What should I say??

[Lynn]

I have been thinking seriously about going back to work :( and recently I sent in my resume to a company. Upon thinking about it much later I realized that my last job said I worked untiL April of '03. DS was born in JUNE of '03. The real reason I left my job was because I was going on straight commission and knew there was no way I'd meet my sales goal while being pg. So I quit.

I know any new company will ask me what I have been doing since April of '03. Should I say that I took time off to raise a family (which I think isn't a very business-etiquette-savvy answer), or that I left because the pay stunk at my old job?

[Dennis]

Definitely don't say "I quit because the pay stunk." Say something like the position wasn't a good fit and you decided to take some time to re-evaluate your career goals. Some kind of BS like that :)

Dennis

[Kate]

I am returning to the job market and I haven't worked in my proffesion since '01. I have just been saying that I took time off to raise my children. No one seems put off over that. I would never say that the pay stunk.

[kim]

i agree with kate. just say you took time off to care for your child. they won't blink an eye, especially since you haven't been gone that long.

[Lynn]

Oh no, I would never really say that I left because the pay stunk. I'm not that ballsy! :lol:
But isn't it considered illegal of sorts to say that about raising a family? I mean, I know it's a total no-no for the employer to ASK me if I have a family. If I offer the info first then it's okay?

[SarahK]

It's not illegal for you to say that you took time off to raise a child...but you're right, it is illegal for them to ask if you have children or are married.

[Kate]

They can not ask you if you have family, but some people might ask what you have been doing since '03. I haven't been offering that information, but when asked I say that I have been home with my children. I even had a phone interview and Alasdair started crying in the middle of it.

[Susan]

As someone who has hired many people during my career, I agree that you should just say "I took some time off when I had my baby and spent X amount of time at home with my child(ren)." Not a big deal at all, and will not cause a red flag.

[Wendy]

I agree. Tell them you took time off to raise a family :)

[redhairedgirl]

Thanks for asking this Lynn, I've been wondering the same thing. ;)