"Fixing" a large hole in your CV/resume

[Lilbruz]

Hey everyone.

So Im (hopefully) coming to an end of a long period of not being able to work. Im 39 closing on 40, my trade is IT support, and I have been working since I was 15, just with IT as the last part of my life.

Here is the dilemma:

Since 2011, I have had 3 long periods of being unable to work because of kidney stones and related problems (2 of the periods, one is this last one), and a longer one because of herniated disc/s in my lower back.

Now, my resume har always looked good, but as of now, I have a large gap from april of 2011 until now, so 4 plus years.

My question is this: How the heck do I "fill" that gap so its not a huge large obvious hole? Now, I dont really want to lie about it, but I need to do something. I have no problem about talking to a future employer about the gap - I mean I didnt chose to get sick, but I doubt I would ever GET my foot in the door for an interview as it is now.

I would love to hear some ideas - especially from HR people that do the hiring if there are any around. I do have some ideas myself obviously, but I could use some fresh eyes on the matter

[Puupi]

What's the problem if you truly were sick? You were sick, that is the fix to your hole. Why would you lie about it?

There would be a problem if you just had sit at home wanking for 3 years for no reason. Your situation - no problem.

[Reeve]

Hmmm, I'd be tempted to just not include dates in your work history on the resume, then if asked about it, just be honest.

[Independent voter]

Good news, in the US at least the job market is fantastic at the moment, 280,000 new jobs added last quarter so employers might overlook a 4 year gap.

You probably did some training during that time, you could say that. Or maybe you started a business that didn't quite make it.

A strategy that sometimes works is just coming clean and truthfully tell them what happened. In IT integrity is often a big thing, you might deal with financial data etc.

I hate to tell you to lie so I won't.

[Rukh]

Hey everyone.

So Im (hopefully) coming to an end of a long period of not being able to work. Im 39 closing on 40, my trade is IT support, and I have been working since I was 15, just with IT as the last part of my life.

Here is the dilemma:

Since 2011, I have had 3 long periods of being unable to work because of kidney stones and related problems (2 of the periods, one is this last one), and a longer one because of herniated disc/s in my lower back.

Now, my resume har always looked good, but as of now, I have a large gap from april of 2011 until now, so 4 plus years.

My question is this: How the heck do I "fill" that gap so its not a huge large obvious hole? Now, I dont really want to lie about it, but I need to do something. I have no problem about talking to a future employer about the gap - I mean I didnt chose to get sick, but I doubt I would ever GET my foot in the door for an interview as it is now.

I would love to hear some ideas - especially from HR people that do the hiring if there are any around. I do have some ideas myself obviously, but I could use some fresh eyes on the matter

You'll probably want to get some fairly easy to get IT job like call center for around 6 months. If you have 6 mo continuous employment to show you're not going to go on sick leave the moment you're hired, you should be fine.

[GennGreymane]

Just explain you were sick if it comes up

Maybe add in during that time you were learning new skills if you managed to do so

maybe brush up on newer programs during that time?

if you did that I would throw that in

[Deleted]

I would suggest doing some temp work to get back into the swing of things, so that it doesn't look like "huge big gap, and now we're their first job back?" Grab some temp work, even if it's just a day here and a day there at various companies for 6 motnhs to a year. Put maybe the biggest / longest one on there as an actual thing, and then "Various temporary assignments through <whatever agency>"

This way, you're not lieing about the gap, when they ask, you juts be like "well, had some medical problems" and explain what they are. Be sure to explain that it's a "done and dusted" thing though, as in it's not going to be something that comes back and will require time off and extended medical leave in the future etc, and the fact that you've worked since in temp stuff means they know it's not like you've lost your mojo. If you can do it all through one agency, that's ideal too. Not only will they be more willing to place you in temporary assignments knowing they have your time exclusively, but also when your next job does a reference check and calls or emails the agency, they will likely lump it all together like how you do on your CV as like "I can confirm john smith worked through us on vairous temporary assignments from 10/6/15 through 14/4/16" so it will look like more of a big lump. In most cases they also won't give up names of where you worked either, or specific dates, because they don't want to disclose their client list, so you'll get your reference but without it looking bad.

If you did anything (not "spent time with family") in the gap, put that in too. It's alright to say you were laid up with medical problems and couldn't go anywhere or work or do anything really, and it's okay to say "I wanted to travel when I was younger, obviously as im getting older it's less and less possbile so i wanted to get that bug out of my system and travel the world for 4 years", but it's not okay to have been able to do stuf and not. Very offputting.

Source: Work in a recruitment agency.

[Lilbruz]

What's the problem if you truly were sick? You were sick, that is the fix to your hole. Why would you lie about it?

There would be a problem if you just had sit at home wanking for 3 years for no reason. Your situation - no problem.

Employers here usually get anywhere from 80 to 200 plus applications for job openings, so how far do you think a resume like mine that lists no employment from 2011 and forwards would get in the queue?

[Deleted]

Employers here usually get anywhere from 80 to 200 plus applications for job openings, so how far do you think a resume like mine that lists no employment from 2011 and forwards would get in the queue?

Well it depends on your qualifications and the job. If you haven't worked in 4 years due to illness I would like the others advise you to take some entry level position job first (you can lie your way to those jobs np!) to prove you're healthy and ready to work before applying for the job you actually want. Otherwise you'll just end up applying and seeing them decline you. The employer might not be interested in you if he has already declined you in the past, so I would try to avoid that situation.

