When I moved two years ago my wife was just recovering from a stroke and I was in the financial position to afford to take some time off. So for the past two years we've been taking advantage of all this area has to offer. I feel like it's time to get back to work which brings me to my question. How do I account for my time out of the workforce on my resume? I just don't want employers to get the impression that I was in jail (I wasn't) or livin off the guvment (again, I wasn't). Thanks in advance for your responses.

Would it be correct to say that you took time to assist your wife in her recuperation from an illness?

Truth...........telling the truth about your wife's stroke and taking time to be with her would be my advice.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

and if that future company doesn't like your very reason for taking the time off the they probably aren't worth working for

Yes. You're going to be asked about it anyway so get ahead of the curve. Unexplained gaps in resumes are a red flag so don't open the door. Taking time to be with your wife after she went through a stroke should help, not hurt, if the company is worth working for (as steveno says).

Can't go wrong with the truth.

Yup, tell the truth. If you don't want to get into details tell them you went on sabbatical for two years.

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Even older, even crankier....

Tell the truth. I think it says something great about you that you would take two years off to help out your wife.

I don't think I would want to work for an employer that would look at that as a bad thing.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Yea the truth always works. I think it would add to your resume. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

I would think in this economy there are a lot of people that have "gaps" in their employment.

I've done the same thing. I simply told the truth. It's never the wrong thing to do.

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John 3:16 .

I'm intereted in your experience and skills-I may ask about a break in service-the answer "I was looking for work during that time" or "I took a break"- is fine. If I'm concerned I'll get hold of one of your refrences.

Tell the truth. Any prospective employer worth working for would think highly of someone dedicated to his family.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Tell the truth honest is the best policy.

I was off for a year before going back to college (I was accepted and waiting for classes to start) and a year after grad school.

When I underwent my background check for Federal service, I failed to account for one week. Boy, talk about hassles. Then again when again went they upped my security clearance as a supervisor.

I did have one laugh: The Homeland Security guy who came out to interview me was leaving and he said he had one last question, as he was packing up:" Did I now, or have I ever, belong to a group advocating the violent overthrow of the government?"

"I answered that I was a Freemason and that some of my Brothers had had a disagreement with King George a few years back!"

He said he thought that was OK (while falling out with laughter)

Just explain the truth.

I don't see the problem. Most of the good folks on the forum have covered it already. Convalesent leave, pure and simple. Not to mention it's the truth. That's a novelty on a lot of resumes these days. If you feel you are still on shakey ground, have your Doctor prepare a letter for you explaining why it was a good idea for you to look after your wife for that time period. Of course, the down side is if the interviewer asks if this is a recurring problem. Simplest and shortest answer is the best. "No, we think we have it under control." (P.S, Use to teach this stuff.)

make your Resume focus on your skills as the bulk of the resume and then list the jobs history as your secondary importance .
good luck

Dan

I am on a lot of hiring committees, and gaps in work experience always glare out. Were it me, I would put the time in italics with "Home care of recovering spouse" next to it.

Sure, it's something that you could easily explain in an interview, but a brief and artful communication on the CV might make the difference in order to actually get you an interview - which an interview committee might otherwise deny based on the unexplained absence from the workforce.

This is very good advice. I spent the majority of my working life in HR, and was responsible for both management and non-management hiring. Many resumes are screened (especially in a market like today's) to get down to a manageable candidate list...and if anything on your resume is questionable, you may not get to the interview to be able to explain it. Address it on your resume, because gaps in employment almost always are going to be questioned.

Well, thanks, Ken.

Far to many employers will not hire unemployed persons. Even if gaps are answered and the qualified blocks are filled. I have herd it so many times, "you have to be employed to get employed". It just makes me sick that our country has come to this.

Best of luck in your endeavors.

Seagill:

First of all, I hope your wife is doing well. Secondly, I applaud you for doing your duty and taking care of her when she needed you. I've seen far too many people who bailed when their loved one became ill. This says much about your character.

I've given your question quite a bit of thought.

Like Ken, I've been involved in Human Resources for over 20 years in a variety of positions in both private sector (Fortune 100 companies), as well as at the city, state, and federal government levels. I've also served as a job coach, and for a while, I helped run a service that helped out-placed employees with interview skills, job searches, résumés, etc.

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to your question. The job market has changed so much, and there aren't as many trained and experienced people that know how to read between the lines on a résumé to evaluate a candidate properly. My best advice would be for you to consult an HR specialist in your area about this and get their advice. You could do a Google search for Job Placement or recruiting specialists in your area, or you could contact the nearest SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management) office and ask them for a recommendation for someone you could meet with. I think a couple of brief meetings with the right person would be worth your time and money.

If you are in the Austin, TX area, I'd be happy to meet with you to discuss this matter.

I wish you the very best of luck in your employment search. Please let us know how things work out.

Regards,

Dave