how to explain a period of unemployment

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello this is my first time to post please HELP. I quit my job in June after lack of support from a new manager and overall I was burned out. Now it's 6 months later and after much needed r & r I am job searching but how do I explain my period of unemployment and reason for leaving.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is easier if you are a female nurse! There are a lot of things that male nurses can't do....

I hope this will help!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have the SAME exact problem!

Well similar. I loved my manager and co-workers. But the job was all wrong for me. I burnt out too.

Anyway, I never meant to take off so much time from work. But then my grandfather was sick and hospitalised and I spent a lot of time with him. Then my grandfather died suddenly, and we had to deal with funeral arrangements and clearing out his apartment. Then I got bitten by something, spider or fire ant, and my bite wound became badly infected and I wound up with cellulitis of my leg. That took a month to heal. Then my Dad had a syncopal episode while driving his car and he crashed and he was in the hospital for 1 week, got diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, ended up with an ICD placed in his chest. And then came Christmas time.

So yeah, I too have to explain why I've been unemployeed for several months.

Some people have suggested I simply say "I had family obligations".

As for reason for leaving job, I guess I will have to say that I realised, while working outside in the field as a home hospice nurse, that I need more inpatient acute care experience and therefore want to return to hospital nursing.

I dunno. I'm not sure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

I would say family obligations or personal obligations. Just don't complain about where you work that is a big no no:nono:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, yeah, I know that you should never ever say a bad thing about your previous job or your previous employer.

Some friends have told me that in their job interviews, they always say "I didn't feel I was challenged enough" or something similar like "I'm looking for more of a challenge". I dunno.

It's kinda tricky when you left a job because you were overwhelmed and burnt out and couldn't handle it and felt it wasn't the right job for you. I mean, how do you be truthfull in that case??? Obviously, during a job interview, you can not complain about your previous job and your previous employer. That's unprofessional. But, if you're honest, and say that you weren't capable of doing your last job, then nobody is going to hire you!!

But yes, I think when a female nurse has several months of being out of work, I think "family obligations" and/or "personal obligations" is a decent response. Especially, when it is the absolute truth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

You can always say that type of nursing wasn't right for you, you are more of a *whatever* floor it is. I don't know if that would work though. Especially if they are both med surg floors.........................IDK............

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

NEVER, EVER say anyting bad about your last job, ever, ever. Don't talk bad about your last supervisor. I would have to ask you how long you had worked at that job before you left? I had a job once that I quit 6 weeks later, I hated the job.I was not terminated but I hated it and just left. When I was asked about why I had not had a job for 6 weeks I told them that it was for personal reasons and that I needed a break.

I have never been terminated from a job so I am not sure how I would deal with the situation. And remember, when they call to check on your previous status the only information they can be given are your dates of service and your last salary. But believe me, all these HR and manager people know each other and they can always get the scoop under the table. That was what I always did when I was hiring someone new who came from a hospital where I knew the manager.

What you might want to do is simply state the facts and explain what you have done to correct the issue that got you terminated so that it will not happen again. If the hiring manager knows that you have taken extra steps to correct your deficits, he/she might look favorably on you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hopefully you can find a good spin on this one. If I was hiring, I'd be very cautious about bringing someone in that quit without having another job lined up and needed to take six months off just to re-group without a really good explanation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.
It is easier if you are a female nurse! There are a lot of things that male nurses can't do....

I hope this will help!

What?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was not terminated from job. I quit voluntarily, I worked with liver, kidney transplants, and thoracic surgery patients, it wasn't your typical med/surg. I was burned out and quit. I took 6 months off for vacationing and rest. Now I am ready to go back to work I just don't know how to explain what I did in those 6 months that would make it sound better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"Went on a sabbatical?" I had the same thing happen, not as long and worried over what to say for days. Finally had an interview and was never asked!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
"Went on a sabbatical?" I had the same thing happen, not as long and worried over what to say for days. Finally had an interview and was never asked!

You were lucky!

I guess they were very short....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment