How to Answer Interview Question?

[Deleted]

I am actively looking for a job. What I have applied for would be considered to be a level above entry level, office type positions.

What should I say about my time since "officially" working as an employee in 2007?

My DH passed in March 2011, I went back to college and now have an AS degree as of the end of this past summer. During that time, actually all of my time since 2007, I have worked as a contractor doing writing, editing, data entry and fact checking type projects from home.

I don't like mentioning my DH, and I hate saying I am an "independent contractor working from home" because then people think I am actually not working....

Any thoughts on the topic are highly appreciated. I would like to land a job eventually....

[movingforward]

I would give specifics on the jobs you have completed and even offer written examples of your work if they are available.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I would just use the phrase 'contractor' and skip the 'working from home' part. Talk up about returning to school and that you did contract work while caring for a sick family member.

[Colleenz]

You may not like it, but saying " I workled from home to care for a terminally ill family member" is true and explains the work history. If someone is dense enough to press you for details just explain that it was a very difficult experience and you would prefer not to relive the details. Best of luck to you.

[midjd]

Yes, specifics are good. I'd just list the names of the companies with whom you contracted, and your role. I don't know that you even have to put "independent contractor," necessarily.

I was a contractor here for about a year, but on my resume I just put my job title and the dates - I don't distinguish between my time as a contractor and my time as an employee.

[shanendoah]

On your resume, I would put "Independent Contractor" and the dates, and then under that, I would list some of the companies you worked for and the projects you did.
I've worked temp more than once and on my resume always put something like

Temporary Employee, Uniforce Staffing Agency May 1996- April 1997
Pasteur Merieux Connaught- Data Entry Specialist
UPS- Receptionist & Data Entry

Then, if asked directly in an interview why you left your last permanent position in order to work as a contractor, you can answer honestly that you left to care for a terminally ill family member. You don't need to elaborate and your interviewer shouldn't make any remark other than something along the lines of "I'm sorry for your loss" (if that) and then move on.
Being asked why you left a position is a pretty standard interview/application question (for positions that have their own applications), so it's something you need to get comfortable with answering.

[kittensaver]

I agree with Colleenz - the truth is always best. "I worked part-time from home while caring for a terminally ill family member. Those care duties are finished and I'm ready and able to get back into the job market full time."

[hoops902]

Oct 24, 2012 11:47:06 GMT -5 midjd said:

Yes, specifics are good. I'd just list the names of the companies with whom you contracted, and your role. I don't know that you even have to put "independent contractor," necessarily.

I was a contractor here for about a year, but on my resume I just put my job title and the dates - I don't distinguish between my time as a contractor and my time as an employee.

Unless there's a chance they're going to contact that employer, and they're going to say "nope, she was never an employee here". It works fine if you went from contractor to then being employee, but you wouldn't want the potential employer to verify employment and hear that you never worked there. I doubt most would then come back with "well it looks like you lied to us" and give you a chance to explain, they'd probably just choose not to move on with you.

If it were me, I'd go ahead and list that I was a contractor. But definitely list the companies and what you did if you're concerned that it's going to look like you didn't do anything at all.

[happyhoix]

Bringing examples of your work is good. They may not ask to see them, but you'll be ready if they do. On your resume, list the time from 2007 - 2011 as "Contract work for ABC and XYZ company performing DEF functions." If you don't want to include your DH, if the question comes up in the interview about why you weren't a full time employee during that time, mention that you were also caring for a terminally ill family member so you needed the flexible schedule being a contractor provided.

Good luck.

[thyme4change]

"I worked part-time from home while caring for a terminally ill family member. Those care duties are finished and I'm ready and able to get back into the job market full time."

This is perfect. If someone won't cut you some slack for this reason, they are probably an asshole and you don't want to work for them anyway. This also assures them that you won't have the same life complications that you had when you had to leave the job market. Rewrite this sentence to sound like your own words, and repeat it 40 times a day until it rolls off your tongue. You want to sound professional and concise when saying it. As a hiring manager, this is all I would need to know about the personal portion of your life. I may, however, delve into your work duties during that time to assess your skill level.

