Here you will find some advice on how to handle the more common CV problems. It might be good to address some of these issues in your cover letter.

Gaps in your employment history:

It is crucial to be honest in your CV as well as your interviews. If you are with an employment agency they need to be aware of any and all problems in order to assist you. Often people have a year or two open on their CV because they could not find another job, had family commitments, travelled, etc. Be ready for questions about this. If the gap was less than a year you could possibly reflect your employment dates in years and not the exact months. That should make it less obvious.

However, it is important not to come across as someone who is unreliable and who lost a lot of skills by sitting at home. You have to be ready to explain the gap in simple and realistic terms and as something that is probably not going to re-occur soon.

If you were retrenched it is important to explain what happened without bitterness or sarcasm. Remember you are selling yourself: Discuss the matter with maturity and emphasise how you will add value to a future employer.

Getting dismissed from a company:

You do not have to reflect why you left a company - most of the time the assumption is that people leave for better prospects. However, a lot of companies will ask you for reasons either in the interview or in their official application form. Whatever you do, don't lie. A background check will show that you have been dismissed and your credibility will damaged. When a prospective employer asks you it is best to tell the truth. Briefly explain the circumstances, avoid any sordid details and highlight how you have grown and learned from this.

Big career change:

You have the right to change careers. However, a prospective employer will ask you for your reasons as they need to assess your potential to stay with their company. Explain how the change in careers assisted you as well as all the new skills you've acquired. Be sure to link it to the position you are applying for and show how you will be able to apply it.

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