#12

As long as you have any kind of reasonable or even imaginary explanation for why there are gaps in your CV no one will give two hoots. I feel like the people that make out like having gaps in your CV is a career ender are just people who are themselves petrified of leaving their job.

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#13

wait, does this not count as freelancing? my whole life is a lie!

4 Likes
#14

There was (dunno if it’s still there) a mention of career breaks in work’s handbook. I forget the wording but it was worded in a way to make people feel comfortable about asking for a career break after they’d worked here for a period. Everyone that asked for it got declined and left soon after.

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#15

Usually between midnight and midday.

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#16

I had a few months between jacking in my London job and starting the job I had lined up in Glasgow so I went to South America. I don’t have the personality to be able to just chuck in a job for a break (regardless of cash in bank) without having a very clear plan of what job I would be doing next and when- I know I simply wouldn’t be able to enjoy the time off and so I’ve never tried it.

I had a very enjoyable few months off to have a baby 9although again, I was able to enjoy that time because I knew it was finite and I have my lovely safety net of fulfilling job to return to.)

I think if you are braver than me (and perhaps if you don’t have ties/ overheads to worry about) then it could be a very liberating thing to do. Just don’t fritter it away because presumably at some point in the future you may want a ‘career’ again and you may have to explain this ‘time out’ to people who are not as open minded as you.

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#17

I quit my job in early 2015 and came back to it 8 months later, doing nothing CV-worthy in the interim. Doesn’t seem to have mattered (including when I’ve been sounded out about other jobs).

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#18

that’s quite encouraging

#19

remember at the last place i worked they were interviewing a guy for a really high paid, really specialised job and they were asking him about the 18 month gap in his cv. said he just packed everything in to be a bus driver for a while.

they had no idea what to make of that.

7 Likes
#22

what are you applying for? Are you making it obvious that the skills you have in academia will translate into the roles? And that you don’t fall into this bullshit trap of being ‘overqualified’ (which I always think is shorthand for the panel feeling threatened by you, that you might nab their own jobs one day soon.)

#25

Most NGO jobs are filled before they’re advertised tbf

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#27

this is one of those many things, which will doom me to being a useless loser for the rest of my life, that I legitimately don’t understand why people give a shit about

2 Likes
#28

Update your CV so it’s like mine:

fuckingbrilliant

3 Likes
#30

Is

a) that picture your cv
b) that bit of paper in your hand your cv

?

#31

I’ll go with B!

YASSSSSSss! :tipping_hand_woman:

#32

i wonder if any DiSers have made wacky CV videos or anything of the sort like those berks who do a rap about their skills

there’s probably not a thread in that, is there?

#33

stealth BOMBER
stealth BOMBER

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#34

Do you want to have a bit of a chat about this? I’m happy to try and help. I’m a careers coach (probably should have led with that!) so happy to look at your cv/applications and the jobs you’re going for and try to work out if there’s anything else you could do to improve your chances. No worries if you don’t want to, but thought I’d ask :slight_smile:

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#36

I’ll message you my email address :slight_smile:

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#37

I took voluntary redundancy last year, took 4 months off. Took a 3-month contract in November, absolutely hated it (the feeling was mutual) and took another 3 months off before going back to work in May. A former colleague took VR in late 2014 and didn’t go back to work for 2 1/2 years - so long as you’re obviously up for the job, I think most employers are going to be understanding of haven taken time off so long as it’s clear you’re now up for re-entering the ratrace.

Side note, though: going back to work after 4 months holiday is downright traumatic.

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#38

cheers for the tips and advice. think I’m gonna do it, although it wouldn’t be a career break in the sense that I’d still be working, albeit in a completely different field. sort of hoping my current employer will offer to keep me on part time but remotely, but CWBAFT.