[hoops902]

I'm not so sure I'd mention that I worked part time. You were a contractor, there really is no part time or full time. Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like some of these suggestions are bringing up your personal life for absolutely no reason at all. When someone asks where I've been working for the past 5 years I just list my company, I don't include reasons why I wanted to live in the area or anything. I'd be more apt to bring up the caring for a family member if you didn't work at ALL, but you did, I'd just mention that and leave it there unless there ends up being questions of how many hours you worked, etc.

[thyme4change]

Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like some of these suggestions are bringing up your personal life for absolutely no reason at all.

If they aske what she has earned and it is very low, you want to give them an indication that you were still compensated appropriately for your hours. However, you also want to indicate that you had a good reason for taking reduced hours, and it wasn't just laziness.

[973beachbum]

Just answer honestly. You were working for these companies as a contractor while caring for your terminally ill family memeber.

Trying to dodge the question would raise flags for me if I was interviewing you. the answer would make me understand without wanting to pry into your personal life.

Good luck!

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Oct 24, 2012 12:15:03 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like some of these suggestions are bringing up your personal life for absolutely no reason at all.

If they aske what she has earned and it is very low, you want to give them an indication that you were still compensated appropriately for your hours. However, you also want to indicate that you had a good reason for taking reduced hours, and it wasn't just laziness.

Agreed. It would depend on the interview itself, but I think there is a certain amount of explaining that might be warranted if her work history is spotty or low-paid. It's no different than explaining a part-time job by pointing out that she was returning to school at the time. It doesn't need to be detailed out or overly personal, but it helps to fill in a resume gap if needed.

[shanendoah]

It is not just if her work history is spotty or if it seems she was underpaid. It is a VERY common interview question to ask people why they left positions. (Our HR screeners ask candidates this question all the time.) You don't list that you were caring for a family member on the resume- on the resume you simply put Independent Contractor and list some of the companies/projects you worked on. If they ask for salary history, you list that honestly too.
And when an interviewer asks (because I promise you, interviewers ask) why you left the job in 2007. You simply say I left to care for a terminally ill family member. You can add that those duties are now over if you want, but you don't have to.
What you do have to be is prepared to answer that question simply and honestly without going into unnecessary detail.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"I hate saying I am an "independent contractor working from home" because then people think I am actually not working...":::...

I have a friend who says it like this: "I'm self employed, and I've been self employed for over 6 years."

I like the "contract work while caring for a terminally ill family member".

[hoops902]

::You simply say I left to care for a terminally ill family member. You can add that those duties are now over if you want, but you don't have to.::

You don't have to, but you probably should for the best results. Don't leave it up to the interviewer to guess whether you'll be leaving in 2 months to restart your caregiving.

[The Captain]

Oct 24, 2012 11:40:35 GMT -5 @goldpanninggirl said:

I am actively looking for a job. What I have applied for would be considered to be a level above entry level, office type positions.

What should I say about my time since "officially" working as an employee in 2007?

My DH passed in March 2011, I went back to college and now have an AS degree as of the end of this past summer. During that time, actually all of my time since 2007, I have worked as a contractor doing writing, editing, data entry and fact checking type projects from home.

I don't like mentioning my DH, and I hate saying I am an "independent contractor working from home" because then people think I am actually not working....

Any thoughts on the topic are highly appreciated. I would like to land a job eventually....

Shasta - I'm a hiring manager and will tell you my thoughts. Please take them as only well intended advice.

First off, definitely mention DH. I hate to see block of time between jobs on a resume without a REALLY serious explanation for the gap due to the exact reason you already stated - I think people may not be motivated to find a job. Some of the suggestions about caring for a terminally ill person were good ones.

Second, focus on the fact that you hustled to work at any job you could get while still meeting family responsibilities (which no longer exist). Freelancing is more common these days and I have a lot more respect for someone who would take any work they could get as opposed to not working at all.

Finally, mention your natural abilities (you are very good at self direction and problem solving as evidenced from other posts on the board) and don't be afraid to use home based examples of how you worked to resolve issues (well pump out, heck I'll just figure out how to install one myself!). I'm constantly seeking people who show moxie and creative thinking skills. I can teach them the technical aspects of my job, but certain positive traits (which you demonstrate) cannot be taught.

Just my opinion FWIW.

Good luck!