How can I deal with that hole in the size of the Mt. Fuji in my resume?
November 7, 2008 6:36 AM Subscribe
How can I deal with that hole in the size of the Mt. Fuji in my resume? I spent about four years of my student life being depressed. What should I say about if I want applying for a new job?
In the latter years of my studies I went through a long phase of depression of about 3 years. I can not even remember what exactly I did during this time but I must have been been pathetic web surfing, eating and researching some obscure ideas that never went nowhere.
After some struggling, life went on, I barely finished my degree in CS and by chance found a job. Apparently I was kind of convincing my current boss said something "Well, I think better I ask you not what you did in those years."
I like my job, just it does not pay good enough to support a family. I do not like my situation in this overcrowded metro pole I am living in. I am doing an nice job in my programming, I assume, and am also involved into organization of documentation and software development. So it should be possible to find at least a similar job elsewhere. So what will I respond when asked what I did in those years?
In the latter years of my studies I went through a long phase of depression of about 3 years. I can not even remember what exactly I did during this time but I must have been been pathetic web surfing, eating and researching some obscure ideas that never went nowhere.
After some struggling, life went on, I barely finished my degree in CS and by chance found a job. Apparently I was kind of convincing my current boss said something "Well, I think better I ask you not what you did in those years."
I like my job, just it does not pay good enough to support a family. I do not like my situation in this overcrowded metro pole I am living in. I am doing an nice job in my programming, I assume, and am also involved into organization of documentation and software development. So it should be possible to find at least a similar job elsewhere. So what will I respond when asked what I did in those years?
Were you in school the whole time, though? If school took inordinately long, just say it was because you were traveling throughout and pursuing other interests.
posted by jon_kill at 6:40 AM on November 7, 2008
posted by jon_kill at 6:40 AM on November 7, 2008
As a preliminary, the first thing you need to do is to be sure that you really have your depression under control. Your employer isn't going to be as concerned about an apparent three-year resume gap if you've been productive since and aren't likely to drop off the face of the planet again. On the other hand, if you're barely keeping it together, this could be a real problem.
Exactly how you answer those questions will depend on how many years ago it was. If you've been at your current job for a few years, say as long as you spent not working, what you did before getting there should be less important. On the other hand, if you landed this job this past summer and are already looking to move on, a three-year gap in the immediate past is going to look distressingly odd.
If it has been a while, you can say something like "Well, I had a bit of a rough patch in my personal life, but I've gotten past it and spent the last x years working productively at my current employer, who can provide a reference if you'd like." You don't need to go into the fact that you were/are suffering from depression. Still, even though employers aren't really allowed to ask more than that, you'll never get over the fact that someone your age who didn't have your problems is going to have that much more experience than you do.
All in all, I'd say don't sweat it. Not everybody graduates from college in four years, and the reasons are as diverse as the population. Some people aren't mature enough for college at eighteen but figure it out in a year or two. Some contract a serious illness. Others have a family member contract a serious illness, or die, and need to work for a few years to help out their family. Some just have financial problems and need to work themselves through school. The vast majority of these don't really pose any problem for potential employers, even if they do create resume holes, and you having been depressed doesn't need to do so either.
In any case, the job market really sucks right now, so you might consider just toughing it out. Yeah, you may not be making as much as you'd like, but hell, who is? You've got a job. Thank providence for small mercies.
posted by valkyryn at 6:49 AM on November 7, 2008
Exactly how you answer those questions will depend on how many years ago it was. If you've been at your current job for a few years, say as long as you spent not working, what you did before getting there should be less important. On the other hand, if you landed this job this past summer and are already looking to move on, a three-year gap in the immediate past is going to look distressingly odd.
If it has been a while, you can say something like "Well, I had a bit of a rough patch in my personal life, but I've gotten past it and spent the last x years working productively at my current employer, who can provide a reference if you'd like." You don't need to go into the fact that you were/are suffering from depression. Still, even though employers aren't really allowed to ask more than that, you'll never get over the fact that someone your age who didn't have your problems is going to have that much more experience than you do.
All in all, I'd say don't sweat it. Not everybody graduates from college in four years, and the reasons are as diverse as the population. Some people aren't mature enough for college at eighteen but figure it out in a year or two. Some contract a serious illness. Others have a family member contract a serious illness, or die, and need to work for a few years to help out their family. Some just have financial problems and need to work themselves through school. The vast majority of these don't really pose any problem for potential employers, even if they do create resume holes, and you having been depressed doesn't need to do so either.
