How do I tactfully describe a 10 year gap in employment, due to divorce incarceration and homelessness?

I guess it is going to be almost impossible to hide the incarceration, if the company really wants to find it.

If what happened is as "honest" as you explained, then the best course of action that I see is to be open about what happened during the interview. You do not need to start with the incarceration, of course, but do not be very afraid to talk about it if needed.

I think that you can start saying that you had a rough life because of the divorce, affecting several sides of your life.

Maybe the interviewer will be happy and not ask more questions. But you will have to find an explanation about WHY you missed 10 years of employment for a "simple" divorce. And here you might have the bigger problem: even the incarceration (6 months) does not justify 10 years. You know your life better.

What happened happened. Now it the good time to move on, with better decisions. This is not only general advice for you (it is), but also something that you can tell the interviewer(s). That now you are stronger and willing to correct the misfortunes of the past.

I wound up in jail for six months, for a misunderstanding (total accident).

Ask most people who end up in jail for dealing dugs, stealing, etc... They too wound up in jail for a misunderstanding... In-fact everyone who goes to jail/prison is as innocent as a lamb. It is not their fault.

I say this not to imply that you weren't innocent, but rather so that you understand how someone who is thinking about hiring you hears your story.

They don't hear that you accidently ended up in jail. They hear that you are a person that doesn't take accountability for their actions. And will make that same claim when tools go missing or money from the till 'accidently' ends up in your pocket, etc...

You need to tell a better story, if they ask about it.

That aside. Now to your ten year employment gap... 10 years is a really, really long time to be un-employed due to a divorce, or even due to incarceration (unless you were in prison for 10 years). Honestly, without more information about what you were doing during those 10 years... I don't know if you can tactfully describe it.

You spent those 10 years? being homeless? doing drugs? selling drugs? mooching off of relatives/friends? How did you survive without some sort of income?

These are the questions that anyone who interviews is going to have. And you need an answer that says that you are trying to move on and better yourself. That you want to support yourself etc...

Honestly, your best bet is to find an employment center, or a place that provides help to homeless/the recently homeless people and talk to them about job placement. Because you are going to have a really, really hard time finding a job otherwise.

You are now in a bad position, you are at a clear disadvantage. Sorry for not sugarcoating this, its a fact.

Find a way to have an edge over other competitors for a job.

This could be training/education/willingness to do jobs less people might want to do (including lowering expectations for a few years or be willing to find a way to start your own business).

Good luck, everyone deserves a second chance I hope it all works out for you.

I don't know whether or not this option is available to you, however, I would strongly recommend speaking with friends and acquaintances or perhaps even a former coworker or employer with whom you are on good terms and simply open up to them about your situation. Be honest with them about your dilemma and ask if they might possibly be willing and/ or able to pull any strings for you at their place of employment. They may be willing to at least provide you with a good reference or, depending on the level of pull they carry at the job or how close they are with the boss, they may be able to convince the company to give you a shot. Or, another option might be to reach out to a friend or acquaintance who either owns their own business or who is in need of temporary or full-time help with a particular project or event. I once found myself in a situation relatively similar to yours, however, my pride nearly cost me everything. Finally, I reached out to some old acquaintances with my story and, as fate would have it, someone put in a good word for me and I was offered a job! It wasn't exactly my favorite job nor was it even remotely in my field, however, it paid the bills and brought my resume up to par, ultimately providing me with the credentials needed to kickstart my career. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope that some of the ideas people offered you might pan out!

Most CVs I read that have a bigger time gap are articulated progressively.

Things I have read are:

• Teaching scuba diving on a remote tropical island
• Housewife
• Moved to a different country, worked as a teacher

Whatever you have done in your 10 years gap, word it out progressively to your advantage.