[Vermicious]

I would put something like "2011-2015 Disabled due to serious medical condition (fully resolved as of <date>)"

If you did any sort of training or learning during your time out of work, list that. Even if you repaired your mom's computer, you could use that as 'self employed'

I was out of work for almost 3 years (early 2011 to late 2013) due to relocation and just not being able to find a job. I listed it as 'self employed' and listed stuff from little things I did for friends and relatives (I do IT support also). Luckily I found a good job in late 2013 that put me right back where I left off money-wise, then I just modified my resume to 'unemployed due to relocation and job market' for that time period, since current job experience makes it irrelevant. I'll explain it in more detail if asked in the future.

Also, try to leverage any contacts you have with former employers or co-workers, for at least references (get them in writing if possible), also to see if they have any leads for you. Who you know is often much more important than what you know. LinkedIn is a great site for doing this type of thing.

[Deleted]

Prison.

wlkfjw

[Lilbruz]

I would put something like "2011-2015 Disabled due to serious medical condition (fully resolved as of <date>)"

If you did any sort of training or learning during your time out of work, list that. Even if you repaired your mom's computer, you could use that as 'self employed'

I was out of work for almost 3 years (early 2011 to late 2013) due to relocation and just not being able to find a job. I listed it as 'self employed' and listed stuff from little things I did for friends and relatives (I do IT support also). Luckily I found a good job in late 2013 that put me right back where I left off money-wise, then I just modified my resume to 'unemployed due to relocation and job market' for that time period, since current job experience makes it irrelevant. I'll explain it in more detail if asked in the future.

Also, try to leverage any contacts you have with former employers or co-workers, for at least references (get them in writing if possible), also to see if they have any leads for you. Who you know is often much more important than what you know. LinkedIn is a great site for doing this type of thing.

The whole "self employed" thing is something I actually thought about using myself. I DID do stuff for others while I was sick...I didnt get paid for it, but I could have been self employed technically, but just not had a whole load of customers

I want to avoid putting anything on there that says I have been sick. I know its not a bad thing as I didnt ask for it. But its just something for someone to get rid of my application quickly to get to the other hundred applications. I can and will however be truthful about it if asked.

- - - Updated - - -

Prison.

wlkfjw

I very much doubt putting "I was in prison" would help my chances

And for the record, I was not

[Jimson]

My resume has a 13-month gap. Got laid off the day after my daughter was born, and elected to stay home and play Dad while I collected unemployment. It's never been a deterrent in my career (have since been hired 3 times). Just clearly explain the issue and don't try to hide it.

[the game]

Maybe explain the reasons for the holes in your resume in a cover letter?

[Ryme]

Fortune favours the brave: Lie.

Either get your old boss involved and ask him if you can or if he says no, do it any way - I've had this stuff checked in detail a whole once in my life.

[Vermicious]

Also... the advice to start entry-level jobs... it doesn't really work. They'll see your prior experience, and won't hire because you're over qualified (been there, done that). It's sort of ageism, and illegal at some level, but there's plenty of other reasons they can choose to declare if it comes up.

I'm 50+, so I think there may have been some of that in my job search, but I did get lucky and find a job that leveraged my prior security clearance and experience with government contracting. Believe it or not, they value age/experience!

[Deleted]

Employers here usually get anywhere from 80 to 200 plus applications for job openings, so how far do you think a resume like mine that lists no employment from 2011 and forwards would get in the queue?

It's impossible to say, some employers would fully understand if you were sick (the ones with realistic expectations) and others would cast you aside for fuck all reason. Hiring and evaluating people is a job by itself and most interviewers I had while I was looking for a job sucked at it.

Some people who are looking to hire make it their mission to make anyone leaving the interview feel like dirt on the street. It's a gamble wheither you need to fill it up or not because depending on who reads it it will help you or not.

Personally depending on how serious your sickness was I'd just be honest.

- - - Updated - - -

Also... the advice to start entry-level jobs... it doesn't really work. They'll see your prior experience, and won't hire because you're over qualified (been there, done that). It's sort of ageism, and illegal at some level, but there's plenty of other reasons they can choose to declare if it comes up.

I'm 50+, so I think there may have been some of that in my job search, but I did get lucky and find a job that leveraged my prior security clearance and experience with government contracting. Believe it or not, they value age/experience!

When I left school I got called up every day for jobs that demanded 3-5 years expirience. They have my CV with all the info including my prior expirience and when I left school and yet they call you up to ask you all kinds of stuff just to say they can't use you after 5-10m.

[Deleted]

You write that you had health issues during the specific which have now been resolved.

As someone who used to work in tech recruitment - as soon as you see dates not listed on a CV, it's binned; as soon as you see that someone has fudged the truth on it, it's binned; as soon as you do a reference check and discover their CV has false dates on, it's binned.

You'll get the best response to just be honest and brief about it on the CV, if they ask for more detail in the hiring process give it at that point.

It's also very important to show you're still up to date and have been even if not working, "learning" something during the break periods. Include any courses you've done, any personal projects you've worked on, etc...

[Deleted]

Maybe explain the reasons for the holes in your resume in a cover letter?

Nooooooo...

You don't want the person reading your CV instantly seeing something "negative" about you. Either leave it out and be honest when they ask about it, mention it in the end of the CV or in added info or lie.

[Deleted]

Maybe explain the reasons for the holes in your resume in a cover letter?

A covering letter should always be positive and brief, never include anything that could be seen in a negative light whatsoever in it.