Ask the Expert: How do I explain an unconventional career path?
Our panel of experts answers career questions from readers. Other readers can contribute their views. This week:
I was made redundant in 2002 and took the decision to scale down my lifestyle and look after my baby daughter, while my wife returned to full-time work. This also allowed me to fulfil a long-standing ambition of trading futures on-line. Unfortunately, my trading has not been as successful as I had hoped and I now need to go back to paid employment in the City. How do I portray my stint as house husband and day trader?
What are you being so defensive about? You took some very valid decisions and doubtless gained some useful experience as well as insight about yourself and how you work best. All you need to do is tell the truth in the best possible light.
On the baby/househusband front you don't need to mention anything, if you don't want to. You have said that having a go at day trading was a 'long-standing ambition' - so tell prospective employers about that. You would have kicked yourself if you had never given it a go and redundancy presented you with an opportunity.
If you like, you can add that it also fitted in well with your private life because it gave you the chance to be a hands-on dad and primary carer for your daughter.
Talk about what you learned as a day trader, what aspects you enjoyed or did well at. Perhaps this was your first experience of being your own boss, working alone and having to rely entirely on your own resources. Simply tell the story of the ambition you had and what you got out of your opportunity to pursue it.
Or perhaps none of this is really is point? Are you feeling defensive about what you've done because you aren't really sure where you want to go next? If you had made enough money day trading would the rest of the lifestyle have suited you? If the answer is yes, then you are probably dreading returning to the macho City culture? Perhaps it's time for a wholesale rethink about your next move and what you want out of your future.
If you do decide to go back to the City, you may find that you have to re-enter a couple of rungs lower down the ladder. You could also find you way back in by working on contract or as an interim.
Whatever you decide, the key to presenting the past is to understand what you gained from it and what you can apply to the future. If you approach the last two years in that way, it will be a lot easier to feel confident and proud of what you did.
Next week's dilemma: I have been having an affair with my boss. She is married (I am not) but she and her husband have been having problems and were considering a trial separation before the affair started. I'm pretty sure that nobody in the bank knows about our relationship. We both make sure that it does not interfere with work but I don't think people would believe this. I don't want to give the relationship up but the fear of discovery is becoming increasingly stressful.
What would you advise? Send your answer to: expertadmin@efinancialcareers.com.
Look out for the Experts' answer to this dilemma and readers' comments on Ask the Expert next week!
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Our experts include: Roger Steare, a career coach at Roger Steare Consulting, and Tony Tucker of the headhunting firm ERG.
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