Cover Letters, How do I...?

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

I've recently started looking at getting back into the workforce after a 4.5 year hiatus to start a family.

just wondering if anyone can help/advise how i explain my extended absence from the workforce in my cover letter to prospective employers, without putting myself straight into the "no" pile?

thanks in advance

[little_O]

Not sure on exact wording, but as an employer, I wouldn't have thought anything odd of you taking that time off to start a family.

Do some companies look down on that?

[~Hestia~]

I haven't returned as yet but I imagine I will say something along the lines of 'being my children's primary carer' during my absence. Good luck!

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Not sure on exact wording, but as an employer, I wouldn't have thought anything odd of you taking that time off to start a family.

Do some companies look down on that?

i wouldn't say it's looked down on, however, having worked in recruitment i do know that a candidate who has terrific skills but has been out of the workforce for an extended period of time will generally be overlooked in favour of a candidate who has an equal skill set but is currently in the workforce and in between jobs itms?

Hestia - thank you for your input too! it is similar to what i have done, just wasn't sure if it sounded right!

[HotI]

do you need to address that in your cover letter? the cover letter might be first thing they look at to decide which cv s to look at. i would be more inclined to focus on how you fit the role in the cover letter.

i heard a speaker talk about how he assesses job applications. one thing that he was interested in was the 'interests' section at the end. i always assumed this was just a fluff bit, but he said that if he read a person was a volunteer or part of a committee (kinder/school/local community), their application went higher up the pile because it showed they were willing to put themselves out there and learn skills needed for the job that was in front of them. if you have any role like this in the past years, make a feature of it, think of the skills that you learnt or needed to do the role.

good luck!

[little_O]

What HotIsaid. We always look at the interests section too.

[YoYo]

Agree with hotI - what you should address in a covering letter are the points they want to know you can demonstrate in the role. If you've got the criteria, then it shouldn't matter if you've had 4.5 years not doing them. Just because you're home with kids doesn't erase your working skills.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

thanks ladies! good points about the interest section.

i went back through some of my old cover letters and have compiled a basic template that I'll now use and tweak to make applicable to the roles I'll be applying for.

thanks again!