.

I recently had a CV come in that had a big gap that had no explanation, when I investigated why through the recruitment consultant and someone else I knew who had worked with the guy I found out he'd taken time out to care for his dying mother.

As his CV was otherwise impeccable I gave him an interview.

The only reason he didn't get the job, as I fed back to him, was that it was too junior for him and that he was doing himself a disservice by applying for roles below what he appeared to be capable of.

That was the most off putting thing as I wasn't sure he wouldn't jump ship as soon as he realised that he was actually very employable and started looking elsewhere after using my role as a stepping stone back into work.

 

[Paracelsus]

I'd be tempted to just leave it out. I can't imagine an employer rejecting a CV outright because of a recent gap of a few months - for all they know you could have been traveling or something. They may well ask, then you can just tell them.

I have a year long gap on my CV where I was mostly sat in my boxers playing an MMO, only one employer asked about the gap, and all they were really concerned about was I wasn't in prison lol, so when the CRB check came back it was all good. Plus, that was a finance company who were super tight on security

 

[dowie]

I'd just stick in a one liner (up to you how much detail you want to give) stating you took time out from work to look after your partner/medical issues. You don't even have to put that, you could just say family member.

 

[wesimmo]

I'd be tempted to just leave it out. I can't imagine an employer rejecting a CV outright because of a recent gap of a few months - for all they know you could have been traveling or something. They may well ask, then you can just tell them.

I have a year long gap on my CV where I was mostly sat in my boxers playing an MMO, only one employer asked about the gap, and all they were really concerned about was I wasn't in prison lol, so when the CRB check came back it was all good. Plus, that was a finance company who were super tight on security

How many applications were rejected before interview stage without someone asking about the gap though?

Some people might have not asked but also decided against interviewing you because of the unexplained gap.

As I said above I investigated a gap as I had the ability to do so easily as it was through an agency who rang me to talk through the CVs they'd submitted, had it been a random submission through a portal or whatever I may not have gone to the trouble if I had other decent options available.

 

[rexehuk]

Leave out gap from CV. Explain when asked in interview.

There is nothing to be ashamed of with a gap, especially with the circumstances you've laid out. If anything it's admirable and shows you're a resilient person in my eyes.

I was in same position and was asked what I done in my gap and no issues. Mine was 6 months.

 

[A2Z]

I would just put "Full time carer". That is quite self explanatory.
Andi.

This.

 

[.Griff.]

Thank you all for the responses. Sorry it took me a while to reply.

 

[PiKe]

{This space was intentionally left blank}

 

[Maundie]

In October of last year, I made the difficult decision to leave a professional role to care for my partner.

There you go, you've explained it there

 

[Paracelsus]

How many applications were rejected before interview stage without someone asking about the gap though?

Some people might have not asked but also decided against interviewing you because of the unexplained gap.

As I said above I investigated a gap as I had the ability to do so easily as it was through an agency who rang me to talk through the CVs they'd submitted, had it been a random submission through a portal or whatever I may not have gone to the trouble if I had other decent options available.

In my case, it was none, as I got at least an interview for everything I applied for - of which only one company asked about the gap. But we're talking 6-7 interviews here, so not a massive sample size. I work in IT btw.

Why do you have the assume-the-worst attitude towards people with gaps? I don't get it - but I don't know anything about recruitment, do people with employment gaps often have nefarious reasons for it or something? It's honestly not something I'd even thought of as a problem before.
After my current work contract is up I intend to take as long a time off as I can afford before getting another job, work to live not live to work and all that..

 

[wesimmo]

It's not that you assume the worst I don't think, it's certainly better than someone who in the Perm world has a new job every year for example.

It's just slightly out the norm and you ask the question as to why.

I'd be more concerned about several smaller but significant gaps myself, and that's coming from someone who has them on their CV!

It might indicate that they have had issues holding down a job before for various reasons.

The cost and time in recruiting means you want someone who can do the job and will do the job for a decent time.

I think the contracting world is different to be honest, gaps are far more likely and expected almost, that's part of the reason contract work is better paid than the equivalent perm role, generally, it's the uncertainty and lack of guarantees of continuous employment.

 

[.Griff.]

I just thought I'd bring this to a conclusion.

I updated my CV following the replies on here and chose to add "Full-Time Carer" as my latest role with literally a few words explaining why I left my last position.

I had three interviews where it was barely mentioned until today where the interviewer commended my honesty and decision to put my partner first. Four hours later I got a call offering me the role.

 

[dowie]

Nice one, congratulations.

 

[.Griff.]

Thanks buddy.

 

[Diddums]

Thanks buddy.

Congrats mate

 

[Maundie]

Nice one, all the best in your new role.

 

[MrRockliffe]

I just thought I'd bring this to a conclusion.

I updated my CV following the replies on here and chose to add "Full-Time Carer" as my latest role with literally a few words explaining why I left my last position.

I had three interviews where it was barely mentioned until today where the interviewer commended my honesty and decision to put my partner first. Four hours later I got a call offering me the role.

Awesome! Congrats on the role

 

[Mrs Seabiscuit]

Congratulations on the new job. As others said yes I to would put on your cv about gap, albeit brief.