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For the past year and half I have not been looking for work. Instead I have been pursuing a musical career. Between practice, learning my instrument, creating songs, networkijng, and playing gigs, I was pretty occupied. Anyway, my savings aren't shot yet but I need a Ft job to acrue some more funds while I chase. My previous experience is in customer service (i'd moved up to csr specialist). Education wise my degree isn't that helpful. What I am wondering is what I am suppose to say in an interview. I don't think I can tell them I've been focused on being a musician can I? I also doubt I can tell them I'd only plan to work at the job for however long needed and would quit if it ended up conflicting (like if we got booked).
Be creative. Tell them you were pursing independent music projects. Aka, you were "freelancing." I used the same excuse when I had gaps. That and "I was writing a novel." Worked every time for me.
Just don't tell them you were working as a prostitute the last year and a half, the personnel director may hire you on the spot and you won't have an opportunity to be interviewed by anyone else!
You tell them exactly what you were doing. Sure you may be a bit creative in the description, just so long as you don’t lie.
I do have to ask you a question: why do you fee you can’t be truthful about exactly what you were doing? You must have had good solid valid reason for quitting your last job and doing this full-time instead of regular employment. The very reasons you had to convince yourself to do this are the same reasons to give the prospective employer. If it was good enough for you to make such a life choice decision, it should still be good enough for you to stand behind when job hunting.
Unless it's in the music industry, they might assume you are a job hopper and will leave again to pursue music.
1.5 is not terribly long, but it's still a red flag for employers. Usually the best option for people with long gaps in employment history is going to temp agencies. Temping is a way to build work experience in a short time, even though it can be mentally draining. But you're behind most people with work experience now so I'd suggest contacting a temp agency. Plus, a lot of temp jobs lead to permanent.
If you are in a job interview and you say you are a musician (for a non-musician job) it is all over. Why would they want to hire you for any responsible job when you just indicated you will be out-of-there given the first opportunity. You also need to be realistic, how good are you, will you ever be able to make a good living at it, with the millions of 'musicians' out there --what to be have that outdistances you from them. The best thing is for one to recognize that perhaps their career is not in that field, but it will be a side job, a second job----UNTIL it proves otherwise, if ever.
When I worked at Int Jensen back in 1995 a guy was doing drafting for the CAD Boss. He was a drummer or so in a band and the CAD Boss thought that was cool. I guess they let him have time off if he was touring, and he bragged to the boss about their band's record deals. He never had any degree related to CAD or engineering. I guess he schmoozed his way in with the boss to work there.
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