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Work, learning and confidence

Going back to work after a gap

Explaining time out, building confidence, and support you can ask for — at your pace.

What this means

A gap on a CV is ordinary. Employers see them constantly, and you get to decide how much detail you give.

You do not have to disclose a health condition or your recovery to get a job. You may choose to, and there are situations where it helps you get support.

Work is not proof of recovery. Going back before you are ready helps nobody, and there is no deadline here.

Your options

  • Explain the gap briefly and move on

    One honest line is enough: 'I took time out for health reasons and I'm ready to work now.' You are not obliged to expand.

  • Start smaller than a full-time job

    Volunteering, a short course or a few hours a week builds recent history and confidence, and gives you a reference.

  • Access to Work

    A government scheme in England, Scotland and Wales that can fund practical support at work for a health condition, including mental health support. Northern Ireland has its own arrangements through the Department for Communities.

  • Check how earnings affect your benefits

    Universal Credit reduces gradually as you earn rather than stopping suddenly. Use a calculator or an adviser before you commit to hours — do not guess.

Things you could do today

Small steps only. Add any of them to your plan — or none of them. Nothing is expected of you.

  1. List three things you have done in the last two years, paid or not. That is the start of a CV.
  2. Write your one-line explanation of the gap and read it out once.
  3. Look at one volunteering or training option locally.
  4. If a health condition affects work, read the Access to Work page.

Information it helps to have ready

  • Rough dates of past jobs, training or volunteering
  • Any certificates or references you can get hold of
  • What hours and conditions you could genuinely manage now
  • Any support or adjustments that would make work possible

If you do not have some of these, ask anyway — not having everything is not a reason to be turned away.

Words you could borrow

Edit, copy and send these yourself. Nothing is sent from BesideYou.

Enquiry about volunteering

Edit anything in [square brackets]. Only include what is true and what you want to share — nothing is sent from here.

Asking an employer about adjustments

Edit anything in [square brackets]. Only include what is true and what you want to share — nothing is sent from here.

What happens next

Volunteering organisations usually reply within a week or two and often have a short informal chat rather than an interview.

Access to Work involves an application and an assessment of what support would help; it is arranged with your employer.

If earnings change your benefits, report it through your journal — do not wait to be asked.

More help

Where this information comes from