In any case, the job market really sucks right now, so you might consider just toughing it out. Yeah, you may not be making as much as you'd like, but hell, who is? You've got a job. Thank providence for small mercies.
posted by valkyryn at 6:49 AM on November 7, 2008
Just claim health reasons. You shouldnt need to provide more details.
posted by damn dirty ape at 6:50 AM on November 7, 2008
posted by damn dirty ape at 6:50 AM on November 7, 2008
Spent a few years in education part-time while you helped out with "a family matter"?
posted by K.P. at 7:00 AM on November 7, 2008
posted by K.P. at 7:00 AM on November 7, 2008
You've been freelancing, doing something you really can do.
You've been travelling.
You were in a band.
posted by cincinnatus c at 7:06 AM on November 7, 2008
You've been travelling.
You were in a band.
posted by cincinnatus c at 7:06 AM on November 7, 2008
Best answer: If you have a steady timeline of graduation > employment > employment then just list your date of graduation, degree and university rather than giving the time span you attended.
Worst case scenario: you look three years younger.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:35 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Worst case scenario: you look three years younger.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:35 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Don't lie. People who advise you to make up some fictional backstory must never ever have conversations with their coworkers. Because I can assure you, over the course of the several years you will ostensibly be at this new job, it'll come up.
"I took some time off to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. This is it." That's the response I'd give.
posted by mkultra at 7:40 AM on November 7, 2008
"I took some time off to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. This is it." That's the response I'd give.
posted by mkultra at 7:40 AM on November 7, 2008
Best answer: Is it possible to format your resume so this question doesn't even come up?
Like, if the real timeline went...
99-02 Enrolled in college but battling depression
02-06 Actually studying for CS degree
06-08 In employment
You could format it as...
Education
BSc in Computer Science, Statesville University, 2006
Courses taken include 'This 101', 'Intermediate Thatting' and 'Advanced The Other'.
Employment
Techy Type, Small Company Ltd. 2006-2008
Duties include: stuff, stuff and further stuff.
Just emphasise the stuff they need to know (that your education and experience are relevant to the post) and leave off the year you started college. If they assume you started in 2002, that's not your problem and you haven't actually lied.
posted by the latin mouse at 7:50 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Like, if the real timeline went...
99-02 Enrolled in college but battling depression
02-06 Actually studying for CS degree
06-08 In employment
You could format it as...
Education
BSc in Computer Science, Statesville University, 2006
Courses taken include 'This 101', 'Intermediate Thatting' and 'Advanced The Other'.
Employment
Techy Type, Small Company Ltd. 2006-2008
Duties include: stuff, stuff and further stuff.
Just emphasise the stuff they need to know (that your education and experience are relevant to the post) and leave off the year you started college. If they assume you started in 2002, that's not your problem and you haven't actually lied.
posted by the latin mouse at 7:50 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Or more succinctly, what Bri said.
posted by the latin mouse at 7:51 AM on November 7, 2008
posted by the latin mouse at 7:51 AM on November 7, 2008
DarlingBri and the_latin_mouse nailed it. I teach resume building, and that's exactly what I would advise. I never my students not to put down their high school graduation date unless it's 1. relevant and 2. fairly recent (ie, they're freshmen). Just list your college graduation date--there's no reason to include anything else.
(I mean, it's not really a gap even. Plenty of people take more than four years to get through college and don't work during that time).
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:26 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
(I mean, it's not really a gap even. Plenty of people take more than four years to get through college and don't work during that time).
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:26 AM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
I never have my students put down their graduation date, rather.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:27 AM on November 7, 2008
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:27 AM on November 7, 2008
Use the graduation date, not the start date. It will help you get the interview. If the employer/recruiter asks about your start date, you can tell them and say that you were attending to a family matter or a health matter, if need be. They shouldn't ask more.
I took six years to complete university. I have been hassled by a handful of employers/recruiters, even though my resume clearly shows that I was working in career related positions during that time. In fact, when I would point that out, some would ask why I went back to school! You can't always win. Fortunately, once you've got a job or two under your belt, most employers stop caring about your degree. They just want to know you have one.
I'm not sure what current laws say about asking your start date. Someone recently told me that employers can't ask your high school graduation date or your university start date, as it may promote age discrimination. I have no idea whether that is true.
posted by acoutu at 9:14 AM on November 7, 2008
I took six years to complete university. I have been hassled by a handful of employers/recruiters, even though my resume clearly shows that I was working in career related positions during that time. In fact, when I would point that out, some would ask why I went back to school! You can't always win. Fortunately, once you've got a job or two under your belt, most employers stop caring about your degree. They just want to know you have one.
I'm not sure what current laws say about asking your start date. Someone recently told me that employers can't ask your high school graduation date or your university start date, as it may promote age discrimination. I have no idea whether that is true.
posted by acoutu at 9:14 AM on November 7, 2008
Response by poster: What Bri said, also I am not a good story teller or liar.
posted by EuroBunny at 3:46 PM on November 7, 2008
posted by EuroBunny at 3:46 PM on November 7, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by A189Nut at 6:40 AM on November 7, 2008