If you took a long time off from work how would you answer in your interview for that gap?

Question

I stayed home with my second child for four years. The employers look at you like you dropped off the planet Earth. Could you give me some pointers for a successful interview.

Answer 1

honesty is the besy way to go, staying home to raise a child until child reaches school age is a good quality for employer's to know.....it shows you have a commitment to your children and then returned back to the work field. [some mom's work a year and back to work and back and forth.] it shows you are direct with the employer and your personal life. i think you have nothing to worry about good luck

Answer 2

Just say you took a few years off for personal reasons. It is none of their business why. They can't legally ask about kids or marital status.

If you want to get some more recent work, hit the temp agencies and start doing some short to long term assignments. Temp agencies do not care about your gaps, they just care that you will show up on time, dress appropriately and have the skills to do the job. It's also a lot more flexible than seeking a perm position immediately and will let you decide where you want to go... heck they can even get you into a temp to hire position.

Good luck, I did the same thing (though I was self-employed too... part time ;)).

Answer 3

First, try organizing your resume by experiences and skills, rather than chronologically. It's a good method for taking attention away from any employment gaps, whether or not they are deliberate. Go to the bookstore to find something on resume writing (or try locating something on line).

If the time off was recent or if the issue comes up in an interview, simply state that you took some time off to spend with your family (remember: it is illegal for an interviewer to ask your marital status, if you have children, or questions regarding your medical circumstances). If you have already emphasized your skills, strengths, and interest during your meeting, you can probably downplay that gap in your work history.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I was in the same boat as you. I took a lot more years than that off to raise my children and after enough feelings of inferiority from potential employers, I decided to take control of my own destiny and started my own home business. I started earning an income on my second day, got all the tax breaks and enjoyed the comfort of working from my own home. I can no longer imagine ever working for someone else....I still get out of the house to talk to people and have made many new friends who all earn in excess of $10k/mo and are teaching me how to do the same. I'm having a ball now!

Answer 5

You say this:
"My husband (boyfriend etc) determined that we were able to survive on one income and after the children were born we both decided that my job would be to raise the children and support him domestically. We decided that this arrangement would be temporary until the children were old enough for school. Now that the children are in school, I am very eager to get my career re-started." If you use this, you could also add that now your husband (whomever) has more time at home so you both decided it was an acceptable time for you to go back to work, this will resolve any issues they might have with you needing to get time off of work for the kids.

You could also take it from a different angle. say something like, those four years were the busiest of my life, keeping house for my family, maintaining the budget, book clubs, mommy-and-me classes etc. It will make you seem more personal.

Answer 6

I'd tell them the truth:

"I lost my last 2 jobs due to 9-11, and the job economy now is more service-based than it was 10 years ago--as all the good-paying jobs have been outsourced to places like India and China. As a result, living wages for the average American has fallen and people aren't making ends meet like they used to. I hadn't found the reason to jump in and start working if this is what I'm going to be facing as an employee of your company. I've also had severe health issues which has made me question whether or not I am capable of holding down a job for any lengthy period of time."

Answer 7

It's okay to say you took time off you be a stay-at-home mom. But make sure you tell them that you were able to keep up your skill and up-to-date with technology working with your church, your husband or whatever. Most of the problems with being off the map is that they think you've fallen behind the times. Make those assurances that you haven't and you should be okay.

Answer 8

Tell them that you took time off to take care of your child. Most employers are understanding of that. If they aren't, do you really want to work for them anyway?

Answer 9

honesty is the best policy, do you really want to work for someone with this attitude.Remember employees are needed by employers.

Answer 10

You can always tell them you were self-employed, and I'm sure while you were rising you children, there were many jobs you performed that you can put on a resume!