Playing down experience

[Amaaazing]

I am applying for an non-supervisory administrative job after 4 years as a sahm, and am mainly attracted to the term time hours.

I used to have a senior roles with people management responsibilities and I am happy not to go back to that kind of role, but should I play these past roles down on my application form so that I am not viewed as over-qualified and so unsuitable for short-listing?

[TheNurseryCryme]

No, I would not play them down. I got my current job under exactly the same situation. I was very clear on my application and in the interview about the reasons for my move.

[annh]

No because, to be brutal, after four years out of the job market you will be competing with people with more current experience than you so you need to sell yourself any which way you can. My initial concern with interviewing people who have been out of work for some time would be whether their knowledge of IT and Office/Mac packages is up to date, software is constantly evolving. Have you done any recent IT courses?

[lljkk]

I would love to see you submit applications both ways, OP. To say 10 different jobs.
I bet the played down ones would get more interviews.

[prozacbear]

I'd advise playing down slightly on paper - job titles are the biggest thing, if you can play those down but keep your experience relatively intact, that probably helps. If I'm looking for an administrator and I see 'manager' I immediately think, 'hmm'. But if I see a non-manager with tons of experience I think, 'yay!'

And then at interview, you can take the opportunity to explain if you feel it appropriate and the interviewer is receptive.

That would be my thought, anyway...