Mental illness may have limited your ability to work consistently. Potential employers might view gaps in your work history as a limitation. It is possible to prepare and present yourself in a way that emphasises the skills and experience that you have attained.
Your resume
A chronological resume can call attention to such issues as gaps in work history or limited work experience. Consider using creative methods to downplay gaps in your experience and work history. Your resume should emphasise the skills and attributes you have to offer the employer to meet the business needs:
- a functional resume that highlights the skills rather than the work experience of the individual
- using only years, not months, for work dates
- not distinguishing between paid and unpaid work
- a positive summary of the activities you undertook or skills you developed when you were not working.
Remember, the purpose of a resume is to be a marketing tool. It should not tell a person’s life story. Think of a resume as an advertisement for a person intended to get the employer’s attention. Its purpose is to get the employer interested and wanting to meet you for an interview. Emphasise the present, not the past. For more information, including resume templates, see:
Reasonable explanation
Develop a reasonable explanation for gaps in your employment history that you can discuss in the interview, or in your application letter. This must not be misleading. The employer does not have a right to your complete life history, only to information that is relevant to your ability to perform the job. Some of these explanations might be true for you:
- I had some health problems that are now taken care of.
- There was an illness in the family.
- I was taking care of my children or a family member.
- I was doing volunteer work with a community organisation.
- I had the opportunity to pursue some non-work interests.
- I took a few years off to travel.
There is no reason to provide detail. Giving too much information could even make the employer uncomfortable. Do not lie or give inaccurate information, as this can cause you anxiety and may put you in a difficult situation later. If you feel comfortable in the interview, you can expand upon your explanation.
There are benefits and risks to disclosing your mental illness to your potential employer:
More information?
Contact the JobAccess Advisers if you would like advice on how to apply for a job if you have an episodic work history. Call them on 1800 464 800 or contact them online: