Confused with my CV

[Becksterboo]

Hi there, I am looking to return to work after a 3 year career break to bring up my 2 DD's.....I'm also looking for a career change as I want to retrain as a Teaching Assistant. I was previously in Government for nearly 20 years and accepted voluntary redundancy back in 2014.

So I'm trying to write a CV, I had (albeit long) drafted a career based CV as I thought that would be the way to go. However when I went along to a work and career workshop with my local council they recommended I draft a functional/skills based CV as I had gaps and wanted a career change.

Finding it difficult to re-write my CV and after looking at some job based websites they really don't recommend functional/skills based CVs, they claim it looks as if you are trying to hide gaps in employment.

Could anyone offer any advice on the way to go?

Thank you

[SherryRB]

Personally, when I've recruited, I've preferred chronological CVs. I also thinks it looks like you're trying to hide gaps with a functional CV. In your career break, have you done any volunteering? or taken on a project (eg house move, extension) that you could use to demonstrate how you've maintained or learned new skills in the career break?
The best example I've found of a functional CV template is this one: www.womenlikeus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/T4-Functional-CV1.pdf. Hope that helps.

[PastaLaFeasta]

I'm in a similar position, career change after a break and took voluntary redundancy from the civil service. I've gone for a mixed approach similar to the link.

Personal statement first, then key skills needed for the job with the examples when you've demonstrated them pulled from the individual job details

Eg Team Work - I worked in a team to achieve X in my last role. I played a significant part in the team producing X which resulted in C when working for X.

People skills - I was responsible for stakeholder management leading to X result in X company. I managed three staff and motivated them to achieve X in X role.

I put education next before listing the roles.

This way you aren't hiding any gaps as you still list the roles chronologically, but you get to pull out those key skills with related tasks and transferable skills so the recruiter isn't working hard to find them.

I found this approach much less necessary when applying for a role related to a current job because all the experience in that job was relevant. Career change is much harder.

[Becksterboo]

Sorry about the delay in getting back to you, we've all been poorly. Thanks so much for your advice. I do feel more comfortable with a chronological CV and that is how I've put together my first draft.

I've also enrolled as the PTA rep for my daughters class to get more involved in the school (we moved recently and the girls changed schools), so I am hoping to get more involved there to give me some confidence! I feel so nervous about the prospect of going back to work so getting a good CV will add to my confidence I hope! Now I need to find someone who can look it over for me.....