Do I leave this off my cv or not?

[phoenix1973]

I'm usually an administrator (have 10+ years experience) but had a career break of 5 years for child then had 3y 8 months pt admin work.
Then got laid off and since then have been totally unsuccessful in finding pt admin work.
So, in January this year I started a pt cleaning job to keep something coming in while I search for admin.
However, I have even applied for pt admin at the massive leisure company where I currently work, only to be turned down as "other applicants have more suitable experience".
So, what looks worse on a cv?
A gap?
A pt cleaning job?
Also, how do you find the strength to carry on and not become despondent when you are not successful at finding suitable work?

[daisychain01]

Hi Phoenix, could you consider doing any volunteering either in a charity shop or charitable organisation to keep your spirits up and address the gap in your CV.

Nowadays it is far less of a stigma than it used to be, having a period of unemployment due to redundancy.

Could you also try to find out at your local job centre/adult education centre whether you can have access esp if you are entitled to benefits (and therefore get concessionaire access to courses) to any relevant training, as this would be a good way of increasing your skills and you could include it on your CV in conjunction with your family/childcare commitments.

Most importantly, try to go easy on yourself, it isn't your fault work is difficult to come by in your area, just keep trying, it's a numbers game, the more you apply for roles, the sooner something will come up for you.

[daisychain01]

In short, substitute pt cleaning with training or volunteering.

Or show how the cleaning role gave you the opportunity to work using your own initiative, develop your time management skills, take pride in your work, attention to detail etc.

Anything on your CV has to 'earn its place' there, showing how it makes you a well rounded person, suitable for work. I expect the person who got the admin role may have been good at making their CV differentiate themselves in this way.

[phoenix1973]

Hi daisy chain, thank you for tAking time to reply.

I can't do volunteering because the application process and hours are the same as a paid job nowadays. Also I cannot afford NOT to be paid for whatever I do outside the house.

I can't get benefits, hence me taking any job just to get some cash coming in. I have tried the job centre but as I'm not on benefits they would not help me. If I was on benefits I could access some fantastic retraining free of charge - but I'm not so I can't.

I like what you say about a job earning its place on the CV so with that in mind, I will take the cleaning job off the CV.

Thank you.

[RowenaDahl]

In the grand scheme of things, I would say leave it off.

However, if it were my interviewing then it wouldn't put me off as I would see that you need to keep the pennies coming and have a good work ethic.

Best of luck in finding something.