Long period of unemployment

When you are applying for a job, it feels like you are being scrutinized, but don't view it that way. What happens is that when a company is hiring a lot of people they are looking for apps that qualify, they're looking for people they CAN hire. So CDL, pass the insurance guidelines for accidents and experience, etc... you're in.

Now when they aren't hiring that many and they have a stack of applications to process, they are looking to thin the pile. That is when they are going to toss people with lapses in work history, etc... And believe me that person thinning the job apps is not making any sort of personal judgement on you, they are just doing a crappy, monotonous job. If they tell you no, it never hurts to make them tell you no two or three times. But if I was you I would come up with a better story than "I didn't like my job so I quit and didn't work for 9 months".

That is going to indicate to them that if you don't like the job they give you you will quit at any time without even finding something else to go to. Not what they want to hear. I mean maybe you were looking at starting up a business but you couldn't get the financing, or maybe you were taking care of an ill relative or something. Anything other than "quit my crappy job and sat around for 9 months". That's going to send you packing every time.

 

KG!!

Fill in the time with an attempt to start a business, or say you were caring for a family member, I have been around a bit, it comes from a very previous career where one that did what I did they had to keep moving to keep the income whee it as supposed to be, so I started out my first year or 2 out like I did in the other industry. But in this field you shouldn't jump around as much as i did or like anyone who see the grass is greener isn't always a thing to do. Good Luck, I wish you well.

 

It depends on the company, some are more picky than others. For what it's worth, Prime is known to be one of the more picky ones - especially if you are going to their "Free" paid cdl school. Also, companies that provide "Free" cdl training are more picky about who they offer "Free" training too. I can tell you that my friend took off two years from working after his mom died and he had no problem getting a job after he got his CDL at roadmaster driving school, he got hired at Schneider btw. He put down on his app that he was taking personal time off, he didn't have a problem getting hired, got several offers. He got an inheritance when she passed and wanted to take off two years and travel and enjoy life before he got too old, so he did. It's not a crime to not work for a while, although some people will tell you it is seems like. I also remember reading a thread about a stay at home dad who got his cdl after not working 5 years and got hired, so if everything else like your driving record and criminal history are fine you shouldn't have a problem getting hired somewhere.

 

I wouldn't say that because they'll think.. "What's wrong with this guy..?" Listen dude... you're young enough to start anything you want... chock up your past to "misspent youth"... we've all been there... I didn't get into trucking full on until I was 38yo. ... why? I bounced around.. I drank alot... I had drug issues... but nothing I ever got in trouble for... I cleaned up my act. At truck school we had to fill out apps for the national carriers... we had to show 10 years employment... I had so many jobs I couldn't remember... so they suggested writing to Social Security and getting my employment records... I pooped when they showed up... 30 different jobs in 10 years... so I took out a razor blade and started cutting the pages into sections... picked a few companies... one a year... and mostly companies that were out of business.
Then I mounted them in order of years, and did some fancy photocopy work and when I was done it looked like the official SS pages...
I know this isn't your problem situation wise... I tell you this why..? To make the point that it's never too late or insurmountable if you want something bad enough... with computer records today it's hard to get away with much... I once had a recruiter (truck) tell me to fill in blank time by saying that I was doing research.

Oh and by the way... in 19 years I have 1.75 million accident free, ticket free miles... and I never had to go over the road

My suggestion would be DO NOT go to a company for training... you'll owe them your soul... go to a reputable independent truck school, there is an individual that contacted me through this forum... they were in a desperate position... they went with Stevens and got sent to a school in Oklahoma... it's all a long story... but I'll leave it at... the DMV wanted to meet with the students because Stevens was being investigated for fraud... Stevens closed it down... sent all the students home... and said they didn't owe anything... it's way more involved then just that... but that's for another day. For you... I'd suggest a good school.. and you can get a student loan for truck school... I did... and that was after getting a student loan and grants to go to culinary school at a community college 2 years before... so look into that.. but I would steer you away from school with a trucking company... Good Luck... Raven

 

The simple reason to give would be "Family Issues". If you have a kid, they needed some extra attention from you. If not, say your parents were having trouble, and needed help from you. Any company that would give you any argument about you putting Family first, is a company you would be better off not working for anyway.

Plus, get that stupid word "excuse" out of your head. You are not asking to be excused, or forgiven. You are letting them know the REASON, not the EXCUSE. If you view your statement as an excuse, rather than a reason, it will show in your body language, and mannerisms. Plan it out in your mind before you start the interview process, and stick to it.

 

Kenny.... Money should not be an issue because any school that you would want to go to ie. somewhat reputable will be able to get you a student loan... don't hook up with a school through a company... they will own you... ie... slavery. You'll have many more options with a school unattached to a trucking company.