Is a 5 year gap that bad?

Mountaindewed · Dec 10, 2024, 01:06 PM

I applied to 3 jobs last night and this will be my first time working in almost 5 years. There was the pandemic, and I had a few surgeries, and I moved and I was pretty sick all of this year. Its still going on but I'm just dealing with it.

The jobs I applied to are chain store retail stores that I have plenty of expirence in.

But will the 5 year gap get me?

NovaBlaze · Dec 10, 2024, 02:20 PM

Lots of people take long gaps from work, for many reasons, and get back into work successfully. Just be positive going forward, and play to your strengths - your previous experience and your desire to work again. You’ll be fine.

Discombobulated · Dec 10, 2024, 06:24 PM

I had a gap bigger than that, in my case I just didn’t have recent proven work experience, so I volunteered. In my case that really helped my confidence and gave me something to mention at interview (you know those ‘give me an example of a time when you…’ sort of questions. Good luck!

divine1966 · Dec 10, 2024, 06:34 PM

In my experience retail hires everyone and anyone. They always need people and they have no issue with people not working for how many years. You breathe and can move, you get a job. If for whatever crazy reason they ask, you could tell you have moved, had personal reasons, had surgeries etc

Mountaindewed · Dec 12, 2024, 10:59 AM

Its been 3 days and I haven't heard anything. I don't know if I'm just expecting things too early or if its no.

Mountaindewed · Dec 12, 2024, 04:59 PM

It was a no from one place. They gave me some bs answer about my avaliabilty. I looked around on Reddit and people are having a tough time even getting a job at Mcdonalds. A lot of listings online are ghost listings.

I still have the other 2 places to hear back from. Not sure after that.

I don't even want to say what I'm thinking. But maybe I'll have better luck finding a job next year.

NovaBlaze · Dec 12, 2024, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

It was a no from one place. They gave me some bs answer about my avaliabilty. I looked around on Reddit and people are having a tough time even getting a job at Mcdonalds. A lot of listings online are ghost listings.

I still have the other 2 places to hear back from. Not sure after that.

I don't even want to say what I'm thinking. But maybe I'll have better luck finding a job next year.

Whatever happens, don’t give up. Keep trying, you’ll be successful, even if it takes a while.

Discombobulated · Dec 13, 2024, 02:30 AM

The time just before Christmas is a bit of a dead time for a lot of hiring, they’ve already got their seasonal temps. January can be dead too as that’s when retail hours are usually cut, but should pick up going into spring. Definitely keep an eye out and keep trying.

divine1966 · Dec 13, 2024, 02:37 AM

Check TJXstores (Homegoods Marshalls TJmax Sierra), they never do not hire except maybe slow month in January

Mountaindewed · Dec 14, 2024, 07:13 AM

I'm waiting to hear back from TJX and a stocking job at the pet store. Both had openings.

Blue_Bird · Dec 14, 2024, 06:06 PM

I had a 10 year gap between my first two jobs. My first job was in factory at 18. Then like a year and a half ago I got a job at Burlington right after applying, got interviewed and hired on the spot. I worked there for 3 months then left/quit due to the stress affecting me. But my point is the 10 year gap didn't affect me getting a job at all, I was still able to get other jobs too even with my limited work history. I am not working now, just volunteering. But like other people said just keep applying and be positive during the interview and you'll get something. You'll probably hear back from TJX, I worked at Marshalls and they always need help especially during the holidays, especially with cashiering. The main thing is to be felxible because stores like marhsalls, burlington, etc tend to cross train most people in different areas of the store depending on what they need at a given time. When I was working at Burlington and Marshalls I was a cashier but I also did sales floor and stocking when needed too

splitimage · Dec 17, 2024, 10:05 AM

If you don't get hired quickly, I'd recommend volunteering. I'd been out of the workforce for 8 years and when I was ready to start thinking about work, I started out with volunteering. I volunteered for 6 months before applying for my current job. The volunteering really boosted my confidence, showed employers I could stick with something, and gave me a current reference.

And since my current employer strictly hires people with histories of mental health challenges lots of us had big gaps on our resumes, but their criteria when hiring was that you had to be doing something on a regular basis, ie, school, volunteering, working part time, for the 6 months prior to your application.

Mountaindewed · Dec 21, 2024, 11:11 AM

TJX said no. I'm not going to worry about it for the rest of the year. I have a couple other places I'll apply to after the holidays.

I just hope my a hole pdoc can see I'm trying. He was really hard on me last month.

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